I am currently a junior majoring in Biology and I’m on the pre med track!
Long story short, I was wondering if I have any chance of getting into medical school.
For one, I got a D in Calculus but I received an A for Pre- Calc.
I also got a C- for General Psych.
Now, with the situation I’m in, it’s looking like I will get a C- or worst case scenario a D in Organic Chemistry I. I took it last semester but got a UW because I knew I was going to get a bad grade. How ironic.
As far as other pre-req classes:
A in GEN BIO I
B in GEN BIO II
A in GEN CHEM I
A- in GEN CHEMII
A in College ALGEBRA
Other science classes:
A in Ecology
A- in Anatomy
A- in Virology
I haven’t took Physics yet.
Is it possible for me to go MD? Please give me some advice!
Maybe, but it’s going to depend on how well you can do in Ochem and calc going forward. You need to successfully complete both in order to fulfill med school pre-reqs and preparer the MCAT. (Not to mention that as a Bio major, you need to pass OChem to fulfill graduation requirements for your major.)
Why do you think you’re suddenly struggling in math? In Ochem?
Have you changed how you study for ochem since last year when you first took ochem?
Have you utilized all the resources available to you? (Study groups, office hours, extra homework sets, tutoring) If you haven’t set up an appointment with the tutoring center at your college, do that immediately.
I’ll be honest–a downward trend is never a thing that adcomms want to see in an applicant. You really need to ace ochem and calc the next time you take it to demonstrate you can master the material.
I can confidently say that I study for Organic Chemistry for about 4-5 hours a day! I go to my professor’s office hours and complete further homework and study sets. Nothing works.
If I do well in other aspects (Physics), will that still give me a shot at enrolling in a MD program?
You need to master ochem because it’s the basis for biochem and biochem is basic to understanding all of medicine. ( Pharmacology, immunology, physiology, endocrine systems, neural chemistry, etc.) You don’t need to get an A in ochem, but you do need to understand it and be comfortable conceptually with it. Some adcomms specifically view ochem grades as an indicator of how likely you are to succeed in med school. So, no success in another unrelated subject isn’t going to “make up” for weak ochem grades.
RE: SMP or post bacc— this is going to depend on your final sGPA and your MCAT score. Right now it’s too soon to tell.
I’d also suggest you keep an open mind about osteopathic med schools which tend to have slightly lower academic standards. MD or DO, you’re still a doctor.
I suggest your get an ochem tutor ASAP. Your college probably has free tutoring at its academic support center. If it doesn’t, you may want to pay for private tutoring. It’s a small cost in the long run if you hope to be a doctor.
There is a reason why ochem is chosen as THE weed-out course. Ochem requires a different thinking, you can’t just rote-memorize but you need to “get it”. Google for ochem tutors online and find a good one. You obviously study the wrong way since this is your second time and you still struggle.
Right now, it doesn’t look good.
You need to study calculus on your own, then take Calculus 2 and get an A (at worst, a B ) AND you need you retake OChem and get an A.
Based on what you wrote, it sounds lie you’re studying very hard and aren’t “getting it”, in other words - you’re part of the students getting “weeded out”.
Keep in mind that after Ochem1, you’d have Ochem2 then Biochemistry.
While it’s too early to be definite about this, since you’re a junior and not a sophomore, you really really need to plan for not getting into med school.
What are your other plans?
What other strengths do you have?
Did you take biostatistics? Bioethics? How did you do?
Can you switch out of the biology major (low ROI, few jobs)?
I wouldn’t advise the OP to study calc 1 on their own then take calc 2 instead of repeating the class. The OP got a D in the class so clearly doesn’t “get” the concepts. They need to retake it and ace it. Calc 2 is significantly more difficult than Calc 1 and attempting calc 2 without mastery of calc 1 is a recipe for failure.
Calc 2 isn’t needed for the MCAT or as a pre req at most med schools. I say get through calc 1 and peace out of any further math classes since this an area of weakness for the OP.
But I do concur the OP needs to consider their Plan B career options. Ochem is a requirement for a bio degree. Getting a D won’t fulfill the graduation requirements for a bio degree. A C- might not either, depending on school and departmental policies.
I don’t think Algebra and Pre-calc will be considered as BCMP courses in medical school applications. As previously discussed, you must retake all pre-reques less than a C. In your case, Calc I and Psych and you better to get As second time around.
Regarding Calc, it’s another “language” from the lower level math classes. You need think differently. In my college days, I accidentally took Calc II without taking Calc I and got an A, it was really tough and if I was not following the professor all day long, office hours or otherwise, I could not make it.
