ANOTHER grade replacement question

[TheoryOfEverything]

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Ok, I've read a bunch of other threads, and keep seeing slightly different responses. I've also spoken with AACOMAS reps on separate occasions, and received slightly different responses...

In undergrad I took courses that looked like this:
General Chemistry 1 (4 credits) - grade received - C [note, no where on transcript does it state that it was a combined 3 credit lecture and 1 credit lab, but it was]

During post-bac I retook a course like this:
General Chemistry 1 (3 credit lecture) - grade receive - A [note, I only took the lecture component, I did not take the lab]

I was initially under the impression that I should split up my courses on AACOMAS to look like:
General Chemistry 1 lec (3 credits) - C
General Chemistry 1 lab (1 credit) - C
General Chemistry 1 lec RETAKE (3 credits) - A
So my lecture retake replaces my lecture and nothing replaces my lab. This seems like an incredibly logical thing to do, it makes perfect sense to me.

However, I have also heard to input things EXACTLY as they appear on the transcript. This would mean that it would be somewhat unclear (if you lack basic understanding) that my 4 credit course included 3 credits of lecture and 1 credit of lab. This would also create some minor difficulties when calculating my retake GPA. I assume the people at AACOMAS would be familiar with this scenario, and would know what to do to make sure my retake counted as a retake, but I'm still uneasy.

So I guess my question is, should I split up the courses myself? Or should I leave it as is and hope for the best? Should I send them a copy of all the course descriptions so it is clear it is 3 credit lecture 1 credit lab scenario? Are the people at AACOMAS usually pretty competent?

 

[keels99]

You should be entering it the same as it is on the transcript. What is your overall GPA looking like prior to grade replacements?

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I believe you go by what appears on your transcript in a 1:1 ratio of replacing classes. You can't replace a 4-unit course with a 3-unit course. Has to be the other way around. Hope someone proves me wrong.

 

[darkeon]

I believe you go by what appears on your transcript in a 1:1 ratio of replacing classes. You can't replace a 4-unit course with a 3-unit course. Has to be the other way around. Hope someone proves me wrong.

Sadly for OP, the above is true. If OP has a 1 credit lab class at this new school, you can take that and together with your lecture class use it to replace your original grade IF AND ONLY IF you get the exact same grade.
For example:
4 credit (lec and lab) = C
Will get Replaced by
3 credit lec (A) + 1 credit lab(A)

If your lab grade is different, even if an A-, you cannot replace your grade as there is simply no way to equate it back to your original grade. (I think you're also fine if the lab course you find is 2 or 3 credits or something but the same rule applies about the grade)

 

[TheoryOfEverything]

You should be entering it the same as it is on the transcript. What is your overall GPA looking like prior to grade replacements?

my cGPA would be about a 3.33 and sGPA 3.29 (one course will replace, which is a stats course, 3 credits for both original and retake). If the other courses count, it would be cGPA 3.44 and sGPA 3.39.

Sadly for OP, the above is true. If OP has a 1 credit lab class at this new school, you can take that and together with your lecture class use it to replace your original grade IF AND ONLY IF you get the exact same grade.
For example:
4 credit (lec and lab) = C
Will get Replaced by
3 credit lec (A) + 1 credit lab(A)

If your lab grade is different, even if an A-, you cannot replace your grade as there is simply no way to equate it back to your original grade. (I think you're also fine if the lab course you find is 2 or 3 credits or something but the same rule applies about the grade)

That's quite annoying considering they told me it would be split up. That's the reason I didn't take the labs. I should be able to take the labs during the first few weeks of summer, but who knows how that's going to influence my application if I submit it first counting nothing as a retake, and then updating it counting everything as a retake (even courses that have already been taken and initially didn't count as a retake).

This is disappointing

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

A 3.33 and 3.29 are STILL good... the MCAT score is very important. Doesn't matter how high your GPA is.. a poor MCAT can possibly sink your app.

 

[TheoryOfEverything]

A 3.33 and 3.29 are STILL good... the MCAT score is very important. Doesn't matter how high your GPA is.. a poor MCAT can possibly sink your app.

29 MCAT. My MCAT is what I think is strong about my stats. A 3.33 and 3.29 are below the average at pretty much every school. I understand that is just the average, meaning there are certainly scores higher and lower that get accepted.

I just want to have the best possible application I can, to have the best chance of getting in, I don't want to have to reapply. I learned that it's by far the easiest to just do things once and right the first time. Take the MCAT once, apply once... easy. Taking courses more than once, clearly not as easy as I hoped haha.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Well you won't know until you apply. Relax in the meanwhile.

 

[darkeon]

my cGPA would be about a 3.33 and sGPA 3.29 (one course will replace, which is a stats course, 3 credits for both original and retake). If the other courses count, it would be cGPA 3.44 and sGPA 3.39.



That's quite annoying considering they told me it would be split up. That's the reason I didn't take the labs. I should be able to take the labs during the first few weeks of summer, but who knows how that's going to influence my application if I submit it first counting nothing as a retake, and then updating it counting everything as a retake (even courses that have already been taken and initially didn't count as a retake).

This is disappointing

If you're retaking the labs in the summer, I assume it's a short summer session and you'll have your grades updated by the end of summer. Your updated numbers may come on file sooner than you think. Regardless your current numbers are app worthy too.

 

[TheoryOfEverything]

Hey guys so AACOMAS just got back to me. I'm a little confused on what they're saying, but it seems like I might not have to retake the labs like we thought.

I basically just said that I'm retaking some lectures worth 3 credits, and I previously took a courses worth 4 credits that was a combined 3credit lecture and 1credit lab, and showed up on my transcript stating 4 credits course, without stating how it was split up. I asked if I could split it when I enter it, or if I should send them the course descriptions as proof that it was a combined 3cred lec 1 cred lab that I originally took.

From AACOMAS:
No, you should not split the course yet.
Request that your institution where you first took the course as a combined Lab and Lecture send AACOMAS a letter stating that the combined course consists of 3.0 credits Lecture and 1.0 credits Lab, that would be proof that the course has a lab component, when the letter is received by AACOMAS, you or AACOMAS can split the combined course for your Lecture re-take to replace the original Lecture, otherwise you must list your courses exactly as they are listed on your official transcript.
If your transcript does not specify Lab and Lec courses when they are combined, you must not split them without proof of lab and lec components.
Thank you.

Let me know what you think @darkeon @DetectiveAlonzo . It seems like as long as I provide proof, then I can split it once they confirm it? In which case my lecture retake would replace the 3 credit lecture component of my original course? Is that how it sounds to you?

 

[darkeon]

Well, that's mighty good for you. Bottom line is that you have to get your first school to send that letter to aacomas in order to get your lecture course at school 2 be accepted as a replacement. Aacomas is certainly going far to help you out and that's a wonderful thing.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Just do what aacomas says and follow up with them.

 

[TheoryOfEverything]

Well, that's mighty good for you. Bottom line is that you have to get your first school to send that letter to aacomas in order to get your lecture course at school 2 be accepted as a replacement. Aacomas is certainly going far to help you out and that's a wonderful thing.

Just do what aacomas says and follow up with them.

Yeah, I'd be very glad if the lectures end up replacing.

Also, has anyone else used the message system under the support tab on the AACOMAS application. When I use the enter key to start a new line of text, it shows up correctly in the message box I'm using. But when I see the sent message appear it's all in one big paragraph... Wondering if I'm the only one or not.