I want to get into a US medical school. In my freshman year I aced all three terms of general chemistry, along with a low level physics course and some other non-science courses. I just finished my first term in my second year taking organic chemistry and a major Bio course. I aced Bio, but I really ****** up in Organic chem. To be honest (I don't mean to be cocky or anything), I gave little effort to all my other science courses and aced them easily. I thought I could do the same for ochem, but little effort earned me a C. I don't know what I was thinking not taking it seriously, but I really do want to get into medical school. Do you think I've screwed my chances of getting in any US med schools? What can I do about it? I know its really competitive and we've all heard stories of the kid who got in with a low GPA, but I want to be realistic. Can I retake this one particular term? Does any med schools accept a grade in a course you retake? I plan on acing my second two terms of ochem, but can I retake the first? Or is the C on my transcript going to scar me for life and I'm doomed to never get in? Please give me any advice you can, I would greatly appreciate it.
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Short answer: You're absolutely fine. I actually got a C in Organic 1, and I'm now in my second year of med school.
Keep your GPA as high as you can, and you should be fine. Look at GPA averages for medical schools, there are many in the 3.5 range. That means that all of those ACCEPTED students have many grades below the A range. Just keep trying, one C won't kill you!
As far as retakes go, that's a little more complicated. DO schools are much more lenient than MD schools when it comes to retakes. Whether or not you plan to apply DO will make a difference on how valuable that retake would be for you.
Whatever you decide to do about that organic grade, I'm sure that you'll get accepted to medical school eventually. Those first couple of semesters prove that you have it in you! Keep on trying your hardest, but enjoy college. Med school will only be worse. :P
Keep your GPA as high as you can, and you should be fine. Look at GPA averages for medical schools, there are many in the 3.5 range. That means that all of those ACCEPTED students have many grades below the A range. Just keep trying, one C won't kill you!
As far as retakes go, that's a little more complicated. DO schools are much more lenient than MD schools when it comes to retakes. Whether or not you plan to apply DO will make a difference on how valuable that retake would be for you.
Whatever you decide to do about that organic grade, I'm sure that you'll get accepted to medical school eventually. Those first couple of semesters prove that you have it in you! Keep on trying your hardest, but enjoy college. Med school will only be worse. :P