im currently a pre-med student. i got a c- in orgo 1 and am supposed to take orgo 2 next semester. idk if i can do it and i dont wanna mess up my gpa. i tried everything i could first semester( went to lecture, studied my ass off, went to tutoring) and feel burnt out. should i retake orgo 1 and move on with life as a pre med student or explore my other options?
You have to retake the Orgo 1 course as (most/all?) med schools require one to pass premed reqs as an admission req and any grade below a C (ie C-) in a premed req is a not passing grade in the eyes of med school admissions. A retake grade of less than an A would be viewed negatively.
You must report all college grades (even taken in hs) when you apply to med school and all grades will be factored into your med school GPAs, even if your college allows for grade replacement. Assuming you’re doing well overall, one C- is not the end of your med school chances. Your C- is problematic though as O chem is a big part of MCAT and you need to have a strong grasp of material for test. If you decide to continue down premed path you need to figure out what went wrong first time around in O chem 1.
As you’re burnt out, a consideration may be to slow down. The med school application process takes a year, meaning if one wanted to start med school in say Fall 2019, one should have applied in summer 2018. So if your goal was to graduate in 4 years, then start med school, you will have needed to apply at end of junior year. Consider skipping ochem altogether this year, and wait to start o chem sequence next year, This may mean you would apply after you graduate and take a gap year. But it would allow you more time to repair any GPA damage, prep and take MCAT, participate in ECs, have college life, etc. It could also help take the pressure off. Good luck
I agree every single thing @Jugulator20 said.
Take a lighter courseload spring term to get your head together, get rested and re-invested in your schoolwork. Then and only then should you try Ochem 1 again.
The road to med school is long and exhausting. You need to treat it like a marathon not a sprint.
thanks for the advice, but after much thought, i cant pinpoint what went wrong. i thought i did everything i could i went to lecture, i took notes, i did practice exams and extra problems. i thought i understood it well enough to do decent, but clearly not. i wasnt doing well in my intro bio. class either but i learned how to study and fixed my grades. however, nothing helped me for orgo. i have no motivation to retake orgo either.
If what you say is true, maybe its time to explore career possibilities in areas other than healthcare and biological sciences. 2 semesters of Ochem (and usually biochem as well) are degree requirements forl biology majors. Even ecology majors need 1 or 2 semesters of Ochem.
I’m sure there’s a Career Advising Center at your college. Maybe drop by and talk with an advisor who can help you find a career/major that’s a better fit.
thank u