<p>I'm currently enrolled in and taking Physics as a visiting student at a SUNY school local to me. I've clarified that this course can be used as credit toward my PHY101 class at my full-time SUNY school, but I'm just curious if these credits will be averaged into my G.P.A. or even looked at when applying to medical school. From what I've gathered, Physics is important on the MCATs, so I'll be taking the course seriously; but my question is: because I only need a C for the course's credits to be accepted and transferred, hypothetically if I were to receive a C would it matter/be considered by the medical schools I will apply to? I'm only taking Physics now to get it out of the way and lessen my workload (I have Organic Chemistry and Physiology next year)</p>
<p>If I'm wrong please explain! I'm sitting in class now pretty bored and curious (as are some of my classmates so you'll be helping multiple people out).</p>
<p>ALL college grades count for grad/professional school gpa. Earn A’s, not C’s.</p>
<p>ALL college credits, no matter where you take or when you take them, count in your cGPA for medical school admission. Even co-enrollment credits from high school.</p>
<p>If you get a C, then it’s reported on your application as C. It doesn’t matter WHY you got a C. (And you sure as heck don’t want to report you got a C because you didn’t feel like working in the class…kiss of death for your med school aspirations.)</p>
<p>One C won’t cripple you application. But it doesn’t look good, esp for a summer course which have a bit of reputation for being easier than regular semester courses.</p>
<p>Thanks for your quick responses! </p>
<p>I’ve also learned that at my full-time school, Physics is heavily Calculus based, whereas the course I’m taking has no calculus. Will this be a problem come MCAT time? I got an A in both Calculus 1 and Calculus 2, so I figure I’d be able to teach it to myself next summer when I begin studying heavily for the MCATs.</p>
<p>Also, I received both a C in AP Biology in my senior year of High School and in Evolutionary Biology my first semester freshman year of college (where I received a 2.6 GPA), but since have received a 3.6, 3.9 and 3.7 this passed semester. Will the positive trends, my volunteering (both in a laboratory and hospital) and recommendations stand out more than the bad grades? I understand you guys aren’t admissions officers, but I figure you’re relatively experienced if you’re posting in response to my questions.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>There is no calculus-based physics on the MCAT.</p>
<p>Calc is pretty useless for pre-meds anyway, unless it is personal preference/passion, it woudl be the only reason to have more than one semester (or one AP credit) of Calc. On the other hand, Stats is very useful in understanding of Med. Research Lab procedures. However, both of them are pretty easy “A” and ones of the least time consuming college classes. So, if you are looking for second semester of math, taking Stats has advantage ofer Calc, but either will do.</p>
<p>I’ve already completed my math requirement with A’s and my Psychology Statistics requirement so I’ve actually taken both.</p>
<p>Grades and MCAT score are what get your application in the door. Unless you have those, your application won’t go any farther. </p>
<p>Once you get past the first cut, then all sorts of “soft” factors some into play–LORs, volunteering, medical experience, research, personal statement. But soft factors alone will not make up for poor grades.</p>
<p>If you do have any bad grades (i.e. Cs), you need to explain why you have them in your PS.</p>