Should I drop this class?

[ThatNerdyKid]

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I am having a lot of trouble in my biochemistry class. In fact, I may be in danger of getting a C or D. Sure, that would hurt my science GPA but it would also mean I would get kicked out of the honors college on campus. Currently, I have a 72%, with the average being a 68%. Normally you would expect a class with an average so low to be curving the grade, but not this one. My professor has stated numerous times she will not curve the exam grades to the expected C+/B- range (it even says on the syllabus that the averages typically fall in the C+/B- range). I still have 2 exams in the class (including the final), one of which is among 4 other exams I have to take over the next two weeks, along with a thesis deadline.

1.One option is to stay in the class, tough it out, and hope everything works out okay.
2.The other option is to drop the class, which would mean having to explain to medical schools why I had to drop such a core class. I'm aware some schools require biochemistry before applying.

Which do you think I should go with, and why?

 

[Mr Roboto]

I would stick it out. I'd personally rather know I gave it 100% than give up and have to justify my WF to schools by saying "Well it was really hard.."

 

[occams_razor]

I am having a lot of trouble in my biochemistry class. In fact, I may be in danger of getting a C or D. Sure, that would hurt my science GPA but it would also mean I would get kicked out of the honors college on campus. Currently, I have a 72%, with the average being a 68%. Normally you would expect a class with an average so low to be curving the grade, but not this one. My professor has stated numerous times she will not curve the exam grades to the expected C+/B- range (it even says on the syllabus that the averages typically fall in the C+/B- range). I still have 2 exams in the class (including the final), one of which is among 4 other exams I have to take over the next two weeks, along with a thesis deadline.

1.One option is to stay in the class, tough it out, and hope everything works out okay.
2.The other option is to drop the class, which would mean having to explain to medical schools why I had to drop such a core class. I'm aware some schools require biochemistry before applying.

Which do you think I should go with, and why?

I had a professor like that once, it was rough. She refused to curve and so the average grade ended up being a C- with many people getting D's and F's. This was a science class too. Anyway, if you are probably going to get a D, I would drop it. If you can pull a C I would stick it out. People do get into med school with a C in biochem. Alternatively, you could take the W. Again, plenty of people get into med school with 1-2 W's and never even get asked about them. But more schools are requiring biochem, so if you took a W you may have to re-take the class for a grade. Most schools require at least a C for pre-reqs so if you apply to schools that require biochem and you have a C you will be ok.

 

[ThatNerdyKid]

Thanks for the responses. I've also had a lot of stressful things going on in my own life as well. My Aunt passed away a month ago which impacted me heavily. Also my best friend's niece fell into a pool and drowned only two weeks ago,🙁 which added a whole new level of stress to my life. I'm also having some financial issues. It just hasn't been a great semester for me so far, and I really don't see it getting any better than where it's at right now.

So part of the reason I'm doing poorly is because of the stress, which especially impacted this class because of how difficult it is without having all these other issues. The real question is, which is harder to justify: a W or a low grade and loss of honors status? Because, given what I'm up against in the next few weeks, I don't have a lot of time to devote to studying. (I'm being a realist, not a pessimist)

 

[ciestar]

Is the next exam before the drop deadline? If so, study and see where that puts you.
I really feel as though a W is way favorable to a D (and since you're in an honors program, loss of that).
Just drop the course if you're not going to do well, don't let it destroy what you've worked for so far.

 

[ThatNerdyKid]

The exam is before the deadline! I'll definitely take the exam and see where that puts me before deciding. I also want to sit down with the professor and ask if they really won't be curving the class at all.

 

[Romz]

Same with my biochem class.

I had a really **** teacher who R-E-F-U-S-E-D to curve. Arbitrary marker too, which made it ten times worse.
My final mark was B+. Disappointing to say the least. Class average was a D+ and I was a little upset that the faculty did not do something to correct this.

Goodluck! If it's any consolation; I used my textbook to study everything - tough but you can't go wrong. Here's to hoping your prof is a fair grader.

 

[natti101]

There is no reason to take a W unless you feel like you will fail the course. You can explain away a C (especially with all the problems you are having with family etc.) Adcoms really do understand (provided your app is otherwise good, and this one C is a singular/rare occurrence). A drop is a huge red flag. A W is also a red flag.

Also, if you are only in honors because of med school admissions, they really do not care about honors (especially because it varies so much from school to school). Also. at my school, you can get back into honors the next semester if you have a good gpa - not sure if that is the case for you?

 

[ThatNerdyKid]

This is my final semester and here they don't let you rejoin after you're kicked out.

Currently I'm at a 3.3 sGPA and 3.54 cGPA. Haven't taken the MCATs yet. Also, my chemistry grades historically have been low. Gen chem to Ochem (including labs) looks like this: B-, B, B, B-, B+, C+, B. This won't exactly be a one time thing for me. Those 7 grades are actually the reason my GPA isn't much higher.

I worked hard to stay in the honors college and I would feel terrible if I made it to the end and got kicked out.

 

[natti101]

This is my final semester and here they don't let you rejoin after you're kicked out.

Currently I'm at a 3.3 sGPA and 3.54 cGPA. Haven't taken the MCATs yet. Also, my chemistry grades historically have been low. Gen chem to Ochem (including labs) looks like this: B-, B, B, B-, B+, C+, B. This won't exactly be a one time thing for me. Those 7 grades are actually the reason my GPA isn't much higher.

I worked hard to stay in the honors college and I would feel terrible if I made it to the end and got kicked out.

What's your MCAT?

 

[ThatNerdyKid]

I haven't taken the MCAT yet. I'm looking for entrance in 2015.

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[premed3445]

There is no reason to take a W unless you feel like you will fail the course. You can explain away a C (especially with all the problems you are having with family etc.) Adcoms really do understand (provided your app is otherwise good, and this one C is a singular/rare occurrence). A drop is a huge red flag. A W is also a red flag.

Also, if you are only in honors because of med school admissions, they really do not care about honors (especially because it varies so much from school to school). Also. at my school, you can get back into honors the next semester if you have a good gpa - not sure if that is the case for you?

I don't agree. A C is a greater red flag than a W. Getting a C or below on biochemistry course will pull down your GPA and it will take a while to recover from it.

Whereas if you withdraw from the course, concentrate on all other classes left to make sure you get good grades, and then retake biochemistry and get an A in it, you'll be in better shape GPA-wise than if you attempt to throw everything at biochem, diverting attention away from your other classes and neglecting those classes' grades, and then still get a C.

Ws aren't the end of the world. If you get 1 or 2 they'll let it go. If you have 4 or 5 or more, then yes, adcoms will raise some eyebrows.

 

[occams_razor]

There is no reason to take a W unless you feel like you will fail the course. You can explain away a C (especially with all the problems you are having with family etc.) Adcoms really do understand (provided your app is otherwise good, and this one C is a singular/rare occurrence). A drop is a huge red flag. A W is also a red flag.

Also, if you are only in honors because of med school admissions, they really do not care about honors (especially because it varies so much from school to school). Also. at my school, you can get back into honors the next semester if you have a good gpa - not sure if that is the case for you?

One W really isn't a huge red flag. I can't even tell you how many med students I know who had 1 or 2 W's on their transcripts and got into med school. Many don't even get asked about it. there are a lot of reasons why people take a W even when they are not failing and I don't think adcoms view a W the same as a D or F. some people will get asked about it at an interview but others won't, it depends on the interviewer and the school

 

[natti101]

One W really isn't a huge red flag. I can't even tell you how many med students I know who had 1 or 2 W's on their transcripts and got into med school. Many don't even get asked about it. there are a lot of reasons why people take a W even when they are not failing and I don't think adcoms view a W the same as a D or F. some people will get asked about it at an interview but others won't, it depends on the interviewer and the school

Hmm I agree that W's aren't the end of the world (anything can be explained), but I also feel like one C is not going to kill your chances of med school either. There are people who get into Top 20 schools with C's in both Organics. But then I'm sure the same thing can be said about 1-2 W's. This was, of course, before OP reported his grades in other courses.

I would say that in the OP's case, because he has a history of B's and C's already in Chem courses, if I were an adcom and I saw a W, it would be a red flag.

The W's that can be explained and understood are usually in singular cases (not part of a downward trend), or it was because the student was having a really tough semester with an overload of difficult courses.

With the OP's struggle with chemistry courses previously, I feel like adcoms would assume that unless there are medical/extenuating circumstances, it was most likely because he was facing a really bad grade (probably failing) due to not having learned the previous pre-reqs well. And from his history, I would be concerned if he would be okay in medical school, where there isn't really a possibility of a W. Of course, this is also a tricky case (because you're right, the hit to gap is definitely both helpful). I would love to see what a real adcom would say about this.

 

[papi89]

Definitely drop it, there's no value in "sticking it out" when it drops our GPA and you get dropped out of Honors... and you can explain a W in any kind of way if they even ask, whereas a C or D will stand out more and will be proof that the class went poorly. Just say a few of our other classes were more work than expected and you wanted to make sure you did well in those classes... it will look like good decision making rather than "I stuck it out when I could have dropped it and did poorly."

The above advice doesn't really make much sense to me... a "W" is a redflag but somehow a C or D is better?

 

[thegypsyqueen]

Normally you would expect a class with an average so low to be curving the grade, but not this one. My professor has stated numerous times she will not curve the exam grades to the expected C+/B- range (it even says on the syllabus that the averages typically fall in the C+/B- range).

Every class at my University was curved (up, never down, though the later hardly ever came up) to 70%. What are you used to?

 

[natti101]

Definitely drop it, there's no value in "sticking it out" when it drops our GPA and you get dropped out of Honors... and you can explain a W in any kind of way if they even ask, whereas a C or D will stand out more and will be proof that the class went poorly. Just say a few of our other classes were more work than expected and you wanted to make sure you did well in those classes... it will look like good decision making rather than "I stuck it out when I could have dropped it and did poorly."

The above advice doesn't really make much sense to me... a "W" is a redflag but somehow a C or D is better?

A D is definitely not okay - which is why I say that a W shouldn't be considered unless there's a significant possibility of failing. It really would depend on the rest of one's grades and gpa. I think a downward trend (in similar classes) leading to W is a red flag on an app. But that's just my opinion.

 

[dismorfik]

FYI I had a big fat W on my transcript and was not asked about it once on my interviews. Don't let anyone try to scare you into getting a bad grade because you fear a W. Everything will work out. 🙂