Worried about pre-med grades

[Quaestor]

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I transferred to a higher-ranked and tougher school this semester, and so far things aren't going the way I'd hoped.

In my old school, I completed Gen. Chem and Physics and got A's in both. Ended up with a 4.0 gpa in both semesters last year.

This semester assuming I continue to perform the same way in all my classes, I'll end up with an A-/A in Orgo I but perhaps a C/C+ in Bio I.

Obviously I need to do better in Bio from here on out, but at this point in the semester I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do to make turn it into a B. I was busy coping with transferring and coping with the jump in academic difficulty.

How bad would this look in med school apps? I just find Orgo much easier than Bio to succeed in, since it doesn't require the heavy memorization Bio demands. How would the drop in grades look, especially in light of me transferring?

 

[Porkloins]

Juxtaposed with your situation (adjusting to a new college/curriculum) a slight dip in your GPA won't look bad, especially if you pick it up in the coming semesters. Don't worry about what you can't change - just focus on strategies to succeed in the future.

 

[Doug Underhill]

If you don't like heavy memorization, you may want to think about what you're getting into. It sounds like you're good at quantitative classes: have you considered a career in those fields? You can make six figures with way less effort than medical school.

Don't worry too much about one or two Cs if you can do well in other bio classes, but if you're continuously getting dumpstered in bio, medical school classwork will not be kind.

 

[Quaestor]

Not that it's an excuse but rather an optimistic viewpoint, but this semester of Bio in my school is supposed to be the worst, and apparently a lot agree that Bio in my school is the absolute worst weed-out -- far worse than chemistry or physics.

But is one C crippling? Are pre-med classes the same "weight" when your academic success is considered in applications?

 

[ConsultantMD]

Don't worry about a couple bad grades. I think people on here make it seem like it's the end of the world and it's not. Congrats on taking on the challenge!

 

[moisne]

If you don't like heavy memorization, you may want to think about what you're getting into. It sounds like you're good at quantitative classes: have you considered a career in those fields? You can make six figures with way less effort than medical school.

Don't worry too much about one or two Cs if you can do well in other bio classes, but if you're continuously getting dumpstered in bio, medical school classwork will not be kind.

OP, just find a way to learn conceptual stuff better. I am a super number orientated person and bio classes were super hard for me so I studied way way more for one elective class in bio than all my core classes oh together. If you can push to a B, that's great

If not, you can prove yourself with another upper level bio class. There is always second semester too.

Though, he is correct there are other stuff you can do for six figures.

Don't "expect" to be in the top in med school if you make it.