Strong grades are important, especially in pre-requisite coursework. They demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of concepts you will face in your health education. Pre-requisites should not be taken Pass/Fail.
Almost every student has a difficult semester, especially at first. Withdrawing from an occasional course will not harm your chances of admission and a W is better than a D, E or F. Consult with your advisor and the financial aid office before withdrawing from a class. Be aware of deadlines for drop/add and course withdrawal.
Medical schools will average letter grades in repeated science coursework to determine a science GPA.
Admissions committees also look at trends in your grades, therefore a strong finish in upper-level coursework is beneficial. You should aim for an overall GPA of 3.5-3.7/4.0.
Pre-requisite chart (PDF with links)
