C+ in Chem, Am I Doomed?

Pre-Med & Medical School
1

First year pre-med student, currently in a quarter system but I’m transferring to a semester system for the Spring.
Since we only take 3 classes, I took Calc and Chem this first semester. Really did badly due to technical difficulties on the Chem final and I’m ending the semester with a C+ (without the final, I would’ve probably ended with a B).
I’m choosing classes for the next semester and I’m wondering if I should retake Chem 1 or just take the next Chem class. I would like to not be behind when it comes to coursework, but I also want to minimize how much it hurts my application.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

2

You’re not doomed. (Over-dramatic maybe, but not doomed.)

While a C+ isn’t ideal, it’s still a passing grade and you have 3 more years to improve your GPA and sGPA. One weak grade isn’t going to ruin your med school application, especially one earned at the beginning of freshmen year.

Assuming you’ve mastered the content taught in Chem 1, go ahead and enroll in the next level class. Med schools don’t allow grade replacement even if your own college does, so the C+ will be included in your GPA calculation even if you do retake the class. Use the next 3 years to earn strong science grades that will “dilute” the effect of the C+ on your GPA.

3

Since you are transferring colleges, be sure to check that the sequenced courses in chemistry and math “line up” between the colleges so that you are not surprised by the next college’s chemistry 2 and calculus 2 courses assuming knowledge of something that was not in your current college’s chemistry 1 and calculus 1 courses. This is more likely to be an issue moving from a quarter system college to a semester system college.

Take a look at the syllabi and final exams for the chemistry 1 and calculus 1 courses of the college you are transferring to. If there is anything that was not covered in your current college’s chemistry 1 and calculus 1 courses, it is best to self-study it at least so that when the next college’s chemistry 2 and calculus 2 courses assume that you know it, you will know it.