Applying with an old F... Science course

[Yossarian Lives]

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I have a bit of a situation in my application. I had a very bad first year of undergrad, close to 15 years ago. I left that school, took a year off during which I worked full time, then went back to a different university and finished with a 3.4.

10 years passed...

I now live on the other side of the country. I've spent the past 2 years taking my prereqs (4.0 on all of them) plus a few extra biology classes (also 4.0).

My problem is that I still have two Fs on that original transcript that I have not been able to retake. One of them is a Fundamentals of Chemistry (non major very basic level survey course) course that my current school will not allow students to take if they have taken higher level Chemistry courses. The other is a General Zoology course that was the second class in the biology sequence at my original university. I've checked every school in drying distance and none of them have a class the matches the description in the syllabus. They all have invertebrate zoology & vertebrate zoology rather than a class than a general class.

As for taking them at the original school, in addition to being on the other side of the country, I also could not afford out of state tuition.

I'm fairly certain Gen Chem will not replace the Fundamentals of Chemistry course and that my new school's Bio 2 will not replace the Zoology, but I would love to be told I'm incorrect about this.

My main question is, how huge of a deal would it be to apply without retaking these two classes?
Stats: cGPA: 3.45 sGPA 3.49 (4.0 post-bac).
MCAT in a month practice tests indicate it should be fine.

 

[deleted709753]

Applied with two F's (one in biology class) and more D's than I can count on one hand, more than 5 years ago. No retakes. Currently have 2 md and 4 do interview invites. It's really important you do well on the mcat, I scored >30.

I also didn't make excuses for my poor grades in the past. I brought it up maybe once or twice in all of my essays/secondaries, in a one-liner. Just focused on the positives. Actions speak louder than words, and they will put much more emphasis on your recent coursework. Congrats on the postbac; now you just gotta put the nail in the coffin by smoking the mcat.

fyi, both my c and s gpa's were <3.4 But, like you, had strong postbac.

Questions during interviews about college courses, bad grades etc during interviews are my favorite to answer, as I'm sure will be yours as well 😉

 

[osckey]

I have a bit of a situation in my application. I had a very bad first year of undergrad, close to 15 years ago. I left that school, took a year off during which I worked full time, then went back to a different university and finished with a 3.4.

10 years passed...

I now live on the other side of the country. I've spent the past 2 years taking my prereqs (4.0 on all of them) plus a few extra biology classes (also 4.0).

My problem is that I still have two Fs on that original transcript that I have not been able to retake. One of them is a Fundamentals of Chemistry (non major very basic level survey course) course that my current school will not allow students to take if they have taken higher level Chemistry courses. The other is a General Zoology course that was the second class in the biology sequence at my original university. I've checked every school in drying distance and none of them have a class the matches the description in the syllabus. They all have invertebrate zoology & vertebrate zoology rather than a class than a general class.

As for taking them at the original school, in addition to being on the other side of the country, I also could not afford out of state tuition.

I'm fairly certain Gen Chem will not replace the Fundamentals of Chemistry course and that my new school's Bio 2 will not replace the Zoology, but I would love to be told I'm incorrect about this.

My main question is, how huge of a deal would it be to apply without retaking these two classes?
Stats: cGPA: 3.45 sGPA 3.49 (4.0 post-bac).
MCAT in a month practice tests indicate it should be fine.

I had several F's in my freshman year due to extraordinary personal circumstances before I turned my academic career around. If you really did well after that point and enough time has passed since the failure then I think you will do fine. Be very prepared to answer questions about these grades during secondaries and interviews. Overall, I did well and has multiple osteopathic and allopathic interviews with subsequent acceptances. Hang in there and kill your MCAT. Good luck!

 

[Yossarian Lives]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Those old grades have haunted me for a long time. I've worked hard to put them behind me, but I can't help but to be paranoid that they are still going to sink me somehow.

 

[ahc336]

I stopped reading when you said you retook pre-reqs with all 4.0s

I'm just a pre-med, but if I were the adcom you'd get your letter tomorrow

 

[TheOther]

You'll be fine. If you're especially concerned, you can call adcoms, explain your situation and ask them point blank. They'll tell you exactly what you're being told here, but I'm sure it'll better alleviate your conscience.

 

[DrMikeP]

For a DO school you will be fine. I had a couple of very old F's that I didn't retake and no one cared. An upward trend and good c/s GPA with whatever retakes is the key.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I had 2 Ds (>5 y.o.) when I applied. It didn't even come up on interviews. Don't sweat your Fs.