Poor post-bacc semester I grades

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EarDoc6

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Now that my first semester is over I'm feeling somewhat frustrated with myself. I took Bio I, Chem I and Pre-calc and I got an A in pre-calc, B- in chem and C in Bio. I worked extremely hard and dedicated all of my time towards studying for my classes. I was in the library for 3-7 hours on a regular day, and twice the amount during exam time. I have a 3.74 cumulative undergrad GPA and I'm not quite sure why I had so much difficulty with Bio and Chem, considering the time I put in and the fact that I actually enjoyed studying for them.

I failed myself and I'm extremely worried about how much this will affect my chances of gaining admission to a medical school. I feel like I am not efficient enough- but it's been hard for me to get into a good study habit because I never took science classes before. For my undergraduate classes, it was mostly memorization and I used flash cards. Obviously there is more material in these science classes - it's much denser - and I haven't quite figured out how to get in the groove.

I don't want to extend my planned schedule but I'm not sure if I should retake one of these classes or take a higher level class (i.e. biochem). On the other hand, is there room for me to make up for these 2 poor first semester grades?

HELP! 🙁
 
are you doing an informal postbac? Getting a C in bio is pretty bad news... I definitely wouldn't do biochem if you did that poorly in intro bio. You realize these are the same classes you'll be taking in 1st sem of med school right? Except only with 200x more info?
 
I have a very smart friend who was a human physiology major at a huge university (where you can actually major in such things) before med school. She loved everything we learned in physio here in medical school, but performed only passably in the class. She insists it's because she liked the material so much and thus studied less efficiently. She would always read all sorts of extra anecdotes and footnotes and read up on the research behind the facts. This is all stuff you don't have time for in medical school. Just something to think about.

From a practical standpoint, it seems obvious you need a studying plan overhaul. I've never spent 7 hours/day in the library and I'm in medical school - maybe when I'm studying for the boards, but not until then. Some people will disagree with me, but I'm going to go ahead and say you shouldn't be spending more than an hour per night on each class, unless it's the day or two before a test. Pay close attention to what's represented in your test questions and learn which pieces of what you're learning is useless to you. You don't need to memorize every detail of what you're learning -- yet.

Sadly, however, a C in Bio has you pretty much boned. I'd be surprised if too many people got into med school with a C in the most important prereq without years of upper level coursework to make up for it. And as drizz alluded, you can't possibly take Biochem until you clean up your studying problem.

Edit: Oh wait. I just noticed your status. Are you trying for med school or another professional school?
 
NewmansOwn said:
I have a very smart friend who was a human physiology major at a huge university (where you can actually major in such things) before med school. She loved everything we learned in physio here in medical school, but performed only passably in the class. She insists it's because she liked the material so much and thus studied less efficiently. She would always read all sorts of extra anecdotes and footnotes and read up on the research behind the facts. This is all stuff you don't have time for in medical school. Just something to think about.

From a practical standpoint, it seems obvious you need a studying plan overhaul. I've never spent 7 hours/day in the library and I'm in medical school - maybe when I'm studying for the boards, but not until then. Some people will disagree with me, but I'm going to go ahead and say you shouldn't be spending more than an hour per night on each class, unless it's the day or two before a test. Pay close attention to what's represented in your test questions and learn which pieces of what you're learning is useless to you. You don't need to memorize every detail of what you're learning -- yet.

Sadly, however, a C in Bio has you pretty much boned. I'd be surprised if too many people got into med school with a C in the most important prereq without years of upper level coursework to make up for it. And as drizz alluded, you can't possibly take Biochem until you clean up your studying problem.

Edit: Oh wait. I just noticed your status. Are you trying for med school or another professional school?
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I was in a doctoral program for audiology last semester (hence my status), but now I am in a formal post-bacc program trying for medical school. Should I retake the C? If so, will medical schools view the poor grade as replaced?
 
EarDoc6 said:
I was in a doctoral program for audiology last semester (hence my status), but now I am in a formal post-bacc program trying for medical school. Should I retake the C? If so, will medical schools view the poor grade as replaced?
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Osteopathic schools will, not allopathic.
 
drizzt3117 said:
are you doing an informal postbac? Getting a C in bio is pretty bad news... I definitely wouldn't do biochem if you did that poorly in intro bio. You realize these are the same classes you'll be taking in 1st sem of med school right? Except only with 200x more info?
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i think she's in a career changer post bac. she's taking the pre-med classes, not the SMP classes.

i am guessing the OP was a humanities major? the reason why i asked is that there is a whole different mentality that goes into studying for biology and chemistry. perhaps you are just not adjusted to that mentality yet. i have a friend with a JD and is super smart, but it took him a while to adjust to the science mentality and the study skill set for the classes when he was doing a career changer program.

i would say go ahead and redo intro bio 1 before moving on and just give yourself time to adjust the way you study. i am sure you are putting enough time studying, if you are doing what you say you are doing, you are just not studying the right way.
 
I feel that if you are spending that much studying with those kind of results. . . it is not the right field for you. Things are only going to get harder and more complicated. In med school, you will have to take similar classes in your first year that will certainly be more difficult than undergraduate science courses. From my experience, as a 2nd year med student, I would reconsider your options. It shouldn't be that difficult, if it the right field for you. Not everyone is cut out for medical school, but it doesn't mean you have to give up on being a healthcare provider. There are other fields were you may be better suited, more able to contribute, and more able to excel within your field. I wish you the best of luck!
 
EarDoc - don't let anyone tell you its not good enough. You got 1 C..its not the end of the world. Just work your A** off and do better!!!! Don't listen to people who say to find a different field, they don't know you're passion!

Just keep pushing, if you do your part God will do his 🙂
 
I agree. Im in a post-bac program now and advisors say that a C is not going to kill you, though it may hinder your application to med school.

Take a upper level or two to subsidize for it. Bio I, in the big scheme of things isn't a big deal as long as you can show that you know your stuff in upper levels and on the MCAT.

I heard that Orgo is THE class to get that A in anyways.

What program you in?

Best of luck to us postbacs!!
 
It's not one isolated C amidst a large volume of As. It's a B- and a C in 2 of the prerequistes -- the only two the OP has taken. The A in pre-calc is not impressing anyone, I'm afraid. It's dangerous and misleading to claim one C is "no big deal." It's a very big deal and a very big problem, even before we consider what it combined with the B- indicates about the OP's study habits. This is a student that needs help, readjustment and a sobering dose of reality -- not empty and misguided platitudes.

And for the record, organic chemistry is the pre-req represented by far the least on the MCAT -- and in medical school.
 
Is everybody serious? y'all need to calm down, this is the gunner mentality so readily found on SDN that makes me want to leave this website and never come back.
OP, are you off to a good start? no
but its not the end of the world, obviously figure out what you're doing wrong and do better in the rest of the pre-reqs, You may have to re-take that C, later on but I wouldn't worry about it now, if admissions see a positive trend and you do better in the rest of your classes than that C is not gonna matter nearly as much as you'd think. Also, if you wanna go DO, you can re-take it later and it'll be like it never happened (well sorta)

relax...
 
NewmansOwn said:
It's not one isolated C amidst a large volume of As. It's a B- and a C in 2 of the prerequistes -- the only two the OP has taken. The A in pre-calc is not impressing anyone, I'm afraid. It's dangerous and misleading to claim one C is "no big deal." It's a very big deal and a very big problem, even before we consider what it combined with the B- indicates about the OP's study habits. This is a student that needs help, readjustment and a sobering dose of reality -- not empty and misguided platitudes.

And for the record, organic chemistry is the pre-req represented by far the least on the MCAT -- and in medical school.
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Hmmm....I mean, yes it might be a bad start, but I don't think that it is unsalvageable, and frankly this advice is a bit harsh. This is the first time this student has ever taken any science courses in college before. The material is very new, and it might be difficult to do well after being thrown into science/math courses when you haven't ever taken them before. Also, the school the OP is going to might be an Ivy League or an equivalently difficult university or the professors might be really hard, you never know. I would say that you should not give up and learn what you need to do to succeed. if that means that you have to study a lot more, then try to do it. I am by no means a science/math person and have been able to do well as a post-bac, so don't give up hope just yet, it's early in the game.
 
Agreed. Even with a few B's and one C... don't give up hope! Its a journey! 😀 lol ... okay that sounds cheesy but still... its true

Upward trend. figure what you did wrong and work harder?

Also, i've heard the weight of your ORGO grades are far greater than any other pre-reqs. Just KILL the orgo class. Show them you learned, just a bad reflection on grades in gen chem. Take upper level bios. kill those too. Show them you know your **** but maybe just a bad year?

If the harsh advice on this thread were to be true... then special science people, or people in the SMP programs have no shot at med school! I am a core student, the career switcher kinds... but I know many people who's in the post-bac to improve their undergrad mistakes and short comings. What does that mean? these people, not to offend, have gotten those B's and C's in undergrad in their pre-reqs, hence the need for them to "improve" their application and qualification via upper levels!

Bottom line... don't give up! and don't take the harsh and negative feedback to heart. It just means you have to make up for your bad start some how. Make it up on good letters of rec, or stellar volunteering!

Good luck!
 
Audman said:
Agreed. Even with a few B's and one C... don't give up hope! Its a journey! 😀 lol ... okay that sounds cheesy but still... its true

Upward trend. figure what you did wrong and work harder?

Also, i've heard the weight of your ORGO grades are far greater than any other pre-reqs. Just KILL the orgo class. Show them you learned, just a bad reflection on grades in gen chem. Take upper level bios. kill those too. Show them you know your **** but maybe just a bad year?

If the harsh advice on this thread were to be true... then special science people, or people in the SMP programs have no shot at med school! I am a core student, the career switcher kinds... but I know many people who's in the post-bac to improve their undergrad mistakes and short comings. What does that mean? these people, not to offend, have gotten those B's and C's in undergrad in their pre-reqs, hence the need for them to "improve" their application and qualification via upper levels!

Bottom line... don't give up! and don't take the harsh and negative feedback to heart. It just means you have to make up for your bad start some how. Make it up on good letters of rec, or stellar volunteering!

Good luck!
Click to expand...

What's more important than killing OChem, is reforming habits before taking OChem. With such poor marks in biology and chemistry, be very careful what you do next. Make sure you've changed everything you did in these two classes because it didn't work at all.

It is indeed harsh advice but too many people go into a Post-bacc thinking to themselves, "All I have to do is get a 4.0, shouldn't be bad." Little do they know how difficult it ends up being.
 
I think hardly anyone on this thread has given a decent piece of advice yet.

Telling the OP to consider another career is unhelpful and unnecessary.

Telling the OP to figure out what (s)he did wrong and work harder is glib. First of all, you can't just pop the hood and see which screw is loose -- reforming study habits and material retention is exceedingly time-consuming and difficult. Second of all, work harder? The OP is spending 7 hours a day in the library. That's hours more than should be spent. Working harder is clearly not the answer.

Indeed, one C and one B- are not the end of the world -- I never deemed the situation 'unsalvageable' -- but they mean at least another year or two of coursework to either retake them or take compensatory upper level classes and they belie a serious problem comprehending science material. That's thousands of dollars and thousands of hours adding to the already staggering opportunity cost of pursuing a medical education. I know it's hard -- I did it. Medical schools don't care.

Two things I've heard multiple times now that I thought I should clear up:

1) Orgo is not weighted more heavily than the other prerequisites by medical school admissions committees. I work in admissions at my medical school. I interview a lot of applicants and attend a lot of decision meetings. I promise. Trust me.

2) The Ivy League universities are not harder than other schools. In fact, much evidence suggests they are considerably easier. Please reference the following article and the studies noted within:

Grade inflation at Ivy League institutions
 
I agree that my advice to consider another field is perhaps not the best piece of advice, but you can't spend all your young adulthood or life for that matter trying to get somewhere. Life is short, so I feel that it is important to be realistic with your own abilities. Advanced classes only get more difficult, so naturally not doing well in foundation courses will only make that more difficult. A post-bacc program is not a guarantee into medical school, which is what I think is an important factor to consider. I think the best advice would be: Dream Big and Think Realistically.
 
RealDoc27 said:
I agree that my advice to consider another field is perhaps not the best piece of advice, but you can't spend all your young adulthood or life for that matter trying to get somewhere. Life is short, so I feel that it is important to be realistic with your own abilities. Advanced classes only get more difficult, so naturally not doing well in foundation courses will only make that more difficult. A post-bacc program is not a guarantee into medical school, which is what I think is an important factor to consider. I think the best advice would be: Dream Big and Think Realistically.
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I agree with this entirely.
 
NewmansOwn, I need a "sobering dose of reality?" Do you not realize that the reason I originally posted was because I knew I may have compromised my chances and was seeking out advice? I have a 3.74 undergraduate GPA and a 3.6 graduate GPA - I am a good student and I have good work ethic and I suppose the only reality check I need is to be more careful with what I post on these forums.

As far as the other posts, thank you all for the advice. When I first posted this, it was the day I received my grades and I was out of sorts. I've had some sleepless nights to think this through and I'll own up to the C, tuck it under my belt and keep on going. I know medicine is the only field for me.

And, for what it's worth, I'm a post bacc at SUNY Stony Brook.
 
EarDoc6 said:
NewmansOwn, I need a "sobering dose of reality?" Do you not realize that the reason I originally posted was because I knew I may have compromised my chances and was seeking out advice? I have a 3.74 undergraduate GPA and a 3.6 graduate GPA - I am a good student and I have good work ethic and I suppose the only reality check I need is to be more careful with what I post on these forums.

As far as the other posts, thank you all for the advice. When I first posted this, it was the day I received my grades and I was out of sorts. I've had some sleepless nights to think this through and I'll own up to the C, tuck it under my belt and keep on going. I know medicine is the only field for me.

And, for what it's worth, I'm a post bacc at SUNY Stony Brook.
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Exactly. You came seeking advice regarding how adversely these grades have affected your chances of med school admission. And you got it. Extra years of coursework. I never labeled you as a bad student -- you just performed like one this semester. Your high level of achievement prior to this point only further underscores your need to take stock of how you're approaching the material. You're clearly not dumb, so the problem must be more complicated. That's the reality check.

And my goodness, I'd be the last person to tell you you have a problem with work ethic. Like I've said multiple times, 7 hours in the library daily is a feat.
 
NewmansOwn said:
And my goodness, I'd be the last person to tell you you have a problem with work ethic. Like I've said multiple times, 7 hours in the library daily is a feat.
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till right after m2 🙂
 
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