How should I explain this to adcoms?

[missbones]

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So to make a long story short I failed a 1 unit lab, retook it (same professor) and got a d, took it again with a different professor and got an A. This was all in 3 semesters back to back.

I honestly got an F the first time because I just didn't go and missed a big exam because he deviated from the syllabus. I stupidly took it again with the same professor because he was an easy teacher but somehow (I honestly can't even justify this to myself) I just stopped showing up again, and making it to the final I managed a D.

In the end I did earn the A, but I'm just wondering how on earth I'm going to explain this at an interview? Is there some way to spin this or word it that would sound better? I'm not necessarily going to lie and pretend a family member died or something along those lines. Just looking for tips on how to best present this because its embarrassing and pretty inexcusable. I also have an F in a 3 unit course I took my first semester which I retook for an A as well. My GPA right now is 3.6 and besides these mentioned poor grades I've never gotten anything lower than a B.

Note: This is not a pre-req lab and this occurred in 06-07 when I only had around 20 units behind me and I won't be applying for med school until 2011 or 2012 so there will be some time in between.

 

[eric51]

That is quite a problem... Does your school report the original class on your transcript if you retake it? Most do but I think there are some schools that don't...
I think if you can pull great grades for the next few years before you apply, you can probably explain that you were immature when you started college, and that you realized what you were doing wrong and how to do well. Just try to make it seem like it's as in the past as possible.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Oof, getting 2 bad grades in one class is going to be tough to explain away. Since it's the beginning of your college career, you might be able to pull the maturity card and say you didn't enjoy the lab and thus didn't focus, but you've matured since then and pursued your goals, blah, blah, blah. I'd try really hard to avoid that one. Unless you're directly asked about it - which, chances are, you will be, unfortunately - keep it under wraps.

 

[missbones]

It will show on my transcripts because the grade problems Im discussing occurred at a community college which I have since transferred out of. Neither of my colleges count the original grades in my gpa or overall units but of course they show up under each semester on my cc transcript and I am aware that med schools average the grades.

 

[eric51]

It will show on my transcripts because the grade problems Im discussing occurred at a community college which I have since transferred out of. Neither of my colleges count the original grades in my gpa or overall units but of course they show up under each semester on my cc transcript and I am aware that med schools average the grades.

As far as I know, AAMCAS does not average grades. If a class is reported on your transcript, it is counted for however many credits it is worth regardless or whether you retook it or not. Thus those Fs will really hurt. I could be wrong, so someone correct me if I am, but that was my understanding.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Well, MD schools average* the grades. DO schools will only count the A.

*edit re: eric's ninja: MD schools will, indeed, include all classes on your transcript. They don't average grades in the sense that an A and an F in a 3 hour class would give you 3 hours of C. Rather, you'd have 3 hours of F and 3 of A.

 

[7starmantis]

Just looking for tips on how to best present this because its embarrassing and pretty inexcusable.

Sounds like a start right there. Dont BS an adcom or interviewer, tell them the truth and show that you learned from it. Using words like inexcusable shows you understand the gravity of it and have moved on. At least in my mind 🙂

 

[7starmantis]

Well, MD schools average the grades. DO schools will only count the A.

Dood, where are you getting your information and why are you on a campaign against DO schools?

 

[eric51]

Well, MD schools average* the grades. DO schools will only count the A.

*edit re: eric's ninja: MD schools will, indeed, include all classes on your transcript. They don't average grades in the sense that an A and an F in a 3 hour class would give you 3 hours of C. Rather, you'd have 3 hours of F and 3 of A.

Yea that's what I thought Al. Not really an average in my mind, but I guess I see how it could be thought of that way...

Dood, where are you getting your information and why are you on a campaign against DO schools?

It's true... DO schools only count the most recent grade if you retake a class. It's quite handy.

 

[missbones]

As far as I know, AAMCAS does not average grades. If a class is reported on your transcript, it is counted for however many credits it is worth regardless or whether you retook it or not. Thus those Fs will really hurt. I could be wrong, so someone correct me if I am, but that was my understanding.

Yeah that's what I meant. What the milkman said haha

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Dood, where are you getting your information and why are you on a campaign against DO schools?

What are you talking about? Milkman has a long (fair) posting history and I've never seen him/her "campaign" against DOs. It is well known that DO schools will "throw out" an old grade if you retake a class and count the higher grade.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Dood, where are you getting your information and why are you on a campaign against DO schools?

Huh? If anything, I'm a big proponent of DO schools. Lots of people in the pre-allo forums don't give them a fair shake.

 

[missbones]

Yes, they do hurt. I'd have about a 3.9 right now instead of a 3.6 but still competitive. Esp if I knock out a really high sGPA/MCAT

 

[7starmantis]

Huh? If anything, I'm a big proponent of DO schools. Lots of people in the pre-allo forums don't give them a fair shake.

Must be relative the the DO school. But my bad, I guess I have mis read some of your other posts. My apologies. 😳

 

[Arjuna]

Dood, where are you getting your information and why are you on a campaign against DO schools?

LOL. Were you drunk when you wrote this?

 

[missbones]

Follow up, is 3.6 a good GPA to have with 4 units of Fs and a 1 unit D. Don't most others with less than or equal to 3.5 have it due to several c's or low b's? I've talked to a few of my pre-med peers at my school and none of them have any f's or d's (at least that they will admit to) and I still have a pretty good GPA compared to them.

Do you think my B or higher grades in all other courses will show that there were extenuating circumstances surrounding these 2 specific courses and that its not my normal behavior? Honestly I wish they all occurred in one semester instead of in my first, third and then fourth. It makes me look sketchy. In my most recent 45 units (all upper division at university, not CC) I've gotten nothing less than an A- though. Silly for me to have poor grades in lower division but not upper division.

Its kind of a catch 22, clearly not part of my normal pattern but it happened during 3 separate semesters so it shows I have the capacity for sporadic failure for no apparent reason. I am almost positive they will ask about this in the interview at some point. In the case of both classes I persisted until I got an A though, that's got to count for something!

 

[avksx]

Yes, they do hurt. I'd have about a 3.9 right now instead of a 3.6 but still competitive. Esp if I knock out a really high sGPA/MCAT

3.65 is the median GPA for those accepted to med school.

Give AdComs a honest answer to why you failed, and explain what you learned from it. Maintain your high GPA and don't fret over every little failure. Work hard, celebrate your sucesses, cope with your failures, learn from your failures, and move on.



Good luck.

 

[missbones]

If I apply for 2012 admission my GPA at application time will be 3.695 (considering I get an A- or above in all future courses)
If I wait and apply for 2013 admission (after I finish all courses) my GPA would be at best 3.744, is it worth that .5 increase to wait another year and end up with a year in between undergrad and med school?

 

[avksx]

If I apply for 2012 admission my GPA at application time will be 3.695 (considering I get an A- or above in all future courses)
If I wait and apply for 2013 admission (after I finish all courses) my GPA would be at best 3.744, is it worth that .5 increase to wait another year and end up with a year in between undergrad and med school?

No.

You're over-thinking it too much.

 

[missbones]

No.

You're over-thinking it too much.

k. read a lot of posts in other threads that say to wait it out for the increase in GPA and you should be patient. I was just wondering if .5 was worth it haha. I guess we'll see how I do on the MCAT in 2011!

 

[Laryngophed]

OP, crush the MCAT and be upfront and honest with AdComs. Many secondaries will allow you to explain any abnormalities in your application. I'd say own it, say and show that you've moved on and focus on the positives in your application.