advice needed...retaking pre-reqs

[monkey24]

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I am a junior at one of the Universities of California (graduating spring2014). I've gotten a few C's in pre-req courses (2.98gpa) and I was planning to retake them at a local community college. I am aware that DO schools allow for grade replacement. I have not taken human physiology or anatomy yet and I was wondering if it looks bad if I take it at community college? I'm asking because physio/anatomy are the hardest upperdiv at my college. I don't think my gpa can take another hit.. Its not that i'm not willing to take on the challenge but I just can't afford to let my gpa drop anymore. I have 2 plans and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

1. Take human physio/anatomy for P/NP grade and take it again at community college.
2.I am on track to graduate a whole year early (Spring 2013). The main reason why I want to graduate early is due to financial issues. My dad has been out of work and my mom is currently working 2 jobs and I am working 2 jobs also, paying for rent... Staying another year will be a heavy burden to my family. If I live back at home and get a job it would be a lot cheaper/reasonable for my situation. Should I graduate early and begin to retake pre-req courses or should I stay and take upperdiv biology courses?

 

[MedPR]

I am a junior at one of the Universities of California (graduating spring2014). I've gotten a few C's in pre-req courses (2.98gpa) and I was planning to retake them at a local community college. I am aware that DO schools allow for grade replacement. I have not taken human physiology or anatomy yet and I was wondering if it looks bad if I take it at community college? I'm asking because physio/anatomy are the hardest upperdiv at my college. I don't think my gpa can take another hit.. Its not that i'm not willing to take on the challenge but I just can't afford to let my gpa drop anymore. I have 2 plans and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

1. Take human physio/anatomy for P/NP grade and take it again at community college.
2.I am on track to graduate a whole year early (Spring 2013). The main reason why I want to graduate early is due to financial issues. My dad has been out of work and my mom is currently working 2 jobs and I am working 2 jobs also, paying for rent... Staying another year will be a heavy burden to my family. If I live back at home and get a job it would be a lot cheaper/reasonable for my situation. Should I graduate early and begin to retake pre-req courses or should I stay and take upperdiv biology courses?

If you aren't confident in your ability to get As in undergrad sciences, then you have no business in med school. However, I took A&P while retaking classes at community college and I think I'm doing ok this cycle. Just know that if you do poorly at a University and then get anything but As at community college you have basically shown that you are academically inadequate.

 

[ashleyrome]

With a GPA like that, you will need A's in all subsequent pre-req's as well as any other sciences as this will factor into your science GPA to have a shot at decent medical schools. To be competetive, you should have about 3.5 overall and science (especially if you want multiple interviews and be able to choose which school you go to and not just be kind of a longshot).

If your grades are not great, I am also somewhat concerned about your aptitude for science in general. Medical school will be 1000x harder than undergrad. Yes, those topics may be more difficult for you than learning the body systems and actually applying everything clinically, but these undergrad topics are tested on the MCAT and if you don't have a strong knowledge from undergrad then, again, I am not sure how well you will do with this.

Graduating early may be best financially for your family and I applaud you for helping out however if you are going to re-take the science pre-reqs at a CC, then realize that those are weighed less heavily than those taken at a University - I would speak with a counselor at your school or your advisor about what you should do. Since none of us are in your position, we can't really tell you what to do or what would be best for you.

What does your ECs/volunteer/shadowing resume look like?

 

[MedPR]

With a GPA like that, you will need A's in all subsequent pre-req's as well as any other sciences as this will factor into your science GPA to have a shot at decent medical schools. To be competetive, you should have about 3.5 overall and science (especially if you want multiple interviews and be able to choose which school you go to and not just be kind of a longshot).

If your grades are not great, I am also somewhat concerned about your aptitude for science in general. Medical school will be 1000x harder than undergrad. Yes, those topics may be more difficult for you than learning the body systems and actually applying everything clinically, but these undergrad topics are tested on the MCAT and if you don't have a strong knowledge from undergrad then, again, I am not sure how well you will do with this.

Graduating early may be best financially for your family and I applaud you for helping out however if you are going to re-take the science pre-reqs at a CC, then realize that those are weighed less heavily than those taken at a University - I would speak with a counselor at your school or your advisor about what you should do. Since none of us are in your position, we can't really tell you what to do or what would be best for you.

What does your ECs/volunteer/shadowing resume look like?

He might be a URM, and if he is then your entire first paragraph is moot.

 

[lobo.solo]

This is such a personal decision... I would say graduate early and then try to do a post-bac, make sure you get As in all your future classes, focus in your application. I don't know how many hrs you're working but you need to prioritize. If that means taking 1-2 years off while your dad finds work, then so be it. Don't rush the process though, you want to apply only once. However, if you can get a ~3.3 GPA and do ok in the mcat you'll be ok for DO.