Real advice, take a W or keep going?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I have a 3.92. Research, volunteering and I'm taking an MCAT course. </p>

<p>Basically: Calculus, Stats, English comp. Bio 1/2 (and labs), Chem 1/2 (and labs), Ochem 1/2 lab = A's.</p>

<p>Ochem 1: B</p>

<p>Ochem 2: C+</p>

<p>After taking the beating in organic chemistry I knew I had to ace physics. I studied a combined 90 hours for my first midterm and got a C after the curve. I'm at a junction where I don't know what to do. If I knew how to do all the homework, examples and memorized all the equations, how could I possibly do better on the next exam?</p>

<p>Should I take the W and try a different professor, or keep soldiering through this class? </p>

<p>I'm just worried another B or C would completely ruin my chances of getting in after organic chemistry. Don't take this for me being discouraged of ever getting in, I'm just trying to determine the best route to reach my goal.</p>

2

<p>It sounds like there are some global/general concepts you are not “getting”. So many times when I’ve sat one on one with a struggling student we have these “a-ha” moments where something clicked that wasn’t apparent to them before. You should seek out help from TAs, your professor or a tutor that might help you to find another way of looking at the problems you are missing. As for trying a different professor, the problem is almost never the professor. Try to concentrate more on the “setup” of problems and do more of them (although 90 hours already seems excessive)</p>

3

<p>My university’s physics department is notoriously hard so I studied about 15 hours a week for six weeks. If I decide to continue I will be doing more problems from different books rather than just our textbook and I will be getting a tutor.</p>

<p>But do you think I can still get an A? I would be happy with a B, because this is my first ever experience with physics in my life. </p>

<p>But I’m not too sure admissions would be happy with it.</p>

4

<p>Your final grade will be totally dependent on your professor’s grading policy. Does s/he allow the dropping of your lowest midterm grade? Otherwise an A will be very difficult but not impossible. But remember you also have the MCAT ahead and whatever you didn’t understand in physics and ochem might once again hurt your scores. An “average” score in PS, BS on the MCAT is not very competitive.</p>

5

<p>I had my physics 1 MCAT session yesterday and missed 1 question. I don’t think I’m bad at physics at the level it appears on the MCAT.</p>

<p>Plus I scored a 9 PS without ever taking a physics class (just chemistry) a few months ago.</p>

<p>I really don’t find physics hard, I just found my midterm hard.</p>

6

<p>^ It’s always possible that your midterm score was an outlier. Your plan of action looks good so just stay focused and hopefully good things will happen. Best of luck.</p>

7

<p>Does your 3.92 include the C+ and B? If so, your GPA can easily take whatever you’ll get once you start working with the tutor, etc.</p>

8

<p>Yes, my GPA includes the B and C, in fact they are the only non-A’s I have received in college.</p>

9

<p>im guessing that its still early enough to do well. do not withdraw for a B. you should absolutely speak to the professor to try to understand what went wrong. working hard does not necessarily mean how long you study but how smart you study. you seem like a strong student so i would say figure out what went wrong and work on that for the next exam. if that one doesnt go as well as you’d like then reconsider withdrawing from the course.</p>

10

<p>Did you go for help? Prof. office hours, possible SI sessions,informal study groups, paid tutors, anything at all? When D. was in a slightest doubt about her understanding of concept, she was in prof’s office. Some of them knew her very very well by first name. Your tuition is paying for many other sevrices outside of lectures, might as well use them.</p>

11

<p>I took Physics this semester too but ended up dropping coz I got a C in the first test and I was sure I would not be able to do well ahead either [hated the professor lol] so I preferred to drop it and get a W rather than getting a B or C. I’ll take it next semester hopefully and study in advance! </p>

<p>Oh and in place of Physics, I enrolled in a Human Development Psych course!</p>

12

<p>Are you studying in groups? You are obviously an accomplished student but I feel as though people often overlook the power of studying in groups. </p>

<p>Also tutors are helpful but I would find someone who got an A and simply ask them how they studied.</p>

<p>I have no idea however if you should drop the class or not. I think you are plenty capable but you need to quickly figure out where your professor pulls questions from.</p>

13

<p>My son took a W during a semester that he was very sick and had to miss too much. I don’t think it hurt him in the long run. </p>

<p>I would think that one W is less damaging that another C. The C hurts the GPA, the W doesn’t.</p>