I'm a Biochem major, but I received a D in organic chemistry.

Graduate School
1

<p>So I'm currently going into my second semester of my second year at Rutgers. I'm a biochemistry major, and as such I am required to take one full year of organic chem including lab. My original game plan in the long run was to complete my four years, receive my bachelors degree and apply for entry-level positions as a lab assistant at research labs. I have no intention of going to medical school. </p>

<p>Now however, I'm seriously reconsidering everything. Like I said before, I'm required to take Organic Chemistry. I had the option of taking the regular organic chem or honors organic chem, and I opted for the honors because everyone had said that it was easier and half the class gets an A (big mistake on my part.) I realized I was doing poorly in that class after the first exam but I don't know why I didn't think of withdrawing or dropping the course. It was probably because the course (Orgo I) is only offered during the fall semester, so if I had to retake it, it would mean waiting an entire year, which would set everything back a year because other courses that I am required to take, such as Gen Biochem I and II, require Organic Chem. </p>

<p>Basically, I did poorly the whole semester and I was really hoping for at least a C. I took the final, and I looked at my grades and I got a D. I had taken 6 classes (19 credits), and received an A in everything else. I seriously am in a state of shock because I don't know what to do anymore. I have never received a D in anything in my academic life so far. Through all of my classes freshmen year, and my other classes during the first semester I have received A's or B+'s (in one Econ class.) That's including my core science classes (Gen Chem, Gen Bio, Chem and Bio labs, and Gen Phy.) My GPA prior to receiving my grades for this semester was 3.81. Now, because I tanked Orgo, it has dropped to a 3.63. </p>

<p>My main question (after the initial stage of shock and disappointment) is: how badly will this affect my overall plan of employment? I was considering my options, and most of the websites that I've seen have suggested retaking the course. But as I've mentioned before, Orgo I is only offered once a year, so it's not easy. And even if I did retake and got an A, the grade on my transcript would average out with the D, giving me a C at best. I was also thinking of keeping the D and using it as motivation to study better and do well on Orgo II and Orgo Lab. If (hopefully) I get A's and B+'s next semester, would it help my GPA enough to cover the D in orgo? In other words, even if I hypothetically got an A in every other class I take from now on, and my GPA is 3.7 something, would it matter? I'm worried because employers are going to look at that D grade and I'm not going to be able to find a job.</p>

<p>This grade has really upset me and I seriously don't know what to do anymore. I'm really lost right now, and am contemplating just quitting school now and pursuing an associate's degree in Accounting or something, just to have something to get me into an entry-level job. But I seriously am so frustrated and depressed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You. </p>

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<p>Organic chem is one of the most difficult courses in college, outside of Engineering. (P-chem is probably the most rigrous in the chem sequence.) Organic is the ruin for thousands of premeds every year. So, don’t despair. Your mistake was taking such a challenging course load (19 units) with organic. Most premeds try to lighten their load. (I only mention premeds bcos they tend to gun to set the curve.)</p>

<p>Nevertheless, a ~3.5 is fine for getting lab jobs.</p>

<p>Incidentally,

  1. are you sure that Organic Chem (307) is not offered in the spring? (Most large Unis like Rutgers offer sceince courses throughout the year.)</p>

<p><a href=“Error Page”>Error Page;

<p>2) you could also retake in the summer.</p>

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<p>It probably won’t affect you very much at all, honestly. First of all, it’s only one grade - if you keep up the rest of your grades one single D (especially if you retake the class and do well) won’t matter. Second of all, most employers don’t actually ask for your transcript. Some of them ask for your GPA, so if your GPA stays about a 3.6 that’s a very good GPA to have and show. They simply won’t care about one class you took sophomore year, if you can prove that you know your stuff.</p>

<p>Please relax. It’s just one grade. In the long run, it really doesn’t matter.</p>