Just looking for some advice

[studentdoctor2021]

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Hi all!

I know you guys see a lot of these and I should already know the answer to this, but I'm just sort of freaking out. I finished my freshman year at a top college with a pretty decent GPA and I was happy with myself, even though it wouldn't have gotten me into my dream medical schools. I was looking forward to and feeling confident that I'd be able to raise it. However, I am taking Physics 1 and 2 at my home university, which isn't a great university, and the professors teaching this summer never even showed up, and we didn't learn anything and I had to teach myself. I just took one of my finals that the teacher got off from somewhere online, most of the class (including myself) failed, and since the final was worth 45% of my grade, my A dropped to a C.

Now, I know this isn't the end of the world. BUT this is just so frustrating. I mean I worked my ass off in Organic Chemistry to get an A-, and I get a C in physics? I know I understand the material too, I just really made a mistake not taking it at the college I attend (I did this so I could study abroad, and now I'm not feeling too happy about that either). The real problem is Physics 2 is taught by the same awful professor, and I would be okay if I knew I could get an A in physics 2 but I'm worried it'll be another C. I don't know what to do? Of course I'm going to try my hardest, but I'm just really frustrated.

Do I have to get all As and A-s from now on to make up for this? Any other advice? I really just want to get into med schools in PA, MA, NY, OH, and it seems like most medical schools have a median accepted GPA of a 3.7, which is about 100 times harder to get now. I'm from NC though so I don't have any in-state advantage, but I'd really like to stay up north which is where I am right now.

 

[trobinsonmd]

I had the same experience in undergrad with physics... the best thing you can do is move on from the C, don't make excuses, find out what you can do better to improve, and just make a plan and execute it. One C will not kill you and, just focus on killing it from here on out, and try your best to get a high MCAT grade and you will be in solid shape. If you want, take the second semester of physics at community college during the summer. Some will argue that it does not look good to the adcom to take the second half of a science pre-req at a CC... I think if you take it over the summer, it won't look AS bad... and an A is a lot better than a potential C...another C will really damage your sGPA.

 

[MonkeyArrow]

Is there a way you can not take Physics 2 over the summer and take it at your home institution with who you feel is going to be a better professor? Drop, withdraw, or whatever else is available to you.

 

[studentdoctor2021]

@MonkeyArrow I can, I haven't considered that though because it sort of messes up my plans for the next few semesters. I did all this so I could study abroad, and I might still be able to, but I'd have to take 3 sciences in one semester (I'm a bio major, chem minor). Is that worth it?

 

[studentdoctor2021]

I have another important question ----

I have realized that the physics 2 calculus based course offered at the summer institution back home is taught by the same professor in the same style, so chances are I'll be risking a C. I have decided not take physics 2 anymore.

However, I don't know whether I should continue by taking physics 2 (but the algebra based version!) at the same summer institution at home or continue physics 2 (calculus based) at my actual college. I would prefer to do the algebra based version because it wastes less time and fits into the schedule I have already laid out, unless it looks really bad and looks like I just dropped from calculus to algebra based physics because I couldn't handle it. I'm also worried that it doesn't ever make up for the C.

But, taking it at my regular college means I have to shift so many of my classes around and I might not be able to minor in a few things, and I might have to take like 3 together one semester, which is also a pain in the butt and I would definitely not be getting an A at the end.

Ideas?

 

[gyngyn]

Do you study entirely alone? Study groups can make a difference.
It's time to make an appointment with the learning skills specialist at your school.
You may need change your style of study to something that suits you better.

 

[studentdoctor2021]

Do you study entirely alone? Study groups can make a difference.
It's time to make an appointment with the learning skills specialist at your school.
You may need change your style of study to something that suits you better.

@gyngyn I completely agree! However, I'm studying the same way I have for all previous science courses (including orgo, gen chem, bio 1, 2, calculus, stats) and I don't think I will be able to achieve an A if I continue to take the Physics calculus based course that I was signed up to take over the summer. I think I'd do a lot better if it was the algebra based, but again, I'm not sure how bad that looks.

If the only way to improve is to return to my college and take the 2nd physics course over the year, then I can probably do that. I don't think I want to risk another C at this institution.

 

[MissGamerMD]

I have little to contribute other than that I got a C+ in organic chemistry the first time I took it, then retook it for my A.
That was on my transcript and I got in to medical school the first application.
So, it may be miserable to get a poor grade, but you can certainly recover. If you can take it with a better professor (one at your home institution), I would probably do that.

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn I completely agree! However, I'm studying the same way I have for all previous science courses (including orgo, gen chem, bio 1, 2, calculus, stats) and I don't think I will be able to achieve an A if I continue to take the Physics calculus based course that I was signed up to take over the summer. I think I'd do a lot better if it was the algebra based, but again, I'm not sure how bad that looks.

If the only way to improve is to return to my college and take the 2nd physics course over the year, then I can probably do that. I don't think I want to risk another C at this institution.

You don't even need calculus for most schools...
Nobody cares if you took algebra based physics!

 

[studentdoctor2021]

You don't even need calculus for most schools...
Nobody cares if you took algebra based physics!

I agree, but I'm worried that it looks bad if I go down from calculus to algebra based. Like I took calc based physics 1 and got a C, so if I get an A in algebra based physics 2, doesn't that look like I avoided the challenge?

 

[gyngyn]

I agree, but I'm worried that it looks bad if I go down from calculus to algebra based. Like I took calc based physics 1 and got a C, so if I get an A in algebra based physics 2, doesn't that look like I avoided the challenge?

Nobody cares.
There are plenty of worthwhile challenges. This doesn't need to be yours.