How to explain an F?

[withreggaeton]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I received an F in orgo I the first time I took it, spring semester of my freshman year. We switched professors eight weeks into the course, right after the drop deadline, and I was doing fine until then. The second professor had only taught graduate classes before and was hired primarily for research. He was horrible, and the chemistry department received so many complaints that he decided to make our final 60-70% of our grade. Over half the class failed and he refused to do any sort of curve. It had the lowest student GPA for that class in over 10 years, including summer sessions.

There were a lot of rumors that we were going to get the class removed from our transcripts, and some people got close, but ultimately that fell through. Though all advisers and faculty I've spoken to are very understanding about it because everyone's aware of the controversy, the university/the chemistry department refuses to acknowledge it on our transcripts. So it looks like I'm stuck with it. I retook it last fall and got an A-.

The F drags my GPA down a lot. I've gotten 2 B+s, 2 Bs, 1 B-, and all the rest As and A-s. I still only have an 3.48 right now with a 3.2 BCPM (would be 3.66 and 3.5 without the F). I'm looking for ways to explain this to med schools when I apply next summer without it sounding like an excuse. Also, do you think I will be considered the same as a candidate who has earned the same GPA only with consistently lower grades? The F sticks out like a sore thumb on my transcript, but I'll be lucky if I can raise my BCPM GPA to a 3.5 by the end of junior year.

This got long, I'm sorry. I'm essentially asking if the harsh truth is that med schools look at the hard numbers and not much else, or if there'll be some leeway because I improved and have an explanation for that grade.

 

[Knocked Up]

This got long, I'm sorry. I'm essentially asking if the harsh truth is that med schools look at the hard numbers and not much else, or if there'll be some leeway because I improved and have an explanation for that grade.

Yes, I'm sorry, that is the harsh truth. Try to explain it in an interview, but just move on. There is another number that you can attain though that will make them overlook that F though. It is a numerical number rather than an alphabetical number. The more numbers you get in that 13-15 range, the more that letter disappears from your record. Adcoms only care about two things when deciding on applicants, make the other half overshadow that grade (and don't worry bc. the MCAT outweighs grades anyway).

 

[Catalystik]

I'll be lucky if I can raise my BCPM GPA to a 3.5 by the end of junior year.

There's no rule that you have to apply after junior year. Consider adding another year of excellent grades before you submit.

 

[Praefectus]

There's no rule that you have to apply after junior year. Consider adding another year of excellent grades before you submit.

If you're experiencing an upward trend, you'll definitely boost your grades over another year. Also, be sure to rock the MCAT. A higher score might negate your less than stellar GPA.

 

[ccrone]

Take it again. Make an 'A'. If/when it's brought up, don't blame it on the professor:

"It was a rough semester, and things obviously didn't go well. I took responsibility, faced the music, and made it my personal mission to succeed in that class the next time around. Life definitely gave me lemons that semester. And it was humbling to have to take the class again. But I learned a valuable life lesson: sometimes, you're dealt a bad situation, and all you can do is make the best of it. And you know what, I am now an organic chemistry ROCK STAR."

🙂

Good luck. Work hard. You'll do better this time around.

 

[bidiboom]

... I received an F in orgo I the first time I took it, spring semester of my freshman year. We switched professors eight weeks into the course, right after the drop deadline, and I was doing fine until then. The second professor had only taught graduate classes before and was hired primarily for research. He was horrible, and the chemistry department received so many complaints that he decided to make our final 60-70% of our grade. Over half the class failed and he refused to do any sort of curve. It had the lowest student GPA for that class in over 10 years, including summer sessions.

There were a lot of rumors that we were going to get the class removed from our transcripts, and some people got close, but ultimately that fell through. Though all advisers and faculty I've spoken to are very understanding about it because everyone's aware of the controversy, the university/the chemistry department refuses to acknowledge it on our transcripts. So it looks like I'm stuck with it. I retook it last fall and got an A-.

The F drags my GPA down a lot. I've gotten 2 B+s, 2 Bs, 1 B-, and all the rest As and A-s. I still only have an 3.48 right now with a 3.2 BCPM (would be 3.66 and 3.5 without the F) ...

I would write the part above as an additional note on my transcript in my application file. It made me feel the problem. Honesty and sincerity always work.

edit: Of course if there is no way/time to raise that F.

 

[lobo.solo]

That suck man! You are a junior now... you have approximately 3 more semester to graduate, which could be max of 45 credits units of As that you can get. The only thing is that will have a gap year before med school, but who cares... you can live life in that year before med school.