<p>I'm an undergrad at Cornell and really worried as I got a C in a premed class. I am planning to retake and know that I could have done better. Spring semester was really crappy for me as I overloaded on classes and my grandmother (who doesn't live in the US) passed away and I couldn't concentrate on my schoolwork. </p>
<p>So I was wondering, if I retake and get an A, how much of an effect will have on me? Will some med schools reject me just because of this? Most of my grades in my other science courses are A/A-/B+ range.</p>
<p>As has been covered repeatedly, one C will not ruin your chances for admission to med school. Furthermore, I'm fairly certain a school like Cornell does not allow you to retake a class in which you got a C, and even if they did I would not recommend you doing so. You'd be better off taking another science class to boost your math/science GPA rather than simply repeating one you've already completed, as the C will remain on your transcript no matter what in all liklihood.</p>
<p>I will state that it is possible that some schools - just a couple at the most - will reject you simply because of this; that is, there exist a couple schools about which I cannot make any promises.</p>
<p>I know people say that it won't kill me but I want to know how much it will affect me? Like if my GPA is still high regardless of the C and I take an upper-level class and ace it, would it matter much?</p>
<p>I mean, I'm not sure how you want this expressed to you. Obviously a percentage would be impossible to give.</p>
<p>Yes, the C will matter, and there's nothing you can do that will cause medical schools to ignore it per se - but you do have the ability to put it "in context" of a strong overall application, in which case it's a small blip.</p>
<p>I'll discuss details regarding specific schools with you in private.</p>
<p>What do you mean by put "in context" of a strong application? Do you think that adcoms would listen if I explained to them why this was a difficult semester for me and was not able to put all my focus and energy in my schoolwork?</p>
<p>1.) What I meant was simply that if the rest of your application is very strong, schools will be inclined to understand that people make mistakes.</p>
<p>2.) However, if you do have a good academic excuse - and I mean a very good one - then you will, in fact, be given an area in which to explain any difficulties you might have faced. I would encourage you not to use it - I didn't - unless your excuse is very, very good (i.e. death in the family, serious illness, assaulted by lacrosse team, etc.).</p>
<p>My grandmother in India died and it was difficult for me because I couldn't visit and there was nothing I could do about it and just had to continue with my schoolwork even though I couldn't fully concentrate and was really feeling down. Do you think that this would warrant an explanation? Or would they think that I sound like a whiny baby?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot btw, I appreciate your advice.</p>
<p>I don't think there's a wrong answer either way, to be honest. I think it sounds okay as an excuse but isn't so overwhelming that you really "need" to include it.</p>
<p>So here's what I'll say. If you have other grades from that semester that are down somewhat as well, include it. If not - if you got three A's and a C - then I'd tell you to omit it.</p>
<p>But like I said, I think you're okay either way.</p>
<p>I got a A, A-, B and a C. So not really bad but not really good. Someone told me that I shouldn't mention it and should just take an upper-level course and ace it and only bring up getting a C if the admissions officer asks about it in an interview. What do you think?</p>
<p>I will be a junior in the fall but plan to apply to med school at the end of senior year (I want to take a year off after college and have another year of grades to show adcoms.) Keeping that in mind, would you think I should give an explanation for why I got a C on the application, or ace an upper-level class and show that I've done really well in my classes my last two years of college, and only talk about the grade if the interviewer brings it up?</p>
<p>Would I be at an advantage or disadvantage for providing an explanation? </p>
<p>Again, I must emphasize that either option would probably be fine. I believe your excuse is good enough that it will not be embarassing to mention, but not so good that you'd be making a huge mistake by omitting it.</p>