Orgo Grades?

[member12352225]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So last year, as a freshman at a top 20 university, I got a C+ in orgo first quarter and a B+ second quarter. After the second quarter grade, I thought I was in the clear, because people say that second quarter is the hardest. However, I wound up having to drop third quarter. I think it might be somewhat obvious on my transcript that I did so, because students usually take four classes a quarter, and I only had grades for three classes. My advisors recommended not taking third quarter over the summer at my university because the summer sequence is notoriously hellish and really no place for someone who had any trouble with orgo at all. So at my state school, which has a fairly good reputation for science and a good medical school, I took the whole second semester of orgo and lab (Since they're not on the quarter system) and I received A's in both. I'm wondering how these grades, C+ first quarter, B+ second quarter, A second semester at a school that's not easy, but easier, would look to a med school. I'm also a little worried because I'd naturally already covered some of that orgo II state school course in my second quarter orgo class, so it would look like I had an advantage to getting the A, which I guess is true... any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

 

[alerk323]

So last year, as a freshman at a top 20 university, I got a C+ in orgo first quarter and a B+ second quarter. After the second quarter grade, I thought I was in the clear, because people say that second quarter is the hardest. However, I wound up having to drop third quarter. I think it might be somewhat obvious on my transcript that I did so, because students usually take four classes a quarter, and I only had grades for three classes. My advisors recommended not taking third quarter over the summer at my university because the summer sequence is notoriously hellish and really no place for someone who had any trouble with orgo at all. So at my state school, which has a fairly good reputation for science and a good medical school, I took the whole second semester of orgo and lab (Since they're not on the quarter system) and I received A's in both. I'm wondering how these grades, C+ first quarter, B+ second quarter, A second semester at a school that's not easy, but easier, would look to a med school. I'm also a little worried because I'd naturally already covered some of that orgo II state school course in my second quarter orgo class, so it would look like I had an advantage to getting the A, which I guess is true... any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Won't help but with a strong application it won't break you. One of my friends is a student interviewer at Albany Med, and one thing he said is that they usually circle orgo grades, so those grades do count for more at some schools at least.

 

[NightGod]

Did you transfer to the state school or only take the one class there? Assuming you transferred, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It might look hinky if you just took a single class, though.

 

[anon242]

.

 

[member12352225]

just took a single class there.... x.x It did make more sense monetarily, since the one at my school would have cost significantly more, but yeah. Crap. I was wondering how much I'd look like a school-hopper. My advisor told me it wouldn't matter since it was just one class, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[kpcrew]

oh ma gaw a top 20 university! u so smart!

 

[Hemorrage]

oh ma gaw a top 20 university! u so smart!

im assuming your bitter about not making it

 

[member12352225]

Oh my gosh, I hope I didn't come across that way. I just thought that there might be a difficulty difference, which I felt that I should mention, since I'm worried if I took the class at a school that's "supposedly" easier, it would look like I'm trying to get out of it at my school. I thought the situation would be different if I had gone to state school and just taken the class at a different state school, though obviously I could be misinformed. I'm really sorry if it came across that way...

 

[kpcrew]

im assuming your bitter about not making it

ya me super bitter

anyway, an A is an A and good job in getting it. they can see individual grades but the two semesters are different. As long as your overall gpa is fine, there shouldn't be any issues although you might come across a prompt in which you can explain low grades on a secondary or given an opportunity at an interview.

 

[Plue00]

im assuming your bitter about not making it

👍

 

[member12352225]

Thanks to everyone who replied, I guess opinions are mixed. If there's anyone else who can weigh in on whether my chances are tanked or if there's anything else I can do about this situation, I'd really appreciate it. I'm just really, really anxious and worried, because I'm sure that taking orgo at an easier school can't look good. I'm hoping that the upward trend the first two quarters shows that I could at least handle it at my school, but I dont know. I mean, people from the state school still get into good medical schools so it's not like the science classes are a breeze, but I know that it still looks like I took the easy way out, which I'm really beating myself up for right now.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I've heard that taking a pre-req at another university other than your own is frowned upon by adcoms, at least if the university is "easier" than your home university. Indeed, there are some med schools who state this explicitly in their FAQ sections. As long as your grades and MCAT aren't bad though I don't think just one class is going to screw you over. And the great thing about orgo is that if you do well in biochem med schools usually overlook what happened to you in orgo.

 

[Valadi]

Thanks to everyone who replied, I guess opinions are mixed. If there's anyone else who can weigh in on whether my chances are tanked or if there's anything else I can do about this situation, I'd really appreciate it. I'm just really, really anxious and worried, because I'm sure that taking orgo at an easier school can't look good. I'm hoping that the upward trend the first two quarters shows that I could at least handle it at my school, but I dont know. I mean, people from the state school still get into good medical schools so it's not like the science classes are a breeze, but I know that it still looks like I took the easy way out, which I'm really beating myself up for right now.

This will not keep you out of medical school. You are fine.

I can't imagine you would be discriminated at for taking classes at a state school. A community college would be a different matter.

More competitive institution does not directly translate into more difficult classes. Plenty of bright people cannot attend "top" schools because of financial, or personal reasons. If anything, some "top 20" schools are notorious for grade inflation. Orgo is orgo. It's not like you're comparing an advanced robotics class at MIT.

FWIW, I've seen ivy leaguers tank it in med school and state school kids move up to the hallowed ivory towers for residency instead.

tl;dr version: You're fine. Move on.

 

[Valadi]

I've heard that taking a pre-req at another university other than your own is frowned upon by adcoms, at least if the university is "easier" than your home university. Indeed, there are some med schools who state this explicitly in their FAQ sections. As long as your grades and MCAT aren't bad though I don't think just one class is going to screw you over. And the great thing about orgo is that if you do well in biochem med schools usually overlook what happened to you in orgo.

I don't remember this from when I applied to med school (albeit that was 5 years ago). They usually said they accepted pre-reqs only from "an accredited 4 year institution." Are there places now that don't accept pre-req credit from any outside institutions?

 

[member12352225]

Thanks for the reply. I hate to bother you, but I've been looking at med school faq's and haven't been able to find one that mentioned this. If you get a chance and know of one offhand, would you be able to let me know where I could find that? Thanks again for responding.

 

[kpcrew]

Thanks for the reply. I hate to bother you, but I've been looking at med school faq's and haven't been able to find one that mentioned this. If you get a chance and know of one offhand, would you be able to let me know where I could find that? Thanks again for responding.

i think i remember reading it in the msar guidebook (the online version is worth getting although i found the book to be useful as well)

 

[AestheticGod]

oh ma gaw a top 20 university! u so smart!

Ujelly.