<p>So I am a sophomore right and just finished the 1st term of orgo. I did quite poorly and got a C- in the class. I am wondering how important is orgo in the application to Microbiology/Immunology/Molecular Biology/Biomedical Sciences grad programs? Does this grade really hurt my chance by a lot? Should I retake the class? If I should retake the class, does it really make my transcript look bad?</p>
<p>Any response ?</p>
<p>Don’t bump a post because no one responded that same day.</p>
<p>A C- doesn’t look good, period (especially in a science class). It wouldn’t hurt to retake it and get an A, if your schedule permits. Make sure you do well for the next term (or two?). It’s not going to obliterate your chances. But as you know, every little bit can count.</p>
<p>Assuming you do much better next term, maybe consider retaking the first class that summer if you can. Your time will be better invested in research during your last two years. You may have even started already. If you were asking this just before starting your senior year, I would say maybe do try your luck with the C-.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response. I have had some research experience under my belt and will be doing a summer fellowship at my college this summer. I will try to accumulate as much research experience as possible. In case that I am productive with my research, does the one low grade matter “that” much? Even if I don’t go into biochem, how much does organic chem matter in microbiology/immunology/molecular biology?</p>
<p>What programs are you thinking of applying to? It all depends on the rest of your credentials, the programs you’re applying to, etc. Some people on here would be extremely unhappy with a C in any course, let alone a major requirement. As is being discussed in another thread, plenty of us got into good grad schools with a C or two (some had F’s, W’s, whatever - I had a C in a gen chem term). </p>
<p>Given that the C- will show up on your transcript no matter what you do, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to just try to make sure you get A’s in whatever o-chem/chem classes you have left and not retake 1st term. Retaking it and doing well would be interpreted as making the statement that you simply had a bad term and are capable of doing well with this subject. But it won’t erase the bad term. Getting an A in the second, more difficult term will create the same message.</p>
<p>I took Microbiology in the Fall term and really enjoyed it. I also plan to take Immunology next year. These are the fields I want to get into. In general, I want to get into something that is biomedical. </p>
<p>Does it matter too much that my research this summer is not related to microbiology or immunology? I will be studying speciation in Drosophila this summer as it is my only offer for summer research. Next year, it’s likely that I will be studying apoptosis with a different professor.</p>
<p>So would you say that if other things go right, such as a pretty good GRE score, good grades in Bio classes, and so on, I will still have a shot at some microbiology/immunology programs?</p>
<p>Do most microbiology/immunology/molecular biology programs require organic chemistry as a prerequisite? Or is it just RECOMMENDED?</p>
<p>I got a C in quantum mechanics – no one ever seemed to care about that. Currently in a biomedical sciences PhD program at an R1. So, perhaps it’s a bit less relevant than org. chem., but do well in org. chem. 2 and in the rest of your classes (i.e. have a good overall GPA), and it should be fine.</p>
<p>@nns91: Honestly, most programs I applied to and looked at (including some top programs) in micro/molecular had a list of courses they strongly recommend you to have taken or simply say strong background in bio/sciences is necessary.</p>
<p>I realize this is a complete generalization and there are bound to be many exceptions, but most of the programs which had a specific concrete list of required courses were lower ranked. Maybe this is because they get a lot of applications from people not really qualified in the field? I don’t know. One major exception I came across while applying was U Wisconsin Madison. They are a great school and had (in multiple programs, I believe) a list of courses which must have been taken. In fact I didn’t apply because I had a couple missing from that list. I’m not sure if, in practice, they stick to it religiously.</p>
<p>In many cases you’re allowed to make up deficiencies your first year but who wants to do that? I’ve heard it can be difficult enough balancing rotations with your only year of fairly heavy course work. I’d certainly not like to throw O-chem on top of that.</p>
<p>Thanks alot, virions. I am just wondering because I have just talked to my advisor. She was telling me how I don’t HAVE to take orgo if I don’t want to because I don’t really use it for research unless I want to go to med school.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it. I majored in engineering as an undergrad, so I had to take o-chem and a bunch of other hard science classes, and did terribly in a bunch of them due to some personal issues. However, I got really good GRE scores, had 2 years or research experience, really good LORs, and I think a good personal statement. I ended up being accepted to 4 microbiology/immunology programs, and will be going to Mount Sinai in the fall. I was able to overcome a poor GPA with the rest of my application. As long as you do well in your other science classes, you will be fine. Research and LoRs are the most important part of your app, so a C in orgo isn’t a big deal, especially because you don’t need to know it for microbio/immuno.</p>
<p>So should I bother taking Organic chem at all or just focus on my upper level bio courses and take physics ?</p>
<p>If you don’t like orgo or don’t think you’d do well in it in another semester, I wouldn’t bother taking it. Focus on bio and your other science courses, but more importantly, focus on research experience and getting really good letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>Start looking carefully at the requirements for programs you might apply to. I only ended up doing a single term (out of three, quarter system) of O-chem. Like I said earlier, the programs I applied to had requirements for “strong background in sciences and biology”, but not listed out course by course. Essentially, this is why I didn’t end up applying to Madison, which required a full year + lab (biochem too maybe?). I don’t think it hindered any fundamental requirements at other schools of interest though.</p>
<p>I had plenty of upper division courses like virology, recombinant DNA techniques, SEM, microbial genetics so it’s not like there was a deficit of relevant coursework. And honestly, they probably spend all of three seconds considering your coursework when you have good research experience and a degree in a related field.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your advice. I am going to a small liberal arts school so I know that I won’t be able to take very specialized classes like SEM or recombinant DNA techniques. However, I will try to take as many upper level molecular bio courses as possible. IN addition, I will be doing my first “real” research project this summer in evolution. Does this really affect my application ? Or any research experience counts? I will be working in a lab that studies apoptosis starting next year, which is my junior year. This is as relevant to micro and immunology as I can get at my school.</p>
<p>nns91, I don’t think you need to worry so much about what your classes are unless there are requirements for the programs you are interested. However - like virions - most of the programs I applied to did not have requirements (w/the exception of UW-Madison MDTP). </p>
<p>In my opinion, what matters in classes is 1. What gives you a solid sciences background (basic bio, chem, physics, stats) 2. What is interesting to you 3. What can enhance your research. Just do well in them - because as long as you do well - what matters MORE is your research experience. </p>
<p>If you can get a project in microbiology/immunology - great! If you can’t - like you stated below - take what you can. Having research experience is so important. After all, if you haven’t done research, how can you know you will enjoy it? The summer research you’ve mentioned below sounds somewhat related to molecular biology (depending on the approach) - so you should be ok. If they are, its a great chance to learn a lot of molecular biology techniques. I learned a lot more from lab than my classes. And if not - remember to understand what the big picture/question is - and what approaches you’re taking to answer it. It’s really important to show you know what you’re doing!</p>
<p>And last thing - if you have less access to but want updates/news on microbiology/immunology - I recommend reading “Small Things Considered” or listening to “This Week in Microbiology/Virology/Parisitology.”</p>
<p>Yeah, I have had only a short research project at a university lab in my senior year of high school. After that experience, I knew I wanted to go into bio. My evolution project is going about speciation of a Drosophila species. This summer, most of the stuff will be behavioral/morphological. Probably, not until next year that the lab will be doing some molecular analysis. I will see how this lab go this summer. I was just unsure whether doing something in evolution will strengthen my application to a micro/immuno program.</p>