I have a raw B (84% currently before final and one other test) in AP Biology and I’m wondering if that seems good enough to pursue a science major in neuroscience. I want to take the pre-med route, but I’m not sure if I am “smart enough” because one of my friends wants to go the same route and she has a 96% raw. I really have an intrest in bio and being a doctor is what I really want. Is is okay not to do the best in certain high school classes but still choose to major in that general field.
Yes.
However, be aware that pre-med is highly competitive. In college, the pre-med grading scale is:
A = acceptable
B = bad
C = catastrophic
D = disastrous
F = forget it
Most frosh pre-meds eventually drop the pre-med idea, probably after seeing their first semester or few of college grades. Of those who apply (a rather expensive process), only about 40% get even one US medical school admission. Very high college GPA is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to getting into a US medical school.
One grade in highschool doesn’t mean anything. What does mean something is do you have a general aptitude for science? College science only gets harder (really a lot harder) so some innate science ability is a must. Is your grade the result of one bad test or do you generally struggle a lot in the class? What about chemistry? Pre meds have to take organic chemistry and that class has felled many a pre med kid.
In general I think you are too young to disqualify yourself over one grade.