bringing up GPA

[pillhappy]

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Hi!

I noticed that whenever people post up a thread asking about their chances because they are worried about their GPA being below a 3.0, people typically respond by saying "bring up your GPA."

When you say "bring up your GPA," what exactly do you mean by this? Pre pharm GPA? Overall GPA? What if you're almost done with all your pre-reqs?

I am almost done with my pre-reqs and my major (Neuroscience)...so what other alternatives do I have to bring up my 2.90 GPA? Retake classes?


Thank you!

 

[andrewattheU]

ya retake or take upper level classes in area you struggled in

 

[lee0539]

Hi!

I noticed that whenever people post up a thread asking about their chances because they are worried about their GPA being below a 3.0, people typically respond by saying "bring up your GPA."

When you say "bring up your GPA," what exactly do you mean by this? Pre pharm GPA? Overall GPA? What if you're almost done with all your pre-reqs?

I am almost done with my pre-reqs and my major (Neuroscience)...so what other alternatives do I have to bring up my 2.90 GPA? Retake classes?


Thank you!

If you have C's in prereqs you should retake those first, except for stuff like economics (depends on school).

If you are fairly confident you can do well in science classes I would talk to schools you are interested in applying to (your top 3 or so) and ask them what classes they like seeing other then the prereqs. They will tell you a few things like immunology, molecular biology, maybe pharmacology, upperdivision chemistry, etc. I had so much prereqs and one class to retake that I just added like 1 or 2 to my projected coursework that fit.

 

[Smilingangel]

I am going thru a similar situation too, i hv a couple of bad grades which brought down my gpa to 3.02. As far as science classes are concerned, i had B's for general chem 1 &2 and C for phys, bt i made A's for Organic chem, micro, bio etc. Does tht B and tht C in phys going to drastically hurt me eventhough i had gud grades for other science classes?

 

[pillhappy]

hi! i think what i said was misleading...i'm actually not done with a lot of my major classes yet, what i meant to say was that i am almost done with my pre-reqs and only my major classes left. however, i am already a 3rd year and am going to be applying to pharmacy school this summer, so my pharmcas gpa is very likely not going to include my last year. so it doesn't matter really if i still have major-related classes to take because by the time i submit my pharmcas app., they wouldn't be factored in anyway unless i get into pharmacy school (which is just a conditional 3.0 right?)

 

[Doc Browncoat]

I know that my reply is two months into this thread... but it's the same topic, and rather than start yet another thread on GPA (search terms brought me here), I'll add in.

What is meant by 'retake' courses to get higher grades? How is that figured? ie: say I get a C in Biology I.. can I just retake the course and have the better grade? or is it averaged between the two grades?

I have several F's from internet courses- I moved half-way around the world right in the middle of them unexpectedly and had no net access with which to withdraw from them. Can I retake those with my current college and have those grades erased?


Thanks,

Shan

 

[momomango]

bump

 

[Farmercyst]

I know that my reply is two months into this thread... but it's the same topic, and rather than start yet another thread on GPA (search terms brought me here), I'll add in.

What is meant by 'retake' courses to get higher grades? How is that figured? ie: say I get a C in Biology I.. can I just retake the course and have the better grade? or is it averaged between the two grades?

I have several F's from internet courses- I moved half-way around the world right in the middle of them unexpectedly and had no net access with which to withdraw from them. Can I retake those with my current college and have those grades erased?


Thanks,

Shan

I'm not sure how it works when you change schools, but if it were done at the same school, it can be an option. Generally there are requirements, forms to fill out, etc., but essentially yes, you register for the course and the grade earned replaces the previous lower grade. Disclaimer, the school in question does not calculate the replaced grade (the lower one you are replacing) in your institutional GPA, but the grade remains on your transcript and is calculated in your total GPA by PharmCAS.

If you are at a new school then you'd have to ask the school, but I see it as less likely to be an option. Quite frankly though, since PharmCAS averages both grades anyway, a grade replacement or just taking any class with the same number of units would have the same effect on GPA. Grade replacements may be more effective at Non-pharmCAS schools, but in general the only reason for grade replacements would be if it's a core class and you have to show competence, or if you made <C in any prereq and you have to meet the C or higher requirement. Other than that taking a pharm related class of equivalent units may actually be more beneficial.

 

[MissPRN]

Isn't it true though that when you retake a class, PharmCas averages both your grades out. Like for example, if you get a D in a class, retake it and get an B, pharmcas will take both grades and use it to calculate your gpa?? (so it will be like you actually got a C in the class...) Is that how it works? If im not mistaken? But I also think that certain pharmacy schools re-calculate a person's gpa and take the higher grade... depends on the school though... Right? lol sorry my post is a confusing one and maybe its already been answered in the post above me but im just trying to make sure I understand correctly...

 

[omnione]

Isn't it true though that when you retake a class, PharmCas averages both your grades out. Like for example, if you get a D in a class, retake it and get an B, pharmcas will take both grades and use it to calculate your gpa?? (so it will be like you actually got a C in the class...) Is that how it works? If im not mistaken? But I also think that certain pharmacy schools re-calculate a person's gpa and take the higher grade... depends on the school though... Right? lol sorry my post is a confusing one and maybe its already been answered in the post above me but im just trying to make sure I understand correctly...

Both are true. Some schools will ask you for specific grades for certain courses to account for the retake factor, but not all of them too. The effect that PharmCAS gives for retaken courses is like an average.

 

[shikamaru]

I am almost done with my pre-reqs and my major (Neuroscience)...so what other alternatives do I have to bring up my 2.90 GPA? Retake classes?

hi! i think what i said was misleading...i'm actually not done with a lot of my major classes yet, what i meant to say was that i am almost done with my pre-reqs and only my major classes left. however, i am already a 3rd year and am going to be applying to pharmacy school this summer, so my pharmcas gpa is very likely not going to include my last year. so it doesn't matter really if i still have major-related classes to take because by the time i submit my pharmcas app., they wouldn't be factored in anyway unless i get into pharmacy school (which is just a conditional 3.0 right?)

I am a 4th year neuro major, and I can tell you that IMHO, you have 2 options:

1) Switch to MCD or some other bio major that has fewer upper div bio reqs. This is so you can actually have at least some slots left open to retake the pre-pharm classes you did poorly in. Pharmacy schools don't really care if you're a neuroscience major or not because the pre-pharm requirements are the frontline classes for admissions.

2) If you really are sure about your choice of major and know why you want to pursue a BS in neuro, then you're just going to have to hope that you get in somewhere when you apply next summer, but most likely you'll end up applying a second time because you'll need to retake the prereqs you did poorly in after you get your BS anyway. (Sorry but that's just how it is for most people with low GPAs.)