<p>I’m currently a freshmen in a 4 year university and Im taking 14 hours which include general chem 1 and Calculus 1. For some reason im not doing so well in Calculus even though I made a 3 in the AP Calculus Test and my school needs a 4. So do you think its better for me to withdraw from my Calculus class and just take the Calculus Clep test and hopefully get a score of 60 or higher. The withdraw date from my school is November the 3rd and My next test is October 26.</p>
<p>What is “not doing so well” in more specific terms?</p>
<p>Well I currently have a C because of quiz grades but im sure the October midterm Im going to fail because for some reason in my school the math department and the teacher are very bad. One of my professors does not even look at our class and when he teaches he seems like he is talking to the floor. So can you please tell me if its a good idea to drop this class by November and test out with the clep test.</p>
<p>If at all possible, it’s imperative to avoid bad grades, which includes C’s. Can you obtain a tutor? How is your Chem grade going?</p>
<p>But at a certain point this year (or next), you’ll have to decide if premed is really for you. As a top quintile high schooler, with ‘low’ college test scores (relative to successful premeds), your path to even applying to med school will be much, much harder than your HS Val/Sal who pulls down a 32/2100 with no prep.</p>
<p>Success in calculus is largely a function of effort, not smarts. You really could, and actually should, self teach yourself the material. A 3 on the AP Calculus test is not all that well. If I were in your situation I would stick with it, get serious, and pull out with a B in that class - if you have the will (I know you have a lot to catch up on but 2 weeks is plenty of time). If you don’t have the will then you’ll have to withdraw, obviously - but furthermore, you’ll have to re-prioritize what’s important and get serious by next semester.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help and my grade is a A in gen chem 1. But still nobody has answered my question if I should test out with the clep calculus test. I have already clepped out of college algebra, precal, history 1 and 2, government, and psychology. Do medical school see a clep score as a bad thing?</p>
<p>The schools may or may not see it as anything since many will not accept it as a substitute for the courses. AP or CLEP tests are fine for college credit and possibly to shorten your UG career (or just make it easier) , but Med Schools often still must see actual coursework at a college level to satisfy their prereq’s. If you test out of Math (or Physics or Chem) you often still have to take an upper level class in the same category. </p>
<p>There are likely some schools that may accept those scores in place of a prerequisite course, but don’t assume so, and you need to talk with someone in your pre-profess Guidance or maybe directly with someone at the Admission department of a couple schools you see as probably.</p>
<p>I did answer:</p>
<p>if I were in your shoes and I had the will, I would stick with the class, get serious, catch up with everything I’m behind in, and pull out with a B. If I know I don’t have the will I would obviously have to withdraw from the class and take time to prioritize what’s important (Is medical school for me? How much do I care about this class? Do I care enough to get an A next semester? etc.). By next semester, I would have gotten much more serious - that is, I would not take the CLEP test and will go at the calculus with a different mindset & motivation this time.</p>