Please help!!!! I am really scared. F in Biochem

[wizi]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone,

I just got a F in my Biochem class. I had a family situation that took alot of my time and I didnt have time to study for my final. I stayed up 3 days straight to study for it. I got really sick and missed the test. I didn't have any medical proof to prove it because I never had health Insurance and never visit doctors. Its too expensive for me. My professor went by the book and gave me a F.

I am really scared. I don't know how much it hurts my application next cycle. I just want to hear some opinions what I should do.


My background:

I came to the U.S 6 years ago. I was an ESL student and went to Community College. I couldn't go to 4-year University at the time because I didnt have enough money to pay for it and I had to finish my ESL classes. I have been getting Financial Aid.... and I got A.S in Science at my CC with GPA ~ 3.6 (I took Cal I & II, Chem + Orgo, Physic I + II here).
I am currently in 4-year University with GPA 3.58 + F = 3.32 (I haven't got grades for other classes yet but they prob are A, A and B). I have been taking all of my Biology courses here. I never got anything lower than a B.
I am taking my DAT in May.


My ECs:
_ Got an award for doing my research (Bioinformatic) at my University.
_ Got hired by the same research center I did my research (microbiome Analysis Center). I am currently working on HIV research.
_~70 hours volunteer at the Dental Clinic.
_Founder + President of a Fitness Organization at my University.
_Webmaster of VSA (Viet organization).
I am thinking of volunteering at my local hospital too.


This F is really bad, isn't it? I am really down now. I dont know what I should do. Please tell me what are my chances to get into any DS.

Thank you,

 

[lululime]

Dude, everything looks solid. If anything, the F will make you stand out probably in a good way. I'm sure adcoms will look at everything and say, 'wow, what a great applicant! Oooh why is there an F--how unusual. Let's interview him to find out why!'

As long as you are truthful and can explain your situation, then you should be fine kiddo.

If you don't get in this cycle and you were doing well on the midterms for that biochem class, then consider chatting it up with your prof and maybe you can ask for an academic reference letter from him (this may vouch for your story). Good luck my friend!

 

[TriangleZuikis]

I'm sorry about what happened. Did you contact your professor on the day of the exam to tell them you were sick? Did you do well in your other classes despite your struggles this semester?

I would talk to your professor about your family situation and your illness. If you are too scared to talk to them in person, write a lengthy e-mail explaining what happened this semester. Tell them that you are applying to dental school next year.

There might be a process at your school where you can petition to have your grade changed to an Incomplete. You may be a candidate for this.

Worst case scenario, explain your poor grade in your ADSAAS application.

You'll get in somewhere.

 

[wizi]

I'm sorry about what happened. Did you contact your professor on the day of the exam to tell them you were sick? Did you do well in your other classes despite your struggles this semester?

I would talk to your professor about your family situation and your illness. If you are too scared to talk to them in person, write a lengthy e-mail explaining what happened this semester. Tell them that you are applying to dental school next year.

There might be a process at your school where you can petition to have your grade changed to an Incomplete. You may be a candidate for this.

Worst case scenario, explain your poor grade in your ADSAAS application.

You'll get in somewhere.

Hi,

I did everything I could to make that F disappear but my prof. is very strict because he said that in the first day of the class. If there is nothing to prove that you have a legit reason for missing any exam. You'll get a F.
I have none. I guess I just have to accept it and move on.

I took Sculpture + Vaccine + Human Phys (and Biochem). I'll prob get A + A + B in Human Phys (my HP prof. puts short-answer type of questions on her exams. I usually write an essay for each question but didnt hit her jack-spot so B for me grruuu).

 

[peanutb123]

The only thing you can do is take it next sem. or summer repeat that course. B/c biochem is a prereq for many d-schools. So if you get an A. that should make a difference.

Like trianglez. said if you write a nice email, like couple paragraphs there might be a possibility that you can get an I-incomplete and finish the course next sem. if not just repeat it.

 

[dentalWorks]

you as an overall applicant seem okay. HOWEVER, that F in a upper level course like biochem is pretty bad, especially since.... well its an F.

HOWEVER your situation can be easily salvaged if you retake that same course now in january and get an A. If the topic comes up in the interview, you can explain to them why the F appeared the first time. But I do believe the retake is a must

Good luck to ya

 

[wizi]

Thank you all,

My school doesn't offer Biochem next semester and I have to retake it in the summer which end around June 20th. I'll be applying in July and hope for the best.

 

[bday185]

I'm very glad to know that you are Vietnamese. ME TOO !!! Would you like to tell me where you are studying for your undergrad right now?

In my opinion, I don't really think that an F would matter that much if you retake it. Just make sure that you'll ace it in next coming summer and know how to tell your reasons to adcom nicely.

Hope you get into dental school of your choice.

 

[UCLAzy]

just know that you really need to get that A. if you retake a course and do not get an A...it looks bad

 

[wizi]

I'm very glad to know that you are Vietnamese. ME TOO !!! Would you like to tell me where you are studying for your undergrad right now?

In my opinion, I don't really think that an F would matter that much if you retake it. Just make sure that you'll ace it in next coming summer and know how to tell your reasons to adcom nicely.

Hope you get into dental school of your choice.

bday,
i am going to GMU 🙂
Hopefully, Ill get an A. Biochem is such a hard class with a lot of smart people in it.

 

[7 Iron]

You'll need to find a way to take biochem again. An F in biochem won't cut it. You may get interviews next cycle though... that's your chance to explain your grade in this class. I'm wondering, though, why ALL your grades didn't suffer during the semester since you had a family issue going on. I think adcoms will be thinking about this too. (Obviously it's good that the other classes didn't suffer though).

 

[wizi]

You'll need to find a way to take biochem again. An F in biochem won't cut it. You may get interviews next cycle though... that's your chance to explain your grade in this class. I'm wondering, though, why ALL your grades didn't suffer during the semester since you had a family issue going on. I think adcoms will be thinking about this too. (Obviously it's good that the other classes didn't suffer though).

So I was taking Biochem, Sculpture, Vaccine + Human Phys.
This is how my finals were scheduled: Sculpture --> Biochem --> Human Phys --> Vaccine final.

My family issue happened right after Sculpture final and before Biochem final.
I missed Biochem Final ( I didnt do bad in it at all, i was getting B) --> picked myself up + cover from the cold --> took Human Phy's Final and barely got a B (83% is a B and I got 82.7%). I haven't got Vaccine grade yet but it is very easy for me since I already had some background in vaccine because I am doing research etc.

I didn't expect to get A+ in Sculpture at all. I was aiming for A but my prof. really really loved my final project. He took it home and his son loved it too so A+ for me. Still waiting for Vaccine grade.

Lesion learned from this whole thing:
Sometimes life throws a "rock" at you and no matter how much you prepare for it, it still hurts...very very bad. You would "bleed" but you don't just stand there cry and wait for magic to happen. You have to accept the reality and move on. Time will heal the wound itself and by then you already become stronger.