Is it true that if you are invited to an interview, adcoms will ask why you did poorly on some classes (C or lower)? How do you describe it if you don't have an "excuse"? I got a C in chem 2 because it was a really challenging course at my school and the averages on exams were always low. Does this mean I should try to retake chem 2 so I don't get stuck in the position of them asking this question? (although if I retake it with our chem professor I don't even know if I can get that much better of a grade)
How do you describe any C's you got in an interview?
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Curvy.
Serious answer: If you don't think you can get a better grade, don't retake the course. I would be wary of just saying "the course was hard," but don't make up some excuse just to have one.
Serious answer: If you don't think you can get a better grade, don't retake the course. I would be wary of just saying "the course was hard," but don't make up some excuse just to have one.
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You don't get interviews with Cs
.... j/k. They probably won't ask about a C, and you definitely shouldn't retake a C. If they ask, then just say it was hard, anything else would just sound like an excuse... unless you experienced some kind of tragedy during the semester.
.... j/k. They probably won't ask about a C, and you definitely shouldn't retake a C. If they ask, then just say it was hard, anything else would just sound like an excuse... unless you experienced some kind of tragedy during the semester.
D
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Some adcoms might not if it's just one or so and some might just out of curiosity. No need to make an excuse, just mention I could of done better, but it was my fault etc and explain your reasoning behind it.
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My response: (holy run on sentence batman)
Having previously mentioned my father's mitral valve repair and the stemming complications that ensued over the past 11 years, only having been recently corrected by two specialists (cardiac) at one of our nations best known hospitals only after a number of physicians were stumped by my father's case... my attendance in said class was poor due to my extenuating circumstance, but my persistence in learning and the love for the work; all was self taught and I may have not passed with flying colors, but as you can see I enrolled in a post-bacc program to prove my worth and give weight to said class, among others that would, at first glance, show weakness and no discipline.
Having previously mentioned my father's mitral valve repair and the stemming complications that ensued over the past 11 years, only having been recently corrected by two specialists (cardiac) at one of our nations best known hospitals only after a number of physicians were stumped by my father's case... my attendance in said class was poor due to my extenuating circumstance, but my persistence in learning and the love for the work; all was self taught and I may have not passed with flying colors, but as you can see I enrolled in a post-bacc program to prove my worth and give weight to said class, among others that would, at first glance, show weakness and no discipline.
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^ great response there. I think as long as you have a legitimate explanation, you should be fine. Just don't rant about how bad your professor was or about the coursework that was given.
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That is the truth...
which is why I'm enrolling into HEP's HCP this year. Application goes out tomorrow.
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[YOUTUBE]30GD25un0XQ[/YOUTUBE]
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Yeah that's what I mean. I'm assuming nobody is going to lie to the adcom.
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My dad was admitted for a multitude of complications post-op... all idiopathic to the MVP, but apparently, my dad had developed constrictive pericarditis following the MV repair... which only influenced further medical complications to persist. It wasn't until his cardiologist gave up and referred him to a heart failure specialist who worked closely with a surgical heart transplant specialist... together developed a few theories... kept a close watch on my father, finally determining the problem instead of diagnosing and treating the symptoms of the problem.
heh...
only took 11 years, but my dad is doing well 3 weeks post-op 😍
Don't dwell on it. If you are asked, quickly take responsibility, emphasize how you improved since then, and move on. Do not make excuses (especially along the line of bad professor/unfair grading/etc). Some people do have a valid excuse, but most do not. Just address it quickly, say you messed up, maybe throw in what you learned, and move on.
They don't just hand out interview slots to everyone. So if you're there, the school is willing to overlook a bad grade every now and then. Quickly move on and focus on the positives of your app, which is why you were invited in the first place.
They don't just hand out interview slots to everyone. So if you're there, the school is willing to overlook a bad grade every now and then. Quickly move on and focus on the positives of your app, which is why you were invited in the first place.
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Well make him proud and get into med school!!
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Definitely prepare a good answer, because you will be asked about it. I had one C+ in Orgo I and it came up in 75% of my interviews. Not sure why people are saying that it probably won't come up.
My example in summary was this:
Stated my reasons: immaturity, poor time management, hubris.
Stated how I made specific improvements in each quality
Then stated the results of my improvement years later (13 biology MCAT, 100% on ACS standardized exam, etc).
It was kind of nice, because I knew that the question would invariably come up, and had an answer prepared. My interviewers certainly were amenable to my answer.
My example in summary was this:
Stated my reasons: immaturity, poor time management, hubris.
Stated how I made specific improvements in each quality
Then stated the results of my improvement years later (13 biology MCAT, 100% on ACS standardized exam, etc).
It was kind of nice, because I knew that the question would invariably come up, and had an answer prepared. My interviewers certainly were amenable to my answer.
Unless you get like a series of Cs in a row do they really ask about that in an interview? Seems very petty. Things happened, mistakes were made or maybe you marked the wrong bubble in the finals.
The C I got was in microbiology where the professors just tested your ability to memorize random facts. I thought that was very stupid and didn't put in enough effort to get above a C.
The C I got was in microbiology where the professors just tested your ability to memorize random facts. I thought that was very stupid and didn't put in enough effort to get above a C.
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Im blaming the flu season... 😎
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I know there was at least one C on my transcript and I had 2 W's. Maybe it was because they were major-related courses rather than prerequisites (or science classes at all, for that matter), but I don't believe it came up at all at any of my three interviews. I was prepared to address why those marks were on my transcript (and so should you) but really, no one seemed to care.
I agree with this guy.
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whats wrong with retaking a class with a C, ive done it 2 times already.....
A great many interviews are closed file or partially closed file, I went to around 10 interviews last year and only a couple were open file. I had a couple of bad grades early in my college career (a D and a C+) and not once was I asked about it. A couple of secondaries asked me to explain anything lower than a B- and simply put that I was a freshman and had not quite adjusted to college life and I learned my lesson and my grade improvement following my first year showed that.
Unless it is a serious trend of poor grades don't dwell on it, come up with your own good explanation and be confident going into interviews. For most schools if they are interviewing you they are willing to look past your few bad grades if you are able to show them you are beyond them and show them why they need you.
Just my two cents.
Unless it is a serious trend of poor grades don't dwell on it, come up with your own good explanation and be confident going into interviews. For most schools if they are interviewing you they are willing to look past your few bad grades if you are able to show them you are beyond them and show them why they need you.
Just my two cents.
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Yes, I have re-taken a class that I got a C in, too. I don't look down upon it. I think it shows you mean business.
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No need to retake a class you got a C in. It happens. You should get a better grade on a more advanced version of the class if you happen to take one. For D's and F's, do have a reason, show what you did to make sure it doesn't happen again, and don't make excuses. Basically are you able to take responsibility for your failures and can you learn enough from them not to make the same mistake again. Obviously if you have a trend of bad grades over several semesters, that is a warning sign.
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You don't need to retake if it's just one course. I got multiple interviews with a mediocre GPA and 1 C, and yes I was asked about it at all my interviews, but it really seemed like it was just an obligatory question because it is the single lowest grade I have on my transcript.
Do retake C courses if you start having multiple C's on your transcript, as this will really destroy your GPA.
Do retake C courses if you start having multiple C's on your transcript, as this will really destroy your GPA.
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My grades in organic chemistry are quite a bit lower than in my other prerequisites so I'm evidently not a complete *****. All I have to say is I don't "get" organic chemistry. I wonder how well this would go over?
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