what should my friend do...

[cal2012]

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One of my roommates has a slightly complicated question about grading in science prereqs. She just got back her first physics midterm, and...just flat-out failed it, even if you take the curve into account. She's been struggling with the material for awhile, and wants to switch this class from letter grade to pass/no pass, and then retake it next semester and hopefully do better. As for other options...

Withdrawal--she won't have enough units without this class, and could lose her financial aid if she switches to PTS
Fail/retake--she doesn't want to hurt her gpa this way
Muscle it out--what I recommended, but she's still looking at something in the C/C- range and doesn't want this on her transcript

So...what would medical schools think if she went through with the P/NP plan? I know that they want a calculated gpa for science classes, but I'm not sure what they'd think if they saw the same class taken P/NP then letter grade.

Thnx, and please reply!

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

One of my roommates has a slightly complicated question about grading in science prereqs. She just got back her first physics midterm, and...just flat-out failed it, even if you take the curve into account. She's been struggling with the material for awhile, and wants to switch this class from letter grade to pass/no pass, and then retake it next semester and hopefully do better. As for other options...

Withdrawal--she won't have enough units without this class, and could lose her financial aid if she switches to PTS
Fail/retake--she doesn't want to hurt her gpa this way
Muscle it out--what I recommended, but she's still looking at something in the C/C- range and doesn't want this on her transcript

So...what would medical schools think if she went through with the P/NP plan? I know that they want a calculated gpa for science classes, but I'm not sure what they'd think if they saw the same class taken P/NP then letter grade.

Thnx, and please reply!

I don't know much about pass/no pas, but I would say that she can consider taking P/NP and then retaking it for a grade later (if that's possible). I think her "best bet" is just take the C and run with it--as in, do better next time. She still has time in the term to make it up, IMO. Focus, study hard, practice a LOT, and she "should" be okay! 🙂

One C amongst a lot of A's and B's will not be detrimental to a medical school admission....

 

[IlaEm]

I don't know much about pass/no pas, but I would say that she can consider taking P/NP and then retaking it for a grade later (if that's possible). I think her "best bet" is just take the C and run with it--as in, do better next time. She still has time in the term to make it up, IMO. Focus, study hard, practice a LOT, and she "should" be okay! 🙂

One C amongst a lot of A's and B's will not be detrimental to a medical school admission....

I agree. I was a pretty big slacker my first couple of years in college. I have multiple C's and some B-'s. Fortunately I got my act together and started getting almost all A's in my last couple of years. This is my first time applying and I already have multiple interviews. I wouldn't worry too much about 1 C. Tell her to work hard in this class and focus on improving her study habits for future classes. I also think extracurriculars are extremely important and can help overshadow a lower GPA. Tell her to not stress and focus on what she loves doing (which if she really wants to go to medical school should be health related activities).