Medical Switching Calc II to Credit/No Credit?

[GoSpursGo]

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Hello,

I am a junior biology major currently with a 3.2 GPA at T10 quarter school. Last Fall, I took Calc II but ended up with a C, which was also the grade I got in Calc I during my freshman year. I believe that my reason for struggling was in part due to my lack of exposure to calculus in high school. I also abruptly lost one of my grandparents to COVID-19 last Fall, which grieved me deeply. Regardless, I was wondering if I would be justified in retroactively switching Calc II to Credit/No Credit, which would bring up my GPA about a half point. I considered also taking an higher level math class, however I think this would be risky due to my dislike of math. For reference, my transcript contains a few other C's.

Thank you in advance!

At this point you're missing the forest for the trees--that specific C isn't going to hold you back, but rather there is something systematic about your study habits that is tanking your GPA.

Go ahead and retroactively make the change because a single P/F class isn't a red flag. But this is a band-aid on a much bigger problem that you need to address. Figure out what is holding you back (insufficient study time, over-stretching yourself on ECs, distractions outside of school, unaddressed mental health problems) and make appropriate changes. Crossing your fingers and hoping for the best isn't going to cut it, and you're digging yourself a deeper and deeper hole.

I very strongly recommend against taking additional math courses.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Thank you for this advice. Fortunately, my grades have been much better this year. Besides the C I got in Calc II, the other C's I received were from way early on Freshman year, when I had some issues adjusting to college life and rigor. I am thinking I can reasonably bring my GPA to at least a 3.4 for when I apply at the end of senior year. Do you think post-bacc classes would be necessary if I can get it past 3.4? I am hoping to spend my gap year doing clinical work and scribing. I also plan to spend this Summer studying for the MCAT.

In general, 3.4 is below average for all MD schools and a fair number of DO schools. Naturally an "average" is just that, and so half of any entering class matriculate with a GPA that is on the lower end of the curve. These applicants manage to make up for that with strengths elsewhere in their application.

So it's impossible to answer your question without the context of the rest of your application, and in particular your MCAT score. If you score a 520, then 3.4 may be fine. If you score a 510, then that may not be enough of an upward trend. It also greatly depends on your state of residence.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

With a 3.4, it is likely going to be a good idea to do a post-bac as you are likely not going to score a 520. Generally, MCAT scores are loosely correlated with GPA. We won't really know for sure if you will need the post-bac till you get your MCAT and we see all your EC work.

If you are okay with DO, 3.4 will get you in as long as you do decent on your MCAT and have solid ECs.