taking Organic chem 2 times = got D in both time

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dragonjinse

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Hello everyone,

I am so nervous and disappointed for my grade so much.
I took 2nd Ochem last year and got D.
So I retook it last quarter and I got D again. 🙁
I know it will look bad in my transcript. It's totally my false.

Do I still have a chance for DO?
I retook 5 classes already (4 sciences + 1 general)
English is not my first language.


Thank you very much
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you have a chance depending on your ECs, gpa, mcat, etc. Doesn't hurt to have a good explanation why you did bad twice though.
 
You still have a chance, but you need to really figure out what you're doing wrong. A third time getting a D or even a C will basically tell ADCOMS that you might have a problem managing with heavy and potentially esoteric material.
 
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dragonjinse said:
Hello everyone,

I am so nervous and disappointed for my grade so much.
I took 2nd Ochem last year and got D.
So I retook it last quarter and I got D again. 🙁
I know it will look bad in my transcript. It's totally my false.

Do I still have a chance for DO?
I retook 5 classes already (4 sciences + 1 general)
English is not my first language.


Thank you very much
Click to expand...

organic chem weeds out all of those pre-med hopefuls who wouldn't survive in med school

you sir are getting weeded out
 
It's obvious that English is not your first language... this may or may not have contributed to your poor grades. As was already mentioned, O-Chem is a filtering class. Perhaps you should consider a new profession? Either way, good luck.
 
Some answers make me more disappointed!
But maybe it's the truth :'(
 
Evaluate why you did poorly in Organic II twice, and then move on. If you are applying to programs that require Organic II then you will have to take it a third time.

Before you accept the advice of other pre-meds that you've never met, honestly evaluate this, meet with professors, and your health careers advisor if at all possible before deciding to opt out. However, this brings in the second part of the equation for getting into Medical School, persistence. The first part is being reasonably intelligent and able to grasp harder concepts in courses such as the Organic Chemistries (O. Chem I and II, remember there are programs that accept Biochem instead of O. Chem II), Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, etc. Good luck with your decision.
 
Thank you for your suggestion. I found out that my pre-med advisor didn't give me good suggestions so I ended up talking with med school's admission director in my college instead. I want to be a DO doctor. That's the only decision for my future career.

I got C for the first Ochem. And this is Ochem II (got D in both time retaking).
I'm so nervous that I will not have any chances for DO school. :'(

I also talked with my professor. He told me to retake it again even I get C because I need this material for Ochem III and comprehensive final (include Ochem I,II,III).


COMedic2Doc said:
Evaluate why you did poorly in Organic II twice, and then move on. If you are applying to programs that require Organic II then you will have to take it a third time.

Before you accept the advice of other pre-meds that you've never met, honestly evaluate this, meet with professors, and your health careers advisor if at all possible before deciding to opt out. However, this brings in the second part of the equation for getting into Medical School, persistence. The first part is being reasonably intelligent and able to grasp harder concepts in courses such as the Organic Chemistries (O. Chem I and II, remember there are programs that accept Biochem instead of O. Chem II), Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, etc. Good luck with your decision.
Click to expand...
 
If O.Chem 2 has been your only difficulty and you have a high GPA/MCAT, you definitely have a shot. You'll just have to retake it again.
 
What are your study habits like? Do you just look at handouts and power point slides? I think the worthwhile thing for you to do is get into a study group, and put in study time everyday. This means going over your previous lectures to refresh your memory so you're not stuck cramming for the final. It also doesn't hurt to go to the teacher's office hours and get further explanations.
 
Oh, and you still have a chance at med schools. Keep in mind that it'll get a lot tougher in med school, so just be prepared.
 
docgodfather said:
what are your study habits like? Do you just look at handouts and power point slides? I think the worthwhile thing for you to do is get into a study group, and put in study time everyday. This means going over your previous lectures to refresh your memory so you're not stuck cramming for the final. It also doesn't hurt to go to the teacher's office hours and get further explanations.
Click to expand...
+1.
 
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I don't see a chance of you getting admitted to any US medical school without improving your OChem grades. Your C in OChem 1 makes me curious about how well you learned the material. As much as it may suck to hear, I think you will most benefit from retaking the entire OChem sequence.
 
I studied by myself from book everyday. We didn't get any powerpoint slides.
So only way that my prof. told me was studying from his note and book.

I didn't sleep a whole night last night. I keep thinking about this. I know my chance to get accepted from DO school is really low comparing to people who never retake classes and get high GPA.

Thank you for all suggestions. I did talk with prof, advisors, friends etc...
I will try my best to get at least B next time (Hopefully)


Do someone here got accepted from Med school with so many times retaking classes?
 
Do a search here on SDN, especially the Underdog thread is coming to mind. To answer your question regarding re-takes the answer is yes there are others that have traveled this road before, especially on the DO route. Persistence is a huge part of this equation, and some don't notice this factorial until Medical School others notice it in their pre-Med years. Work with this, find those that you can get help from in a Study Group as DocGodfather mentioned and work your *** off this next go-around.
 
It's good to be aware of your competition, but it's better to focus on what you can change. You're on the right track by asking for help.
 
you are fine. I failed orgo 2 twice as well and I did pretty well this application cycle. Just make sure to learn from your mistakes and pass the third time and keep up with other stuff (other grades, MCAT and ECs) as well like posts above mentioned.
 
Thanks again for your suggestions. I retook 5 classes already (4 sciences + 1 non-s).
And I will retake Ochem II again next quarter which mean I already retook 6 classes in undergrad already.
I'm really stressed about this. I thought I studied really hard for all my classes, but the grade that I received were not as good as I expected.
I like to study by myself because I learn slower than other students (need to translate into my lang. and reread it again). I don't want to make other people wait for me.

I talked with Director of Amission in DO med school. He said he will consider about I'm a English 2nd lang, student also. But I'm still worried about my chance.

If someone here who retook science classes alot, and got accepted from med school, please share your stories. It helps me alot!

Also, my sGPA right now is 2.7. I'm Junior (but will be in 5th year undergrad). Do I still have enough time to raise my GPA up?

I have business minor (just for letting you guys know).

Thank you
 
" didn't sleep a whole night last night. I keep thinking about this."

first of all, relax... no need to over-stress yourself about this. what's done is done. the first thing, like everyone said, make sure you do well in orgo 2 the third time. like REALLLY WELL. talk to your professor, go to his office hours, ask him for previous year's exams (though having given them yourself, you might have a copy of them? if not, ask for those copies with the answer key). Discuss in detail with your professor, that you NEED to do well this time, and if you have to sit with your professor and go over every question and every single reaction mechanism five times, do that!! Make his office your second home! and take extra appointments with him if you have to. see if your campus has chem tutoring centers, and if yes, go to them.

Failing once is fine. failing twice would definitely raise red flags, but it's not necessarily going to become an "automatic reject" kinda red flag. depends on your gpa and mcat, if they are good enough to compensate for the retakes and D's in your transcript.
your science gpa is bit low. how is your cGPA? you said you will be in 5th year - so when are you going to graduate?

btw, I'm taking OChem 2 currently. though our curriculums may be slightly different, but if you have any course specific question, pm me. I can try to help you out as well, to the best of my ability. 🙂
 
Hi there. I am a 2nd year DO student and English is also my second language. I recommend you to revise your current study strategy:

1, utilize tutor services. Do your school provide such services? If not, utilize professor /TA office hours.

2, Do you school provide lecture recordings or note taking services? I found it useful when I review the whole lecture again. If not, bring a recorder (of course, ask for permission prior doing that) or smartphones, laptops...

3, Active learning! Make flashcards, highlight and transcribe/ condense notes, Questions.... anything that not just read and read over notes...

4, Study groups! You say you are are slow learner, which is ok. Try to find someone that have similar study pace as you do and study together. Not only you can quiz each others but also u can get motivation from your buddies!

I hope it helps.


dragonjinse said:
Thanks again for your suggestions. I retook 5 classes already (4 sciences + 1 non-s).
And I will retake Ochem II again next quarter which mean I already retook 6 classes in undergrad already.
I'm really stressed about this. I thought I studied really hard for all my classes, but the grade that I received were not as good as I expected.
I like to study by myself because I learn slower than other students (need to translate into my lang. and reread it again). I don't want to make other people wait for me.

I talked with Director of Amission in DO med school. He said he will consider about I'm a English 2nd lang, student also. But I'm still worried about my chance.

If someone here who retook science classes alot, and got accepted from med school, please share your stories. It helps me alot!

Also, my sGPA right now is 2.7. I'm Junior (but will be in 5th year undergrad). Do I still have enough time to raise my GPA up?

I have business minor (just for letting you guys know).

Thank you
Click to expand...
 
dragonjinse said:
Also, my sGPA right now is 2.7. I'm Junior (but will be in 5th year undergrad). Do I still have enough time to raise my GPA up?

I have business minor (just for letting you guys know).
Click to expand...


Yes you still have time to raise your GPA. It is possible (but unlikely) that your school will force you to graduate. Even if they do you can continue taking classes at a community college.

Have you taken any upper division science (not math) classes like advanced biology, chemistry, or physics? If yes, how did you do in them? If no, you will need to take some and get As.

On a more important note... you are going to need a good MCAT score to offset your poor GPA... How do you plan on getting a good score with a weak science background and poor english skills?
 
Yes, you still have a chance; you are going to have to repeat O-Chem.

Then again, not everyone is cut out for medical school. Maybe there's a message here.

dragonjinse said:
Hello everyone,

I am so nervous and disappointed for my grade so much.
I took 2nd Ochem last year and got D.
So I retook it last quarter and I got D again. 🙁
I know it will look bad in my transcript. It's totally my false.

Do I still have a chance for DO?
I retook 5 classes already (4 sciences + 1 general)
English is not my first language.


Thank you very much
Click to expand...
 
Buy a dry erase board and workout problems until you really know whats happening? Maybe take ochem I again. Im struggling with ochem II also but its been a year since i took the first semester, and my teacher says he makes it as difficult as advanced ochem. Just practice......a lot.
 
Thank you very much for offering help!! I'm really appreciated.


medcandidate said:
" didn't sleep a whole night last night. I keep thinking about this."

first of all, relax... no need to over-stress yourself about this. what's done is done. the first thing, like everyone said, make sure you do well in orgo 2 the third time. like REALLLY WELL. talk to your professor, go to his office hours, ask him for previous year's exams (though having given them yourself, you might have a copy of them? if not, ask for those copies with the answer key). Discuss in detail with your professor, that you NEED to do well this time, and if you have to sit with your professor and go over every question and every single reaction mechanism five times, do that!! Make his office your second home! and take extra appointments with him if you have to. see if your campus has chem tutoring centers, and if yes, go to them.

Failing once is fine. failing twice would definitely raise red flags, but it's not necessarily going to become an "automatic reject" kinda red flag. depends on your gpa and mcat, if they are good enough to compensate for the retakes and D's in your transcript.
your science gpa is bit low. how is your cGPA? you said you will be in 5th year - so when are you going to graduate?

btw, I'm taking OChem 2 currently. though our curriculums may be slightly different, but if you have any course specific question, pm me. I can try to help you out as well, to the best of my ability. 🙂
Click to expand...
 
Hi! How do you improve your English skill before taking MCAT?
How do you study for biology and hard science classes?
I found biology is the hardest class for me because of vocabulary. Also my grammar is not good at all. I have been here (US) for 4 years now.

Did you finish your undergrad in US?
Please give me more suggestion.

My prof doesn't allow us to bring any laptop or record anything.
I have to pay for tutor, but money is the main problem for me also.
I always went to talk/ask questions with prof.


eccool said:
Hi there. I am a 2nd year DO student and English is also my second language. I recommend you to revise your current study strategy:

1, utilize tutor services. Do your school provide such services? If not, utilize professor /TA office hours.

2, Do you school provide lecture recordings or note taking services? I found it useful when I review the whole lecture again. If not, bring a recorder (of course, ask for permission prior doing that) or smartphones, laptops...

3, Active learning! Make flashcards, highlight and transcribe/ condense notes, Questions.... anything that not just read and read over notes...

4, Study groups! You say you are are slow learner, which is ok. Try to find someone that have similar study pace as you do and study together. Not only you can quiz each others but also u can get motivation from your buddies!

I hope it helps.
Click to expand...
 
I finished all 3 Phys classes with C, B and, B+
I'm still in general biology right now.
I'm still thinking about how to study for MCAT, but I haven't gotten any good ways to study and improve my English yet. 🙁

BenZq said:
Yes you still have time to raise your GPA. It is possible (but unlikely) that your school will force you to graduate. Even if they do you can continue taking classes at a community college.

Have you taken any upper division science (not math) classes like advanced biology, chemistry, or physics? If yes, how did you do in them? If no, you will need to take some and get As.

On a more important note... you are going to need a good MCAT score to offset your poor GPA... How do you plan on getting a good score with a weak science background and poor english skills?
Click to expand...
 
Six retakes and your sgpa is only a 2.7? That says to me that you have more issues than o.chem. Are your grades in business good? If so, language is not the problem. Maybe you should look into alternative careers if it doesn't seem to work out for you.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk
 
Please take a gap year between undergrad and medical school to improve your English. You can get a job doing pretty much anything, but retail or similar would be ideal.

There's nothing worse than having a doctor examine you and not being able to understand what they're saying when they present the results. Speaking English well is imperative to being a good doctor in the USA.
 
I retook Chem I and II because I got C- in both classes. Then I got B- and A- in Chem I and II.
I also retook Bios I and II. In Bios I, I got F in the first time and I got C+ after retaking it.
Bios II, I got D, and got C+ after retaking it
And about OChem II. First time, I got D. Second time I also got D (with diff prof and diff book).
I will retake in next quarter.



TriagePreMed said:
Six retakes and your sgpa is only a 2.7? That says to me that you have more issues than o.chem. Are your grades in business good? If so, language is not the problem. Maybe you should look into alternative careers if it doesn't seem to work out for you.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
dragonjinse said:
I retook Chem I and II because I got C- in both classes. Then I got B- and A- in Chem I and II.
I also retook Bios I and II. In Bios I, I got F in the first time and I got C+ after retaking it.
Bios II, I got D, and got C+ after retaking it
And about OChem II. First time, I got D. Second time I also got D (with diff prof and diff book).
I will retake in next quarter.
Click to expand...

Those are horrible grades for retakes of elementary courses. I definitely encourage you to explore alternative careers.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for suggestion.

I know it's horrible grades. But I will make it better in other science classes.
TriagePreMed said:
Those are horrible grades for retakes of elementary courses. I definitely encourage you to explore alternative careers.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
1, how to improve english skills?
-hard Q to answer. I have been in the States for >10yrs so I have my skills refined by interacting with people, as well as from TV and books.
-i have vocab problem too, needless to say I do not understand some many slang people say. The only solution is to expose yourself more to the English speaking environment and ask question if you do not understand..

I majored in biology so that was my easiest subject to deal with, and I went to one of the UC. So sad your prof won't allow to use a laptop in class (I mean, come on, it's 21st century....)

hope that helps.




dragonjinse said:
Hi! How do you improve your English skill before taking MCAT?
How do you study for biology and hard science classes?
I found biology is the hardest class for me because of vocabulary. Also my grammar is not good at all. I have been here (US) for 4 years now.

Did you finish your undergrad in US?
Please give me more suggestion.

My prof doesn't allow us to bring any laptop or record anything.
I have to pay for tutor, but money is the main problem for me also.
I always went to talk/ask questions with prof.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you so much for suggestion.
I have been in US for only 4years. I try to read books alot and watch English TV shows.

I know it's really sad that I can't use any electronic devices in class.
eccool said:
1, how to improve english skills?
-hard Q to answer. I have been in the States for >10yrs so I have my skills refined by interacting with people, as well as from TV and books.
-i have vocab problem too, needless to say I do not understand some many slang people say. The only solution is to expose yourself more to the English speaking environment and ask question if you do not understand..

I majored in biology so that was my easiest subject to deal with, and I went to one of the UC. So sad your prof won't allow to use a laptop in class (I mean, come on, it's 21st century....)

hope that helps.
Click to expand...
 
dragonjinse said:
I retook Chem I and II because I got C- in both classes. Then I got B- and A- in Chem I and II.
I also retook Bios I and II. In Bios I, I got F in the first time and I got C+ after retaking it.
Bios II, I got D, and got C+ after retaking it
And about OChem II. First time, I got D. Second time I also got D (with diff prof and diff book).
I will retake in next quarter.
Click to expand...

Alright, what's happened has happened, now your job is to tell us why you got bad grades both times. I mean, are you working 40 hours a week? What do you think is causing you to effectively do badly in these classes? It seems like you might not be good at memorization or time management skills.

Either way, I'm not going to openly say that you should quit pursuing a medical degree, but you may consider pursing a different path in life, one that you may be better at.
 
I think my big problem is managing time. I know that I should get a better grade than this.
I have 4 classes + 1 lab + 4 hours volunteering. I know it's not really busy life.
I will study everyday after class, read the material before hand. Hopefully they will help me getting better grade

serenade said:
Alright, what's happened has happened, now your job is to tell us why you got bad grades both times. I mean, are you working 40 hours a week? What do you think is causing you to effectively do badly in these classes? It seems like you might not be good at memorization or time management skills.

Either way, I'm not going to openly say that you should quit pursuing a medical degree, but you may consider pursing a different path in life, one that you may be better at.
Click to expand...
 
dragonjinse said:
I think my big problem is managing time. I know that I should get a better grade than this.
I have 4 classes + 1 lab + 4 hours volunteering. I know it's not really busy life.
I will study everyday after class, read the material before hand. Hopefully they will help me getting better grade
Click to expand...

Alright, well if you can figure out how to better manage your time then you'll do better. But yes, I do recommend reading the material before class, it really helps for classes were the material is more mundane and nit-picky like genetics.
 
Also, can someone tell me your story/ other people story that you know who has a low GPA or so many retaking classes that got accepted from med school......

THank you very much
 
dragonjinse said:
I learn slower than other students (need to translate into my lang. and reread it again)... I talked with Director of Amission in DO med school. He said he will consider about I'm a English 2nd lang, student also.
Click to expand...

There is no way to sugarcoat this: English proficiency is a must for success in med school - and on the MCAT. No med school is going to give you special treatment or special accommodations because of the language barrier.
 
If you cant get As on your retakes you probably should reconsider this whole medicine thing. I struggled with some science early on because I was lazy and made excuses for myself.

But I feel you arent in that boat but rather, just not good at sciences. Its probably a lack of a strong foundation.
 
OChem III?? What is that, some form of a sick cruel joke on the part of your university?? That should be a crime lol...I'm shooting you a PM for a more relevant response to your concerns 🙂
 
You may want to take a few years off to really immerse yourself in learning English and take a break from the sciences. If its a language barrier, retakes won't help your gpa. Best of luck!
 
My advice is to stick to one science course per semester until you starting getting As. I would also recommend taking some ESL coursework, if it is available. Also, you might consider restarting the entire OChem sequence. A "C" in OChem I isn't really very good, and perhaps improving your grade in that course will help you to improve your performance in OChem II? Lastly, and please don't take this the wrong way, get tested for a learning disability and/or adhd. If you find that you have a problem then you can probably get placed on the disabled students list - which allows for special classroom accommodations such as more exam time🙂.
 
GraceEuphoria said:
OChem III?? What is that, some form of a sick cruel joke on the part of your university?? That should be a crime lol...I'm shooting you a PM for a more relevant response to your concerns 🙂
Click to expand...

Your probably not from CA and I'm not sure the OP is either, but most UCs run on the quarter system... So instead of having 2 semesters of OChem there are 3 shorter quarters.
 
Thank you for your suggestion. I'm studying for OChem II in next quarter right now. Hopefully, I will get a better grade.

I'm not international student (VISA holding student) so I can't take ESL classes 🙁 That's so stupid
JESSFALLING said:
My advice is to stick to one science course per semester until you starting getting As. I would also recommend taking some ESL coursework, if it is available. Also, you might consider restarting the entire OChem sequence. A "C" in OChem I isn't really very good, and perhaps improving your grade in that course will help you to improve your performance in OChem II? Lastly, and please don't take this the wrong way, get tested for a learning disability and/or adhd. If you find that you have a problem then you can probably get placed on the disabled students list - which allows for special classroom accommodations such as more exam time🙂.
Click to expand...
 
My school is still in quarter system. That's why I have to take Ochem III with 2 labs

BenZq said:
Your probably not from CA and I'm not sure the OP is either, but most UCs run on the quarter system... So instead of having 2 semesters of OChem there are 3 shorter quarters.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you so much!!! I also responded your PM already. It helps me alot!
GraceEuphoria said:
OChem III?? What is that, some form of a sick cruel joke on the part of your university?? That should be a crime lol...I'm shooting you a PM for a more relevant response to your concerns 🙂
Click to expand...
 
Unfortunately, my school doesn't have any tutors who speaks my native lang.
But thank you though.

I will try my best to get at least B in the next time
slp2doc said:
Have you thought of getting a tutor who speaks your native language?

I think that could be the kicker for you. If that doesn't work, it could be well for you to consider another career while you're still young.

I'm just about to begin my postbac premed coursework; I'm confident I will need every service offered to make it through all the science (not my strong suit). Do whatever it takes! Try finding someone who knows your language of origin and knock it out.

Take good care!
Click to expand...
 
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