Yeah nothing I can really do, got dealt a crappy hand. Just gonna go with it , if I find a solution good if not oh well.
"quantitative literacy’ sounds like a remedial course. Is there no other class? No AP stats? Calculus (if you can learn calculus over the summer) ? Any online public high school your high school would allow you to take classes from? Could you do an independent study with a math teacher?
Fact is, ‘it was a first year teacher who couldn’t teach’ won’t really fly, especially since it’s not what your counselor is likely to write exactly, you don’t know what she’ll write, and 'blame the teacher ’ is always super risky.
Any non vocational class offered (CS, art, music) beside 'intro to health professions '?
Calling specialists for ideas / help : @Lindagaf, @ucbalumnus, @intparent, @?
It’s not just replacing the D, it’s having the knowledge base that colleges of a certain rigor expect. There will be plenty of students coming from challenging backgrounds who will have the coursework and good marks. Those are the students you will be competing against.
So, even explaining in a nice way that “the teacher sucked” isn’t going to cut it, IMO.
How could the phrasing be suggested to GC? “The teacher was dismissed for incompetence”?
Seems like I’m in a bad spot then. It’s highly unlikely that I’ll be able to take it again through community college, online, etc.
In terms of class choice sadly no, I’ve exhausted every challenging course offered. Every other class is a filler class .
Also I won’t worry about this too much. If I don’t get into any selective colleges it’s okay, I’m not gonna find my self worth in the college I attend. Medical school is what I’m gonna set my sights on in terms of getting a superb education.
Yes, but if you’re lower income having a Questbridge scholarship could mean that superb education for free.
Can you go back to your GC and ask if your school is affiliated with an online HS?
There has to be a college within driving distance, where you could take precalculus. Even vocational CC’s offer precalculus because it’s part of the math sequence some degrees require. If not a CC, perhaps something else. Community education?
Is there no art or music class you could take? This would look more rigorous than “health professions” (which is unrelated to what you need to be a successful premed.)
Also, medical schools in the US are all excellent. 2/3 to 3/4 would-be premeds give up or are weeded out before they officially apply, and among those survivors only half get into even one med school. With that level of selectivity and keeping in mind the curriculum is fixed, no med school is better than the other.
(And attending a LAC that doesn’t weed, offers excellent premed support, and has grade inflation ALSO helps considerably for med school.)
If you’re serious about being premed, you can’t stop math at Algebra2 (not honors). You not only need to take precalculus now, but you also need to find a way to take calculus (most premeds have taken both in HS and you’ll have to rank top 10% against them).That applies even if you don’t get into a selective college, except you’d likely get less support at a less selective college due to these colleges having fewer resources for support and advising (exception being UArk’s Honors College). I hope someone can help you figure it out. There’s got to be a way since you’re clearly motivated and smart.
And BTW, I do think it’d be too bad if you couldn’t explore and see something else than your home state. It’s always a position I support because college is the best time for people to see our nation, but also because you clearly surpass the typical student at your school and thus need to encounter peers.
@MYOS1634 Transportation, access to a car, and having a driving license can be significant barriers. We don’t know if that is even a possibility. I hope it is.
@MYOS1634 Don’t get me wrong I’m definitely not giving up on going to a LAC out of state. I’m just toning down my expectations if I don’t get my pre calc problem taken care off.
I understand I need higher math qualifications, I think my school might be offering AP Calculus this coming year. I’ll ask about being able to take it without having taken pre calc before. The only issue to this is that I would have very little experience with that type of math, but I will definitely look into that option. If I cant do that I will see about taking it at a community college around me over the summer. I just haven’t had much time to look into it with AP tests. The year should be winding down now so I will have more time to look into potential options.
If I don’t end up being able to take pre calc or AP Calculus this coming school year I’ll just self teach myself in order to not behind even more.
I’ve also been looking at LAC’s that fully meet need with 35+ acceptance rates. Hopefully I can gain admission to one of those. I’m not giving up, just more hoops to jump through to get everything squared away.
On the Health Professions issues I already took art and music appreciation. That’s really the only thing I could fill that slot with.
Who currently teaches precalc? Would he/she give you the syllabus and a text book to take home for the summer?
I am wondering if there is anyone at the hospital that you volunteer at that would be able to tutor you through any rough patches.
@“Snowball City” I could just self learn pre calculus that’s not a problem. I self teach myself subjects all the time. Im just hoping I can take care of it in terms of that D on my transcript lowering my chances of gaining admission to more selective colleges.
Have you looked through the Colleges That Change Lives website? Even the colleges that don’t promise to meet full need will meet need for the students that they really want. That is called preferential packaging of financial aid.
http://ctcl.org/category/college-profiles/ Hendrix and St Olaf are among the list.
@“Snowball City” Ill take a look at that. Thanks.
Would a college like Franklin and Marshall be more in line with what I should expect to possibly get into?
I had a stereotype of F and M from when my brother looked at it. I just did a little reading.
I do remember reading somewhere that they take a very large amount of students in the early decision round. Better take a quick look at the common data set.
Definitely contact the admissions office and get info sent to you. Chat with the first generation rep about how their premed track is.
Yeah I’m looking into these types of schools , probably my best bet for good and affordable education out of state.
It’s tricky.
Because you are smart, I want you to go someplace where you will have plenty of academic peers and enjoy your education.
But because you are premed, we need to make sure you are someplace where you can shine and get a great GPA.
I see. I didn’t fully consider that aspect of it.
@WayOutWestMom would you be willing to give some perspective on college selection and the premed process.?
My daughter ultimately decided to get a PhD rather than a MD and I fear my information may be out of date.