Tough Situation: What Would You Do?

[AllDay24]

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Hey guys, I know there are a bunch of threads on the same topic, but I want to get some input on my particular situation.

I'm a sophomore at a supposedly "top" school, taking Orgo I this semester. I did slightly above average (2 points above mean) on my first midterm. Today, I received the score on my second exam and I received one full standard deviation below. Each midterm exam (there are 3) is worth 22% of the grade, and the final is worth 33%.

The class this semester seems to be unusually bright since I'm taking it off-semester. Last semester, my friend took this same course with the same teacher, and the averages were significantly lower but the difficulty seemed the same.

Should I drop the course? My record is pretty good so far (cGPA of 3.85) and mostly A's in all pre-med courses previously. Right now, I think I'm looking at a C. I know the general SDN rule seems to be that B>W>C, so I'm leaning towards dropping the course. If I do so, I feel like I will have some advantage next semester.

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[Geneticist]

Is it at all possible for you to get a B? If you redouble your efforts and buckle down, that is.

With your GPA, you can afford a B or two (or five). But if it will result in a C, take the W and retake next semester.

 

[acb88]

Considering you still have one midterm and a final left, I would stick with the class. You should be able to pull of at least a B if you work really hard for the rest of the semester. Just my 2 cents

 

[Geneticist]

Are you on a +/- system or just straight letter grades?

C+ => Drop it
B- => Keep it

 

[AllDay24]

@acb88: The problem is that I'm doing everything I can. I'm literally putting in a crazy number of hours (30-40 hours per week), reading the textbook, reviewing lectures, doing every single problem in the book, doing workshop problems, attending recitations, and receiving tutoring. I'm not sure what else I can do, and that's the main issue.

@Geneticist: I am on a +/- system.

 

[DrSmday]

It seems to me that now you have a B (first midterm) and a C (second midterm)... so if you can pull at least average scores on the next midterm and the final you should be secure with a B-/B.... don't give up hope and just do your absolute best on the next 2 exams... if you have a 3.85 gpa from the top tier school you are likely one of the smarter people in the class 🙂 so don't be discouraged by the "high" averages

 

[Geneticist]

@acb88: The problem is that I'm doing everything I can. I'm literally putting in a crazy number of hours (30-40 hours per week), reading the textbook, reviewing lectures, doing every single problem in the book, doing workshop problems, attending recitations, and receiving tutoring. I'm not sure what else I can do, and that's the main issue.

Are you at a small campus where only one professor teaches the course? If that's the case, I'd consider sticking it out and shooting for a B-. If you attend a larger campus and can simply choose an easier professor next semester, do that. Unless, of course, you can pull off a B-...

As stated above, you should be able to get your grade up to a B-. Good luck! 🙂

 

[acb88]

@acb88: The problem is that I'm doing everything I can. I'm literally putting in a crazy number of hours (30-40 hours per week), reading the textbook, reviewing lectures, doing every single problem in the book, doing workshop problems, attending recitations, and receiving tutoring. I'm not sure what else I can do, and that's the main issue.

@Geneticist: I am on a +/- system.

But you were able to do average on the first exam, so obviously you are capable. All you need is to do average for the rest of the semester. And a B- is equal to a B on applications. Also, a C isn't the worst thing in the world. Organic chemistry is extremely difficult for a lot of people, and if that's your only C, you should still be fine. I honestly think a C would look better than a W in a pre-req because a W shows you really couldn't handle the material (I correlate it to failing a course). Whats to say that you will do better if you re-take it?

 

[Astarael]

But you were able to do average on the first exam, so obviously you are capable. All you need is to do average for the rest of the semester. And a B- is equal to a B on applications. Also, a C isn't the worst thing in the world. Organic chemistry is extremely difficult for a lot of people, and if that's your only C, you should still be fine. I honestly think a C would look better than a W in a pre-req because a W shows you really couldn't handle the material (I correlate it to failing a course). Whats to say that you will do better if you re-take it?

I agree with the part of your statement that says the OP should be able to get back to average performance on the tests since he/she was able to do so before. But AMCAS uses +/- grading so a B- is not equal to a B, and a W is not equal to failing. I know my n=1 anecdote is unlikely to make a difference to this conversation, but I have one W and one C on my transcript, and it was the C I was asked about, not the W.

 

[acb88]

I agree with the part of your statement that says the OP should be able to get back to average performance on the tests since he/she was able to do so before. But AMCAS uses +/- grading so a B- is not equal to a B, and a W is not equal to failing. I know my n=1 anecdote is unlikely to make a difference to this conversation, but I have one W and one C on my transcript, and it was the C I was asked about, not the W.

You're right. Sorry. I was thinking about TMDSAS when I said that. I still think a C is better than a W, but it probably all depends on the person looking at your application and how they view it. At my school, you only took a W if you absolutely could not handle the material, hence you were failing. Still, one C will not keep you from medical school

 

[Lokhtar]

Do you have the option of waiting for another midterm before you can withdraw? If so, I'd wait to see if you can do really well on it.

If not, I think probably a B- would be the minimum you'd want in a pre-req, so drop it if you can't get there.

With that said, a 'C' won't kill you considering your GPA. But obviously the higher the better.

 

[AllDay24]

Thanks for the responses so far guys! Right now, I'm leaning towards taking the W because I really want to avoid getting a C, especially when I know I can do better with a fresh start.

My question now, though, is how big of a deal is a W, especially in my situation? I have a solid cGPA (3.85) and sGPA (3.80), so would they overlook it? Would it be fine if I did at least OK (B ish) in orgo next semester? Also, note that while I'm fine with attending ANY medical school (emphasis: I just want to be a doctor), I'm aiming for a top-tier med school because I always shoot for the best. Right now, my GPA would seem to put me in the conversation for a top school, but would a W all but eliminate me from the running at these top schools?

Also, the next midterm is after the withdrawal deadline. And Geneticist, there are three sections of orgo next semester (I think we go to the same school...)

Thanks again!

 

[Kekeirda]

Thanks for the responses so far guys! Right now, I'm leaning towards taking the W because I really want to avoid getting a C, especially when I know I can do better with a fresh start.

My question now, though, is how big of a deal is a W, especially in my situation? I have a solid cGPA (3.85) and sGPA (3.80), so would they overlook it? Would it be fine if I did at least OK (B ish) in orgo next semester? Also, note that while I'm fine with attending ANY medical school (emphasis: I just want to be a doctor), I'm aiming for a top-tier med school because I always shoot for the best. Right now, my GPA would seem to put me in the conversation for a top school, but would a W all but eliminate me from the running at these top schools?

Also, the next midterm is after the withdrawal deadline. And Geneticist, there are three sections of orgo next semester (I think we go to the same school...)

Thanks again!

One of my professors told me that admissions people look expect you to get an A in a class that you retake because as he put it anybody can ace something they have taken before. Now that isn't my opinion that is my professors and I'm not even sure that he is correct but that was what he told me.

So my opinion is that if you drop it this semester you better plan on getting an A next semester.

 

[AllDay24]

I'm scared now!!!: "If you withdraw from a class or take it Pass/Fail, a medical school will assign that grade the equivalent of a C- or lower." - NYU Med

 

[thelullaby99]

have you tried going to office hours? it is very helpful for me, because my professor cares about our grades. I'm still taking it now and doing very well. if you have any questions about the material you can *probably* ask me 😛

 

[the duck]

I'm scared now!!!: "If you withdraw from a class or take it Pass/Fail, a medical school will assign that grade the equivalent of a C- or lower." - NYU Med

first I've heard of this.... and it better not be true.....o please god let it not be true. 🙁

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

I dunno if I'd really call this a tough situation...but anyway...

Maybe consider the repercussions to the rest of your class scheduling in the coming semesters. Will taking a W delay your scheduling of other upper division science courses? Or are you merely taking the prereqs and majoring in something nonscience? Would you have to overload to recover your credits, and would that put another burden on you down the road?

Getting a B is not that bad, or all too difficult...the curves can be pretty wild sometimes. Unless I were confident i could retake and get an A, I would just tough it out and move on. I don't think anyone would question a transcript with several B's...but W's definitely look plain weird.

 

[eli20]

I'm going to say W>C unless you already have too many Ws. The thing about W's is that they have to look at your individual courses to see that you got one (which is much less likely imo), whereas a C will take a hit on your gpa which will absolutely positively be looked at by everyone who gets to have an opinion about your file (unless its a closed file interviewer).

About the W = C- thing - I've never heard of this before but it sounds ridiculous. There are a whole host of reasons to have W grades and not all of them include doing poorly in a course. Whichever school is doing this should realize that they are creating a system that favors traditional advantaged applicants even more than they already do.

 

[rhcarolina]

There are a whole host of reasons to have W grades and not all of them include doing poorly in a course.

Doing poorly in the course is the only real reason for a W that I've heard from students...

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

Doing poorly in the course is the only real reason for a W that I've heard from students...

Yeah, when people take one or two W's per term peppered throughout their academic career, that's usually the reason. I would say that all those other reasons you might think of-- the serious reasons like a bad illness, dramatic personal/family situations, an accident, death, etc-- tend to result in a whole semester/term of W's. This is definitely an exception and does not taint your record at all.

 

[eli20]

Yeah, when people take one or two W's per term peppered throughout their academic career, that's usually the reason. I would say that all those other reasons you might think of-- the serious reasons like a bad illness, dramatic personal/family situations, an accident, death, etc-- tend to result in a whole semester/term of W's. This is definitely an exception and does not taint your record at all.

This is what I as referring to.