Started post-bac premed with g-chem, not too happy about grades

[iktiw]

---

Members do not see this ad.

After taking a summer session of g-chem, I'm not too happy with my averages grade (B+ -> 3.3 (I believe)).

I know this is because of the summer session (compressing 9 months of chemistry into 2 months) and I could handle the grasp the material better if it wasn't so rapid. Should I just keep going with the program? The major hurdle of organic has yet to come.

What is the best approach? Retake chemistry elsewhere or just soldier on and try not to rush o-chem, physics, and bio?

I appreciate any advice on this issue.

 

[DrMidlife]

OK, first, pardon the harsh, but let this be the last time you complain. The pace of med school is easily 10x the pace of summer genchem. Think firehose. You can't blame teachers, textbooks, schedules, other students, or your home life for poor performance. You just have to perform.

Second, don't repeat a B. Just start getting A's. Figure out what you have to do, do it, move on. Things to try: everything. Including: slow down, get a tutor, join study groups, start highlighting, use flash cards, record lectures, visit the prof during office hours, do every single goddamn problem in the book, take any and all old tests available, double/triple/quadruple your study time, stop studying at home, start studying at home, read the chapter before lecture, get more exercise, get better nutrition and/or sleep, study on a treadmill, get away from the internet while studying, etc.

Third, you have to submit every transcript you've ever received when you apply to med school. Your cumulative overall and science GPAs are the two most important numbers in your life (until you take the MCAT, and then you have 3 important numbers). I mention this because it seems you might think changing schools would erase your B. It won't.

Go get A's. Good luck to you.

 

[flip26]

Are you in a formal post bacc? I ask, because that is the typical path - start the summer with Gen Chem, then tackle the rest...

I agree with the criticism in the prior post. Make As - it really is that simple.

You probably don't want to hear this, but here goes: if you had trouble with Gen Chem in the summer, you are really going to struggle with Physics, Organic, and Bio, plus labs, in a regular semester, especially if you take a full load...

Also in my post bacc experience, you really need to make As in the Gen Chem and Biology to cushion your GPA against the nut cutters Organic and Physics...and no matter how tough those are, you really need to set your personal minimum acceptable "floor" grade for any individual class at B+, and anything less than a B+ is really to be avoided...the reality is that a B+ average (3.3) in your science classes is just not good enough...an A- average (3.7) is barely good enough...so you need to make as many solid As as possible, and never dip below a B+ in any single grade...my goal (that I achieved): make more As than A-, more A- than B+, and never make below a B+ in anything...

By failing to earn As in Gen Chem, your path is much tougher now, much less forgiving GPA-wise...my recommendation is to slow down, take light semester loads to make sure you get the best possible grades - a poor semester of full time courses will kill your BCPM GPA and thus greatly hamper your chances for med school...good luck.

 

[MilkmanAl]

A 3.7 isn't "barely acceptable," but you don't want to start getting loads of B+'s in your post-bac classes, to be sure. You definitely need to slow down and divert more time to doing well in your classes.