C-'s in Gen Chem and a failed class

[Farrah]

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Hey people,

I need some advice. I was a really stupid freshman and I had no idea what I was doing so I got C-'s in my first two gen chem's and I didn't pass my last chem which of course needed to be repeated. BUT should I repeat the two C- classes for med school or should I just move on and continue with my orgo? orgo seems to be a lot easier for me than gen chem was. anyway I have the opportunity this summer to repeat these classes so any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. by the way i'll be a junior next year and i will be taking my mcat -

 

[raom_dtpi]

I would repeat the courses and get better grades. Just considering hw competetive the process is, I would not take any chances. It might take longer but you'll be applying with better grades.

Scout

 

[Farrah]

they won't average out the C-'s with A's on the amcas will they?

 

[gaf]

Each grade will show (the C-s and and the As you get later) and each will be counted in your GPA.

Grades are averaged across your academic record, not for individual courses (i.e. Gen Chem1 C- plus GC1 A does not equal a B in Gen Chem I).

 

[Farrah]

so even if you took chem twice they would include both of those grades into the amcas? that sounds good -

anybody else repeated classes and what have adcoms thought of it and how did the application process go for you?

 

[mrsmotivation]

farrah, i think it would be a good idea to repeat the courses not only for better grades, but if u retake them, you'll REALLY know Chemistry then which mean you should rock that section of the MCAT. Also, this shows the adcoms your perseverence.

 

[Farrah]

thanks mrs motivation i really need some motivation right now - 🙁 i was thinking about forgetting med school all together but i'm just going to try try again

 

[zola]

I have been told by a member of an admissions committee not to bother taking a class again unless you actually failed. The thought being that anyone would do better if they take a class twice. And if you don't do much better (end up with a B instead of an A) it looks really bad because what is wrong with you that you can't figure out general chem in two + semesters? She said it would help more to take a more advanced class in the same general area and do well in that.

And in my own opinion, why waste a whole year of your college career retaking general chem? It is such a short time and I kick myself for the interesting classes I missed out on...It would probably make you a stronger and more interesting candidate if you take a bunch of classes in philosophy or a foreign language instead. Nearly everyone who applies has really good grades in the prereqs so this will not help you stand out...

 

[Apparition]

Each grade will show (the C-s and and the As you get later) and each will be counted in your GPA.

Grades are averaged across your academic record, not for individual courses (i.e. Gen Chem1 C- plus GC1 A does not equal a B in Gen Chem I).

Did you apply already? I have been told by people who applied that the grade is averaged for an individual class if exactly the same course with the same name was retaken.

 

[patzan]

Each grade will show (the C-s and and the As you get later) and each will be counted in your GPA.

Grades are averaged across your academic record, not for individual courses (i.e. Gen Chem1 C- plus GC1 A does not equal a B in Gen Chem I).

I agree. All classes ever taken will be shown. Maybe your source was saying they essentially are averaged because both are used.

 

[Apparition]

I agree. All classes ever taken will be shown. Maybe your source was saying they essentially are averaged because both are used.

Yes, all classes are shown but the actual calculations average both grades for one class. So if one has an F and an A for a particular 3 credit class, those grades will be averaged for those 3 credits. So it will come out to a C for 3 credits as opposed to a C for 6 credits as it would have been if two classes had independent grades.

 

[mamaMD]

What is your overall GPA and science GPA? I have a C in gen chem 1 and I am not taking it over because all the rest of my grades are A's and B's.

MamaMD

 

[gaf]

Yes, all classes are shown but the actual calculations average both grades for one class. So if one has an F and an A for a particular 3 credit class, those grades will be averaged for those 3 credits. So it will come out to a C for 3 credits as opposed to a C for 6 credits as it would have been if two classes had independent grades.

"AMCAS includes all attempts of repeated courses in GPA calculations, even if they are not included in the school's GPA calculations."
-AMCAS Instruction Book for the 2005 Entering Class, page 36
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2005instructionbook.pdf

This would imply that in the calculation you would 3 credits of C and 3 credits of A, and not 3 credits of B.

 

[Apparition]

"AMCAS includes all attempts of repeated courses in GPA calculations, even if they are not included in the school's GPA calculations."
-AMCAS Instruction Book for the 2005 Entering Class, page 36
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2005instructionbook.pdf

This would imply that in the calculation you would 3 credits of C and 3 credits of A, and not 3 credits of B.

This sentence implies only that both grades count but there is no mention of how they are actually used in calculations. Can anyone who is done with the process and had repeated courses share their experience with this?

 

[DrWuStar]

i agree that taking an upper level non-organic chem course will be just as good, if not better, than retaking gen chem. something like inorganic or analytical or physical chem. show the adcoms that it was just your youthful goofiness, and that you are more focused now. good luck.

 

[Farrah]

ok peoplez thanks for the advice. the thing is that there is a program where i could retake all my gen chem in one summer. so i'm wondering if i should do it or not. i would get credit for a year of classes and adcoms would see that i repeated it. i am doing good now in my other classes but that freshman stupidity is going to be haunting me. so .....should i move on? or take this stuff again....? sorry for bringing this up again but i have to make the choice in the next two days.

 

[Jason110]

This sentence implies only that both grades count but there is no mention of how they are actually used in calculations. Can anyone who is done with the process and had repeated courses share their experience with this?

Everybody gets confused about the way AMCAS deals with repeated course. People always get confused because of the wording that others may use. Here's an hypothetical example of how a repeated course might work under AMCAS:

First Try:
Calculus II
C
Spring 2000
3 credits
AMCAS Grade for the Course: 2.00

Second Try:
Calculus II
A
Summer 2000
3 credits
AMCAS Grade for the Course: 4.00

Each will be 'averaged in' into the respective semesters. It's just as if you are taking two separate classes.

However, If you are solely dealing with your OVERALL AMCAS GPA, counting ALL semesters. Only in the numerical sense, will the above be equivalent to 6 credits course in which you got a B (AMCAS Grade: 3.00). Let me reiterate: Only in the numerical sense, because both tries will be shown and averaged in independently of each other.

This should help clarify things,


Jason

 

[Farrah]

thanks that totally makes sense

 

[exmike]

Everybody gets confused about the way AMCAS deals with repeated course. People always get confused because of the wording that others may use. Here's an hypothetical example of how a repeated course might work under AMCAS:

First Try:
Calculus II
C
Spring 2000
3 credits
AMCAS Grade for the Course: 2.00

Second Try:
Calculus II
A
Summer 2000
3 credits
AMCAS Grade for the Course: 4.00

Each will be 'averaged in' into the respective semesters. It's just as if you are taking two separate classes.

However, If you are solely dealing with your OVERALL AMCAS GPA, counting ALL semesters. Only in the numerical sense, will the above be equivalent to 6 credits course in which you got a B (AMCAS Grade: 3.00). Let me reiterate: Only in the numerical sense, because both tries will be shown and averaged in independently of each other.

This should help clarify things,


Jason

That is WRONG!

You will get the equivalent of 3 units of 3.0 if you retake a 3 unit C and replace it with an A.

You will see that your AMCAS GPA units is the same as your transcript units even though you are adding in retakes on AMCAS. This is because you dont get extra units for throwing in retakes.

I had 121 AMCAS GPA hours, and 121 GPA hours on my college transcript. This is after I added in about 7 retakes in AMCAS.

If it was averaged the way you said, then I would have about 150 AMCAS gpa hours.

 

[Farrah]

i just want to be sure about this: exmike i thought that amcas only averaged grades out for students with F's who repeated classes and not students with C's? Were the classes that you got C's in and repeated, averaged with your new grade on the AMCAS? i just want to be a 100% sure because i am not sure what to believe now - i'm just getting confused.

 

[exmike]

i just want to be sure about this: exmike i thought that amcas only averaged grades out for students with F's who repeated classes and not students with C's? Were the classes that you got C's in and repeated, averaged with your new grade on the AMCAS? i just want to be a 100% sure because i am not sure what to believe now - i'm just getting confused.

all of my repeats were C's and D's.

you dont need to be all that concerned as AMCAS will do the work after you enter your grades anyway. In all likelihood the difference between combining the two or averaging the two wont be THAT significant anyway.

 

[cHocoBo 118]

hi. This may be a stupid question but on the AMCAS, are you supposed to designate the repeated course as "repeat" both times? Or do we check the repeat box only for the first one you screwed up in.

 

[sg4runner]

hi. This may be a stupid question but on the AMCAS, are you supposed to designate the repeated course as "repeat" both times? Or do we check the repeat box only for the first one you screwed up in.

I only checked the repeat box for the SECOND time I took the class, indicating it was a repeat. Anyone else?

 

[chiripero]

i just want to be sure about this: exmike i thought that amcas only averaged grades out for students with F's who repeated classes and not students with C's? Were the classes that you got C's in and repeated, averaged with your new grade on the AMCAS? i just want to be a 100% sure because i am not sure what to believe now - i'm just getting confused.

Notice exmike said that the total # of hours from AMCAS match the total # of hours on your transcript. This means that if you get a C the first time you try, then you get an A the second time, the gpa will be calculated as if you took 2 different courses since you get credit with a grade of a C. If you get an F the first time and an A the second time, it will be like getting a C only once since you don't get any credits for an F. Of course, this is according to what exmike said, im not really sure how AMCAS deals with this situation.

 

[chiripero]

all of my repeats were C's and D's.

you dont need to be all that concerned as AMCAS will do the work after you enter your grades anyway. In all likelihood the difference between combining the two or averaging the two wont be THAT significant anyway.

Don't you get credits for C's and D's, these aren't included in your transcript???

 

[scota]

Okay, let me get this straight. So if I took chem I (5 units) and got a C, and repeated chem I (5 units) and got an A, that would equal 5 units with a B average (3.00)? If that's how it works, then I'm really happy!!!

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Farrah: I know this is not what you want to hear, but I think you will be REQUIRED to those Gen Chems again because from med school sites that I have been on, they say " Must take these courses and pass with a C or better" ... I think C- doesn't fulfill that 🙁

Others, I will email AAMC regarding the calculations and post their response when they respond, probably Monday.

 

[frank51]

I have been told by a member of an admissions committee not to bother taking a class again unless you actually failed. The thought being that anyone would do better if they take a class twice. And if you don't do much better (end up with a B instead of an A) it looks really bad because what is wrong with you that you can't figure out general chem in two + semesters? She said it would help more to take a more advanced class in the same general area and do well in that.

And in my own opinion, why waste a whole year of your college career retaking general chem? It is such a short time and I kick myself for the interesting classes I missed out on...It would probably make you a stronger and more interesting candidate if you take a bunch of classes in philosophy or a foreign language instead. Nearly everyone who applies has really good grades in the prereqs so this will not help you stand out...

He pretty much said, what I was going to say 👍 , If I were you I'd move on and get A's in all my other classes, including the upper level science classes, remember bad grades can always be explained and the admission committe understands.

 

[frank51]

Farrah: I know this is not what you want to hear, but I think you will be REQUIRED to those Gen Chems again because from med school sites that I have been on, they say " Must take these courses and pass with a C or better" ... I think C- doesn't fulfill that 🙁

Yes it will, you could get a 70 in one school, where they don't have the +/- system, and get a C, yet in another school where they do have the +/- system, you'll get a C-.

 

[Premedtomed]

all of my repeats were C's and D's.

you dont need to be all that concerned as AMCAS will do the work after you enter your grades anyway. In all likelihood the difference between combining the two or averaging the two wont be THAT significant anyway.

The good ole Asian exmike with life experiences

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Yes it will, you could get a 70 in one school, where they don't have the +/- system, and get a C, yet in another school where they do have the +/- system, you'll get a C-.

I'd call a couple medical schools and ask them if C- count towards pre-reqs... I wouldn't be so sure about it, but let's hope so for Farrah's sake.

 

[Farrah]

thanks for the advice everyone. after a lot of consideration i decided to retake the chem's so that i would make sure i know the material well. those grades were bad and i know i can do better in upper level courses but i was weak in the basic chems. i'll be retaking all 3 of them this coming semester through an accelerated program. i'm looking forward to retaking my classes and improving my grades and my knowledge of material. 🙂

 

[UT-Frank]

How does a C in calculus I look? The rest are As and Bs. I'm extremely worried...my gpa is at a 3.64, is THAT competitive? It's my 3rd year already.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Farrah: I know this is not what you want to hear, but I think you will be REQUIRED to those Gen Chems again because from med school sites that I have been on, they say " Must take these courses and pass with a C or better" ... I think C- doesn't fulfill that 🙁

Others, I will email AAMC regarding the calculations and post their response when they respond, probably Monday.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting AMCAS.

Both grades, and attempted credits will be calculated into your GPA. Foe more information about calculating your GPA, print the Grade Conversion Guide on our website at www.aamc.org/amcas.

If you have any questions, or if we can be of additional assistance, please contact us at
[email protected], or (202) 828-0600.

AMCAS

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