<p>I have taken Calc 1 during the fall semester - A, and am now taking Calc 2 and not doing so well, will most likely get a C,C+ (I'm a senior in hs now and the college I'm attending is the school I will be attending for undergrad.) It's a top 25 school and I'm entering as a math major (change coming soon....)</p>
<p>And your performance in a class during HS squanders your pre-med dreams…how?</p>
<p>It’s a bad grade on the transcript, it’s like I’m already GPA handicapped before the journey even begins…maybe its a prelude of what’s to come…</p>
<p>Get a grip. You have a long way to go and performance in your later years can make a huge difference. This is just one C and that can be counterbalanced by getting higher grades later.</p>
<p>One C won’t make or break you. Just do better and work harder in your college classes.</p>
<p>Another pre-med hopeful classmate of mines continues to get 95+ on tests while I’m stuck with sub-par 70 grades. I’m a bit pessimistic and believe this maybe an omen of bad things to come. My work ethic is crap now, and some classes, Orgo…, will surely bring poor grades. I’m a math major for god’s sake and get a C in lowly Calc 2?</p>
<p>I tend to falter with “easy” courses, which is reflected in my HS transcript, another sign.</p>
<p>Unless I missed something (seriously possible), as long as you’re taking this class at the HS level, it won’t matter a lick to your college GPA. It will only matter to your med school GPA if you’re taking it as a college-credit/dual-enrollment class and have a college transcript to show for it. It will probably only count toward your university’s GPA if you are taking the course at your university.</p>
<p>Regardless of whether it will count toward your GPA, you should probably step back and look at the bigger picture. This is just one grade of many (what, 3h out of the 120 you need to graduate? That means this course is 2.5% of your college GPA). I can absolutely guarantee you one C will not sink your med school dreams, and your performance in this class does not doom you to a college career of Cs. </p>
<p>Something you will find with college in general and with being a premed in particular is that academics can be rigorous and stressful. A big part of the game is being able to balance school and life, and certainly the successful premeds are the ones who can achieve some of that balance. Med school is tough–both mentally and academically–and you really need to be at the top of your game to succeed there. If you are seriously this worked up about one semester of a high school class, I think it would be in your best interest to explore why you are freaking out so much and perhaps alter your plans for the future accordingly (after all, who wants to be one big stress ball for the next four years?!). </p>
<p>At the very least, I think an attitude adjustment is in store! Thinking you’re going to fail at something is one way you can ensure that happens.</p>
<p>^You did miss something. The OP is taking this class at a college. In fact, it’s the very college they plan to attend.</p>
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<p>Personally, I think this should be required reading for anyone considering the pre-med path… I see many who want “easy” (not just on here) and often wonder if they have an idea of what’s in store or why med schools would tend to “shun” those taking the “easy” path.</p>
<p>It reminds me of students who want a degree and want to know the easiest college they can go to in order to get one. I suppose they’ll want the same in a job - easy job with large paycheck.</p>
<p>Life often takes work and commitment to truly get to a passion. If it’s more work and commitment than the passion is worth, perhaps it’s not truly the passion meant for that individual - or perhaps they just need to realize life isn’t a made for TV movie with start to finish taking 3 hours (tops).</p>
<p>Just thoughts. Great post Kristin!</p>
<p>OP,
Do you know that Calc 2 is NOT required? You can take college Stats instead, very easy “A” and much more useful for pre-meds / medical as stats are used for Med. Research procedures and other medical applications…</p>
<p>Kristin…</p>
<p>I think the Dual Enrollment (college classes taken while in HS) do count for med school apps. </p>
<p>However, one C isn’t going to matter.</p>
<p>I was planning on entering as a math major, that’s primarily why I chose to take Calc 2…and the classes I’m taking is already on the transcript, no way out now.</p>
<p>Well, since you’re going to change your major, then just dilute the C impact on BCMP GPA by taking some additional BCMP classes.</p>
<p>
m2ck, Kristin knew that a college course taken in high school or dual enrollment course would count for AMCAS GPA, she just didn’t catch that the OP was taking a college course as a senior. 
</p>
<p>OP. It happens. Move past it. Work harder and smarter. Change majors as math apparently ain’t the one for you. Don’t look back.</p>
<p>As a potential math major, I think you calculate the impact that C will have on your GPA over the course of your college career and 30+ courses.</p>
<p>OP–</p>
<p>I had 2 Ds who are math majors and pre meds. One is now in med school; the other will apply after gap year (a breather after 4 years of academics).</p>
<p>If one C is enough to discourage you from a math major–then you lack the dedication it takes to be a math major. Math is tough with a steep learning curves. And no matter how smart you, how good at math you think you are, there is always going to be some freakin’ wunderkind in your class for whom whatever topic you’re studying comes like breathing.</p>
<p>And if a single C is discouraging from medicine–then you’re probably not cut out to be a physician either. Medicine requires discipline and dedication and perseverance when things go very wrong. The same kinds of qualities it takes to be a mathematician.</p>
<p>I’m firmly convinced there are two ways most people do higher level maths: intuitively or by brute force. The intuitives look at a problem and “see” how to solve it in their head. This group is very fortunate----and very few. Most people do math by the brute force approach— trying every single attack and trick they know until the problem finally submits. Lots of false starts, lots of dead ends. Takes lots of work to get the right answer.</p>
<p>So it looks like you’re going to be in the brute force group—welcome to the group. So are most of the mathematicans, physicists, computer scientists and engineers of the world.</p>
<p>Btw, both kiddos have said the calc 2 is the hardest in the 3 class calc series. Both said Calc 3 was easier. (But just wait until you get to theoretical linear algebra!)</p>
<p>(Oh, and my math major in med school–she has not one, but 2 Cs in math classes. Didn’t keep her out.)</p>
<p>Is it too late to drop it? It seems to me that if you are going to be a math major, you better take the lower division courses and get As on them, and don’t give me any BS about it being too easy for you.</p>
<p>That alone is not going to “kill” your prospect for med school, but it is definitely a warning sign to the OP as grades are very important for premeds. GPA is what usually ends premed aspirations. The one “c” is not going to end it for you, but if you find in later courses that you can’t make the marks needed, you will need to find another of path and look at alternate plans. Something all college students should do anyways.</p>
<p>You need to stop trying to match your premed friend’s pace.</p>
<p>Obviously, you are not succeeding going to hs and college at the same time.
Proving yourself “hard core” will be your downfall.
Your ego has pushed yourself to take on more than you can handle.
You need to go see if you can drop with a W and retake this summer or fall.
Nothing is on your transcript until the semester ends.</p>
<p>Ok…sounds like you’ve decided not to major in math anymore. Fine…what will you major in now?</p>