Need advice on retaking courses (with C's, C-'s and C+'s)

[bngli]

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So my pre-med career has been disastrous - I have 1 C+ (Gen. Bio), 3 C's (Gen Chem I/II), 1 C- (Orgo I), and a D+ (Genetics). My gpa is right around a 3.0 and my sGpa is around 2.5. I have a high possibility of getting C's in Orgo 2 and Physics I this semester. I realize that the strongest recommendation may be to just give up on med school with these grades, but I am clinging on to the hope that I will get my act together my junior and senior year and pursue SMP/Post-bacc for a year or two afterwards. Do you guys think that terrible freshman/sophomore pre-req grades can be made up with junior/senior/1 year of postbacc-SMP?

On to my question...
I have this summer to try and get my study habits to par - I want to retake Orgo I/II, but my college does not allow retakes to be done for courses I have earned credit on (meaning it will count as zero credits). I know I have to retake Orgo I for sure, so should I retake it at my current school or should I take it a local school (that is somewhat easier and lower in prestige). The only thing stopping me from retaking it at my school is the cost (2-3x what it would be at the local school), I don't mind the difficulty and am prepared to dedicating my entire summer to ensuring I get my study skills and academic career up to par.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

So my pre-med career has been disastrous - I have 1 C+ (Gen. Bio), 3 C's (Gen Chem I/II), 1 C- (Orgo I), and a D+ (Genetics). My gpa is right around a 3.0 and my sGpa is around 2.5. I have a high possibility of getting C's in Orgo 2 and Physics I this semester. I realize that the strongest recommendation may be to just give up on med school with these grades, but I am clinging on to the hope that I will get my act together my junior and senior year and pursue SMP/Post-bacc for a year or two afterwards. Do you guys think that terrible freshman/sophomore pre-req grades can be made up with junior/senior/1 year of postbacc-SMP?

On to my question...
I have this summer to try and get my study habits to par - I want to retake Orgo I/II, but my college does not allow retakes to be done for courses I have earned credit on (meaning it will count as zero credits). I know I have to retake Orgo I for sure, so should I retake it at my current school or should I take it a local school (that is somewhat easier and lower in prestige). The only thing stopping me from retaking it at my school is the cost (2-3x what it would be at the local school), I don't mind the difficulty and am prepared to dedicating my entire summer to ensuring I get my study skills and academic career up to par.

What do you guys suggest?

I would suggest going osteopathic (D.O.) They have grade replacement. But you will have to retake all of them and do well. Go to your adviser and ask them about it. But as for allopathic (M.D.) the chance is very small. 🙁 But good luck!🙂

 

[bngli]

Do I have a chance for SMP+Allopathic though? Or is that sunk as well? Since I've screwed up for 2 years, would 2 years of undergrad and SMP be enough to make for it?

 

[Swartzlehman]

X

 

[nixonshead]

hi im on the same boat,*i just finished a BS in bio with theses grades:
chem b, c
orgo c, d
phys b, c
a & p b, b
cell bio c
histo b

overall gpa is at 3.1
i struggled because i was surviving off of 4 hours of sleep on a good night since i was an athlete, and has practicing for 25 hours a week and exhausted all the time. My final semester was all a's and b's (i was done with athletics, go figure). I feel i can tackle the most difficult material and need a way to show that when i have the time, i can do it. What is the best manner to show i am capable of success in med school? retaking it all? or getting a masters? any advice?

 

[citrusguy2010]

definitely retake the C-'s and lower. i had similar situations as you guys (well 2 C's and 3 C+'s) in undergrad life science (biology), biochemistry, and genetics classes. the advice i can give you is to take some time and separate when you apply for med school and when you graduate undergrad. maybe do a postbacc or even another degree in between and then apply. i did that and i got 3 early interviews, 2 late interviews (at schools that I had no business getting interviews at) - so far one acceptance and waiting to hear back from the other schools.

long story short - if you're committed and willing and dedicated - you can get to where you want to go. it's doable.

 

[nixonshead]

thanks for the tips citrusguy20.

i am only 21 and i plan on waiting, living, growing up a bit while preparing to apply, maybe in 2013 to start in 2014. I want to really show that i have grown, and can handle the work and stress. What did you do to strengthen your application?, and if you dont mind sharing what was your gpa after undergrad?

is allopathic out of the question? (did you make it into any allopathic schools?)

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

hi im on the same boat,*i just finished a BS in bio with theses grades:
chem b, c
orgo c, d
phys b, c
a & p b, b
cell bio c
histo b

overall gpa is at 3.1
i struggled because i was surviving off of 4 hours of sleep on a good night since i was an athlete, and has practicing for 25 hours a week and exhausted all the time. My final semester was all a's and b's (i was done with athletics, go figure). I feel i can tackle the most difficult material and need a way to show that when i have the time, i can do it. What is the best manner to show i am capable of success in med school? retaking it all? or getting a masters? any advice?

To threadjacker,
Don't do a masters. Waste of time. GPA is low, even for DO, but that's the least bit of your worries. Your grades in science classes are disastrous! I would suggest Retakes becuase MD is out of the questions as of now. Start with gen chem II and move your way up to orgo, then your physics II.

 

[nixonshead]

then try osteopathic?

 

[Swartzlehman]

X

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Yup. Then try for DO because of their grade replacement policy. MD averages your grades, so even after retaking those courses you would find your GPA too low.

This. It really is the only way. Don't worry about a masters. Maybe a postbacc though.

 

[nixonshead]

yeah ive got my sights on an osteopathic program that has a post bac program. if you do well it sets you up to have a good chance to get in

 

[TriagePreMed]

Do I have a chance for SMP+Allopathic though? Or is that sunk as well? Since I've screwed up for 2 years, would 2 years of undergrad and SMP be enough to make for it?

You're not even good enough for the Caribbean right now. Worry about your grades and re-visit where you have chances if you make a comeback. Realistically, it might be best for you to look into Podiatry or other fields.

 

[nixonshead]

to the OP: there needs to be a definite change in your transcript at a point it time. If you are going to speak about the fact that your habits, etc changed, it needs to be blatantly obvious to anyone who sees it. A PA school i spoke with liked that I had a 1.0 difference between the semesters before and after I cleaned up my act after deciding to go to grad school.