will this hurt my chances??

[chan]

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can a med student give me advice on this topic..

So, Im almost complete with all my pre-reqs for Medical School. My Science GPA is decent @ a 3.75. However, back when I was just begining to take courses. I took Bio 1...

While working full time and taking this class, it was pretty tough to show up on time all the time, but I made it work. The day of the final I had to stay late at my job and finish some things up. I was going to be late to my final... I got there about 20-30 minutes late and asked the teacher for my final exam. She told me I couldnt take it because this was the final, and you had to be on time to take it... Sadly, this resulted in an F for that class.

I have since then taken the class over and received an "A" (which is what i was going into with the first time around). I know the "A" takes precedence over the "F" but it is still on my transcript....

How do you think admissions committes will look at this????

im freaked out, someone help.

 

[Flobber]

can a med student give me advice on this topic..

So, Im almost complete with all my pre-reqs for Medical School. My Science GPA is decent @ a 3.75. However, back when I was just begining to take courses. I took Bio 1...

While working full time and taking this class, it was pretty tough to show up on time all the time, but I made it work. The day of the final I had to stay late at my job and finish some things up. I was going to be late to my final... I got there about 20-30 minutes late and asked the teacher for my final exam. She told me I couldnt take it because this was the final, and you had to be on time to take it... Sadly, this resulted in an F for that class.

I have since then taken the class over and received an "A" (which is what i was going into with the first time around). I know the "A" takes precedence over the "F" but it is still on my transcript....

How do you think admissions committes will look at this????

im freaked out, someone help.

You're fine. Maybe mention it in your personal statement when you apply, try to put some sort of positive spin on it (e.g. overcoming adversity, blah blah). 3.75 is more than decent, btw. Good luck!

 

[Fif the Great]

I wouldn't sweat it too much. That's pretty much water under the bridge. Like the previous poster said, maybe mention it in your personal statement and spin to make you look good. And they may question you about it in your interview. I got a C in undergraduate chemistry and they asked about it in my interview. I said something about how the prof would give us 5 question exams, multiple choice (0 partial credit if I worked halfway correct through a problem)... so if you missed one, bam, an 80%, two, the lowest "D" possible. Anyways, just have a ready explanation (the one you gave sounded fine) and there should be no problem.

Good luck!

 

[stoic]

can a med student give me advice on this topic..

So, Im almost complete with all my pre-reqs for Medical School. My Science GPA is decent @ a 3.75. However, back when I was just begining to take courses. I took Bio 1...

While working full time and taking this class, it was pretty tough to show up on time all the time, but I made it work. The day of the final I had to stay late at my job and finish some things up. I was going to be late to my final... I got there about 20-30 minutes late and asked the teacher for my final exam. She told me I couldnt take it because this was the final, and you had to be on time to take it... Sadly, this resulted in an F for that class.

I have since then taken the class over and received an "A" (which is what i was going into with the first time around). I know the "A" takes precedence over the "F" but it is still on my transcript....

How do you think admissions committes will look at this????

im freaked out, someone help.

don't sweat it. like the others have said, just mention it in your personal statement. with your science gpa being as high as it is, i doubt they'll even bring it up in interviews.

good luck,
s

 

[doc05]

dude, what job is so important you thought it'd be ok to show up late to the final exam??

it's bad to have a C on your transcript, but an F is really bad. with a 3.75 you may be able to overcome it. good luck.

 

[ishaninatte]

Nice Admissions Committee Member: "He thinks both school and work are important, and he seems to have excelled at both. I will carefully set this file aside for a more thorough review at a later time.

Mean Admissions Committee Member: "DOOOOOOOOMED!!! ARGHAFFFFARFAHHRRFFF, mmmmmm, should I eat this app or wipe my ass with it? No matter, either way it will end up in the toilet where it belongs. FLUSH! SHOOP! MUAAAHHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!

 

[Lebesgue]

DO NOT mention it. Don't make excuses if it comes up in an interiew.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Relax.

🙂

 

[chan]

dude, what job is so important you thought it'd be ok to show up late to the final exam??

it's bad to have a C on your transcript, but an F is really bad. with a 3.75 you may be able to overcome it. good luck.

"DUDE" as you so eloquently put it. I have a wife and a child, If I have to stay late at work for whatever.... I will.... they are my priority first.

 

[novacek88]

can a med student give me advice on this topic..

So, Im almost complete with all my pre-reqs for Medical School. My Science GPA is decent @ a 3.75. However, back when I was just begining to take courses. I took Bio 1...

While working full time and taking this class, it was pretty tough to show up on time all the time, but I made it work. The day of the final I had to stay late at my job and finish some things up. I was going to be late to my final... I got there about 20-30 minutes late and asked the teacher for my final exam. She told me I couldnt take it because this was the final, and you had to be on time to take it... Sadly, this resulted in an F for that class.

I have since then taken the class over and received an "A" (which is what i was going into with the first time around). I know the "A" takes precedence over the "F" but it is still on my transcript....

How do you think admissions committes will look at this????

im freaked out, someone help.

It will only hurt you at the most prestigious and competitive medical schools and that's only because they receive so many top candidates that they will look for any reason to screen you out but it won't hurt you at any of the other medical schools. Just own up to your mistakes and don't act like its a big deal. if you won't act like it's a big deal, they won't.

Don't mention it on your personal statement. If you had to repeat a year because of failed grades, then you explain it. But if it's one F, don't even bother. Plus, an adcom will most likely be upset that you took the time in your personal statement to complain about one F (especially when your GPA is so high) when they wanted to know more about you as a candidate. Don't sweat the F and they won't.

The only people who need to clarify bad grades are those with obvious red flags like the 3.0 GPA people or those who had multiple F's. And yes, medical schools admit these students too especially if they can provide reasons to admit them like a strong trend in grades, a high MCAT etc.

In short: You will be Fine. Tell your wife and kid that you will be in medical school next fall and celebrate. 🙂

 

[digitiminimi]

DO NOT mention it. Don't make excuses if it comes up in an interiew.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Relax.

🙂

Don't mention it in your personal statment. Use that to prove the reasons why you should be admitted to med school rather than explaining why you are scared you won't be. Plenty of apps use their statement to plead for an interview and that isn't going to make you stand out from the crowd, which is the most important thing. Don't let them get bored reading your statement.

But, if it does come up in an interview then definitely explain the situation. Med school prof's or whoever you have your interview with are not superhuman, believe it or not. Most of them are actually quite personable. They've made mistakes too and know that we have. They're trained to see and interpret who will do well in med school so focus on letting them see the big picture of who you are, rather than dwelling over that F.

 

[thackl]

Don't mention it in your personal statment. Use that to prove the reasons why you should be admitted to med school rather than explaining why you are scared you won't be. Plenty of apps use their statement to plead for an interview and that isn't going to make you stand out from the crowd, which is the most important thing. Don't let them get bored reading your statement.

But, if it does come up in an interview then definitely explain the situation. Med school prof's or whoever you have your interview with are not superhuman, believe it or not. Most of them are actually quite personable. They've made mistakes too and know that we have. They're trained to see and interpret who will do well in med school so focus on letting them see the big picture of who you are, rather than dwelling over that F.

Agreed, don't mention it in your PS or at all. Your GPA is good and the F will probably be overlooked. If it's brought up, just tell them what happened without sounding defensive...... everything needs a positive spin (even bad stuff).

 

[lisa13579]

I had an F on my transcript from undergrad (I'm a non-trad), didn't mention it in my personal statement, and no one brought it up. See my post in your other thread...

 

[NeuroSync]

I worked full-time at night, and was taking 20 hours of sciences with labs. I decided to study until 4am the night before Orgo I and molecular bio of the cell final exams. Then I would sleep for three hours, get up, take the orgo test, then move on to the next one. The only problem with that plan was that I was so tired, that I slept right through the alarm. I missed the test and got an F for the class. I retook the class and got an A. I'm in a top ten school. Don't worry about it. And don't listen to the people who have been so negative about it. BTW, I never mentioned it, and neither did ANY of the many ADCOMS that interviewed me. 🙂
Cheers.