Troubles in retaking Gen Chem 2

[HopefulSpartan]

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So last spring semester I had trouble in two courses, those being the second semester of Calc and General Chemistry 2. I got a 2.5 and 2.0 in them respectively. Granted, it wasn't for a lack of trying. My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, and it had metastasized to her lungs. Because of that I started to commute from home (three hours round trip) and ended up missing a lot of class.

I think that is a pretty legitimate reason for doing poorly - but I don't want to have to rely on an excuse. I was low on time, so I focused most of my energy toward the other 8 credits I was taking so that I'd at least have a decent cumulative GPA at the end of the semester.

I figured worse case scenario I'd just retake the classes during a less hectic semester, but because I got those grades I'm ineligible to do so (kind of stupid, I didn't learn a thing in Chem).

Looking at taking the class at another university over the summer is problematic too, as the ones near me (Oakland University and Wayne State) offer Chem 2 as a full semester class (May to July). However my community college offers it as an accelerated class from early may to late June which would work with my schedule (we are planning a family vacation, very likely to be our last all together in July).

Is it OK if I retake it at a CC? I really need to take it so that I understand and study the material. How much should I worry about that grade? I have a 3.38 sGPA with that class excluded (3.1 with), and still have a semester of Bio + Phys plus Orgo to go.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I think this situation would CERTAINLY merit that option...

A couple of years ago, my dad was also diagnosed with cancer. It was so aggressive that he required surgery to remove a mass every 8 weeks or so for a year until they removed his entire left arm. When we got the first official word, it was my first week of the semester and the first time I would be attempting pre-reqs. I also moved home and had to endure a 2-hour commute to school.

Needless to say, my grades suffered as I bounced from his house, to my school, to the hospital, and back. But, like you, I came away with a C in calculus and chem. And, my school also would not allow any retakes.

My situation is a little different because I entered into a post-bacc program this past fall (my medical school decision was late in my college career, and I've got a non-traditional major), so I'm taking ALL of the pre-reqs necessary for medical school (including the the sub-par ones I had already taken). However, I think that based on the circumstances with your family, it would be not only acceptable, but appropriate to take the classes at a CC in order to facilitate your timeline.

IF you get asked by admissions committees, you just tell them what happened. They're people too--they have families, and they have sick loved ones. They will understand.

I'm incredibly sorry to hear about your mom. If you need anyone to talk to--someone who understands your situation precisely--feel free to contact me. I know that when I was in your shoes I wasn't necessarily looking for the pity everyone gave me, but the ability to just talk to someone who got what I was going through.

 

[Silverman780]

Rock it at the CC and be sure to explain the situation on your application(s)

 

[HopefulSpartan]

Thanks for your input guys.

BeachBlondie, I'm sorry to hear about your father and thank you for the offer. My mother is doing quite a lot better now after chemo and radiation.

EDIT

Also, do you think med schools would recalculate my GPA with the CC grade? Do they do that in general? I took two psych courses at CC that would be a nice little boost.

 

[Lijia4]

Thanks for your input guys.

BeachBlondie, I'm sorry to hear about your father and thank you for the offer. My mother is doing quite a lot better now after chemo and radiation.

EDIT

Also, do you think med schools would recalculate my GPA with the CC grade? Do they do that in general? I took two psych courses at CC that would be a nice little boost.

Sorry to hear about both of your parents. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that would be. I went through my own extenuating circumstances during my soph year of undergrad, which affected my grades for nearly 2 years. I was assaulted and stalked by my attacker and then struggled with PTSD. I should have taken a semester or two off, but I was desperate for a sense of normalcy, so my gpa took a serious hit (especially since most take their pre-reqs during those years...ugh). I had to retake some classes and had a double concentration so a 5th year was required, which meant also working graveyard shifts full time to fund it. Long story short, I met with various advisors, mentors, etc and really I don't think anyone who realizes that students are human beings will expect them to maintain straight A's in demanding courses while struggling with circumstances like ours. That being said, the lower grades are understood, but schools want to see that you can cope and rebound. When do you anticipate applying?

I am pretty sure you can take the courses at the CC without being frowned upon. Just contact an advisor at the school to verify and see how they'll feel about you taking it there. AACOMAS will replace the grade for the better one. Keep working hard, talk to the right people, nail the MCAT, and you will be fine! I almost didn't apply this cycle because I was skeptical if I'd get in because of my sGPA, but I was accepted to my top choice my first time applying 🙂 Good luck!!

 

[HopefulSpartan]

When you say contact an advisor, do you mean my undergrad one at my current university or one at CC?

I talked to my Pre-Prof advisor at my university and he said "not to worry" about a 2.0 in "one of my classes"...PFFT!

 

[Lijia4]

When you say contact an advisor, do you mean my undergrad one at my current university or one at CC?

I talked to my Pre-Prof advisor at my university and he said "not to worry" about a 2.0 in "one of my classes"...PFFT!

Talk to an advisor that is actually affiliated with a medical school that you're interested in.

I'm not sure where you currently go to school now, but at U of M there were advisors at UM med school who would advise undergrad students. I strictly only saw them because they were most informed--and my undergrad advisor at UM gave me awful advice--I am so convinced he was literally trying to sabotage my academic career before it even started 🙁 I kept in touch with the advisors there, and then I saw different advisors at MSUCOM as well who handled my school specific questions.

 

[Silverfalcon]

Also, do you think med schools would recalculate my GPA with the CC grade? Do they do that in general? I took two psych courses at CC that would be a nice little boost.

"Recalculate" as in averaging two grades for MD medical school, yes.

"Recalculate" as in replacing the previous grade for DO medical school, yes.

Psych does not count towards your BCPM.