How to ask a school if I should retake a class?

[neuropanic]

I am looking at a neuroscience school that says it wants B's or higher in all general science coursework. It then says C+'s and lower need to be explained. I made a C in Orgo I, but made a B in Orgo II. I do not want to retake Orgo I if I don't have to (would rather take more fulfilling upper level courses to prove that I know my shit... I just had a rough semester that semester). I am not applying until the rounds for Fall of 2017, though, so I have some time and flexibility- well, sort of. A lot of my upper level bio classes are offered 1 section, 1 semester per year, so scheduling is difficult.

 

Anyway, I figured I should probably ask the department what they would prefer. My other stats seem to be above their average stats currently, and it isn't necessarily a top-ranked program, but I feel that most other programs would see things the same way (wanting grades to be B's and above).

 

How should I best go about this?

[neuropanic]

I might should add that it's hard to tell that I just had a hard semester because I made A's in all of my other classes, but mainly because they were easy divisionals. I was struggling with multiple levels of just plain bad stuff, and really didn't know how to study for that class on top of all of that. The C came more from bombing the first half of the class and making up for it in the next half than from not understanding what was going on. My gen chem ACS scores were in the 98th percentile if that helps?

 

I really do enjoy the molecular aspect of neuroscience, so I feel like this could really hold me back.

[gliaful]

I am looking at a neuroscience school that says it wants B's or higher in all general science coursework. It then says C+'s and lower need to be explained. I made a C in Orgo I, but made a B in Orgo II. I do not want to retake Orgo I if I don't have to (would rather take more fulfilling upper level courses to prove that I know my shit... I just had a rough semester that semester).

I think that your B in second semester organic will help you a lot, as second semester really depends on the material presented in first semester. You could candidly provide the explanation that you gave us -- organic catches many students off-guard, but you were able to overcome your struggle and earn a better grade in the second semester. If you plan on taking biochemistry, doing well in that course will further bolster the argument that you do indeed understand organic at a better-than-C level.

 

What percentile were your organic ACS scores? I don't think gen chem scores help me understand your situation in organic.

[neuropanic]

Orgo actually taught me a lot about how to study. I'm expecting a 4.0 or close to it this semester, mostly thanks to my new studying techniques. I think it made me go from a mostly A- college student to a mostly A student, which makes a difference.

Edited November 27, 2014 by neuropanic

[neuropanic]

I think that your B in second semester organic will help you a lot, as second semester really depends on the material presented in first semester. You could candidly provide the explanation that you gave us -- organic catches many students off-guard, but you were able to overcome your struggle and earn a better grade in the second semester. If you plan on taking biochemistry, doing well in that course will further bolster the argument that you do indeed understand organic at a better-than-C level.

What percentile were your organic ACS scores? I don't think gen chem scores help me understand your situation in organic.

I took a mock 1st semester ACS for my Orgo I final, but didn't take the full exam because I took Orgo II abroad (same university, just in one of our international houses). I was not told what I made on the final, but I do know that it brought my grade up quite a bit. I could try to find out, but I doubt she kept a record of it. My first semester professor had a reputation for setting a pretty low bell curve in the class (almost half of my class was forced to drop after the first exam), so I was probably average in my class.

I do plan on taking biochem. Should I take this in the chem department to prove I know structure? A bio/neuroscience professor told me the bio side of biochem might be better for neuroscience.

[neuropanic]

Should I maybe study for a take a full ACS? Is that even possible?

[gliaful]

I took the ACS only because it was the final in my second semester. I don't think you can sign up to take it independently, but I honestly have no clue.

 

At my university, there are two biochem tracks: two semesters with lab, intended for chem majors, and a one-semester "survey" of biochem that can be taken by bio majors if they choose to forgo the rigor of the chem-track courses.

 

I took the chemistry-based biochemistry and I still found it quite "biological" (I mean, of course it is -- but I guess I thought it would rely more on organic than it actually did). I really grew to love it even though I wasn't too fond of organic. Biochemistry pulled a lot of concepts together for me and I thrived. I only mention these things because I think it's misleading to say that chemistry-track biochem courses are somehow removed from biological relevance. At my university at least, the bio-based survey of biochem is taken by students who don't really care for biochem and want to get through it quicker. I don't think survey courses on one's transcript are a good way of strengthening one's application. If the bio-based biochem at your school is of equal rigor to the chem course, but simply focuses more on biological concepts, it sounds safe to take.

[neuropanic]

I took the ACS only because it was the final in my second semester. I don't think you can sign up to take it independently, but I honestly have no clue.

At my university, there are two biochem tracks: two semesters with lab, intended for chem majors, and a one-semester "survey" of biochem that can be taken by bio majors if they choose to forgo the rigor of the chem-track courses.

I took the chemistry-based biochemistry and I still found it quite "biological" (I mean, of course it is -- but I guess I thought it would rely more on organic than it actually did). I really grew to love it even though I wasn't too fond of organic. Biochemistry pulled a lot of concepts together for me and I thrived. I only mention these things because I think it's misleading to say that chemistry-track biochem courses are somehow removed from biological relevance. At my university at least, the bio-based survey of biochem is taken by students who don't really care for biochem and want to get through it quicker. I don't think survey courses on one's transcript are a good way of strengthening one's application. If the bio-based biochem at your school is of equal rigor to the chem course, but simply focuses more on biological concepts, it sounds safe to take.

Ours is more of a class that is either mostly structure (chem) or mostly signaling (bio) rather than difficulty. We have a normal lab and an advanced lab, both of which are in the chem building. Students who don't want to go into research are discouraged from taking a lab.

[heterodocksie]

Orgo actually taught me a lot about how to study. I'm expecting a 4.0 or close to it this semester, mostly thanks to my new studying techniques. I think it made me go from a mostly A- college student to a mostly A student, which makes a difference.

You just explained it. Colleges want to know what you learned from your mistakes and why you won't be making those mistakes again. I wouldn't worry about it. You've already proven that you can handle the material.