Only taking 10 units for this semester

[emilyskates]

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Hi everyone. So I recently got my first ochem midterm score back and it was terrible. I was several points under the average, which means that I will struggle to get even a B-, which would ruin my GPA. I am annoyed because I know that I am much better than what happened on that test, and I just made a slew of really weird errors, which I do know is my fault. I am deciding whether or not to submit a late drop petition, and just take this class over the summer. It would put me at only 10 units for this semester, which is embarrassing and possibly a huge red flag for adcoms. I've never taken under 13 units before. Last semester, I took an arguably much heavier course load, 16 units with 13 units of technicals and was just fine (well, I did get a B+ in physics. But tbh I could've taken only physics and still wouldn't have received an A), so I truly don't know what happened to me this semester. I do have some extenuating circumstances, as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer recently and I have flown across the country to see her a few times, but I know this was my fault and I screwed up. My grades up until this semester have been alright (overall GPA - 3.89, science GPA - 3.9), and I know that if I retook this class, I could probably do fine because my issue wasn't lack of understanding, so the main question is if the one 10 unit semester will be a huge concern.

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

Don't use the excuse, it makes it seem like you need to explain why you got a B. Personally a B in my eyes looks better than a withdrawal. Also, getting a B, isn't as bad as you think. I'm sure admissions committee don't even look at it twice. Talk to your professor, see if you guys can arrange something to where this grade is dropped if you perform well on the rest of the exams. Then, get an A in 2nd semester orgo. Please don't drop. It really isn't worth the money or the time. Just go make up for with outstanding extracurriculars (not too much, make sure your grades are still good!) and a killer MCAT score.

 

[emilyskates]

@PhilzCoffeeAddict Thanks for your response! Unfortunately, I'm not even sure if I can get a B. A B- would be like, best case scenario. I'm getting a C most likely, which I think might be pretty bad and because I know I can do so much better than a C. I don't think the committee would see the withdrawal, though, because it's a dropped class? Wouldn't they just see an abnormally light course load? I just don't know which would be worse--the C or the abnormally light course load. And yeah, I didn't really want to use the excuse anyway because I know that wasn't the real reason.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Be sure to take into account how being a part time student (I’m assuming 12hrs is full time) might effect you with regards to housing or financial aid

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

At my school, a withdrawal appears on our transcript. Check with your school. If I was on the committee I would assume a withdrawal is basically a D or failing. That's my opinion. I hope more people will chime in though to give your a different perspective.

 

[HomeSkool]

I will struggle to get even a B-, which would ruin my GPA

Then my GPA is double-ruined. DAMMIT THERE GOES THE DREAM.

I am deciding whether or not to submit a late drop petition, and just take this class over the summer.

If I were looking at a max B- in this course, that's what I would do. Be aware, though, that the class will be more intense over an abbreviated summer term, and it should probably be the only course you take.

It would put me at only 10 units for this semester, which is embarrassing and possibly a huge red flag for adcoms.

Not if you fill the time by stepping up your volunteering and shadowing hours. Mediocre grades in an important prereq are a bigger red flag.

I do have some extenuating circumstances, as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer recently

I'm sorry to hear that. 🙁

If I was on the committee I would assume a withdrawal is basically a D or failing.

That's not how adcoms see it. They see a W as a W, and it's good judgment to cut your losses if the alternative is underperformance. Life happens, people have to withdraw from classes all the time, and as long as it doesn't become a habit adcoms won't bat an eye.