Do you have to retake pre-pharmacy classes if you get a C?

[jungjh9001]

I heard that you have to get C+ or above in all of your prerequisite classes.
But, my school does not have + or -, so a A is a A and B is a B..
(and C is a C.. of course..)
So If I get a C, do I have to retake it?
I'm really worried about this.. I know that I have to try hard to get a
good grade.. but I think it looks really hard to not get a C in all of prerequisite classes.
and I also heard that if I retake a class, then the two grades are averaged.
Then, is this mean I must get an A the second time I take the class to get a B?
(If you average out a C and A you get a B.. and since you cannot get a grade lower than C+..)

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[PharmEXP]

I heard that you have to get C+ or above in all of your prerequisite classes.
But, my school does not have + or -, so a A is a A and B is a B..
(and C is a C.. of course..)
So If I get a C, do I have to retake it?
I'm really worried about this.. I know that I have to try hard to get a
good grade.. but I think it looks really hard to not get a C in all of prerequisite classes.
and I also heard that if I retake a class, then the two grades are averaged.
Then, is this mean I must get an A the second time I take the class to get a B?
(If you average out a C and A you get a B.. and since you cannot get a grade lower than C+..)

I'm not sure about every school. It probably varies for different schools, so check your preferred school(s) website to find out more info.

I personally had ~6 C/C+'s (mostly pre-req's), never retook any of those classes and got accepted to UF. So, to answer your question... no, you don't have to retake those classes. I'm sure others may know a little bit more about this topic. Just sharing my story...

EDIT: Most schools require a minimum of 2.5 GPA for all required coursework, with the student earning no lower than a "C" in each class.

 

[Xanaxation]

I'm not sure about every school. It probably varies for different schools, so check your preferred school(s) website to find out more info.

I personally had ~6 C/C+'s (mostly pre-req's), never retook any of those classes and got accepted to UF. So, to answer your question... no, you don't have to retake those classes. I'm sure others may know a little bit more about this topic. Just sharing my story...

EDIT: Most schools require a minimum of 2.5 GPA for all required coursework, with the student earning no lower than a "C" in each class.

please don't say this and make it look like it's ok. its really not ok to get 6 Cs. you may be different but because we don't know your other strengths but all we get from you is "yeah im in, I got 6 Cs, its OK"

 

[PharmEXP]

please don't say this and make it look like it's ok. its really not ok to get 6 Cs. you may be different but because we don't know your other strengths but all we get from you is "yeah im in, I got 6 Cs, its OK"

Ok... All of those C's were during my Freshman and sophomore year. I displayed a significant upward trend, averaging a 3.9 over my last 4 or 5 semesters (mostly upper level courses). I have very little pharmacy experience (shadowed for a summer). PCAT = 82 composite. No volunteering, no work experience. Did my undergrad at UF.

I'm not saying that C's are acceptable. What I am saying, however, is that the OP does not necessarily HAVE TO retake those courses.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Well, note that not every school operates on +/- (Majority of CCs, for example) so if a + notation isn't available, and the school otherwise accepts CC credits, then it shouldn't be an issue.

This would be an excellent question to ask an admissions person at the school(s) you're applying to, OP.

 

[Moni526]

If you have the time, then do it. I got in with many C's on my transcript. Not proud of them and would have taken the classes again if I had the time.

 

[Science Girl]

I heard that you have to get C+ or above in all of your prerequisite classes.
But, my school does not have + or -, so a A is a A and B is a B..
(and C is a C.. of course..)
So If I get a C, do I have to retake it?
I'm really worried about this.. I know that I have to try hard to get a
good grade.. but I think it looks really hard to not get a C in all of prerequisite classes.
and I also heard that if I retake a class, then the two grades are averaged.
Then, is this mean I must get an A the second time I take the class to get a B?
(If you average out a C and A you get a B.. and since you cannot get a grade lower than C+..)

If you got a C in a science class, you would probably need to retake. And it also depends on your school....

 

[rxlea]

If you got a C in a science class, you would probably need to retake. And it also depends on your school....

yes, it depends on the school. You may or may not have to retake it. If you have lots of Cs, it might be a good idea to retake classes that are weighted heavier by adcoms (like organic or gen chem). If you don't have that many C's, then 1 C is really not that big of a deal and would probably be a waste of time to retake. At my school, you cannot get anything less than a B in certain subjects. So, it is best to check with an admissions counselor at your schools of interest.

 

[Science Girl]

EDIT: Most schools require a minimum of 2.5 GPA for all required coursework, with the student earning no lower than a "C" in each class.

It is true that most schools require a minimum of 2.5 GPA. But in order to be competitive, pre-pharm students have to have higher GPAs.

 

[Science Girl]

yes, it depends on the school. You may or may not have to retake it. If you have lots of Cs, it might be a good idea to retake classes that are weighted heavier by adcoms (like organic or gen chem). If you don't have that many C's, then 1 C is really not that big of a deal and would probably be a waste of time to retake. At my school, you cannot get anything less than a B in certain subjects. So, it is best to check with an admissions counselor at your schools of interest.

👍 agree!!

 

[crazybob]

I retook a class where I made a C. The professor talked to me in his office telling me it wasn't a good idea.

He recommended taking an upper level course and trying to make an A or B on it, since that looks better.

Let's consider two cases.

1) You get a C in A&P. You retake it to get an A.
2) You get a C in A&P. You take Biochemistry and get a B.

The professor I talked to in undergrad said that option 2 looks better.

 

[Science Girl]

I retook a class where I made a C. The professor talked to me in his office telling me it wasn't a good idea.

He recommended taking an upper level course and trying to make an A or B on it, since that looks better.

Let's consider two cases.

1) You get a C in A&P. You retake it to get an A.
2) You get a C in A&P. You take Biochemistry and get a B.

The professor I talked to in undergrad said that option 2 looks better.

oh I see... but wouldn't the school look at the classes they require? I mean let's say for example that I got a C in gen chem II, and got an A in biochem [which KU pharm school doesn't require taking that class], wouldn't they focus on my gen chem II grade?

 

[ASuw]

But i heard that some schools dont allow you retake classes unless u fail them

 

[crazybob]

oh I see... but wouldn't the school look at the classes they require? I mean let's say for example that I got a C in gen chem II, and got an A in biochem [which KU pharm school doesn't require taking that class], wouldn't they focus on my gen chem II grade?

Yes, but if you can show them that you can get an A in biochem, then that will probably weigh a lot more than gen chem. In a way, you can't do much biochem without understanding gen chem.

But i heard that some schools dont allow you retake classes unless u fail them

If it's a C, they will advise you not to and still leave the option to you. If it's below a C, they will recommend retaking it.

 

[PharmOl]

But i heard that some schools dont allow you retake classes unless u fail them

That's the case with my school. You have to get a D or lower to be eligible for grade replacement.

 

[Science Girl]

Yes, but if you can show them that you can get an A in biochem, then that will probably weigh a lot more than gen chem. In a way, you can't do much biochem without understanding gen chem.

Makes sense,,, but anyways, I would feel bad if I got C's especially in science classes

 

[PharmOl]

But to address the original topic, I only have one C on my transcript and that was in advanced computer programming course. And I still got waitlisted at my first choice school. So... if you have a chance to correct your bad marks- do it.

 

[ttopping]

It really depends on the class, how many C's you have, and what else you have ahead of you. I had a C in evolutionary bio my first semester at UB, if I had retaken that class it would have been a huge waste of my time. Looking at the bigger picture it was 1 of 11 or so pre-reqs, so yea it was a C, but it was such a minor dent in my GPA after I got my act together and did well in everything else. If in the end it will help you, then maybe consider it, but not unless you need to.

 

[UMAX3000]

If you plan to retake a class make sure you can get an A. If you're unsure it may be better to just leave it as a C. It could look worse to retake the class and only get a B.

 

[echovista]

You can afford one or two Cs here and there if you have a good PCAT score and some other things to make up for it like experience and strong LORs etc. Avoid Cs in science classes though.

 

[PTK2014]

I got accepted to Purdue, and now I am sweating this semester's classes. Purdue has a rule that you cannot have more than three C's in all of your core classes. I have a couple of B's, two C's, and the rest A's on my undergrad transcript. I have twenty credit hours this semester (mostly math and science) trying to finish everything up, and the final exams are heavily weighted. I cannot get more than one C this semester. I still have to take micro in the summer as my last class, and they also only allow one core class to be taken over the summer. So, retaking something this summer is apparently not an option.

I found the 3 C rule embedded on their website somewhere. It was not on any of my acceptance materials or anything. Has anyone ever heard of Purdue rescinding admission for 4 C's? I can understand if I got a D or F in a core class, but the stress of worrying about ending up with two C+'s and not getting to attend Purdue is killing me! To be this close and still have to worry!!! Any thoughts? 😕