How important is your Organic Chem grade for medical school?

Question

I am in my sophmore year of college and have an overall good GPA 3.5 currently if I don't do so well in Organic Chemistry (a B or C) will that kill my chances for medical school admissions.

I volunteer at a hospital, work 15-20 hours a week, and have travelled abroad if that plays into the decisions.

Answer 1

GPA is only one factor. MCAT scores are more important. Hospital volunteer work not important to admission but good experience for you since if you don't like people, especially sick people, then medicine is not a good career choice. My MCAT and Organic Chem final were about the same time so I concentrated on the MCAT. Did well on that but flunked my final in Org Chem. In fact, it was a standardized test, multiple choice and I scored 17%, less than was statistically possible if I had guessed! I outguessed my guesses I think! lol That dropped my final grade from a B to a C. Anyway, got into med school with no problem and became Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
My advice is to pick your med school(s) and find out what their admission criteria are...talk to the Admissions Director and ask that person to tell you honestly if you have a chance at admission and if not what you need to improve.

Answer 2

I think chem is far more important, especially if it's organic chemistry. Physics hardly even relates to medicine, it's probably just a prerequisite so that you can have a solid scientific background. Chemistry on the other hand relates directly to medicine. Drugs are all about chemistry, as are all of the biological processes that happen in your body, and these are 2 extremely important things that you will be learning all about in med school.

Answer 3

Getting a B won't kill you. Organic chemistry is a rite of passage that we all had to go through.

Volunteering at a hospital is great. Kick butt on the MCAT's and you'll do fine.

Answer 4

This depends on a lot of things, ie competitiveness of the school, MCAT scores, research, volunteer work, recs, etc. Out of all of these factors, a B definitely wouldn't kill you. A C definitely isn't desirable, but you could balance it out with a above average/great MCAT score. Also to leave you with a bit of advice...MCAT, MCAT,MCAT. This is what truly seals your fate.

Answer 5

Med schools are looking for students who excel. Organic Chem is a class that seperates superior students from average or above average. Sorry, but if you don't have something else going for you (father a Dr., american indian, etc) you'll have to actually understand those dreaded mechanisms.

Answer 6

No, dud don't even freak out- What you should worry about is how well your going to do in Bio-chemisry and Organic Chemistry on the MCAT