Should I be worried if I want to pursue the medical field?

So I’m really thinking of going to the healthcare career path and I’ve been taking all these AP classes to get ready and to make my resume shine. I have a pretty solid academics (4.3+ GPA, 33 ACT, and total of 11 APs by the time I graduate). I also do a bunch of volunteer and extra curricular work. My worry is that I might not have done so well on the AP Chem Exam. My teacher isn’t so great and self-studying is pretty difficult for chem. I think I got a 4 on the exam (which is great) but I’m beginning to worry that I got a 3. Should I reconsider going to medicine if I get a 3 and can’t even excel on the AP chem exam?
Thanks so much.

AP exam scores don’t really influence college admissions much; you might just end up taking chemistry again.

That chem exam…I feel you.

Also, I don’t think it matters. As long as you maintain high grades and good ECs, colleges will appreciate your advanced classes and a 3 (which is a ‘pass’) won’t matter.

But to go to the medical field requires extensive and rigorous science classes. I’m a little worried that because I can’t excel in AP chem in high school, it might mean that the medical field isn’t the right path for me. Should I reconsider my carreer choice based on this?

Honestly, I’m in the same boat right now. I’ve wanted to go into the medical field for awhile, but today’s exam didn’t go as well as I had hoped. Still, don’t worry - I feel that the curve will be substantially more generous this year (especially with this Form O BS). Even if chem doesn’t go too well, don’t give up! You’re still taking a course designed for college students! When you do go to college, imagine how easy it will seem.

Lol are you really deciding your life based on one test, that you took for 3 hours? Are you really going to have those 3 hours decide your life?

No, instead, you should take this moment and have higher goals for the future. Follow where you passion belongs.

I think of myself in the same situation as you; I am interested in the medical field but biology is not my best subject. In fact, I think engineering will suit me better. But I’m not interested in engineering. I want to go into the medical field and I grew to enjoy biology over time.

Just invest more time in chemistry and I’m sure you’ll do fine. It’s all about the effort you put into it. If you want, you could also look into Chemistry Olympiad (or other olympiads) and go more in depth in those science fields as well.

You could also retake the AP chemistry exam next year if you want the college credit.

Yes, you guys are right. I actually enjoy chemistry so it was hard to realize that I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped. I think I just really needed some encouragement. So thank you, guys! I will most likely take more chem classes in college and I will definitely invest more time in It. Thanks again!

No problem! I’m sure every AP chem student across the world hasn’t had the best day, but I think things will work themselves out and you’ll do fine.

What does this mean? “Healthcare career path” can mean anything from being a physical therapist to healthcare insurance administrator. If u mean “I want to be a doctor”, then just say so.

While a doctor, pediatrician if you want specifics, is what I am leaning to at the moment, I’m also interested in other career options in the healthcare industry, a social worker being one of them. I understand that healthcare is a broad term, but I used it because I didn’t want to limit myself to just “doctor” this early on.

Social work doesn’t require AP Chem.

Yes, but I’m not interested solely on social work. It’s just one of my options that I keep open. Succeeding in Chem and other sciences keeps my other options (of being a doctor) open. As stated in my original post, “I’m really thinking of going to the healthcare carreer path” and that is true. But my concern about AP chem is specifically in regards to medicine, as shown when I wrote “Should I reconsider going to medicine…”. And thanks to jasperlee1 and sjwon3789, I have found my answer and encouragment.