Do Med Schools Know if a Class is an Easy a
Applying to Med/PA School
Can I Get Into Medical School With a 'W' on My Transcript?
About Rachel
Rachel Perkins is currently a student at Furman University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Medicine, Health & Culture. She hopes to work in Pediatrics and continue public health advocacy. Outside of the classroom, Rachel is a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She enjoys traveling, watching Spanish television on Netflix, and eating at local restaurants in Greenville with her friends.
When Your Semester Isn't Going the Way You Planned…
College, especially for pre-meds, is a difficult and delicate juggle of many balls; we have to manage courses, extracurricular activities, and try to maintain a healthy social life, just to name a few. Inevitably, there are semesters when it all becomes too much to handle, and it's easy to drop a ball amidst the craziness. A class that seemed tough yet manageable at the beginning of the year can become an insurmountable liability to one's beloved GPA. There is nothing worse than teetering at, or barely above, the dreaded 'C' range with no confident idea of how the grade will turn out at the end of the semester. We know that withdrawing from a course, resulting in a 'W' on the final transcript, is an option for all students. But, is it advisable for students planning on applying to medical school? What if it only happens once? What about twice? Students in this position are faced with a couple of options to consider:
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Finish out the course. If the end grade is in the 'A' or 'B' range, the decision paid off.
This is a seemingly straightforward option. Remember, however, that most college courses have few assignments that are heavily weighted. Thus, if you have failed to perform consistently at the 'A' – 'B' level throughout the semester, this can be a risky decision. Taking advantage of professors' office hours, tutors and review sessions are excellent ways to steer toward success.
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Finish out the course. If your grade is in the 'C' range, retake the course for a higher grade or choose not to retake the course and keep the 'C.'
In general, pre-med students are advised to retake courses in which they have earned a 'C.' In reality, one or two 'C's will not rule out medical school for anyone, especially for otherwise high-achieving students. The key is an ability to reflect upon how the experience challenged you to be better, which can be communicated in a personal statement and interviews. If you already have a 'C,' or two, don't panic. Analyze your study habits and prepare yourself to tackle your remaining courses in more effective ways.
If you do choose to retake the course, medical schools will likely see both grades; if you are able to get an 'A' on your second attempt, the grade will average out to a 'B.' Medical schools calculate your AMCAS GPA based off of every single course that you have taken, including incomplete, withdrawn and study abroad courses, college-level courses taken in high school, and even courses expunged from transcripts. The AMCAS GPA is used to evaluate an applicant's ability to complete medical school and is a determining factor in extending interviews to applicants.
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Withdraw from the course and take it again at the same university or another institution.
The decision to withdraw is difficult; it is mentally, emotionally, and financially frustrating. As pre-med students, it is not in our nature to enjoy failure or giving up when things get difficult; we tend to gravitate towards challenges. It is not easy to give up on something that required such hard work and dedication, even when the graded results fail to reflect these efforts. It is not easy to think about having to relearn material, and pay for the course yet again. It is not easy to think about the other students who somehow managed to do well in the course, and how it is going to place them at an advantage over you when it comes time to apply to medical schools.
Withdrawing from one course is not going to keep you from attending medical school. Withdrawing from two courses is not going to keep you from attending medical school. Withdrawing from three courses… well now this is starting to look like a pattern and that is what is going to keep you from attending medical school.
During the application process, medical schools take into consideration the rigor of the courses students have taken in order to best prepare themselves for the challenges of medical school and their futures as doctors. If an applicant consistently withdraws from the tough science or math courses at his or her university and then takes these same courses at the local community college, it might send a message to medical schools that the applicant is unable to handle the workload or rigor of medical school.
Take a Deep Breath.
If you've already withdrawn from a class, or are planning to do so, it is okay – especially if you are a student with otherwise above average grades. Clear your head and prepare yourself to crush the remaining classes in your course load – it is better to withdraw from one class than to become so consumed with improving the grade that all the other classes suffer. Medical schools understand that we are all human; sometimes we overcommit ourselves one semester or experience hardships that make it difficult to focus on school. What many college students fail to hear often enough is the importance of taking care of physical, emotional and mental health. In this situation, humility is key. There are many understandable, human reasons to withdraw from a course. How can you take those reasons and explain to medical schools the ways in which those reasons made you a stronger applicant, person, and future doctor?
Medical schools understand that we are all human; sometimes we overcommit ourselves one semester or experience hardships that make it difficult to focus on school.
Although it was mentioned above that grades from withdrawn courses will be made available to medical schools, it does not have any effect on the calculation of the AMCAS GPA. As such, a strong argument for withdrawing is that if you withdraw from a course and get an A on the second attempt, you will then have an A for that course. It can also be argued that a withdraw is better than a 'D' or 'F' grade. When in doubt, it is always a good idea to speak with a pre-med advisor or academic counselor. If you are at the beginning of your collegiate career, you may be struggling to adjust or manage your schedule efficiently; remember, you can easily change course. If you are nearing the end of your collegiate career, you may simply be tapping out – this is a tempting, although dangerous direction, as it might cause medical schools to question if you can handle four more years of schooling. Regardless, it is important to weigh your options, including your medical school application timeline and financial abilities, to decide if withdrawing is the correct choice for you.
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University '19
- Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary '17 || University of Arizona (undergraduate) '18
Completed Atlantis Program Location and Date:
Hungary, Summer 2017
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
I believe it was very helpful.
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key role in confirming my decision to go into medicine. This was important for me to discuss during the admissions process.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews?
Yes
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary '17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Computer Science
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (award for research)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic, Research Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program because it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had little prior exposure to.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the diversity of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own interest in medicine. The physicians were also just really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-earth people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a better understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable gift considering the long road ahead of those who aspire to be a physician.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and empathize with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis program, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Elorm Yevudza
- Atlantis '16
- Amherst '19
- Columbia MD '24
Elorm Yevudza
Ciudad Real, Spain '16 || Amherst College
Program:
Ciudad Real – Spain – 2016
Undergraduate:
Amherst College class of 2019
Major:
Neuroscience
Extracurricular Activities:
Track and Field, International Students Association, Charles Drew Health Professions Society
Describe Atlantis in three words:
A transformative experience.
Why did you choose the Atlantis program?
The opportunity to shadow doctors in a European country greatly appealed to me. As an international student from Ghana, I value the subtle differences in approach that doctors, depending on the country in which they are trained, use to achieve a common result: alleviating illness and improving the quality of lives.
How is Atlantis Unique?
In an increasingly globalized world, having first-hand experience with the subtleties of healthcare in different parts of the world is vital to a future health professional. Atlantis exposes participants to these nuances in healthcare approaches, and in effect helps aspiring health professionals gain a global perspective on healthcare.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Experiencing the city and culture of Ciudad Real was an experience that is etched in my memory. As I practiced my very elementary Spanish with the locals and discussed various health-related issues with the doctors I shadowed, I was reminded of the uniqueness of human life. I was also reminded of the role of a health professional in society: to preserve and improve the quality of human life.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
My discussions with doctors about their relations with patients was most meaningful to me. Our discussions highlighted a trend I had spotted when I shadowed doctors in Ghana: that the core of healthcare is about alleviating illness and improving the quality of life. My conversations with doctors in Ciudad Real underscored the importance of treating patients not just as cases, but as people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has given me a broader perspective on the field of healthcare. The program has also brought wonderful people into my life. The participants that I shadowed, explored, and conversed with impressed me with their passion for healthcare. The program has also taught me to be a lifelong leader, and the importance of fostering a curiosity that will help prepare me for my future in the medical field.
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain '16 || U Michigan Medical School
Program:
Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
University of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas MD '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal '18 || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Program Location(s):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall '17 – Summer '18
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come by in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the USA.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky MD '24
About Atlantis
Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering short-term programs (1-10 weeks) over academic breaks for U.S. pre-health undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (1)healthcare exposure, (2)GPA/MCAT, and (3)certain competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.
Watch Video: The Atlantis Shadowing Experience and How it Helps In Your Med/PA Admissions Future
matthewstheirefte1986.blogspot.com
Source: https://joinatlantis.com/blog/withdraw-on-transcript-for-medical-school/
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