<p>So far, as a premed, I have taken Chem 1A, Math 1A/1B, Chem 3A, and Physics 7A (took because I thought I wanted to do BioE. Still not sure, am taking Math 53 right now to finally decide). I have gotten A's in all these classes except for Physics 7A, in which I got a B-. </p>
<p>This B- is a real strain on my gpa. In order to bring myself up to above 3.8, I must get A's in Chem 3AL, Chem 3B, Bio1B and 1A, Physics 8B or 7B etc, etc. Basically I need an A in every other premed class. I have come to the conclusion that I can do this. However, even if I succeed, will the B- still act as a major problem on my med school transcript, especially since it was in a prerequisite class?</p>
<p>On a side note, if I end up not being able to get an A in Math 53 (I understand all the material, but I won't know how the exams are until the midterm, since my GSI has never taught the course), should I just p/np it? Will med schools just ignore it or will they see a real problem with it?</p>
<p>No offense, but seriously? Do you want to switch places? Lol. No, you didn’t screw up. Are you even going to remember that B- in a couple of years?</p>
<p>But to deviate, what are your study tips? It seems like even if i study hard and don’t procrastinate, my mind gets fooled with trick questions and the like…</p>
<p>Hmmmmm - a B- is not a red flag in a pre-req class, especially an isolated grade like that. If you take Physics 8B next and nail an A, it further reinforces this as a fluke. Everyone realizes that sometimes you get an off class, don’t have a good relationship with the professor or something else unusual happens. </p>
<p>Med schools look at your overall GPA, but also your sciences sub-GPA that is built from just the bio, chem, physics and those kinds of courses. There are a number of easy courses with bio or physics branding that you could take to add another A or two to the mix, further pulling up your pre-req GPA.</p>
<p>If you can hold to 3.8 and above, particularly if you score decently to high on the MCAT, your shot at getting into a med school becomes very good. If you want the top schools, like only Harvard Med or John Hopkins or the other few elite will do, then you might need to be much closer to a 4.0 and have a clearly superior MCAT too, because you are competing with students from grade inflated schools with 4.0s AND competing with the best of the best of the applicants. However, at least 60-70 med schools would consider you a very competitive applicant at 3.8 with a correspondingly good MCAT.</p>
<p>The good news is that most Cal students perform very well on the MCAT. For all the grinding and harsh grading that you experience in the pre-req classes, you end up understanding this better than most other pre-meds nationwide and it is reflected in your performance on the bio, chem and physics questions that are the MCAT. PS - no calc or stats questions on the MCAT.</p>
<p>The last part of the application that will be important is your record of involvement in shadowing doctors, volunteer work in a medical setting and general exposure to what a life practicing medicine is like. That convinces them of your commitment, so you will finish your four years and become a practicing doctor, not waste a precious slot from the limited training spaces available nationally for creating new MDs. They also don’t want someone who spends a few months in rotations and decides they hate patients and the actual life of medicine, then switches to a new career.</p>
<p>Ouch, that’s a really hard hit on your GPA. I hope you don’t have high med school hopes such as Harvard or Stanford. After that B-, try to stay realistic. I would say look for some schools in the Caribbean or out of the states where the standards are lower.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, my brother got into medical school from Berkeley with around a 3.6. You should be fine! I’m an incoming freshman, but I decided to take Math 16A instead of 1A even though I feel like my math is strong. I was wondering how tough it was for you to take Chem 1A / Math 1A and why you are deciding to take higher math (Math 53), do you like math / majoring in something that needs it
? I like math but everyone told me not to take 1A and I feel like I might regret it :(</p>
<p>I read in some other thread a P looks worst than a mid range B for med school…or was it law school. Would you still be able to bring your GPA up to a 3.8 without the aid of a potential A in Math 53?</p>
<p>Not trying to offer advice, but I thought a bit more information might lead to less sarcasm (albeit they were funny to read) that will do more than to cheer you up.</p>
<p>Lets put this in perspective. A huge, a truly huge number of incoming students consider themselves pre-med and begin taking the required classes. By the end of four years, most of them have decided to go into research, do something else with their lives, and perhaps switch majors to a very different field. If that happens, and the odds are high that it will happen to the typical Cal pre-med, then taking only easy classes for GPA means you shortchanged yourself. You didn’t learn the great stuff that is available but might involve a tougher class. You didn’t explore new subjects and discover interests, instead managing down and dumbing down your education. You aren’t as prepared as you might have been if you weren’t constantly focused on the tactical GPA protection. Many of the pre-meds drop medicine as a realistic goal, don’t even take MCATS or apply, after some savaging from the curve in Bio 1A, Ochem, Physics, and the rest drive their GPA down too low to be competitive for admission. They sacrificed some of the value avialable to them at Cal and it was in vain. Just getting real, much as nobody wants to talk about the weeder classes and what weeding actually means when it is a numerical quota or curve not an absolute measure of competence and ability to practice medicine. Lots of potentially excellent doctors never get to med school because the weeding system ensures that only a fraction of intended med students survive. .</p>
<p>Rider 730 makes a good point. A large percentage of college freshmen begin as pre-med majors but by Junior or Senior year the vast majority realize they do not have the grades to be competitive applicants and pursue other career paths. A small percentage take the MCAT but after seeing their scores many realize there is no point in pursuing medical school any further. Less than half the people who take the MCAT actually apply to any medical schools. Of this remnant of would be doctors who actually do apply to medical school only about 40% are accepted at even one U.S. medical school, the other 60% receive no offers of admission.</p>
<p>I was one of the fortunate ones who made it to medical school and am now a practicing physician and I still marvel at how I managed to survive such a competitive process where the vast majority never become doctors. You have to think of getting into medical school as something that will be nice if it happens but if it does not happen, you can still lead a happy, fulfilling and productive life doing something else.</p>
<p>insertname-I just make sure I understand the material. Not very helpful, I know, but there’s just not much more to it for me.</p>
<p>Conaaaa-I think math here all depends on the professor. Chem 1A and Math 1A were not bad together at all because I chose the right professors. I am doing 53 because of any future possibility I want to do engineering or chemistry.</p>
<p>singh-DO you think I could still possibly transfer to CoC at any point with a B- in physics?</p>
<p>I know my concerns may seem trivial to you many of you. But with so many premeds taking 8A and getting A’s, I think my concern is a valid one. I know I need the best GPA and application possible, and that means, to me, matching or exceeding the grades of the best premeds here. </p>
<p>Also, can anyone give me a definitive answer as to whether p/np’ing Math 53 will have any negative bearing for med schools? I mean, I completed the math requirement anyway, so I don’t see why it should matter, but I’m still not sure.</p>
<p>Taking Math 53 P/NP would not be a good idea if you want to switch into a major that requires Math 53 (e.g. any College of Chemistry or College of Engineering major, math, statistics, or physics), since they require it to be taken for a letter grade.</p>
<p>And to add to rider730’s post, those pre-meds who majored in MCB out of convenience (overlap with pre-med courses) and did not get into medical school face poor job and career prospects at the bachelor’s degree level. A pre-med who did that while fearfully avoiding any possibly difficult non-required course not only missed out on the educational opportunities available to him/her, but also bet his/her entire undergraduate experience on getting into medical school – and if that does not happen, there is not much of a consolation prize.</p>
<p>^Yes, I should have clarified: will it matter if I take 53 p/np solely based on how medical schools will view it? I know if I do chemistry, I need to take it for a letter grade. </p>
<p>Also, what about job prospects at the graduate level for MCB? I know its more school, but with a PhD, people should still be able to get good research jobs, right? Or wrong…</p>