Should I withdraw from biochem? help brother out

[Rodgerstheone]

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Hello,

I'm currently in a biochemistry course. We are 40% through and I have a C currently (after 2 exams). I have not withdrawn from a course before but I have gotten 2 Cs (a C+ and a C). Currently my gpa is sitting at a 3.5 and I'm a junior.

After this semester, I am pretty confident I can fill my classes up with other classes (BCPM) to boost up my gpa to around 3.6-3.65 by the end of junior year and beyond that for senior year (if i choose to take a gap year).

Is it necessary to take biochemistry and should I try to aim for a B in the course of just withdraw (and focus on my 5 other courses)? I am doing pretty well (averaging 130+) on the biochemistry section of the MCAT (at least on practice tests). * for reference I go to a top 20 school with a double major in physics and math.

 

[SunDevilMed]

Are there only four tests in the class and no other way to get points (i.e. homework, class participation, quizzes, etc.)? Biochem is perhaps the most essential class to take before taking the MCAT, and most medical schools require at least 3 semester hours for admissions. Keep in mind that scores on the practice MCATs are not exactly predictive of overall performance on the actual MCAT due to a variety of factors.

That being said, if you're scoring 130+ on the practice tests, the question has to be asked as to why there is such a discrepancy between your performance on those versus your performance in class? Getting a "B" in biochem is not the end of the world, and certainly not any reason to withdraw from a class. You still have plenty of time ahead of you (this semester and the rest of your undergrad years) to get your gpa up, you just have to put in the work.

 

[Rodgerstheone]

@SunDevilMed
Yes there are only 4 exams (no other sources of grading). I would be happy to get a B, but there is a decent chance that I will get a C+ or something like that.

As for the discrepancy with the MCAT, my class just requires me to memorize a lot more content with a higher degree of specificity. The nature of the exams are also different (multiple choice exams in which there may be more than one answer and penalties for choosing wrong answers along with written mechanisms).

 

[Chlorophyll Oracle]

Can you take test three and then decide to drop? My school allowed for this. This way you could know for sure if you have a shot at boosting your grade. I wouldn't take another C on your transcript honestly. I unfortunately think it might hurt your chances despite your good GPA

 

[Rodgerstheone]

@Chlorophyll Oracle I don't think so. The two dates are like two weeks away from each other.

 

[Chlorophyll Oracle]

@Chlorophyll Oracle I don't think so. The two dates are like two weeks away from each other.

Shoot that changes things. I think the decision all comes down to you. Do you think that you could improve before the next test or that the first 2 were good representations of what you knew. If you think that you can power through and get the grade up, I would consider that the better route. I know in my case, I had some rough midterm grades that I was always able to salvage by the end.

 

[Rodgerstheone]

That's what I would prefer as well but it seems like the next exam before the final is notoriously the hardest (metabolism stuff). The probability of a C seems likely.

 

[863168]

@Rodgerstheone Drop it like its hot. You have no W's so you should exercise your right to withdraw to get out of this situation. You will still probably graduate on time. Biochemistry in likely your granddad in the Chemistry series if you only had to take G. Chem, O. Chem, and B. Chem. You should be performing high in your junior year electives which means that you need to do everything in your power to stop getting C's. It's told that you should have an improving grade trend, but no one really points out that this means you have to crush your course load when you are likely under the most stress e.g. managing ECs, harder coursework, and MCAT prep.

Do not shoot yourself in the foot. Go into the application phase knowing you have the strongest application as humanely possible for you to go through with when you decide to apply and not a moment sooner.

 

[Rodgerstheone]

@Pina Colada
Doesn't it look worse because I'm withdrawing from Biochem? I'm not really worried about graduating on time, but should I still take Biochemistry senior year (or next sem)? I plan on taking the MCAT early next semester so not sure if it will help. Thanks!

 

[Lyoness]

No offense but you’re acting helpless! Come on do whatever you have to do to get the B, make tons of flashcards, and BREATHE biochem bc if by junior year no one should be getting C’s. You still have 2 more exams.


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[SunDevilMed]

@Pina Colada
Doesn't it worse because I'm withdrawing from Biochem? I'm not really worried about graduating on time, but should I still take Biochemistry senior year (or next sem)? I plan on taking the MCAT early next semester so not sure if it will help. Thanks!

No offense but you’re acting helpless! Come on do whatever you have to do to get the B, make tons of flashcards, and BREATHE biochem bc if by junior year no one should be getting C’s. You still have 2 more exams.

Also, I think its worth reiterating that you should take biochem before you take the MCAT. So if you're going to withdraw this semester and take it next semester, then plan on taking your MCAT sometime after that (i.e. the summer between Junior and Senior year). It is much better, in my opinion (backed by personal experience), to take the MCAT after you have taken biochem because there are nuances and overarching connections to be made to gen. chem, ochem, physics, biology, and microbiology that will no doubt help you out . Give yourself time and don't rush into the process of applying to med school.

 

[leonardoson]

use this as a chance to persevere! You may be out of reach for an A but the information learned will be extremely useful for the MCAT. Your professor will respect a turn-around and may write you a great letter. Don't be a victim! Also as a physics major try and use your physics knowledge in relation to concepts.

For example: There was a question I didn't know how to answer on an exam and used a long convoluted explanation of an increase/decrease of steric hindrance in an alpha helix and side groups which I argued geometrically. It turned out to be correct. Physics problem solving is applicable to more than just physics!

 

[stubblesmcgee]

I'd drop. It would be much worse for you to get a C than a W. You can always retake it later if you want. FWIW, I learned more of the MCAT biochem from my other classes than from my actual biochem class.

 

[863168]

@Pina Colada
Doesn't it look worse because I'm withdrawing from Biochem? I'm not really worried about graduating on time, but should I still take Biochemistry senior year (or next sem)? I plan on taking the MCAT early next semester so not sure if it will help. Thanks!

It doesn't. If you used the search function you will find several other threads and several other posters respond that it was never brought up in their interview with adcom members. Btw these individuals had a couple of W's, not just one. If you don't believe me, then please do your own leg work and use the search function. The amount of bad advice you are getting in this thread is astounding and at best are coming from a place of misguidance if not apathy and at the very worst intentional sabotage.

Getting a C after likely course material of amino acids, R groups, zwitterion behavior, lineweaver burke plots, and other basic material is only going to be exacerbated in the latter material. This stuff is literally the bread and butter of biochemistry. It's like cornering yourself to win a basketball game from 10 points behind, but you can only shoot three pointers because you never mastered the layup or how to shoot from the inside. It's madness. I don't understand how other users can really encourage another user to go for a best outcome B without looking at worst outcome D being also a very tangible outcome.

Biochemistry is a vast topic more so than most people are aware of and the material is so broad it can be taught in a variety of different ways. However, most of the time the material is additive. Not getting amino acids can hurt you when it comes to protein lysis, analysis, and interpretation. This really isn't an orgo moment where you can cram all the reaction pathways. In our class we were asked to write out our approach to assess an unknown protein given few details and were then given a literally blank piece of paper that was worth roughly 20% of our examination. Not surprising, that question failed a lot of students with the answer being a lot less open to interpretation than one would think.

If you have looked at the amount of studying and review you will be doing for the MCAT, then you wouldn't think that the first time you take biochemistry is the last. It certainly isn't. In fact, biochemistry ought to be the most exhaustive course work where if you follow Mcat2Jelly's study plan you will review it in EK, Kaplan, and TBR. You will review questions in diagnostic full-length tests. You will be on your smart phone while you were on the can reviewing amino acids until you cry and even your tears will be reviewing basic concepts in biochemistry until they are burned and buried in the recesses of your mind.

 

[Rodgerstheone]

@Pina Colada Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.