Sucking in chemistry, med school might be a fantasy?

[DaymanNightman]

So, I've been asking some questions here and there on this site, but I've had some updates in my academic career and I really need some advice. I hope I don't really get hounded for this question.

Quite recently, I've taken general chemistry A (the very first chemistry course), and shameless to say, I've been having tremendous problems with the class (I may end up finishing with a D); no matter how much help I look for or ask for, I can't find anyone that is either sympathetic or willing to help (this also applies to the entire chemistry department) and the class is just difficult for me to understand. Overall, I also know that o. chemistry is also a requirement, and I've heard that it's basically the "killing fields" for the weakest students. Basically speaking, does it look like I'm going to have to switch careers? (I've been thinking about law school instead (yes, I know this isn't the right place to talk about it) because I really dominate in essay writing and all my english classes, but only under the circumstances that my plans for med school will go up in flames). I know the saying goes, if you really want it, go for it, but I think the odds are very slim for me up to this point...

As for my GPA? It's well around 3.5, but looks like it'll go down because of the chemistry class. My real concern is if I take on the other chemistry classes, I'm worried that the risk will just ruin my GPA. So as I asked before, should I just forget about med school and go with a more likely career suitable for my skills? Or should I risk it all?

(By the way, if it matters, I am a junior, so I'm very unsure if I can retake it and continue on with o. chem and chemistry B, but its unlikely due to time I have left until graduation)

In an unrelated note, I apologize about the title, it really does sound terribly unprofessional. I didn't know what else to say about my predicament when I was making this post.

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[Redpancreas]

So, I've been asking some questions here and there on this site, but I've had some updates in my academic career and I really need some advice. I hope I don't really get hounded for this question.

Quite recently, I've taken general chemistry A (the very first chemistry course), and shameless to say, I've been having tremendous problems with the class (I may end up finishing with a D); no matter how much help I look for or ask for, I can't find anyone that is either sympathetic or willing to help (this also applies to the entire chemistry department) and the class is just difficult for me to understand. Overall, I also know that o. chemistry is also a requirement, and I've heard that it's basically the "killing fields" for the weakest students. Basically speaking, does it look like I'm going to have to switch careers? (I've been thinking about law school instead (yes, I know this isn't the right place to talk about it) because I really dominate in essay writing and all my english classes, but only under the circumstances that my plans for med school will go up in flames). I know the saying goes, if you really want it, go for it, but I think the odds are very slim for me up to this point...

As for my GPA? It's well around 3.5, but looks like it'll go down because of the chemistry class. My real concern is if I take on the other chemistry classes, I'm worried that the risk will just ruin my GPA. So as I asked before, should I just forget about med school and go with a more likely career suitable for my skills? Or should I risk it all?

(By the way, if it matters, I am a junior, so I'm very unsure if I can retake it and continue on with o. chem and chemistry B, but its unlikely due to time I have left until graduation)

In an unrelated note, I apologize about the title, it really does sound terribly unprofessional. I didn't know what else to say about my predicament when I was making this post.

Maybe put this in the normal Allo thread and you'll get more answers.
Being a chem genius isn't an essential part of medical school but you need to know the big picture and be able to apply things to medicine. For the MCAT if you're very bad at chemistry you will struggle on the PS section (I'm sure you already know this). That "D" won't hold you back. As long as you do better in your next chem course you should be fine. Honestly, I think it's all mental. Chemistry is different but if you start to think you aren't a chemistry person then it'll start affecting you. I asked similar questions about genetics (where I got my only C and took an upper level gen. course and got a rare B). It's all mental. Chances are if you can do physics and biology, chemistry shouldn't be a problem. Now if physics is giving you a hard time you're going to seek help. Get modest. Get a tutor, get extra books, buy MCAT books to supplement your course books, work hard (sacrifice social life, EC time, etc.) You should not give up on medicine based of a chemistry grade. It's all mental. When people say they have this or that weakness it may be that they're new to it and they struggle with it and are letting that thought dictate their performances. If you're a junior and haven't taken the MCAT and you need to do a lot of work with chemistry I suggest you take a gap year though. More ECs and more time to study for the MCAT always helps.

Good Luck. You'll pull through. Don't stop trying to become a physician until you realize you don't want to practice medicine.

 

[DaymanNightman]

Thanks for the reply, but I think what I'm most concerned about in this ordeal is organic chemistry; of all science classes, I love physics (I'm a astrophysicist major) and biology, I just hold great hatred for chemistry, and I've heard horrible stories about what really goes in organic chemistry (based on my recent slip-up with chemistry, it's pretty clear there's trouble ahead). My roommate, who's a chem major, said he got a 35%, and that was the highest score in a class of 250 students (everyone got less than 15%). My old man also said that he nearly withdrew organic chemistry because it was so hard, while he graduated top of his class in UCLA. I guess bottom line is, I'm too demoralized to consider organic chemistry, or more chemistry classes for that matter, because I feel that if I do take it, it will not only be a waste of money and time, but a death sentence for me where I will get an "instant F", based on how things are going for me right now. I also fear that it's going to threaten my performance in med school because I recall a member here said it will "rock your world" if you don't know o. chem well enough. Plus, what I actually worry a lot is that if I do decide to chicken out, after taking and doing poorly in chem classes, it'll be too late to fix the damages for law school.

Also, if it matters to anyone, I started this post because recently, I also started registering for classes, and right now, I'm considering about not taking general chemistry B and replacing it with Logic and Ethics of Philosophy (to prepare for the LSAT)

 

[Jewels86]

Thanks for the reply, but I think what I'm most concerned about in this ordeal is organic chemistry; of all science classes, I love physics (I'm a astrophysicist major) and biology, I just hold great hatred for chemistry, and I've heard horrible stories about what really goes in organic chemistry (based on my recent slip-up with chemistry, it's pretty clear there's trouble ahead). My roommate, who's a chem major, said he got a 35%, and that was the highest score in a class of 250 students (everyone got less than 15%). My old man also said that he nearly withdrew organic chemistry because it was so hard, while he graduated top of his class in UCLA. I guess bottom line is, I'm too demoralized to consider organic chemistry, or more chemistry classes for that matter, because I feel that if I do take it, it will not only be a waste of money and time, but a death sentence for me where I will get an "instant F", based on how things are going for me right now. I also fear that it's going to threaten my performance in med school because I recall a member here said it will "rock your world" if you don't know o. chem well enough. Plus, what I actually worry a lot is that if I do decide to chicken out, after taking and doing poorly in chem classes, it'll be too late to fix the damages for law school.

Also, if it matters to anyone, I started this post because recently, I also started registering for classes, and right now, I'm considering about not taking general chemistry B and replacing it with Logic and Ethics of Philosophy (to prepare for the LSAT)

First...you need to be my new physics BFF 😉 I 100% SUCK at physics. My highest exam score is a 73 with a 15 point curve. My labs are about 100% because I'm about the only one in there who WANTS to understand this stuff. I'm in algebra-based physics. I'd rather write a 20 page paper on Newton's Laws to replace an exam.

Where am I going with this...re-take chem. You can get a great teacher who can teach a dog how to act like a cat (or somewhat) or a horrible teacher than can't teach a dog how to fetch a bone (can you see I like dogs 🙂

You ARE a genius to be an astro-physicist. The admissions committee WILL see that!! I'd love to take something like that for fun someday! Please don't let your bad grade get you down. I'm living this daily until my physics final (I circle which answer "looks" best...sad isn't it). Go to ratemyprofessors.com and see which teacher actually gives a hoot and take them. I'm going to calc-based physics in the fall because both the summer and fall instructors for algebra-physics II are awful yet the cal-based physics are rated the best.

My fav quote is from the first Karate Kid..."No such thing as bad student; only bad teacher". 👍

You're a GREAT student; you have a bad teacher. Retake and call this one a day. Help another and rate the instructor on that website ratemyprofessors.com.

BTW: I was going down the lawyer route too; I heard there are too many lawyers working as hedge-fund managers nowadays. Please think hard about that...

 

[Redpancreas]

First...you need to be my new physics BFF 😉 I 100% SUCK at physics. My highest exam score is a 73 with a 15 point curve. My labs are about 100% because I'm about the only one in there who WANTS to understand this stuff. I'm in algebra-based physics. I'd rather write a 20 page paper on Newton's Laws to replace an exam.

Where am I going with this...re-take chem. You can get a great teacher who can teach a dog how to act like a cat (or somewhat) or a horrible teacher than can't teach a dog how to fetch a bone (can you see I like dogs 🙂

You ARE a genius to be an astro-physicist. The admissions committee WILL see that!! I'd love to take something like that for fun someday! Please don't let your bad grade get you down. I'm living this daily until my physics final (I circle which answer "looks" best...sad isn't it). Go to ratemyprofessors.com and see which teacher actually gives a hoot and take them. I'm going to calc-based physics in the fall because both the summer and fall instructors for algebra-physics II are awful yet the cal-based physics are rated the best.

My fav quote is from the first Karate Kid..."No such thing as bad student; only bad teacher". 👍

You're a GREAT student; you have a bad teacher. Retake and call this one a day. Help another and rate the instructor on that website ratemyprofessors.com.

BTW: I was going down the lawyer route too; I heard there are too many lawyers working as hedge-fund managers nowadays. Please think hard about that...

Yes, I concur.
Find a professional tutor you can work with consistently (like multiple times per week) and also make sure your teacher is decent you should be fine. I had a similar block with physics.

 

[survivordo]

Sounds like you are trying just not getting the help you need. I wouldnt be too detered yet. Also, O chem is quite different from gen chem, you might find you do better in it. Drop the class if you can and take it with a different prof/at a different school, something!

Survivor DO

 

[Amba]

Yeah, you're letting all this o-chem nonsense get into your head already. Worry about chem 1 and chem 2 for now. I enjoyed o-chem much more than gen chem, and I know I'm not the only one, but worry about that when the time comes.

Sent from my HTC Desire CDMA using SDN Mobile

 

[TriagePreMed]

First off, you're not your dad. Second off, thousands of students each year pass o.chem. I feel O.Chem is significantly easier than Gen Chem. O.Chem starts getting hard in the second semester, but if you're on top of things, you will do fine. All you need to do is get an acceptable grade (B- or higher) and you will move on from this. Don't allow a class or two get in the way of your entire dream.

 

[Goro]

If you can't make it through inorganic chemistry, then orgo will definitely be challenging.

But before you bail, seek as much help as you can.

So, I've been asking some questions here and there on this site, but I've had some updates in my academic career and I really need some advice. I hope I don't really get hounded for this question.

Quite recently, I've taken general chemistry A (the very first chemistry course), and shameless to say, I've been having tremendous problems with the class (I may end up finishing with a D); no matter how much help I look for or ask for, I can't find anyone that is either sympathetic or willing to help (this also applies to the entire chemistry department) and the class is just difficult for me to understand. Overall, I also know that o. chemistry is also a requirement, and I've heard that it's basically the "killing fields" for the weakest students. Basically speaking, does it look like I'm going to have to switch careers? (I've been thinking about law school instead (yes, I know this isn't the right place to talk about it) because I really dominate in essay writing and all my english classes, but only under the circumstances that my plans for med school will go up in flames). I know the saying goes, if you really want it, go for it, but I think the odds are very slim for me up to this point...

As for my GPA? It's well around 3.5, but looks like it'll go down because of the chemistry class. My real concern is if I take on the other chemistry classes, I'm worried that the risk will just ruin my GPA. So as I asked before, should I just forget about med school and go with a more likely career suitable for my skills? Or should I risk it all?

(By the way, if it matters, I am a junior, so I'm very unsure if I can retake it and continue on with o. chem and chemistry B, but its unlikely due to time I have left until graduation)

In an unrelated note, I apologize about the title, it really does sound terribly unprofessional. I didn't know what else to say about my predicament when I was making this post.

 

[DaymanNightman]

Thanks for the responses everyone; I still think it's a bad idea to continue on with chemistry B after the disastrous results of chemistry A, because I literally had to copy off of answers from people during lab and class because I didn't understand anything, and, surprisingly, even that didn't help at all... moving away from organic chemistry, which I'm going to have to think about before I decide to gamble my GPA, I know the policy is to do better in the next class, but isn't it not recommended to continue on with chemistry B if I failed to understand chemistry A? I was hinted that it was going to be virtually harder and not for those who don't have an working knowledge of Chemistry A and fundamentals.

 

[DaymanNightman]

First...you need to be my new physics BFF 😉 I 100% SUCK at physics. My highest exam score is a 73 with a 15 point curve. My labs are about 100% because I'm about the only one in there who WANTS to understand this stuff. I'm in algebra-based physics. I'd rather write a 20 page paper on Newton's Laws to replace an exam.

Where am I going with this...re-take chem. You can get a great teacher who can teach a dog how to act like a cat (or somewhat) or a horrible teacher than can't teach a dog how to fetch a bone (can you see I like dogs 🙂

You ARE a genius to be an astro-physicist. The admissions committee WILL see that!! I'd love to take something like that for fun someday! Please don't let your bad grade get you down. I'm living this daily until my physics final (I circle which answer "looks" best...sad isn't it). Go to ratemyprofessors.com and see which teacher actually gives a hoot and take them. I'm going to calc-based physics in the fall because both the summer and fall instructors for algebra-physics II are awful yet the cal-based physics are rated the best.

My fav quote is from the first Karate Kid..."No such thing as bad student; only bad teacher". 👍

You're a GREAT student; you have a bad teacher. Retake and call this one a day. Help another and rate the instructor on that website ratemyprofessors.com.

BTW: I was going down the lawyer route too; I heard there are too many lawyers working as hedge-fund managers nowadays. Please think hard about that...

Really, hedge fund managers? I know a dozen law students that ended up working for the local unions at my hometown. But then again, even a hedge fund manager is a job, and it's better than having no job, or at least failing and qualifying to get one. Plus, I thought the admissions committee didn't play favorites with majors, as long as you get the marks and you do what hoops to jump through.

By the way, thanks for the compliment; however, I did use rate my professors and virtually all the chemistry instructors got horrible ratings. Not a real shock to be honest, considering how infuriating and boorish the lot are.

 

[ataha]

I'd just like to chime in to mention that I struggled a LOT with gen chem I and II and hated every minute of it. However when I got to organic chemistry I felt I didn't need to work nearly as hard because it made more sense to me and I did enjoy it a lot more than gen chem. Just because you don't do so well in chem I does not mean you will have the same problem in organic. Also, withdrawing from a class and getting a W looks a lot better than a D... so I would use that option next time.

Just my 0.02

 

[DaymanNightman]

First off, you're not your dad.

Technically I am my dad, I have his genetic material (just a small joke).

I noticed a lot of people suggesting I drop the class and get a W. I should let you all know that it's not a possibility, considering my classes are over in 2 weeks from now (final lectures are next thursday). If I knew how much of a pain in the behind this class was, I would have just dropped it before the deadline and moved on to law anyways, or continue studying for other classes; it was no fun trying to synthesize drugs (or aspirin) in chemistry (breaking bad reference anyone?), whereas I found it twice as more fun learning about the time-space continuum of this universe.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Technically I am my dad, I have his genetic material (just a small joke).

I noticed a lot of people suggesting I drop the class and get a W. I should let you all know that it's not a possibility, considering my classes are over in 2 weeks from now (final lectures are next thursday). If I knew how much of a pain in the behind this class was, I would have just dropped it before the deadline and moved on to law anyways, or continue studying for other classes; it was no fun trying to synthesize drugs (or aspirin) in chemistry (breaking bad reference anyone?), whereas I found it twice as more fun learning about the time-space continuum of this universe.

Maybe medicine is not for you, but if you think medicine is not for you because you're having a hard time with one class, you're making a mistake. You'll probably come back here 5-10 years down the road as a non-trad.

Go ahead and retake the class. I hated Gen. Chem with a passion when I took it, but I know that's not what medicine is. Organic Chemistry is way more interesting.

 

[DaymanNightman]

I know it's pretty old, but I have some updates; Thanks to everyone here, I'm going to suck it up and be a man about it and retake general chemistry and its brother, general chemistry 2, so I'm going to try it out for med school, even if it doesn't work out, because I guess I really won't know until I do try it out. I recall Dr. Schrodinger saying something akin to this situation: "Until we open up the box, we can assume the cat is both dead and alive, not either one"

 

[rodmichael82]

I know it's pretty old, but I have some updates; Thanks to everyone here, I'm going to suck it up and be a man about it and retake general chemistry and its brother, general chemistry 2, so I'm going to try it out for med school, even if it doesn't work out, because I guess I really won't know until I do try it out. I recall Dr. Schrodinger saying something akin to this situation: "Until we open up the box, we can assume the cat is both dead and alive, not either one"

General chemistry and/or Organic chemistry don't mean **** in med school. We hardly ever use that crap.

 

[DaymanNightman]

General chemistry and/or Organic chemistry don't mean **** in med school. We hardly ever use that crap.

Really? I know this isn't the time and place to talk about medical school, but I've heard a lot of people tell me this. Don't you have to learn chemistry to understand something like how our bodies react to certain types of treatments or like how pathogens affect the body? (Clearly, I've got to really research more about medical schools if this isn't the case)

 

[Alejandro]

I have used Organic Chemistry as a Second Language to read over the summer to prep me for ochem...that class became a joke after I was done with that book. Best 30 dollars spent in college. 😀

 

[Total180]

Really? I know this isn't the time and place to talk about medical school, but I've heard a lot of people tell me this. Don't you have to learn chemistry to understand something like how our bodies react to certain types of treatments or like how pathogens affect the body? (Clearly, I've got to really research more about medical schools if this isn't the case)

There is some biochem in med school, but it is mostly knowing the pathways of how something is made and if an enzyme is messed up, what is going to happen. For pharm, we have to know mechanisms, but usually that also concerns knowing more about physiology than chemistry. There is soooo much to learn in med school that if they went down to the level of gen chem for everything we would be in school for 8 billion years. Obviously, it helps to have an understanding of the basics to understand what is really happening physiologically, but you will most likely never be directly tested on it.

I absolutely HATED gen chem....I struggled for a B in the first semester and got my very first C ever in the second half. Organic was easier for me to understand, and ended up doing much better. However, you really will barely need to know any of it after taking the MCAT. A lot of the sciences are just to see if you can man up and push through the bull.