What do I do?

[khushboo]

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Okay so I always thought that I'd NEVER post a thread on SDN dealing with this topic....but I'm so upset, that I have to, and thanks so much for your patience and understanding.

Well I'm a second-year at university...just got my grades. Somehow got an A in Orgo......but a D in physics I. I can't believe it. I'm still in shock.

Obviously I'll have to retake the course. But does this mean that my chances at an allo school right out of college are gone? I'm studying hard for the MCAT starting from a few weeks back, and I know I have to "rock the MCAT." But do you all think I'll just be better off applying to an SMP or something first, then applying to medical school? I'd rather not go Caribbean; in fact I'd rather delay med school to do the SMP and strengthen my application, and then go to US med school, than anything else.

This is the worst moment of my life right now. I always thought that I could make it, that I could be a doctor. And now I see my whole future crashing down on me. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[AlexMorph]

o god, calm down. one D will not be the end of your life. why would you even think about an smp? you are only a sophomore. you are throwing in the towel way too early. just retake the class, get the A, and everything will be fine again.

focus on making the rest of your app as great as possible, one bad grade certainly will not be the end of ur med school career

 

[custard]

Don't worry. One D is okay. It's really not going to kill your chances at an allopathic school. Just retake the class, get an A, maybe have an explanation for the D in case you get asked about it at interviews. Do well in your other classes, have some ECs, and you'll be fine.

 

[Luxian]

First, breathe! It's going to be okay. You have not just shot all your chances away with one grade. It doesn't work like that.

A D is a setback, of course. If you have a chance to, take the course again and show your stuff. Maybe do some outside reading to get yourself more comfortable with physics. The kind of physics that's on the MCAT is just kinematics and a little E&M. You're only a second year, so you have lots of time to correct.

In general, if your grades overall end up not being that great, I'd highly recommend taking a year or two off before applying to med school. You can work at a lab doing research. You can work at a hospital. You can do an SMP program if you really feel you need to. But just remember: not going to med school RIGHT NOW does not mean you're not going to med school EVER.

This is just a grade. Seriously. I got a D myself and I'm doing fine in the admissions process. 'Course I did a lot of things since undergrad. But I just want to encourage you to relax, see what steps you need to take, and just view this as a minor setback. You'll do fine.

 

[RySerr21]

if you retake the course and do better, ACOMAS (osteopathic) will not even look at your D grade, they will only take into consideration your best grade for the course. just retake the course and you will be fine.

 

[LaMusicienne]

If there's one thing I learned in this application process, it's that your grades are really not as bad as you make them out to be.

Sure we have blips on our transcript, but the worst thing to do right now is brood over it and get all depressed. (I know this, because I've gone through the same thing.) Improve your grades in the coming semesters, study hard for the MCAT, stay involved in activities you love, and say a prayer. Can't do much besides that 😎

 

[novastorm]

Just think that D is going to catch someone's eye and your app is going to get another look at, and thats always a good thing.