Should I tell my DD to not be pre-med?

[Anonymous]

People here clearly haven't taken Orgo, it's an absolutely brutal class and a C is not going to kill your med school chances if she does well on her MCAT. I was a Chem major myself (not pre-med) and my study buddy got a C first semester but still got into multiple med schools because she nailed the MCAT.

Don't get me wrong, have a backup, as any premed should, but don't overreact.

The first semester of Orgo is also the absolute worst. They make you rote memorize an insane number of reactions and then try to trick you with the weird ones. Second semester has things like polymers and mechanisms which I personally found a lot easier.

But I'm a chemistry major who loathed orgo and was much happier in Physical Chem.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t take my pre-med requirements in under grad (majored in languages) but finished them off in 16 months after I graduated. I got into (possibly) the top medical school and am now a physician.

Maturity has a lot to do with it, OP. It sounds like your daughter has too many interests right now to buckle down. And I think that’s normal and healthy to want a full college experience. I am very glad I had mine.

My advice would be to follow my path and knock out the pre-med requirement post graduation.

[Anonymous]

No. It’s her journey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. It’s her journey.

OP here. But, I'm paying for her school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were her science/math grades in HS? AP courses?

Straight A's in everything except 1 A- in Physics. Her freshmen year she had all A's in her neuroscience courses/chemistry labs and A-'s in her chemistry lecture.

What school district?

[Anonymous]

High performing kids (and OP's kid sounds like one) don't usually crash and burn like that. OP, are you sure there isn't something else going on that you don't know about? Do you believe she really studied hard but still couldn't make it?? I can think of so many possibilities - skipping classes, hidden boy friend, some other issues (mental and physical)..etc. YOu need to identify the issue first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were her science/math grades in HS? AP courses?

Straight A's in everything except 1 A- in Physics. Her freshmen year she had all A's in her neuroscience courses/chemistry labs and A-'s in her chemistry lecture.

What school district?

OP here. Fairfax County for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High performing kids (and OP's kid sounds like one) don't usually crash and burn like that. OP, are you sure there isn't something else going on that you don't know about? Do you believe she really studied hard but still couldn't make it?? I can think of so many possibilities - skipping classes, hidden boy friend, some other issues (mental and physical)..etc. YOu need to identify the issue first.

No, it really is Orgo. I'm the Chem major from above and I can promise you that you can study your butt off and that first semester can still totally destroy you. Mynforst semester orgo professor was almost gleeful about crushing the spirits of young college students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People here clearly haven't taken Orgo, it's an absolutely brutal class and a C is not going to kill your med school chances if she does well on her MCAT. I was a Chem major myself (not pre-med) and my study buddy got a C first semester but still got into multiple med schools because she nailed the MCAT.

Don't get me wrong, have a backup, as any premed should, but don't overreact.

The first semester of Orgo is also the absolute worst. They make you rote memorize an insane number of reactions and then try to trick you with the weird ones. Second semester has things like polymers and mechanisms which I personally found a lot easier.

But I'm a chemistry major who loathed orgo and was much happier in Physical Chem.

Disagree. Orgo 2 is harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High performing kids (and OP's kid sounds like one) don't usually crash and burn like that. OP, are you sure there isn't something else going on that you don't know about? Do you believe she really studied hard but still couldn't make it?? I can think of so many possibilities - skipping classes, hidden boy friend, some other issues (mental and physical)..etc. YOu need to identify the issue first.

There was a death in the family in the spring semester. But, she had handled it okay then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People here clearly haven't taken Orgo, it's an absolutely brutal class and a C is not going to kill your med school chances if she does well on her MCAT. I was a Chem major myself (not pre-med) and my study buddy got a C first semester but still got into multiple med schools because she nailed the MCAT.

Don't get me wrong, have a backup, as any premed should, but don't overreact.

The first semester of Orgo is also the absolute worst. They make you rote memorize an insane number of reactions and then try to trick you with the weird ones. Second semester has things like polymers and mechanisms which I personally found a lot easier.

But I'm a chemistry major who loathed orgo and was much happier in Physical Chem.

Disagree. Orgo 2 is harder.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I personally went from a C to an A and I loved polymers. But my first semester professor was definitely a sadist. I'd do quantum again over that first semester of orgo any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. It’s her journey.

OP here. But, I'm paying for her school.

And you wouldn’t pay if she doesn’t get into med school?

Don’t do that, OP. You’re paying for her college education. What she does with it is up to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. It’s her journey.

OP here. But, I'm paying for her school.

And you wouldn’t pay if she doesn’t get into med school?

Don’t do that, OP. You’re paying for her college education. What she does with it is up to her.

OP here. No, I would get her to transfer to a cheaper school if she decides not to be pre-med because full price for a public health degree is not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People here clearly haven't taken Orgo, it's an absolutely brutal class and a C is not going to kill your med school chances if she does well on her MCAT. I was a Chem major myself (not pre-med) and my study buddy got a C first semester but still got into multiple med schools because she nailed the MCAT.

Don't get me wrong, have a backup, as any premed should, but don't overreact.

The first semester of Orgo is also the absolute worst. They make you rote memorize an insane number of reactions and then try to trick you with the weird ones. Second semester has things like polymers and mechanisms which I personally found a lot easier.

But I'm a chemistry major who loathed orgo and was much happier in Physical Chem.

yes, it is. I work in medical school admissions. It's not going to happen in this day and age.

[Anonymous]

My Dd is also on the “pre-med path” as a freshman and really hated chem, ending up with a B and a B+ in lab this fall. Absolutely dreading second semester but has a better professor so is still giving it a try. She loves biology but couldn’t get into any this fall so took chem knowing it was a weed out course. Well she came home for break she said “how about law school?” Lol. I think they have to come to the realization themselves but having a reality check from someone like an advisor is a good idea.

I am just encouraging her to keep her options open but i think she realizes Med school is probably not in the cards. She would like to be a PA as well but not even sure her core prerequisite course grades will be good enough for that.