Two C’s in the Organic Chemistry series; worth retaking?

[14_karat]

Last semester, I received a C+ in Ochem I and I decided not to retake. This semester it looks like I will be receiving another C+ in Ochem II. I’m not sure about my lab grade for now. Very disappointed with myself but now I’m lost on what to do. These are my only C’s, I have B’s in Gen Chem 1, Gen Chem 2, and Genetics. The rest of my transcript is A+/A-/As. My cGPA is looking to be around 3.5. Currently, I’m a rising junior. I’ve come up with three plans:

1. Don’t retake. Revise my study skills. Kickass in Biochem and only get As from here on out on the rest of my courses. Most likely take a gap year now instead of applying for med school after junior year.

2. For fall semester, retake ochem 2 and take physics 1, human phys + a language course.

3. For fall semester, retake ochem 2, take physics 1, lang course, and statistics.

* If I get a C- in the Ochem lab it will be between plans 2 or 3.

The reason why I’m suggesting plan 2 is because I’m worried about pushing off Human Phys / Biochem since I still have a decent amount of courses to take for my microbiology major. Plan 3 would have me taking 3 science courses in one semester in the future so I feel it would be better to take three science courses in a semester where I’m retaking one of those science courses (got a B on my Ochem 2 final and if I study hard this summer I think it would be doable).

Any advice?

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[MareNostrummm]

I'd retake it. I'm assuming its way too late in the semester to withdraw right? Usually schools don't allow you to retake a class unless you have a C- or lower though.

I wouldn't take ochem, physics, human phys, and a language course at the same time. Human physiology is a pretty demanding class and language has a lot of vocab.

Do ochem, physics, and statistics.

 

[wut?]

There's no reason to retake ochem. 2 C's wont stop you from getting accepted to med school and if you do get a C- in ochem lab, retake the lab only. Since you're a rising junior, you have 2 more years that you can use to take science classes to raise your science gpa. You'll be fine

 

[WIMNFamilyMed]

I don’t think i would retake yet. However, if you do and need to make more time in fall or spring, I’d try to take the language over the summer. It helped make my semesters a lot easier to be at a lower course load.

 

[14_karat]

Thanks for the advice so far. I found out I got a C in Ochem 2 lecture and a C+ in the two-credit Ochem lab. This makes 3 C’s in the Ochem series and...I don’t know...it just doesn’t sit well with me. My gut is telling me to retake Ochem 2 and the lab; push Biochem to a summer semester. I get that I’m risking not getting an A and there’s the fact that my two scores will be averaged by med schools. But I think this is the chance to improve both my sGPA and cGPA and improve my Ochem knowledge for the MCAT.

 

[rdyotz]

If you have a C don't retake it. Adcoms will expect an A, if you don't get the A it will look really bad. If you do get an an A, you will move to a 3.0 average Ochem 2 GPA... That isn't going to help your GPA at all, unless you want to retake it 3 times, getting an A every time and then it will average out to a 3.5. However, then adcoms will question your decision making. Just ace other science classes.

 

[nosoddy]

Do not retake. You’ve time to buffer the GPA.

OChem was a gut-check for me (and zillions more). Use the time you’d spend retaking the course to analyze where you could have done better and if you wish to continue before you’re in too deep.