Not great O Chem grade

[Seldon]

I'm currently a rising sophomore in college. When I was a senior in highschool, I took the full sequence of organic chemistry. It was a trimester system and I got a B-, a B-, and a B. Will this keep me out of the best MD/PhD programs?

Since then, I have gotten straight A's in science, am in the honors college, and have accelerated myself so fast through Penn state's biochemistry program that they have needed to make a masters program just for me. Though I have done extremely well, graduate and medical schools will still need to see the old grade and that worries me quite a bit.

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[northernlights15]

I'm currently a rising sophomore in college. When I was a senior in highschool, I took the full sequence of organic chemistry. It was a trimester system and I got a B-, a B-, and a B. Will this keep me out of the best MD/PhD programs?

Since then, I have gotten straight A's in science, am in the honors college, and have accelerated myself so fast through Penn state's biochemistry program that they have needed to make a masters program just for me. Though I have done extremely well, graduate and medical schools will still need to see the old grade and that worries me quite a bit.

No.

 

[efle]

I'm currently a rising sophomore in college. When I was a senior in highschool, I took the full sequence of organic chemistry. It was a trimester system and I got a B-, a B-, and a B. Will this keep me out of the best MD/PhD programs?

Since then, I have gotten straight A's in science, am in the honors college, and have accelerated myself so fast through Penn state's biochemistry program that they have needed to make a masters program just for me. Though I have done extremely well, graduate and medical schools will still need to see the old grade and that worries me quite a bit.

You don't show them your grades from high school

 

[ComputerGuy365]

You don't show them your grades from high school

If it's a college course, it still shows up on the transcript.

 

[Seldon]

It was a college course. My high school didn't offer O Chem, so I had to go the university in the city.

 

[efle]

Ah, gotcha.

Did you ever retake Ochem at your university?

 

[Seldon]

No, I went straight to general biochemistry, which is a 400 level course. I was one of very few who got an A.

 

[efle]

No, I went straight to general biochemistry, which is a 400 level course. I was one of very few who got an A.

Then Ochem will be an easy A for you, you could just take it and ace it to prove the B's weren't representative of you. I only say this for Ochem, because many people view it as the gold standard hardcore class. Have you taken the MCAT?

 

[Seldon]

No, I haven't taken the mcat. I am only just beginning my sophomore year.

I don't really want to retake O Chem, but I will if I must. I am taking a graduate course called Biochemical Reaction mechanisms next semester. Maybe this will be sufficient to prove my O Chem prowess.

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it everyone.

 

[efle]

No, I haven't taken the mcat. I am only just beginning my sophomore year.

I don't really want to retake O Chem, but I will if I must. I am taking a graduate course called Biochemical Reaction mechanisms next semester. Maybe this will be sufficient to prove my O Chem prowess.

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it everyone.

Let me get this straight...you've only completed your freshman year yet are already so accelerated that Penn state has custom designed you a Masters?

If you're handling Biochem and advanced/grad courses, Ochem will not be especially tough, especially as a second visit. May as well knock out any possible doubt.

 

[jb94mg]

Let me get this straight...you've only completed your freshman year yet are already so accelerated that Penn state has custom designed you a Masters?

If you're handling Biochem and advanced/grad courses, Ochem will not be especially tough, especially as a second visit. May as well knock out any possible doubt.

Is getting an A in OChem really that important? I was considering not taking OChem II (given the deemphasis of it MCAT-wise), but I got a B in OChem I, so I feel like it'd be risky to not take it. It seems like taking it and getting an A would do a lot to dispel any concerns. I hate chem labs, but I'm willing to trudge my way through it if it's going to be a deal-breaker on my application. Thoughts?? Would A's in Physics I and II even make up for a B in OChem?

 

[22031 Alum]

As a freshman I made a B- in both Calc and Orgo 1, then a B in Orgo 2. See my current badges. You'll all be fine.

 

[Grace184]

You got Bs???? Say it ain't so!! I'm kidding, you'll be fine, don't risk retaking the class and doing worse. Keep on moving forward.

 

[efle]

Is getting an A in OChem really that important? I was considering not taking OChem II (given the deemphasis of it MCAT-wise), but I got a B in OChem I, so I feel like it'd be risky to not take it. It seems like taking it and getting an A would do a lot to dispel any concerns. I hate chem labs, but I'm willing to trudge my way through it if it's going to be a deal-breaker on my application. Thoughts?? Would A's in Physics I and II even make up for a B in OChem?

I believe most med schools require a full year of organic chemistry with lab anyways, but yes Ochem is important as the traditional difficult weedout class. There's essentially nothing better to have A's in than Ochem