Time Sensitive- Likely C or Withdraw?

[bema20]

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I'm a pre-med junior at a competitive, top 15 university. This term I am enrolled in Organic Chemistry II and after 2 exams (worth 200/500 points) I am in the C range (I have the 12-13th lowest score out of a class of 70-80). I don't know whether I should stick with it and get the possible C, although there is some hope of pulling myself up to a B- or B, or just withdraw from the course and take it in the summer at a local state school. Since my science gpa is already low (3.2), a possible C would bring it down significantly. At the same time, another class in the summer costs money, many admissions officers will look down on the W, and I am already more than halfway through the course. Thanks for any input!

 

[scarletgirl777]

I'm a pre-med junior at a competitive, top 15 university. This term I am enrolled in Organic Chemistry II and after 2 exams (worth 200/500 points) I am in the C range (I have the 12-13th lowest score out of a class of 70-80). I don't know whether I should stick with it and get the possible C, although there is some hope of pulling myself up to a B- or B, or just withdraw from the course and take it in the summer at a local state school. Since my science gpa is already low (3.2), a possible C would bring it down significantly. At the same time, another class in the summer costs money, many admissions officers will look down on the W, and I am already more than halfway through the course. Thanks for any input!

If you have no other Ws I don't think it will matter much. How many tests have you taken? Are you sure you're at the bottom. I guess if you're sure and you've taken half your tests or something it would make sense to withdraw.

 

[NotAndrew]

another class in the summer costs money, many admissions officers will look down on the W, and I am already more than halfway through the course. Thanks for any input!

Unless you already have multiple W(like 5 or 6) then don't worry about the W. As for the cost of summer classes remember that medical school costs $200,000+.

 

[redlight]

i don't understand how you could be in the bottom 1/5 - 1/4 of your class and be in the C range.. are you sure about your rank?

anyways, yea the W and summer course wont look great but i don't think you have many options at the moment. a W an repeat for an A will be better for your chances, methinks, because at the very least you'll be improving your gpa.

but my scrappy side says you should fight for that B and pray for "final redemption" - (if your cum average is, say, a B, and you get an A on the cumulative final, you get an A for the class)

 

[bluesmd]

yeah withdraw don't want that C. but don't make it a habit

 

[greg1184]

Look at it this way: Many schools preliminary screen based on GPA and MCAT. A C will be a killer to your GPA while a W will not affect the GPA at all. As long as you don't make it a habit, a W will not hurt you.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Look at it this way: Many schools preliminary screen based on GPA and MCAT. A C will be a killer to your GPA while a W will not affect the GPA at all. As long as you don't make it a habit, a W will not hurt you.

1 C definitely won't break your entire application. Just don't make a habit of getting them often. Just do better on the next exams and you'll do fine - remember there is no guarantee that you'll do better when you retake the class.

Lots of people throw out the "top-15" thing for undergrad - that means next to nothing. Your GPA is your GPA regardless of where you go, and adcoms won't be very forgiving with a bunch of Cs or Ws.

 

[Slack3r]

I was told by my pre-med advisor when trying to withdraw from Genetics (not a core required class) that a W is the worst possible thing I could ever do. I might as well defecate on the interviewer's desk and then punch him in the mouth. But the more I interact with her, the more I think my advisor is an idiot.

 

[greg1184]

1 C definitely won't break your entire application. Just don't make a habit of getting them often. Just do better on the next exams and you'll do fine - remember there is no guarantee that you'll do better when you retake the class.

Lots of people throw out the "top-15" thing for undergrad - that means next to nothing. Your GPA is your GPA regardless of where you go, and adcoms won't be very forgiving with a bunch of Cs or Ws.

In this thread, I was comparing a C with a W and which one is relatively "better" to get. Whether a C itself will harm your application or not is a different story.

 

[chessknt]

That is going to look suspicious if you withdraw from a core pre-req then go to take it somewhere else over the summer. I say solve the real problem (your study habits/ability to understand the material) rather than try to take the easy route out.

 

[AdmiralChz]

That is going to look suspicious if you withdraw from a core pre-req then go to take it somewhere else over the summer. I say solve the real problem (your study habits/ability to understand the material) rather than try to take the easy route out.

👍 Think about why you are doing poorly - have you been taking good notes? Have you studied WELL (it's quality of studying over quantity - number of hours - here) for the exams? If you are having trouble understanding large concepts, have you gone to your TA or prof. for help? I have pulled some good grades out of some "bad" starts like this (chem labs...), so it is definitely possible but good, hard work will be needed! Just some suggestions - good luck!