Another Retake Class Question

[smugtroll]

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Okay so I hear that O-schools will allow you to repeat a class and replace a failed grade. True?

What if I took a class at College X and failed it but want to retake the course to replace the grade. Can I take the course at College Y or do I have to take the same course orig. at College X.

I took this Constitutional Law class and failed to even show up....the same course is offered at my city university and I'd like to take it over.

Suggestions anyone? THANKS!!

 

[madscientist50]

From what I have seen and heard not just DO but MD schools will look at Retakes the same, as long as you improve its okay, but you better have something to show in MCAT and experience, I know thats what I was told by Admissions offices of both.

 

[112258]

Only the same course can replace the old one. This was a rule set forth by my COLLEGE, so if I took it at a different school my new one wouldn't "replace" my old grade on my transcript...so I'm assuming it wouldn't on AACOMAS as well.


I always heard that if you're gonna retake, you better get an A in it. I retook 2 classes, Orgo 1 (C- to A) and a gened philosophy class (C to A). I got in both schools I got interviews at (DCOM and LECOM-Erie).

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Only the same course can replace the old one. This was a rule set forth by my COLLEGE, so if I took it at a different school my new one wouldn't "replace" my old grade on my transcript...so I'm assuming it wouldn't on AACOMAS as well.

It doesn't matter what your college does or what they replace. AACOMAS is different. If you take Organic Chem I at UCLA and get a C in it, and you then take Organic Chem I at NYU and get an A in it, the one from NYU is the one they use to calculate your AACOMAS GPA. All med schools see both grades as you're required to report them both. The UCLA one just won't be used in your GPA calculation.

Another scenario - if you took Organic Chem I at UCLA and got a C, then retook Organic Chem I at UCLA and got an A, you'd still be required to report the C. It won't get counted in your AACOMAS GPA, but you still have to report it, regardless of whether or not UCLA leaves it on the transcript.

 

[MJB]

Took Chem II at Univ. A and got an F for various reasons.

Retook at Univ. B and got an A.

AACOMAS used the A.

 

[Dr. Josh]

Only the same course can replace the old one. This was a rule set forth by my COLLEGE, so if I took it at a different school my new one wouldn't "replace" my old grade on my transcript...so I'm assuming it wouldn't on AACOMAS as well.


I always heard that if you're gonna retake, you better get an A in it. I retook 2 classes, Orgo 1 (C- to A) and a gened philosophy class (C to A). I got in both schools I got interviews at (DCOM and LECOM-Erie).

what?????😱 I was under the impression that my retake of a course i got a D+ in was ok to take at a local college. I would have graduated before i retake and why would I want to pay for room and board and live away when i can take it and live at home for free? Please tell me this isn't true.

 

[bkpa2med]

AACOMAS replaces the grade, AMCAS averages both.

 

[112258]

what?????😱 I was under the impression that my retake of a course i got a D+ in was ok to take at a local college. I would have graduated before i retake and why would I want to pay for room and board and live away when i can take it and live at home for free? Please tell me this isn't true.

I meant that you still have to report both grades, as they will see your transcripts. So if you retake you still have to enter you got a D+ and they will see it in the list of courses. I wasn't sure about if it would replace it from another school, everyone else said it did, so I assume they are right. So your GPA should reflect only the new one, transcripts reflect both.

 

[Dr. Josh]

I meant that you still have to report both grades, as they will see your transcripts. So if you retake you still have to enter you got a D+ and they will see it in the list of courses. I wasn't sure about if it would replace it from another school, everyone else said it did, so I assume they are right. So your GPA should reflect only the new one, transcripts reflect both.

Yea, ok that's what I thought and I wasn't happy about them seeing my D+. Don't tell me it won't affect their opinion of my academic work.

 

[smugtroll]

what's the limit?

I got 3 Fs!!

 

[dr.kicia]

what's the limit?

I got 3 Fs!!

there is no limit you can retake all classes if you wish...obviously retaking just one course you flanked looks different then retaking 10.
Just common sense...but if you got 3 F retake them ALL.

 

[smugtroll]

r u sure about no limit? Sounds strange...I see your point about 3 vs. 10

there is no limit you can retake all classes if you wish...obviously retaking just one course you flanked looks different then retaking 10.
Just common sense...but if you got 3 F retake them ALL.

 

[thoredius]

I was just recently told "Don't waste your time or money retaking courses. Take the Kaplan Course and devote 3-4 months of your life to JUST the MCAT and get that up." Thoughts?

 

[AAhopeful]

I would say that if you made a C then probably don't retake the course, unless you just have the space in your schedule (yeah, right). Anything less than a C I would retake. Major science pre-reqs without a doubt you have to retake (MD or DO).
Personally, I took physics I made a C at the community college, made a C- in Orgo I at University A and then retook both of those and made A's at University B.
I retook physics I even though I made a C because I didn't feel prepared for physics II. I took physics I a year before and didn't really remember it.

 

[theraball]

I was just recently told "Don't waste your time or money retaking courses. Take the Kaplan Course and devote 3-4 months of your life to JUST the MCAT and get that up." Thoughts?

Absolutely, take the Kaplan course and get a great MCAT.

Absolutely, retake if you have a poor science grade. Some medical schools will filter you out just on numbers; they don't even stop to look at your grade trend, or "oh he really improved from 2002 to 2007". They have a number based on GPA + MCAT (one formula I have heard used is 10 * GPA + MCAT - 1) and if your number is high enough, you make the cut for a secondary and possible interview.

AACOMAS is incredibly open minded about GPA. I was able to replace an "F" computer science course (didn't show up for the final exam for various reasons) with an "A" in an equivalent course, but I had to get the instructor to send them a letter certifying it was equivalent. Poof, instant GPA boost. I was only able to replace part of my original chemistry course because the old one was 10 credits (2 semesters, 3 + 2 lab) versus 8 credits (summer school lecture and lab); they let me replace 5 bad credits with 8 good ones. The take-home lesson here is, if you are replacing a course take the same number of credits.

Definitely retake the courses that are dragging you down, but DON'T LET THAT HURT YOUR MCAT either. You need both.

Good luck!
Theraball

 

[lateapplicant]

All the marks from my university come without letter grades. What would be a percent you would need to retake? Under 60%? 60-70%? I got a 67 (biomedical ethics) and a 69 (orgo 2)... what letter grade would that be and should I be retaking them? Does getting an 11 on the biological sciences section of the MCAT help?

Thanks.