another question about retaking a course

[mumblinggirl]

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Hi,
Here's my situation. I got an A- in first semester physics but a C in the second semester. I had a B+ until I took the final. I am not sure what happened. I knew most of the material but I was really anxious and didn't even finish the exam. My grade dropped a lot as you can see. So should I retake this class? I am certain I can get at A- or A but I just don't know if it is worth it. My other BCPM grades are good and I am not worried about the mcat ps section but this grade, its killing me. The last thing I need as a non-trad is a C. Help!

 

[Catalystik]

Relax! One C is not a deal breaker for getting into medical school, but as a matter of pride, I can see your point of view about proving you can get the A. If you retake the course, AMCAS will figure both grades into your GPA. AACOMAS will remove the lower grade.

Most important is that you understand the material so you do well on the MCAT. You can't afford to be "anxious" and perform poorly when you take it.

 

[njbmd]

Hi,
Here's my situation. I got an A- in first semester physics but a C in the second semester. I had a B+ until I took the final. I am not sure what happened. I knew most of the material but I was really anxious and didn't even finish the exam. My grade dropped a lot as you can see. So should I retake this class? I am certain I can get at A- or A but I just don't know if it is worth it. My other BCPM grades are good and I am not worried about the mcat ps section but this grade, its killing me. The last thing I need as a non-trad is a C. Help!

I do not advise students to re-take courses in which they received a "C" unless you are positive that you can achieve a grade of "A", not "A-" or "B+" but "A". In your case, if you retake, a "C" averaged with an "A" will come out to a "B". The gain in GPA is not worth the effort that you would have to put into the course in order to earn "A". A better strategy is to take another science course and achieve an "A" and leave the "C" as it stands. Even if you needed the knowledge for the MCAT, I still would not recommend a re-take because your chances of achieving an "A" are still not that strong. It would be better in the long run for you to take an MCAT review course for that knowledge or an audit but don't retake unless you can earn an A.

As I said above, offset with another science grade(preferably with the same number of credit hours), perhaps Biochemistry or Genetics, and earn an A in that course but leave the Physics alone. You can easily dig yourself into a hole that you won't be able to climb out of. A "C" is not a "deathblow" unless you have too many of them.