Advice on a retake plz

[ssj4vinh]

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Some of the schools I'm applying to require a C or higher on all prereqs. I have one C- in chem 1C, which is the third and last gen chem installment at my school (UC Irvine). It is a 4 unit class and my school was on quarter system.

So what's the best way to go about doing this?

1. retake at a community college? the cc's around me are on semester and the gen chem is divided into 2 installments. I'm not sure how the CC course would come into effect on my transcript.

2. Wait until summer after I've already submitted my apps and retake chem 1C at a University (UCI or UCLA): Is it okay to submit my transcript with the one C- and tell them a retake is in progress?

3. suggestions?? Thanks

 

[Arkaine]

The best option would be to contact the schools with these requirements that you have in mind for further clarification. They may be able to provide you with some additional options or, more unlikely, waive this requirement for you if you have already demonstrated success in other chemistry courses or based on your MCAT performance.

That point aside, I would definitely retake a C-, especially one in general chemistry. But from your options however, I would retake your course at a university. You may receive a better grade at a community college, but you would be attempting to replace a C- from a university course with a (presumably) higher grade from a different chemistry course at a different college. I believe it shows good favor on your part to tackle a course that gave you some trouble and succeed. In many ways, your ability to identify a problem and improve strengthens your application.

Depending on how your university formats transcripts, your official transcript submitted to AMCAS in the summer may have your summer chemistry course listed. If so, your eventual acceptance at the medical school in question may be contingent upon that grade. Otherwise I would indicate somewhere on your secondary application that you are retaking this chemistry course to fulfill your requirements, since most secondaries have an option to provide additional comments or ask directly about prereqs.

 

[OMGMike]

I agree with Akraine. If you are going to retake, retake at UCI. Otherwise I don't think you're really showing much improvement.

 

[ssj4vinh]

Wow great feedback. Looks like I will be retaking this at a University next summer after I've already submitted apps on June 1st. I will also be calling the schools in question and see where I stand. Thank you both.