application/withdraw of class advice

[goody2shoes]

I'm confused on two questions & need some advice.

Right now my gpa isn't high, around a 2.5. (had to retake a couple of classes) I'm in my 2nd year right now. And really studying hard for the MCAT. I'm taking genetics, chem2, stats, and anatomy class right now. I thought I could handle all of them, but my first anatomy class test came back and I scored really bad (failed). I'm doing pretty well in my other classes. I was wondering if I withdraw from my antomy class I will get a W next to it. Would this make my application even worser? Say I take the anatomy class a semester before I graduate will that be ok? Can I tell the admissions that? Will they accept that? I have C's in the science, in freshman year I didn't know about the whole withdraw thing, so I ended up a 0.0 in physics 2 and I had to retake it again and did poorly (1.2). I realize I have to get a at least a 30 on the MCAT for a shot. if I do good I as I hope from this semester and next (w/o the anatomy class) I can get at least a 3.0 for applying time.

Second question is, (sorry this is being really long) when is a good time to apply. I will hopefully graduate in decemeber 2010. So would applying Jan. 2010 be a good time to apply for May 2011? Or should I apply may 2010 to apply for May 2011 and raise the gpa (even if its up only by .1)??

Sorry this is so long, I'm just so confused and in desperate need of advice.

Thanks!

[seattle]

Dear "Goody2shoes",

Grades and total science GPA is absolutely critical when applying to medical schools, whether in the U.S. or in the Caribbean. Although statistics vary for each school, a 2.50 GPA is extremely unlikely to get you admission into the Caribbean schools and definitely will keep you out of the U.S. schools.

My advice: If you are doing bad in a class, go ahead and withdraw immediately!! A "W" on you transcript is MUCH better than a low grade that will drag down your GPA even further. Also please remember that a high MCAT will NOT in most cases make up for a low undergraduate GPA.

I would say only take a course load you can manage to do well in. Talk with other students about good professors and classes to avoid.

As a general rule, you should have over a 3.00 in total GPA and science GPA to put you into good standing when applying to SABA or any other Caribbean school.

Please do not be discouraged. I just think you need to wise in how you many science classes you are taking.;)