should I withdraw from this semester? really need advice

[betaselection]

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Hi everyone,

I'm a post-bacc student (25 years old) in a career changer post-bacc program.
To give you some more background information, my undergraduate GPA was 3.45 from a top 20 school, no science coursework included (I know the school ranking doesn't matter much).

My post bacc science GPA is a 3.6 (upward trend with a 4.0 the last two semesters).
I'm not really doing a GPA repair, but I know my GPA is below average from undergrad so I am trying very hard to raise it. Only one C on my transcript, but lots of Bs.

I'm having a really tough time right now and can't decide what to do. I live in an area that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. My home was severely damaged, my car was damaged, my family was also badly impacted. The school where I'm doing my post-bacc program was closed for a week. I commute there from over an hour away and the gas crisis made commuting the first week back very difficult and I ended up missing a few more classes. Since school started again I've been struggling to catch up. I am confident I can do well and get an A in all my courses except for organic chemistry. Orgo is a subject that just doesn't come naturally to me, chemistry is not my forte and I worked very hard to get a B+ on the 1st exam. I have not been able to catch up with orgo and I failed the recent exam. The orgo final is quickly approaching and I don't see myself doing well on it. I still have A's in my other courses but I'm worried I could end up getting a C or worse in orgo which would really bring down my GPA.

I talked to my advisor and my only options are to either stay in the class and just hope for the best/do the best I can, or I can withdraw but I would have to withdraw from the entire semester, so I would not only get a W in orgo but also the other 2 courses I am currently taking. Not only that, but orgo at this school is a sequence and isn't offered off sequence, so I would have to wait and take it in the summer (which I hear is brutal) or take it next year (which pushes my plans to apply back a year). I really don't know what to do here. I really appreciate any advice, thanks

 

[betaselection]

I should also add that I have no W's thus far (none from undergrad either) and as for my post-bacc, I've been doing it as a part-time student while working full time.

 

[theseeker4]

Hi everyone,

I'm a post-bacc student (25 years old) in a career changer post-bacc program.
To give you some more background information, my undergraduate GPA was 3.45 from a top 20 school, no science coursework included (I know the school ranking doesn't matter much).

My post bacc science GPA is a 3.6 (upward trend with a 4.0 the last two semesters).
I'm not really doing a GPA repair, but I know my GPA is below average from undergrad so I am trying very hard to raise it. Only one C on my transcript, but lots of Bs.

I'm having a really tough time right now and can't decide what to do. I live in an area that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. My home was severely damaged, my car was damaged, my family was also badly impacted. The school where I'm doing my post-bacc program was closed for a week. I commute there from over an hour away and the gas crisis made commuting the first week back very difficult and I ended up missing a few more classes. Since school started again I've been struggling to catch up. I am confident I can do well and get an A in all my courses except for organic chemistry. Orgo is a subject that just doesn't come naturally to me, chemistry is not my forte and I worked very hard to get a B+ on the 1st exam. I have not been able to catch up with orgo and I failed the recent exam. The orgo final is quickly approaching and I don't see myself doing well on it. I still have A's in my other courses but I'm worried I could end up getting a C or worse in orgo which would really bring down my GPA.

I talked to my advisor and my only options are to either stay in the class and just hope for the best/do the best I can, or I can withdraw but I would have to withdraw from the entire semester, so I would not only get a W in orgo but also the other 2 courses I am currently taking. Not only that, but orgo at this school is a sequence and isn't offered off sequence, so I would have to wait and take it in the summer (which I hear is brutal) or take it next year (which pushes my plans to apply back a year). I really don't know what to do here. I really appreciate any advice, thanks

I would withdraw, personally. You have been through plenty to justify the withdrawal, IMO. Only stay in if you think you can do reasonably well, or being pushed back a semester would be a huge inconvenience.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone,

I'm a post-bacc student (25 years old) in a career changer post-bacc program.
To give you some more background information, my undergraduate GPA was 3.45 from a top 20 school, no science coursework included (I know the school ranking doesn't matter much).

My post bacc science GPA is a 3.6 (upward trend with a 4.0 the last two semesters).
I'm not really doing a GPA repair, but I know my GPA is below average from undergrad so I am trying very hard to raise it. Only one C on my transcript, but lots of Bs.

I'm having a really tough time right now and can't decide what to do. I live in an area that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. My home was severely damaged, my car was damaged, my family was also badly impacted. The school where I'm doing my post-bacc program was closed for a week. I commute there from over an hour away and the gas crisis made commuting the first week back very difficult and I ended up missing a few more classes. Since school started again I've been struggling to catch up. I am confident I can do well and get an A in all my courses except for organic chemistry. Orgo is a subject that just doesn't come naturally to me, chemistry is not my forte and I worked very hard to get a B+ on the 1st exam. I have not been able to catch up with orgo and I failed the recent exam. The orgo final is quickly approaching and I don't see myself doing well on it. I still have A's in my other courses but I'm worried I could end up getting a C or worse in orgo which would really bring down my GPA.

I talked to my advisor and my only options are to either stay in the class and just hope for the best/do the best I can, or I can withdraw but I would have to withdraw from the entire semester, so I would not only get a W in orgo but also the other 2 courses I am currently taking. Not only that, but orgo at this school is a sequence and isn't offered off sequence, so I would have to wait and take it in the summer (which I hear is brutal) or take it next year (which pushes my plans to apply back a year). I really don't know what to do here. I really appreciate any advice, thanks

How much damage would a C do to your overall GPA? You will have to weigh the inconvenience of waiting another year to apply with a better transcript or changing schools, with the decrease in overall acceptance chances from poorer numbers, an effect that would require like 4 more similar-weight As to eradicate (not to mention the cost and time of those classes), unless you are ahead of the game with the As you've already earned.

Isn't there a dean you can appeal to about dropping the OChem only? It's not like you don't have a good excuse.

 

[CarlisleBeans]

I would check into seeing if you can do something called a retroactive withdraw. Most schools have this in place for when something catastrophic happens in a student's life. It allows you to completely withdraw from the semester and the entire semester is literally wiped clean from your transcript. It won't show as a W for any of your classes - it will be as if the semester never happened. You typically have to appeal to the governing board of your school for this type of withdraw and they will want a detailed explanation of why you feel that you deserve this action (which it sounds like you do). I used to work for the university senate of my school which is how I know about this option and we received several appeals from students each semester and if the appeal seemed genuine, it was usually granted. I'm not 100% for sure if all schools offer this, but it would be worth looking into.

 

[Mark Twain]

Working hard, facing adverse circumstances like a hurricane, and receiving A's with maybe a B/B- in Orgo could be a chance to show a lot about your character.

I see this as something that could work nicely into a personal statement, and give ADCOMs a specific instance of perseverance. Obviously, taking a W is the easy way out.. But maybe that's your best option if you feel like succeeding in the class at this point is impossible. Its up to you in the end.

 

[gunner1]

Im sorry to hear this has happened. If I were you I'd still do the best I can and explain it in your personal statement. But only withdraw from your course if you can wait another year and have plans to occupy yourself or make yourself a better applicant. Good luck.

 

[kami333]

What about your tuition, would they refund that too?


For what it's worth, I had a semester worth of Ws (12 credit hours) on my transcript from my postbacc, the only other W I had was 7years before that. It was due to circumstances outside my control (apartment got foreclosed, I got a 3day notice to vacate, tuition fully refunded after petition even though it was already mid-Nov) but 1 interviewer asked about it specifically and I know that it is something that was brought up as a possible red flag at another school. The interviewer that asked was satisfied with my answer and the fact that I retook most of the courses later, however I don't know how if it's the reason I'm on hold at the schools I haven't heard back from and I have no way of addressing it at this point. Conversely, no one has mentioned the C I have in Orgo2 during my postbacc though.

 

[betaselection]

How much damage would a C do to your overall GPA? You will have to weigh the inconvenience of waiting another year to apply with a better transcript or changing schools, with the decrease in overall acceptance chances from poorer numbers, an effect that would require like 4 more similar-weight As to eradicate (not to mention the cost and time of those classes), unless you are ahead of the game with the As you've already earned.

Isn't there a dean you can appeal to about dropping the OChem only? It's not like you don't have a good excuse.

the C would do a lot of damage.. unfortunately they are very strict with this policy that you can withdraw past the deadline, but you have to withdraw from all courses. My advisor says she has had students who had a parent pass away and fell behind in a specific fast paced course like ochem or physics and they were forced to withdraw from all their classes. I have until the last day of class to decide whether or not I should withdraw

 

[betaselection]

thanks to everyone who has responded with their input you've given me a lot to think about

 

[Praefectus]

I'd stick with it if you feel like you could handle it. It definitely shows perseverance in the face of adversity and you can always explain it if you're sGPA isn't badly affected.

 

[eefen]

If you feel like you could get at least a B/B-, I would seriously consider staying the course. There are lots of secondaries that ask about working through challenging situations, and this sounds like it would be a great example, if you can tie in some "coping mechanisms" that would serve you well in medical school.

 

[occams_razor]

I would withdraw, personally. You have been through plenty to justify the withdrawal, IMO. Only stay in if you think you can do reasonably well, or being pushed back a semester would be a huge inconvenience.

agreed. 3 W's isn't the worst thing, it's better than damaging your GPA. you can explain the 3 W's but if your GPA is too low you won't even get a chance to explain, your app will be tossed

 

[betaselection]

so today I spoke to a different pre-med advisor and she said I shouldn't withdraw because withdrawing from all 3 classes this semester and getting 3 W's would look very bad.

But if I end up getting a C in orgo this is what happens to my sGPA

sGPA now: 3.598
sGPA after C in orgo: 3.45

to me that seems like a very big difference. It will also take roughly 16 extra credits of all A's to get my sGPA back to a 3.6

 

[betaselection]

it's looking unlikely that I will be able to pull higher than a C in this class. I'd need to get an A on the final to get a B in the class and it's unlikely because I fell so behind.. I have an A in my other two courses (those are bio courses so it was easy for me to catch up).

A lot of people said if I can get a B/B- I should not withdraw, but if I'm most likely getting a C, should I take that or withdraw from the semester?

 

[HurricaneKatt]

the C would do a lot of damage.. unfortunately they are very strict with this policy that you can withdraw past the deadline, but you have to withdraw from all courses. My advisor says she has had students who had a parent pass away and fell behind in a specific fast paced course like ochem or physics and they were forced to withdraw from all their classes. I have until the last day of class to decide whether or not I should withdraw

If you have until the last day of the class to decide, why not wait it out a bit and see how things go, see if you can do enough catch up to boost your grade before deciding. Also, it will help you become that much more familiar with the material by staying in the class so that if you do have to retake it it will be a much easier A the second time around. Your school's withdrawal rules are pretty crappy though I have to say. 🙁 Have you tried speaking to the professor? Explain to him what is going on and why you did poorly. See if there are any options to retake the test, do additional work, etc. A lot of times they will just say nope sorry, too bad so sad. But I have heard many stories about professors working with people as well. Explain to him your goals (med school) and how much this one class will influence everything. Hopefully the prof is willing to work with you on it...