Might be in trouble...

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IcemanDDS

Dr of Dental Shadowing
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Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?

it should be ok. pass it and move on. take upper division classes and prove u can get a B or better. more important, take at least 6-9 units of sciences in any semester to prove u can get thru ur classes. in dental school, they care that u can handle the load and PASS! when u take the DATs, u should prove that u can score high.
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?

you're screwed! no jk i don't know but i read somewhere that if you are retaking a class you should do two whole grades better the second time around, im not sure thought thats what i was told to do when i was retaking orgo II...
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?

you could just take it at a community college.......
 
JamesD said:
you could just take it at a community college.......
Well I dont think that would look any better. Take it twice and get no better than a C, then go take it at a cc. If worse comes to worse I'll take it a THIRD time in the fall semester. I guess getting an A in the class the third go around is better than never....
 
IcemanDDS said:
Well I dont think that would look any better. Take it twice and get no better than a C, then go take it at a cc. If worse comes to worse I'll take it a THIRD time in the fall semester. I guess getting an A in the class the third go around is better than never....

do not take the damn class again take the C and move on! if the adcoms look badly upon those who took the dat 3 times you could imagine how they would look at your file if you took organic 3 times...take a biochem class or some other upper level that is perceived as being a more difficult class and get an A, don't spend your money like that! 🙁 Study hard and if u can pull a C+ you're ok...
 
Nendo21 said:
do not take the damn class again take the C and move on! if the adcoms look badly upon those who took the dat 3 times you could imagine how they would look at your file if you took organic 3 times...take a biochem class or some other upper level that is perceived as being a more difficult class and get an A, don't spend your money like that! 🙁 Study hard and if u can pull a C+ you're ok...
Well I guess you're right. I'm starting to worry myself grey that if I make ONE more bad grade than its all over. My GPA is "beyond repair" one might say, so I cant afford to get anything but A's really. So a C in a retake just looks that much worse, its like I'm taking steps in the WRONG direction, which I am. But I guess the grade I get is what I deserve, and I'll try to make up for it in the orgo section of the DAT.
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?

So you still have 2 tests left? Thats still a lot of points to be had. I still think that you can get a B if you do well on the next 2 tests and ride the curve. You might have to put other classes on hold though, but I think getting a decent grade in orgo is more important.

good luck.

do lots and lots of practice problems!!!
 
budge311 said:
So you still have 2 tests left? Thats still a lot of points to be had. I still think that you can get a B if you do well on the next 2 tests and ride the curve. You might have to put other classes on hold though, but I think getting a decent grade in orgo is more important.

good luck.

do lots and lots of practice problems!!!
Yes I do have the chance to get a B but based on the last 2 exams, thats a stretch. Class is out of 360 pts. 60 pts for quizzes and 300 for exams (4 exams, drop lowest). So like I said I gotta get 95 avg on the last 2 exams to get a B :scared: . And this prof grades like nothing I've ever seen. For example on an aldol condensation, I forgot to put in a double bond on the product. The question was worth 5 points and I got -4. One point for getting it right except a double bond! +pissed+ Stuff like that adds up to a pretty poor test score. All I can do is practice practice practice and hope for the best.
 
IcemanDDS said:
Yes I do have the chance to get a B but based on the last 2 exams, thats a stretch. Class is out of 360 pts. 60 pts for quizzes and 300 for exams (4 exams, drop lowest). So like I said I gotta get 95 avg on the last 2 exams to get a B :scared: . And this prof grades like nothing I've ever seen. For example on an aldol condensation, I forgot to put in a double bond on the product. The question was worth 5 points and I got -4. One point for getting it right except a double bond! +pissed+ Stuff like that adds up to a pretty poor test score. All I can do is practice practice practice and hope for the best.

well thats what organic is a lot of tiny important details a double bond separates one reaction from another...focus when you study and you can totally do it when you're studying reactions its important to write them over and over until you memorize that crap...Just don't give up 👍
 
I hate to be the only naysayer, but with your GPA, you're going to need every A you can get. As you start accumulating more units, every grade you get won't change your GPA by much at all. You're gonna have to get As from now on, not only in courses you're repeating, but more difficult upper division courses. You have to prove to adcoms that you've improved and have put the bad study habits behind you.

Tough call on the o-chem class. I would say go to as many office hours as possible, usually you can get insight on how the prof thinks and what he'll test on. And then study your ass off. Make this be the last B you ever get. 👍
 
crazy_sherm said:
I hate to be the only naysayer, but with your GPA, you're going to need every A you can get. As you start accumulating more units, every grade you get won't change your GPA by much at all. You're gonna have to get As from now on, not only in courses you're repeating, but more difficult upper division courses. You have to prove to adcoms that you've improved and have put the bad study habits behind you.

Tough call on the o-chem class. I would say go to as many office hours as possible, usually you can get insight on how the prof thinks and what he'll test on. And then study your ass off. Make this be the last B you ever get. 👍
I agree. Maybe you should look at other medical professions. Unfortunately, although you may be the next great dentist, you may not get the chance because of your stats. Keep working hard!!
 
Just do the best you can. Remember that AADSAS takes + and - grades . . . maybe that will help some.

I agree with what was said earlier. Take upper division classes to raise your GPA. I would not try to get a better grade in O-Chem II after this semester. O-Chem is very hard (we all got bad grades, trust me). In fact, that would make a good poll. I got the lowest grade of my career in that class (except for my F . . . I once got an F in an electrical engineering class--and the sad thing is that I tried really hard 🙂 )
 
dude, you're fine. take as many easy classes as possible (eg retake all the easy classes you know for sure you'll get an a in) and don't be afraid to repeat classes, because AADSAS doesn't average grades. you can 100% get in, but that depends on you.

play every angle as possible, like james d said go to a cc but make sure your teacher is not satan and you can do this via research (eg asking students). education is kind of like a game, if you use as many rules to your benefit, the easier it will turn out to be. in other words, getting into dental school is more than just about grades.

it might take you years to recover from the academic downfall (eg you need to demonstrate two consecutive years of above average academic work in challenging science and non science classes), but if you adjust your life to accomodate your goals you should come out fine.

if i were you this is what i'd do:

1) remain in school until I (a) graduate and (b) maintain two consecutive years (60 semester units) of +3.5 GPA work

2) since I'm adventurous, I would enlist in Peace Corps' MPH program and work alongside children in Fiji
[- i would consolidate my educational loans now (if already graduated) and place all of them loans in deferment while in the Peace Corps]

3) Retrun from Peace Corps duty and enroll in a PhD program that pays me $$$ OR get a health related job that utilizes my MPH (eg working in an underserved community)

-At this time I would study for the DAT and apply. I met a lady who got into UCLA with a low GPA, yet had a very interesting life (she volunteered in the Peace Corps).

Therefore, as the Navy says "Step into the Blue", j/k

You have to live a life worth getting you into dental school. Dental schools want to know that you will be a succesful dentist, so you have to show it to them by action.
 
Ok well while I'm re-earning my biology degree, I might get a job at Home Depot b/c they have a tuition reimbursement program 👍
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok well while I'm re-earning my biology degree, I might get a job at Home Depot b/c they have a tuition reimbursement program 👍

If you can, don't take a job at Home Depot when you are getting C on o-chem.
Study!!!

I am sure your Prof. is different from mine but I got As on o-chem I and II, so here's my advice.
Think of o-chem as some logic games. Understand the rules and properties well and don't memorize reactions. Let the rules lead you to solve reactions. It's like solving puzzles.
O-chem can be fun.
 
IcemanDDS said:
Ok as some of you know, I'm taking more undergrad classes right now to bring up GPA and impress certain people. I'm retaking organic II because I got a D the first time, in spring of 2002. The problem is, I'm looking at getting a C this second time around. I can get a B if I make like a 95 on the next two tests, but this prof grades like SATAN. Have I blown it if I get a C on a retake? How will adcoms look at this? I'm worried I'm digging a deeper hole with this stupid class. Help?


why are you wasting your time online?
you still have 2 exam left.
get off the computer and go study, dummy.
at least for me...organic was something i had to invest time in.

best thing for you to do is to lock your computer up until after the final and go live in the library.
 
Ok I was kidding about the Home Depot job. I also have a boost of confidence because I talked to a guy who had that prof last semester. Guy said the prof will curve final averages somewhat. Also if he sees a trend of improvement in exam grades he'll bump you up in the end. So if I do well on these last two exams, he should help me out a bit. This guy had an 87.5 average at the end of the semester and he got an A. This is GOOD news. So, thanks for the info guys, gotta study!! :horns:
 
Well its final, gonna get a C in Orgo II the second time around 😱 😱 😱 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡
 
What happen man? Satan struck again??? I guess you never have any luck on your side. Well, hopefully you can get like a 23 in the Orgo section of DAT to redeem yourself!

IcemanDDS said:
Well its final, gonna get a C in Orgo II the second time around 😱 😱 😱 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡
 
The Musketeer said:
What happen man? Satan struck again??? I guess you never have any luck on your side. Well, hopefully you can get like a 23 in the Orgo section of DAT to redeem yourself!
Man I am PISSED. I could NOT get a good grade in that class no matter how hard I tried! This is by far the hardest professor I've EVER had. I even took a practice DAT and scored 20 on the orgo! 😡 😡 😡 So you think a good score on orgo would make up for POOR grades in orgo? :scared:
 
yes good score on the DAT would go a ways to make up for poor grades, but for the purposes of redeeming a <3.0 GPA, 20 is not good enough.
 
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