Failing classes as a pre med student

Think of your unweighted GPA and look at the CDS for your university: for you to have a shot at making the kind of grades you’d need for med school, both of those would have to be above the top 25% at your college.

Right now, you must switch gears and think of another career path. What about being a physics and chemistry teacher? Those are in high demand, especially if you can reach both.
If you’re interested in research, a chemistry major with a physics minor should have opportunities in the labs on campus.

Even if finals are right around the corner it’s not too late to be seeing tutors.

Does anyone on this forum know much about becoming a PA? I know its not much easier than becoming a doctor but i feel that it is definitely worth considering. Would i have a shot at PA school?

Try posting here: [Careers in Medicine](http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/careers-medicine/)

KKMama is particularly knowledgable about PA programs and entry requirements. You might consider tagging her or sending her a private message.

You might also want to look through the SDN Clinician (RN/NP/PA) forums–https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/forums/clinicians-rn-np-pa.113/

PA and pre-PA forums–

http://www.mypatraining.com/forum/
http://www.mypatraining.com/forum/

Also https://www.physicianassistantforum.com/forum/441-pre-pa-general-discussion/

For someone who’s goal is medical research, an MD is not required to achieve that goal. FWIW most Nobel Laureates in Physiology and/or Medicine have been Phd’s, not MD’s.

Have you taken organic chemistry?

I think OP lives in his/her idealistic fancy for med school. Have you done any volunteering in hospital? PA has become much tougher in recent years. Psy and stats are generally considered as “easier” classes than the hardcore weeder science such as Chem (Orgo, Biochem) or Physics. Wait until you finish Orgo to see what grade you’ll get to decide whether to continue the pre-med path.

@NASA2014 no i did not take orgo yet

@Andorvw good idea thank you !

@Christopher_James: Orgo is tough even for kids who got A’s in Chemistry. You must cut your losses now, regroup, go to the Career Center and figure out what would be equally interesting and idealistic.

Talk to your pre-health office at your school- they will be able to give you the most guidance and advice on your options. Best of luck- I hope it works out!

Organic Chemistry isn’t that hard. The problem is that people overhype the heck out of that course. Especially the Premeds. If you sit in the library and work out many problems you’ll find it easy, but still requires a lot of practice problems. Just do well, and you’ll be okay. I’m taking Organic Chemistry 2 right now

I would be wary of underestimating it like this. Didn’t it take you two tries to pass Orgo 1?

Organic Chem is not hard for people who are good at spatial thinking in their heads. Orgo requires different study style, you need to spend significant time EACH week to understand orgo and solving the problems. You cannot cram for Orgo the night before exam, which makes Orgo the prime tool to break the pre-meds to weed them out. As a great orgo tutor said, 1st exam in orgo is pretty easy (mainly go over gen chem), 2nd exam goes up exponentially hard, and by 3rd exam if you are still behind, you’ll NEVER catch up. So prepare your class schedule really carefully, allocate plenty of time each week for orgo, find a good tutor, and DON’T cram (it just doesn’t work for orgo).

^ the issue is that this student came with a 3.7 weighted /1600/2400 SAT AND has struggled with/failed classes most successful pre-meds get As in. S/he needs to regroup and figure out what else should/he can do. There are plenty of jobs in healthcare if that’s what this student wants, without going to med school.

@bodangles did you read the rest of the post? I said chemsitry isn’t hard as long you practice. I didn’t practice the first time, and therefore I failed. Actually I got a D. D is passing, but it’s not transferable. I ended up getting a C+ in organic chemistry because I studied.

@NASA2014 Its great that you got a grade you’re happy with but I don’t think a C+ is high enough for a premed.

^ the point is that it took two attempts for a C+ and a pre-med is only afforded one attempt (med school rules)) and be B- at the absolute lowest (due to GPA cut offs).

@snowfairy137 Why is it not a good grade for premed?

Because the GPA for all science classes taken must be 3.5 at the very minimum (realistically, 3.7) and a 2.7 is about as low as you can go for Orgo provided you’ve had lots of A grades before.