One Really Bad Semester...

[deleted92121]

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So this past semester has been REALLY bad...I am more than likely going to pick up a few F's, one in an economics class, and the others may be Principles of Bio and A&P II.

I'm not one to make excuses but it has been a very rough semester for a few reasons outside of my control, but they sill affected me greatly (fought depression for alot of the semester). I have used this semester as a time to really decide on what I wanted to do with my life, where I want to be, and in general I have grown and matured.

I will be transferring to a school back home and earning my BS there while working as an EMT. So long as I do well in future classes, including the retakes of this semester, should I have a good shot of getting into a med school. Obviously doing very well in classes, scoring high on the MCAT, and having good ECs will help me, but am I hurt a great deal because of this semester?

Thanks a ton!
dxu

 

[mletter]

Can you change the grade mode for the classes you think you might get F's in to an audit grade mode?? If there is an option like that at the university you are at then you need to do that! There should be an option like that available to you until the end of the semester, with the aproval of the prof. and the dean. Avoid the F's, especially in Bio, at all cost!! 😱

 

[DoctorMom78]

Is there any way that you can withdraw? The F in bio classes is going to look really bad. Sure, you can retake it, but that F will still be on your transript. If you can't do anything about the grade, try not to stress and just do your best with everything else. I know a lot of people who have dealt with depression and it really sucks! I highly recommend taking an SSRI or something and seeing someone if you are not doing this already. It is amazing how good you will feel if you get the proper treatment. Also, I wouldn't talk much about the depression when you apply. I know this sounds awful, but it is true. There is SO MUCH stigma towards mental illness. Even though I truly believe that mental illness is no different from any other type of disease and it just needs to be treated with medication, most people do not share this belief. Instead, it is viewed as a weakness and a flaw in your personality instead of an actual biologically based disease. I would just try to get everything together, retake the classes, and work on everything else and hopefully it will all work out for you. GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[deleted92121]

I have not taken any higher-level bios, only Bio I and A&P I and II (I got a C in the first one) and I have taken Physics I (got a B) and Stats (once again a C).

I have spent too much time dicking around and not being serious, floating adrift without any real direction other than the medical field. I tried to fight off not wanting to become a physician but I cant. Its the only thing I truly want to do.

I am hoping that by retaking the two classes and doing very well in the other pre-reqs (o-chem, physics, gen chem, etc) that I can boost my credibility and show that this semester was a one-time thing...if that makes any sense. I am pretty sure I can no longer audit any courses, unless I talk to the Dean or Profs...i'm not too sure.

dxu

 

[dr.z]

So this past semester has been REALLY bad...I am more than likely going to pick up a few F's, one in an economics class, and the others may be Principles of Bio and A&P II.

I'm not one to make excuses but it has been a very rough semester for a few reasons outside of my control, but they sill affected me greatly (fought depression for alot of the semester). I have used this semester as a time to really decide on what I wanted to do with my life, where I want to be, and in general I have grown and matured.

I will be transferring to a school back home and earning my BS there while working as an EMT. So long as I do well in future classes, including the retakes of this semester, should I have a good shot of getting into a med school. Obviously doing very well in classes, scoring high on the MCAT, and having good ECs will help me, but am I hurt a great deal because of this semester?

Thanks a ton!
dxu

I think if you can improve in the future and your MCAT score is decent, I wouldn't worry about one bad semester.

 

[Kuba]

I had one bad semester and 1 poor semester. I got a good MCAT score and so far have 1 acceptance.

 

[Cat48100]

I have not taken any higher-level bios, only Bio I and A&P I and II (I got a C in the first one) and I have taken Physics I (got a B) and Stats (once again a C).

I have spent too much time dicking around and not being serious, floating adrift without any real direction other than the medical field. I tried to fight off not wanting to become a physician but I cant. Its the only thing I truly want to do.

I am hoping that by retaking the two classes and doing very well in the other pre-reqs (o-chem, physics, gen chem, etc) that I can boost my credibility and show that this semester was a one-time thing...if that makes any sense. I am pretty sure I can no longer audit any courses, unless I talk to the Dean or Profs...i'm not too sure.

dxu

Without going into much detail, I had sick family members that I had to take care of during my undergrad and it affected my grades. Once they were able to get better, my grades improved tremendously. I never failed a class but I had semesters that were disappointing. If you can avoid an F, do so. If you are struggling in classes you are in now, then remember, the final can make or break your grades. There have been classes during my undergrad where I got the good grade I got solely because of the final. You still have the rest of your undergrad, so if you have now just realized that you truly want to become a doctor, use it to get the best grade you can. Take an MCAT prep course. Get involved in extracurricular activities, begin to work or volunteer at a hospital. I don't know how far along you are in your education, but if you haven't taken any upper division science courses, then you must be early on so you still have time to turn things around.

 

[deleted92121]

Without going into much detail, I had sick family members that I had to take care of during my undergrad and it affected my grades. Once they were able to get better, my grades improved tremendously. I never failed a class but I had semesters that were disappointing. If you can avoid an F, do so. If you are struggling in classes you are in now, then remember, the final can make or break your grades. There have been classes during my undergrad where I got the good grade I got solely because of the final. You still have the rest of your undergrad, so if you have now just realized that you truly want to become a doctor, use it to get the best grade you can. Take an MCAT prep course. Get involved in extracurricular activities, begin to work or volunteer at a hospital. I don't know how far along you are in your education, but if you haven't taken any upper division science courses, then you must be early on so you still have time to turn things around.

I guess I can come clean and admit that the past few years (I'm a junior) that I have been in a serious relationship. I look back at it as a learning experience more than a mistake (it ended this semester after three years...she cheated and yadda yadda yadda). She was the one that told me she wouldnt stick with me through medical school. Well stupid puppy love made me stupid and I stuck with her. Needless to say it prevented me from accomplishing my goals.

Now that I finally have my head on right and I have grown and matured, I am ready to get serious and focus on the most important thing to me: becoming a physician. I am hoping that my immaturity will not completely ruin my chances and that by retaking my Bio I and maybe A&P course, I can help myself. I am really just starting my prereqs and hopefully will be done in 3-4 semesters. I am not rushing this, my goal is to get good grades and do well on the MCAT, as well as have some EC's that stand out.

dxu