One EXTRA HUGE problem

[Iamnumber24]

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Past couple days I've been very very down. I'm about to be a Junior in college and all my statistics look okay except one huge huge issue. Last week I withdrew from calculus for the 4th time (yes 4th time I know thats pretty sad) in my undergraduate career. I just have not been able to grasp the subject. But as for my other BCPM stats I have a BCPM gpa of 3.62 and an overall of 3.44. As foe EC's I have over 1500 total volunteer hours from 2 hospitals that I've been volunteering at since the spring semester of my freshman year, I spent the summer before my sophmore year volunteering alot which is why the hours are as much as they are. I also have observed 12 diferent surgeries (A perk that volunteers at my hospital get if they want it), I also plan on getting EMT certified pretty soon so I can work as an EMT, I am a member of 4 different clubs at my school but i dont play any major role in any of them, I am multi-lingual I speak 3 languagges, and I'm a minority born in South Africa.

So my question is how will that W in calculus 4 times make me look? will schools be afraid to give me a chance? Have you ever heard of anyone get accepted with my same issue? Any thhoughts and opinions would be highly appreciated


Thanks

 

[Blade28]

Rock the MCAT and keep improving your GPA, and you should be OK.

Edit: I thought in your other threads you said you're a freshman? 😕

 

[BluePhoenix]

You may want to consider applying to schools that don't require calculus.

Otherwise...

Are you withdrawing because you're failing or are you withdrawing because you're going to get a C? If you could still pass it with a C or better, suck it up, take the bad but passing grade and move on. Otherwise, you need to make sure you've exhausted all your options in terms of tutoring, studying, etc. For the most part, calculus is just a matter of following the rules. If you can do physics and gen. chem and orgo, you should be able to pass calculus. Seek help and do as many sample problems as you can. From the beginning of the course, have a tutor, make sure you understand what was taught each day. Math has a tendency to build on previous lessons, so if you fall behind, you're going to have a hard time doing the rest of the work. Consider taking a pre-calculus class if you need more background instruction. Sometimes, if you're really stuck in a math class...try to focus more on learning the rules and less on trying to understand exactly why. You generally don't need to understand the gritty details of the theory behind integration to know how to go about doing the problems.

 

[Mobius1985]

You may want to consider applying to schools that don't require calculus.

And many medical schools allow you to take Statistics instead of Calc.

 

[pianola]

On that note, do they require calc III or just any calculus course(s)?

I took up to calc II and I'm not interested in checking out calc III myself unless absolutely necesary.

 

[Fibroblastman]

You may want to consider applying to schools that don't require calculus.

Otherwise...

Are you withdrawing because you're failing or are you withdrawing because you're going to get a C? If you could still pass it with a C or better, suck it up, take the bad but passing grade and move on. Otherwise, you need to make sure you've exhausted all your options in terms of tutoring, studying, etc. For the most part, calculus is just a matter of following the rules. If you can do physics and gen. chem and orgo, you should be able to pass calculus. Seek help and do as many sample problems as you can. From the beginning of the course, have a tutor, make sure you understand what was taught each day. Math has a tendency to build on previous lessons, so if you fall behind, you're going to have a hard time doing the rest of the work. Consider taking a pre-calculus class if you need more background instruction. Sometimes, if you're really stuck in a math class...try to focus more on learning the rules and less on trying to understand exactly why. You generally don't need to understand the gritty details of the theory behind integration to know how to go about doing the problems.

I completely agree.

Don't let Calculus I haunt you and your dreams. Math is like a foreign language; you have to really practice to do well. Study your butt off, destroy (or pass) Calculus I, go to medical school.

 

[engineeredout]

On that note, do they require calc III or just any calculus course(s)?

I took up to calc II and I'm not interested in checking out calc III myself unless absolutely necesary.

Nah they'll never require a premed to take calc III. At my school premeds have to take I and II but thats it.

I personally found calc III easier than II though.

 

[pianola]

Nah they'll never require a premed to take calc III. At my school premeds have to take I and II but thats it.

I personally found calc III easier than II though.

Thanks for your answer 🙂 Yeah I made the mistake of tacking Calc III onto a 20-credit-hour load ( = 24 credit hours). Needless to say I dropped the course like a hot potato (not ever marked on my transcript, fortunately). After an experience like that, I'm really not sure I want to take the course again!