I failed chemistry 2 twice... can I still get in?

[Trance Ninja]

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I failed it the first time because I couldnt make it to class. I was immature and a ******.

I failed it the second time because after I changed schools, I changed majors. My advisor told me that the grade would not go on my transcript for a new major.

so here I am. I failed chem 2 twice. I know that I can make an A in the class. I guess you can call it a second wind for academics now that I know I want to be a doctor.

gpa otherwise is around a 3.4. is it still possible to go to med school? or should I start looking at carribbean med schools? or could I even get into them?

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Anything's possible I guess, but I put your chances of getting into a US mainland allo slightly lower than that of the Knicks getting to the finals. Sorry kid, go find another major to play at for a little while.

 

[Cirrus83]

Ouch...twice?! Problem is that the med schools see all your grades whether or not your school counts it in your GPA-the med schools will.

And failing something twice is going to be very difficult to explain.

Well, if you do unbelievably stellar from here on out, you'll still have a chance, but otherwise...

Maybe start considering DO?

 

[Trance Ninja]

yeah, after I retake that class and replace the F with an A, then I should be able to graduate with a 3.6 or better.

Ive never really had any problems doing well on tests. Ive taken a look at mcat practice tests and I know Ill do well on that.

So if I have everything going for me, that crummy chem history would keep me out of med school? even caribbean?

 

[45408]

you really think you can get an A? just remember that med school is going to be a lot harder. The Caribbean is risky business, because a lot of people fail out of those schools.

 

[Trance Ninja]

hahaha yeah it should be no problem. I didnt even take the final exam either time. I just was immature and didnt devote any time or effort to it.

 

[Dr. Josh]

hahaha yeah it should be no problem. I didnt even take the final exam either time. I just was immature and didnt devote any time or effort to it.

No offense, but that's downright stupid. What's the point of retaking and not trying your best? With that attitude you should have dropped out of school or withdrawn from the class until you were ready to actually try to do well.

You have an amazing amount of self-confidence considering you failed an intro class twice. I hope you are as good as you think. And even if your school replaces the Fs with the A you're surely getting, AMCAS will count it as 2 Fs and 1 A and it all goes into your GPA. Apply to DO schools as well and be ready to explain the poor grades if asked. DO schools at least count the highest grade, though I neve rheard of them replacing 2 Fs with 1 good grade. How long ago was it?

I'm just the opposite; I'm retaking a class that I got a D+ in and I'm so afraid I won't get the A that I desperately need. I'm even afraid of failing.

 

[pADdlelf]

gpa otherwise is around a 3.4. is it still possible to go to med school? or should I start looking at carribbean med schools? or could I even get into them?

my friend got in to a carribbean med school with a gpa of 2.6 and an MCAT of 23...o yea and hes failed a whole load of classes.....plus he didnt really graduate from college..but hes in med school now

 

[James Moriarty]

I don't know if there is a valid excuse for failing a class twice just short of being inflicted with a brain tumor. Once is understable in accord with the right circumstances. Twice? Even the most lenient committees will overlook you for an applicant who passed the first (and second) time.

 

[45408]

my friend got in to a carribbean med school with a gpa of 2.6 and an MCAT of 23...o yea and hes failed a whole load of classes.....plus he didnt really graduate from college..but hes in med school now

But maybe not for long. Those schools mean business, because they want good Step 1 pass rates, so people will actually be failed.

 

[HumbleMD]

No offense, but that's downright stupid. What's the point of retaking and not trying your best? With that attitude you should have dropped out of school or withdrawn from the class until you were ready to actually try to do well.

You have an amazing amount of self-confidence considering you failed an intro class twice. I hope you are as good as you think. And even if your school replaces the Fs with the A you're surely getting, AMCAS will count it as 2 Fs and 1 A and it all goes into your GPA. Apply to DO schools as well and be ready to explain the poor grades if asked. DO schools at least count the highest grade, though I neve rheard of them replacing 2 Fs with 1 good grade. How long ago was it?

I'm just the opposite; I'm retaking a class that I got a D+ in and I'm so afraid I won't get the A that I desperately need. I'm even afraid of failing.

👍 Be careful, as Dr. Josh has said, all the grades count (new school, old school, in major, out of major - everything's submitted). And no, I wouldn't count on an A until you actually have it. Of course, most people haven't taken classes 3 times so I guess you've had lots of practice. And it takes a lot more to do well on the MCAT than glancing at a practice test. Sorry to be so curt, but SDN (and the world in general) does not take kindly to undue pride.

A 3.4 GPA will get you into a U.S. Allopathic school somewhere, especially if supplemented with a good MCAT score and an upward trend. However is the 3.4 GPA your real GPA, or one from a pansy-ass grade replacement policy (remember, AMCAS counts EVERY grade, ever). If not, then you're going to need a better excuse than laziness and being a "******."

And your first order of business is to stop using the word ******ed.

 

[foofish]

hahaha yeah it should be no problem. I didnt even take the final exam either time. I just was immature and didnt devote any time or effort to it.

Being immature and stupid might explain failing the first time around, but then doing the exact same thing a second time seems to confirm that the first failure wasn't a fluke at all...and more that the inability to follow through or take academics seriously is your MO...and fyi, immaturity isn't exactly a characteristic med schools are looking for. Also, even if your school replaces the grade, the two failures will still be calculated into your AMCAS gpa. Yeah, you have a chance, but you should maybe start bothering to go to finals and stop failing classes.

 

[iwannagomed]

u better ace the PS section on MCAT to show them that u know ur chemistry...

 

[Davjc2009]

You're probably setting yourself up for some initial rejections, but if it's really what you wanna do, a post-bacc with some very difficult classes and stellar grades in that might be able to sway at least one ADCOM to let you in. It's still a long shot... very very long shot.

Knicks in the finals doesn't even express how long of a shot it is. the eastern conference is TERRIBLE... and the atlantic division is abysmal... toronto is .500 and their leading the division. NY is only 4 games back from being a 4 seed in the playoffs 😱

 

[HumbleMD]

Being immature and stupid might explain failing the first time around, but then doing the exact same thing a second time seems to confirm that the first failure wasn't a fluke at all...and more that the inability to follow through or take academics seriously is your MO...and fyi, immaturity isn't exactly a characteristic med schools are looking for. Also, even if your school replaces the grade, the two failures will still be calculated into your AMCAS gpa. Yeah, you have a chance, but you should maybe start bothering to go to finals and stop failing classes.

I always view the "I could have gotten an A in a class if I studied" as one of the saddest excuses in the book. Besides being antagonizing and falsely arrogant, it shows character flaws such as immaturity, lack of commitment and priorities, and lack of work ethic, on top of the obvious ignorance and stupidity.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

yeah, after I retake that class and replace the F with an A, then I should be able to graduate with a 3.6 or better.

If this is something else your advisor told you, you need to find a new advisor. All grades go on your transcript, all grades are calculated into your grade point average, and every post-high school grade you ever got viewed by medical schools. There's no such thing as "replacing" a grade unless you formally appeal it with the school at the time. The problem you have is your science gpa (which is the primary gpa schools look at) is pretty well trashed with, what, 8 hours of 0.0 credit? Even if you took 55 more hours of science/math credits and got As in everything (which is most uncertain going by your track record), your BCPM will still be a B.

 

[Dr. Josh]

You're probably setting yourself up for some initial rejections, but if it's really what you wanna do, a post-bacc with some very difficult classes and stellar grades in that might be able to sway at least one ADCOM to let you in. It's still a long shot... very very long shot.

Knicks in the finals doesn't even express how long of a shot it is. the eastern conference is TERRIBLE... and the atlantic division is abysmal... toronto is .500 and their leading the division. NY is only 4 games back from being a 4 seed in the playoffs 😱

Let's go Knicks!👍

 

[Dr. Josh]

And no, I wouldn't count on an A until you actually have it. Of course, most people haven't taken classes 3 times so I guess you've had lots of practice.

 

[Dr. Josh]

I failed it the first time because I couldnt make it to class. I was immature and a ******.

I failed it the second time because after I changed schools, I changed majors. My advisor told me that the grade would not go on my transcript for a new major.

so here I am. I failed chem 2 twice. I know that I can make an A in the class. I guess you can call it a second wind for academics now that I know I want to be a doctor.

gpa otherwise is around a 3.4. is it still possible to go to med school? or should I start looking at carribbean med schools? or could I even get into them?

what did you get in chem 1? don't forget you still have to take orgo But I know you'll get an A in that. People find different courses more difficult than others so i suppose it is possible. I got As in chem 1 and chem 2, and a D+ in orgo (still not sure how i did that, I had to have gotten a 25 on the final, which of course I never got to see).

 

[KeyLime]

I failed it the first time because I couldnt make it to class. I was immature and a ******.

Please be a little more sensitive with this word on this board.

 

[Trance Ninja]

I meant come off confident, not arrogant. I know I can do it. I know it may be hard to convince a committee of what in the world happened, but seriously I am capable of getting 4.0 from here out.

the thing is that I did not know what major I wanted and I just had no clue what I was doing. its kind of embarrassing... as it should be yes.

I am in my fourth semester... so I still have time for that good upward trend. hopefully that kind of mistake wont keep me from going to med school.

yeah, I would rather go to a US med school... but whatever I can do just to become MD. this is no good. 🙁

 

[Trance Ninja]

Please be a little more sensitive with this word on this board.

Sorry. I forgot the true meaning.

 

[HumbleMD]

I meant come off confident, not arrogant. I know I can do it. I know it may be hard to convince a committee of what in the world happened, but seriously I am capable of getting 4.0 from here out.

the thing is that I did not know what major I wanted and I just had no clue what I was doing. its kind of embarrassing... as it should be yes.

I am in my fourth semester... so I still have time for that good upward trend. hopefully that kind of mistake wont keep me from going to med school.

yeah, I would rather go to a US med school... but whatever I can do just to become MD. this is no good. 🙁

Even confidence requires at least some background or previous evidence of achievement. Blind confidence is quite ignorant.

 

[Trance Ninja]

meh... I have things to back it up. I guess without going forward with it, its all talk right?

but theoretically could I turn it around to where I can get in... at least somewhere?

 

[foofish]

I always view the "I could have gotten an A in a class if I studied" as one of the saddest excuses in the book. Besides being antagonizing and falsely arrogant, it shows character flaws such as immaturity, lack of commitment and priorities, and lack of work ethic, on top of the obvious ignorance and stupidity.

It reminds me of when I went to a Harvard info session for college. It was with the dean of admissions, and people were asking about chances of getting in, and some kid asked "Well, what if you have a perfect score on the SAT, but a C average" (and this kid clearly expected that the SAT was the ticket in).

The dean's initial response was--and this is his exact quote--"That's the kiss of death--we don't want you." He explained that a great SAT and low gpa told them that you're smart and talented, but you're lazy, immature, and choose not to apply yourself...and that they aren't interested in having that kind of person at their school. I'm willing to bet that med adcoms aren't much different....

 

[Trance Ninja]

thats a good quote. Ive heard that all of my life... is that if youre smart and dont apply yourself, then you will get nowhere.

if the adcomms see that you have somewhat of a turnaround, are they more likely to accept you? Its a weird situation for me... as yeah I was completely lazy for a year... but as of now, I made A's on all of my assignments, including tests up until now. recalculated, my gpa will be around 3.3 after all is said an done (including the 2 semesters of F I received).

that, along with the 2 red flags, volunteer work, a good mcat score, shadowing and research experience...

mistakes hurt haha. Ill just do my best and hope for the best. theres really no use speculating until I actually do it. thanks for the help 👍

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

This is why most people don't even bother answering these types of threads. You're asking if you can still get in, most of the responses say your chances approach zero, and you hear what you want ("I had this friend who...") and go on with what you were going to do anyway. Complete waste of time.

 

[mikeinsd]

The dean's initial response was--and this is his exact quote--"That's the kiss of death--we don't want you." He explained that a great SAT and low gpa told them that you're smart and talented, but you're lazy, immature, and choose not to apply yourself...and that they aren't interested in having that kind of person at their school. I'm willing to bet that med adcoms aren't much different....

its funny because that happened to me, in exactly the same manner. After the SAT's, I did fairly well, but my gpa was not stellar... I asked my college counselor if i should retake to try and get an even better score... he looked me right in the face and said, 'no, absolutely not, right now you look like a textbook slacker, your grades are lower than you sat would indicate, and you making it higher may only make you look worse' so he basically called me a slacker to my face (but he we knew eachother fairly well and he could get away with that type of thing)

 

[TexasFool]

Anything's possible I guess, but I put your chances of getting into a US mainland allo slightly lower than that of the Knicks getting to the finals. Sorry kid, go find another major to play at for a little while.

I have a real life story about this. I failed 4 classes, made about 4 Ds and a lot of Cs and Ws. I got a 37Q on the MCAT and I had 11 interviews and I have an acceptance now. However, I went back to school and got a 3.95 over 60 or so credit hours. So you can get in, but you need to kill the MCAT and do well from now on.

 

[PeripateticMD]

I always view the "I could have gotten an A in a class if I studied" as one of the saddest excuses in the book. Besides being antagonizing and falsely arrogant, it shows character flaws such as immaturity, lack of commitment and priorities, and lack of work ethic, on top of the obvious ignorance and stupidity.

And in reality the real "i could have gotten an A in a class if I studied" got a C or B without doing any work. And then, they generally don't care, so wouldn't say it anyhow. If someone fails, twice, unless there was some huge family or injury or drug problem, don't believe it.

 

[bubabugster]

I always view the "I could have gotten an A in a class if I studied" as one of the saddest excuses in the book. Besides being antagonizing and falsely arrogant, it shows character flaws such as immaturity, lack of commitment and priorities, and lack of work ethic, on top of the obvious ignorance and stupidity.

I totally agree. I remember this one guy was saying, " Oh, that class was soooooo easy for me. Oh, you had to study? [shrugs his shoulders at me]. "Well, things like this are easy for me."
Me: Yeah, so what did you get?
Him: I got a D. But that class was easy!

Totally lame! People like that are pompous and put down everyone in their attempts to look brilliant-- but in reality look like jackasses. Anyways, med schools want people who are committed to what they are doing, mature, motivated, and have a true passion for learning. Everyone can come up with millions of excuses for why they did badly, but in the end that just looks weak.

 

[DeadCactus]

You've damaged your GPA and the impression the AdCom will get when looking at your application. If you can overcome the damage, you can still probably get in. The problem is the simple fact that the damage happened in the first place makes it obvious that you have several flaws in your character and/or attitude.

Given this information (and only this information) I doubt you'll make it to Med School. You'll join the ranks of the many "I want to be a Doctors" whose interest dies when they decide O-Chem is too hard and being a Doctor isn't worth it. At best you'll turn in a half hearted application, get a few rejection letters, and then act like the Med Schools are too stupid to realize the wonderful opportunity you've presented them to have the glory that is you as a student...

 

[NonTradMed]

I have a real life story about this. I failed 4 classes, made about 4 Ds and a lot of Cs and Ws. I got a 37Q on the MCAT and I had 11 interviews and I have an acceptance now. However, I went back to school and got a 3.95 over 60 or so credit hours. So you can get in, but you need to kill the MCAT and do well from now on.

Hey, I checked out your mdapplicant profile....you have such a great MCAT score and decent GPA, do you think your initial failed four classes is the reason you aren't getting as much love from adcoms?

Btw, why did you decide to apply as a 'nonhispanic' for med school? Was it a personal decision? A matter of principle?

I failed it the first time because I couldnt make it to class. I was immature and a ******.

I failed it the second time because after I changed schools, I changed majors. My advisor told me that the grade would not go on my transcript for a new major.

so here I am. I failed chem 2 twice. I know that I can make an A in the class. I guess you can call it a second wind for academics now that I know I want to be a doctor.

gpa otherwise is around a 3.4. is it still possible to go to med school? or should I start looking at carribbean med schools? or could I even get into them?

Failing twice will look bad. However, since your GPA otherwise is not too too bad and you are working hard now, I think you have a chance as long as you dont' screw up from now on. That means getting mostly A's in all your important science courses, more importantly, showing an upward trend. Do well on the MCAT, volunteer/shadow etc. You can't have any more red flags. Academic redflags are very hard for adcoms to forgive.

I knew a fellow med student who failed out of his first semester of college b/c his parent died (actually a good reason to fail) and he lost his scholarship and was kicked out of school. After that, he knew he had to be *very* careful about every grade to pull his GPA up. He worked hard for the next three years, got lots of A's, did well on his MCAT (>30) and then got rejected from all his schools he applied to. He tried to explain his reasons for failing out the first semester but no one cared. He was told, and I quote, "We didn't accept you because we're afraid that you could repeat your bad semester again".

He tried a second time and this time hit upon a sympathetic dean who was willing to 'give him a shot' at an interview. He was waitlisted and accepted in JUNE. I want to tell you this to let you know that failing out will severely endanger your chances of med school. You didn't fail out of school completely so you'll probably be in better shoes than this guy, but be careful from now on about your academic record. Good luck.

 

[gujuDoc]

But maybe not for long. Those schools mean business, because they want good Step 1 pass rates, so people will actually be failed.

Yeah and let's not forget that Carribean graduates don't have as many doors open to them in terms of residency as an American MD or DO graduate.

 

[gujuDoc]

I have a real life story about this. I failed 4 classes, made about 4 Ds and a lot of Cs and Ws. I got a 37Q on the MCAT and I had 11 interviews and I have an acceptance now. However, I went back to school and got a 3.95 over 60 or so credit hours. So you can get in, but you need to kill the MCAT and do well from now on.

I have a friend who's now a 3rd year and has a similar story to yours. He went to a community college shortly after graduating highschool and failed Gchm 3 times. Had 8 F's overall on his academic record and hence a really cruddy GPA.

He wnet into the Navy for 2 years due to lack of options and got a lot of discipline out of that. Anyhow, he came back to college and with knowledge that he might not make it but if he was going to even have a shot he needed to give it his best. He took 90 credit hours of hard core science and got almost all A's with the exception of 2 Bs. He also had a 37N on the MCAT. Similar score to your own, I suppose. Anyhow, he ended up getting 4 interview invites but only went to the 2 instate ones. The other 2 were from NYMC and Albany. he got waitlisted at both in state schools and then got off waitlist from his first choice school. he used to post on here and still does every now and then. But he's one of the top students in his class in med school now.

 

[diggitybop]

i can only speak from experience, that you can (and will) get in, but it will be via a longer road that will test your committment to medicine. i owuld recommend what other people wrote; do very well in the mcats!! i think that will be the most important number. then look into post bacc programs or special masters programs offered by medical schools in which you take first year medical school courses along with the med students. this is what i did, and i have been accepted to a few MD's, been waitlisted at some, and rejected by a whole bunch. i applied to a lot of schools, all in the middle of the pack. the way i figured i just wanted to get in the door and how i did in med school would open more doors later. however, it is important to point out that in every interview i have gone on i have had to explain my grades as an undergrad. (no matter how well u do you willl always have to explain.) i have had many an interview where the interviewer only wanted to talk about the crappy grades, overshadowing everything i have done since college, which i try to point out is the time period when i figured i was interested in medicine. but whatever, don't let that keep you from going after what you want, because for me it worked out in the end.

 

[beenthere2]

One can never say never, and you should follow your dream. But...it will definitely be an uphill battle, and difficult at best. That 2nd F is the real problem.

 

[spicedmanna]

I failed it the first time because I couldnt make it to class. I was immature and a ******.

I failed it the second time because after I changed schools, I changed majors. My advisor told me that the grade would not go on my transcript for a new major.

so here I am. I failed chem 2 twice. I know that I can make an A in the class. I guess you can call it a second wind for academics now that I know I want to be a doctor.

gpa otherwise is around a 3.4. is it still possible to go to med school? or should I start looking at carribbean med schools? or could I even get into them?

Well, my question is, what makes you think you've changed? What if I applied your classroom behavior to your future career? Show me that you won't do this when you are caring for your patient. You not bothering to show up when required is not any kind of excuse. For example, you not showing up for your patient without making the appropriate provisions would be disastrous. "Yeah, I could have made the necessary and brilliant interventions had I been there," just doesn't cut it. It's pointless to say what would have been "had you tried," that's like saying, "oh, I'm sorry, I most certainly could have prevented the exacerbation of your condition had I bothered to try at all."

You do have a chance, and your past can be overcome, but the burden of proof is on you. Do what must be done. Take General Chemistry II, yet again, this time getting the A. If you haven't taken Organic Chemistry yet, rock those classes, too. Then, take an advanced Inorganic Chemistry class, and show them that you know your stuff. Rock the MCAT. Think of other ways to demonstrate your new commitment, and do them.

Good luck to you.

 

[Trance Ninja]

wow you guys.

I really appreciate everyone's responses. Just the fact that you put that amount of time into even writing out any sort of help for me.

Really because of what has happened, I know I will be lucky to even get into med school... but what is really important to me is that at least one will give me a shot.

I wish I could just cut off previous classes and start over again... but I cant.

I got B's in calculus, general chem 1, and biology 1. It is just because I didnt put any effort into it. I didnt even study. I was told there is a huge difference in the amount of effort taken to get an A as opposed to a B. All I can do is do that.

Ill look in to post bacc school, and talk to my pre-med advisor.

again, thanks a lot 👍

 

[bubabugster]

Good luck, OP!!

 

[Adam638]

I've not been accepted yet, but have been on this board and heard opinions on this from many that have. I think you need to get your s*** together and buckle down from here on out. To be frank, you need to get A's in pretty much the rest of your classes or think post-bacc. If you are seriously considering a career in medicine you need to start acting like it. I don't mean to sound negative but I know people that are complete idiots that get at least a passing grade in lower level classes like that just by ATTENDING CLASS. I can about guarantee you were more concerned with where the party was than where the class was. You also need start getting some great EC's and work/volunteer activities under your belt. People make mistakes and a solid upward trend could show potential. If you want to be a physician you need to show a commitment to medicine. If this is truly your calling then I think you can do it. Go to class, get tutors, do whatever it takes to get there. It's only going to get harder from here on out so you've better be prepared.

 

[Tired]

To the OP:

You may want to re-consider your options at this point. Even if you take all the generic advice offered here, and were able to get straight A's from here on out, you're still going to have a huge mountain to climb over. True, you could go the post-bacc route, then apply. Even then though, you're going to have to do really well on the MCAT, and we haven't even talked about how bad Orgo will be.

This is a lot of years to put in towards a goal that may already be out of reach. As your friends move on to real jobs making decent money, or pursue graduate degrees, you will be trapped in the post-bacc limbo where you aren't really doing anything for your future other than trying to impress a few adcoms. And if you end up with a 27 or lower on the MCAT, you're probably done no matter how many post-bacc classes you take.

Consider giving up on this medicine ****. There are plenty better things to do that will just as fulfilling and probably make you more money. Nobody else will care that you failed chem twice, but for the med schools it's like painting yourself in feces.

 

[Adam638]

I agree and don't agree. If you are in the field of medicine for the money you can make alot more doing things that don't require this much time, effort, and money. As far as Orgo is concerned, it sucks. Consider a tutor right from the start. The MCAT is a huge deal. Don't assume you can do well. I would consider myself very "book smart", but thought it was the worst possible experience I could have gone through. If you are willing to dedicate yourself to medicine, do it. Otherwise, in all seriousness, you need to consider a different field. I guarantee that there are plenty of other fields that can provide you the same level of excitement and compensation that medicine can.

 

[Pipacus]

we haven't even talked about how bad Orgo will be.



orgo is not that bad, ....ok stereochemistry is a bit of a bitch , but the rest of it is sort of like a game....try playing it on a napkin when ur out with friends at a bar or something, and you will realize how much fun chem is in contrast to the mundane fodder that most people occupy themselves with.

 

[Tired]

orgo is not that bad, ....ok stereochemistry is a bit of a bitch , but the rest of it is sort of like a game....try playing it on a napkin when ur out with friends at a bar or something, and you will realize how much fun chem is in contrast to the mundane fodder that most people occupy themselves with.

I was a Chem major, graduated summa cum laude, had a bunch of research awards, and I loved Orgo. ****, I was #1 in my honors Orgo course for both semesters of it. But to say that it's "not that bad" is pretty disingenuous. It's fricking brutal, requires a butt-load of rote memorization, and is notorious for tanking many a pre-med's career ambitions. Conceptually, it's a really neat field of study, but learning all that info over a relatively short period of time is very very difficult.

Among the required pre-med courses, Orgo is definitely the hardest. I really don't think anyone should make serious plans for med school until they have gotten through it.

 

[Adam638]

We all know that Orgo separates the men from the boys (and women from the girls). But to say that it is needed to seriously consider medicine is a joke. The medical school curriculum as well as the MCAT is more anti-orgo than anything. The MCAT has decreased the amt of emphasis placed on Organic to the point of having 1-2 passages per MCAT. Do you need to know the difference between S1 and S2 in order to do well in med school? Hell no. I have talked to numerous physicians who say that they would be lucky to pass an Organic class today. Memorize your **** to do decent in the class, but don't pass your life ambitions on one chemistry course.

 

[Pipacus]

It's fricking brutal, requires a butt-load of rote memorization, and is notorious for tanking many a pre-med's career ambitions. .

rote memorization ????? is that how u study for orgo ???? frikkin sadist ! its about applying concepts to novel situations like any other science class ( expcept bio..thats rote mem. ) .....oh and about your many laurels, have u ever been diagnosed as being a pathological liar or has arrogance robbed you from ur last shred of modesty?

 

[Hassler]

Among the required pre-med courses, Orgo is definitely the hardest. I really don't think anyone should make serious plans for med school until they have gotten through it.

I agree with that. It's never too early to think about med school plans, but talking about whether you can get into med school before you even take Orgo is a little too early. I have premeds asking me whether they can get in while they are struggling through general chem with B's. My answer is always "it's not impossible, but you probably need to start doing better than that!" If you can't even succeed in what I consider the easiest prereq class in general chem, then it's probably a tough road to med school from here on out, because everything will be more difficult than gen chem.

To the OP, you need to focus on getting good grades first. If you start piling up A's, then you will have a good shot. If you don't, then it will be extremely difficult. Right now, you're kind of like being down 3 touchdowns in the first quarter of a football game. It's not impossible for you to comeback, but do you have what it takes?

 

[Dr. Josh]

I agree and don't agree. If you are in the field of medicine for the money you can make alot more doing things that don't require this much time, effort, and money. As far as Orgo is concerned, it sucks. Consider a tutor right from the start. The MCAT is a huge deal. Don't assume you can do well. I would consider myself very "book smart", but thought it was the worst possible experience I could have gone through. If you are willing to dedicate yourself to medicine, do it. Otherwise, in all seriousness, you need to consider a different field. I guarantee that there are plenty of other fields that can provide you the same level of excitement and compensation that medicine can.

when did you take the MCAT? I saw you didn't have it posted on your MD applicants profile. You sound like a stellar applicant; hope you did well on the MCAT because your ECs are so solid. You must have planned to do premed for a very long time. Good luck!

 

[Dr. Josh]

we haven't even talked about how bad Orgo will be.



orgo is not that bad, ....ok stereochemistry is a bit of a bitch , but the rest of it is sort of like a game....try playing it on a napkin when ur out with friends at a bar or something, and you will realize how much fun chem is in contrast to the mundane fodder that most people occupy themselves with.

I talked about it saying i got As in chem 1 and chem 2 as well as most of my sciences and yet pulled a D+ in orgo doing more work in it than all my sciences put together. 🙁