How to explain and deal with an F?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hi all, I haven't been around these forums since high school! I just finished my sophomore year of pre-med. I don't have an idea of what I'll score on the MCAT, but I'm going to study my ass off.</p>

<p>I received an F in orgo I the first time I took it, spring semester of my freshman year. We switched professors eight weeks into the course, right after the drop deadline, and I was doing fine until then. The second professor had only taught graduate classes before and was hired primarily for research. He was horrible, and the chemistry department received so many complaints that he decided to make our final 60-70% of our grade. Over half the class failed and he refused to do any sort of curve. It had the lowest student GPA for that class in over 10 years, including summer sessions.</p>

<p>There were a lot of rumors that we were going to get the class removed from our transcripts, and some people got close, but ultimately that fell through. Though all advisers and faculty I've spoken to are very understanding about it because everyone's aware of the controversy, the university/the chemistry department refuses to acknowledge it on our transcripts. So it looks like I'm stuck with it. I retook it last fall and got an A-.</p>

<p>The F drags my GPA down a lot. I've gotten 2 B+s, 2 Bs, 1 B-, and all the rest As and A-s. I still only have an 3.48 right now with a 3.2 BCPM (would be 3.66 and 3.5 without the F). I'm looking for ways to explain this to med schools when I apply next summer without it sounding like an excuse. Also, do you think I will be considered the same as a candidate who has earned the same GPA only with consistently lower grades? The F sticks out like a sore thumb on my transcript, but I'll be lucky if I can raise my BCPM GPA to a 3.5 by the end of junior year.</p>

<p>This got long, I'm sorry. I'm essentially asking if the harsh truth is that med schools look at the hard numbers and not much else, or if there'll be some leeway because I improved and have an explanation for that grade.</p>

2

<p>If you retook the class, the F usually does not count towards your GPA. In my college the F stays on the transcript, but if you retook the class and did better; the new grade would be weighted, not the old.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, my college doesn’t do that (the grade counts twice). But even if I could have it replaced, it wouldn’t matter because when you recalculate your GPA for the AMCAS, you have to include the grade for both times.</p>

4

<p>Does your college have a pre-med advising office? It sounds like there are many students at your school who will be dealing with the same issue.</p>

5

<p>I am not sure about 3.5. I would include applying to DO.<br>
Pre-med advising is an awesome idea and it is your first step with any questions regarding pre-med / Med. School applications.</p>

6

<p>According to the MCAT GPA sheet for a white applicant, at 3.2-3.39, you have a 40% or 54% chance of getting into a medical school for MCATs of 30-32, 33-35. By having above a 3.4, you can increase that to 55% or 70%, respectively.</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/157998/mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/157998/mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>^All I say to that, good luck!! I would still include DO programs</p>