Hi everyone, I just have a quick question for you. I’m currently a junior in high school enrolled in all AP/Honors courses. I am doing well in my other courses, all A’s and high B’s in my AP classes expect for AP Chemistry where I have a D-. I am very interested in biology and medicine and I am planning on majoring Pre-Med in college. I obviously excel in biology as I am very interested. For some reason, I find AP Chemistry extremely difficult for me. I am doing everything I can to maintain a passing grade (I have never had a grade below a B). As a result of my poor grade and potential inability to pass the class, I am considering dropping the class. This would show up as a WP (dropped with a passing grade) on my transcript if I were to drop the class now. I plan on doubling up my sciences next year taking AP Biology as well as an anatomy course that is offered at my school. How poorly will it look to an admissions office if I drop AP Chem? Will I appear as a quitter? What if my grades in other sciences are all superb, will they still turn me away? They will not see the grade that I had in AP chem.
You can’t major in pre-med. Pre-med isn’t a major, but rather it’s a group of prerequisite classes for medical school.
Hard to say if you should drop or not. In my AP Chem class, a lot of people bombed the first couple of tests but now they’re starting to get the hang of it.
Have you tried to seek help from other students or your AP Chem teacher? Do you think AP Chem is getting a little easier or is it still super hard for you?
Are you planning on applying to colleges that will be high reaches? Do you still have a full course load without it? if not, can you transfer into a lower level of chem?
I wouldn’t drop. Chemistry is a pre-req for basically all medical schools. If you drop out of a class class now in High School it is unlikely you will have the proper background to succeed later in the college equivalent class.
I think dropping down to lower chem is a good choice if that is an option. This way, you’ll still have some background knowledge of it when you take Chemistry in college.
@Skarlo is speaking the facts ^^
@Skarlo is correct that chem is required for med school, and that college chem will be easier if you have had some chem in HS- but having a terrible grade in AP chem is probably worse than starting out with no chem. College Chem 101 in college assumes no prior knowledge. Going down to regular - if an option at this point- is probably your best bet.
@Lukenod @collegemom3717 @rdeng2614 Thanks for the replies. I have already taken Honors Chemistry last year. I am advanced one year in my science courses. At my school, AP Chem is only offered to seniors and I am a junior. I fully understand the value of having this background as it will lead to greater success in undergrad/med school. I am hoping to get into higher reach schools. I’m just worried that with a poor grade like this will make that not possible.
In which case -imo!- as long as you have a still rigorous course load- drop the AP
I wouldn’t drop AP Chem, especially if you’re planning on going to med schools. Med schools require that you take organic chemistry and regular chemistry, both of which are pretty tough.
Drop AP Chem because a D- will not look good.
As a premed you will still have to take chemistry in college so consider doing some prep/tutoring over the summer and retaking it next year.
I would drop it now as long as you can pick up something decent. You should try and take it next year though and your grade won’t count for EA schools assuming you can at least get a C it shouldn’t mess you up. You aren’t going to be able to do any pre-med type major without Chemistry and most likely his harder meaner older brother organic chemistry. Taking AP Chem as a senior will give you better odds of doing well in college chemistry which is the end goal here. My daughter wants to take AP Psych but the teacher here gives no A’s so she is waiting until senior year to not ruin her perfect gpa.
Sometimes, high school chemistry (not necessarily AP) is listed as a prerequisite for general chemistry in college.
I am very interested in biology and medicine and I am planning on majoring Pre-Med in college.
Don’t drop!! Organic chemistry will be a lot harder. If chemistry isn’t your favorite subject, then you have to cross out medicine of your list
A D- on your transcript, especially if your application revolves around being pre-med, is a really bad idea. I say drop it now. You will absolutely have to fill this gap with regular chemistry next year so you have some background before you hit chemistry in college. While intro chem courses in college presume no prior knowledge, everyone will have had a chem class in high school, many will have had AP chem, and a serious number will have taken chem over the summer at community college for no credit just to ensure that they get that crucial A in what is typically a weeder class at many schools (aimed at killing off pre-meds early.) So, don’t kill your transcript this year, but make a serious commitment to mastering the material before you show up as a pre-med in college.