Senior Year, W in Biochem?

[shpidorman]

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I am currently in a Biochemistry class and the professor is very particular. I didn't do well on the first exam and his class is structured by ranking. Currently, I'm on the border of a B-/C+, and the Withdrawal deadline is tomorrow. I've never received less than a B in my 4 years, nor have I withdrawn before. I'm worried that if I do obtain a C as my final grade, then it will look like a poor trend to medical schools in the event that I'm not accepted this year.

I'm currently on hold at two universities, have a year of research, 3.8 GPA, 31 MCAT, and a nice science GPA. Advice?

 

[palatopharyngeus]

I am currently in a Biochemistry class and the professor is very particular. I didn't do well on the first exam and his class is structured by ranking. Currently, I'm on the border of a B-/C+, and the Withdrawal deadline is tomorrow. I've never received less than a B in my 4 years, nor have I withdrawn before. I'm worried that if I do obtain a C as my final grade, then it will look like a poor trend to medical schools in the event that I'm not accepted this year.

I'm currently on hold at two universities, have a year of research, 3.8 GPA, 31 MCAT, and a nice science GPA. Advice?

don't withdraw. one c+ is not gonna kill you, and I'm willing to bet that a W looks worse (b/c it gives the impression that you were doing REALLY badly in the class or even failing it...which you're not)

the rest of your stats are solid. hopefully you get in off the waitlist at one of those two schools, but even if you don't, your one C+ in biochem isn't a big deal. reapply and I'm sure you'll get in somewhere with those numbers.

 

[shpidorman]

don't withdraw. one c+ is not gonna kill you, and I'm willing to bet that a W looks worse (b/c it gives the impression that you were doing REALLY badly in the class or even failing it...which you're not)

the rest of your stats are solid. hopefully you get in off the waitlist at one of those two schools, but even if you don't, your one C+ in biochem isn't a big deal. reapply and I'm sure you'll get in somewhere with those numbers.

I was reading other threads and it seems like a C is worse than a W. Many people have one or more on their transcripts. Did you have a W or a C?

 

[palatopharyngeus]

I was reading other threads and it seems like a C is worse than a W. Many people have one or more on their transcripts. Did you have a W or a C?

i didn't have either.

if you were to withdraw from biochem though, when would you take it again? (or would you even take it again?) you're a senior right? biochem is a prereq at several schools and looked very favorably upon by just about every other school

 

[shpidorman]

I probably would not take it again. I graduate in April and I'm getting married this June. It's not likely I'd continue into a spring semester just for Biochemistry. It's not required at either of the schools I'm on hold with in TN.

 

[Make Or Break]

This is really your call. Personally, if it was me, I would just finish the class and try my hardest for a B. Even if you end up with a C, I don't think it is the end of the world.

BTW, I had 1 C and 3 W's.

 

[z_maverica]

Will anyone be taking a W in a hard class in med school? Give it everything you have and be proud of what you do. What is your science GPA?

 

[jqueb29]

Much better to have a W than a C. With your stats, neither one will hurt you that much, but it's better to take the W. I did the same exact thing

 

[Doug Underhill]

You will have to explain both the W and the C. Generally, the withdrawal option is not supposed to be for the event of a possibility of a C+. The W looks better on your transcript, but you'll need a reason why you took it.

 

[palatopharyngeus]

You will have to explain both the W and the C. Generally, the withdrawal option is not supposed to be for the event of a possibility of a C+. The W looks better on your transcript, but you'll need a reason why you took it.

exactly. which is why im inclined to suggest that the OP just accept the possibility of getting a C+. no one wants to hear a neurotic pre-med explain that they withdrew from a course b/c they were on the border of a B-/C+

 

[shpidorman]

Yeah, I probably would have just talked about the stress of not knowing where I was living, looking for contingencies in the event of not being accepted, and working for my wedding/honeymoon costs.

However, you guys are right.
A W would be a definite, but a C is only a maybe right now. I'm going to have harder classes in medical school (hopefully with better professors), so I might as well try my best and absorb this material. Thanks for all of your inputs. I won't drop.

 

[shpidorman]

Will anyone be taking a W in a hard class in med school? Give it everything you have and be proud of what you do. What is your science GPA?

Also, I think my science GPA is a 3.76. It's probably a bit higher after last semester, but I have yet to update AAMCAS.