Dropping or risking the grade?

[dnase]

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I am at an ivy so we have crazy drop policies (e.g. I can still drop and not get a W on my transcript). I most likely will get a B in a prereq class. Would it be more worth it to drop the class and retake it next year, or should I suck it up and get a B? I am aiming for a top medical school, and have about a 3.9 GPA right now, but with the B, it'd get pulled down to around a 3.8. I basically had two bad days. I can't get an A unless I get above a 95 to 97 on the final, which is possible but not that probable. Plus, I am taking enough credits this semester so that I could drop it without it looking fishy on my transcript.

Advice, please!

 

[the duck]

I am at an ivy so we have crazy drop policies (e.g. I can still drop and not get a W on my transcript). I most likely will get a B in a prereq class. Would it be more worth it to drop the class and retake it next year, or should I suck it up and get a B? I am aiming for a top medical school, and have about a 3.9 GPA right now, but with the B, it'd get pulled down to around a 3.8. I basically had two bad days. I can't get an A unless I get above a 95 to 97 on the final, which is possible but not that probable. Plus, I am taking enough credits this semester so that I could drop it without it looking fishy on my transcript.

Advice, please!

Getting some Bs will be unavoidable. That said, if you feel that you can definitely do better, and you care enough about it to redo the class, you should consider dropping. One thing you should be aware of, is making sure you are still on track to finish all your prereqs in time for the MCATs...

 

[chman]

Don't drop for a B. Even dropping for a C would be a bit questionable... A B is not a "bad" grade, and for sure not worth the time it would take to do it over.

 

[gettheleadout]

This one is up to you; most people here will call you crazy for dropping a probable B/possible A, and sarcastically tell you no one with B's gets into med school (I would probably do the same if tempted.) At the same time, your goals dictate whether this would be a waste of time for you or not. Will you have more bad days in other classes in the future? Are you absolutely sure you will get an A if you retake? Will this disrupt your schedule? Does 1 B even make a significant impact on your GPA after you've taken ~90 credit hours? I don't know that we can tell you straight one way or the other without knowing more about your situation anyway.

 

[Isoprop]

I am at an ivy so we have crazy drop policies (e.g. I can still drop and not get a W on my transcript). I most likely will get a B in a prereq class. Would it be more worth it to drop the class and retake it next year, or should I suck it up and get a B? I am aiming for a top medical school, and have about a 3.9 GPA right now, but with the B, it'd get pulled down to around a 3.8. I basically had two bad days. I can't get an A unless I get above a 95 to 97 on the final, which is possible but not that probable. Plus, I am taking enough credits this semester so that I could drop it without it looking fishy on my transcript.

Advice, please!

Up to you. I wouldn't sweat a B though.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Depends. If this is your last prereq, then sure, why not? It will give that extra shine to your transcript. However, if you still have classes to go then stick with the B and worry about it after you finish with the rest of the classes. You might end up not having to worry about it in the long run if the rest of your grades are fine.

 

[dnase]

Once I have credit for a class, I cannot retake it. I always thought that one had to "spend their B's wisely"... I can't guarantee that I'll get straight As from here out on, which is why I am wondering if I should preserve my GPA now for as long as possible...

 

[HK35]

i wouldn drop that B, you might really need a W later on if a class really gets the best of you. Id rather take a B than have 2 W's

 

[dnase]

Again, Ws do not show up at my school if I drop before a certain date. That date is very, very late in the semester.... so it isn't really an issue.

 

[Isoprop]

In the long run it won't matter. Relax. If you don't get into HMS, I guarantee you, it's not because you got a B in this class.

 

[HK35]

Oh than if you really want to drop it than go ahead it ll just be a pain to take it later on, what class is it?

 

[dnase]

physics with calculus

 

[WorldChanger36]

B is a good grade. No one expects you to have perfect GPA. Finish the class and put it behind you.

 

[dnase]

bumping one last time.

 

[Ursa]

If you drop, you really need to be sure you will get an A the second time around. You don't want to be kicking yourself for getting a B again and wasting a semester at the same time.

 

[Myuu]

Unless the rest of your app makes you look like God's gift to physics, I'd take the B and go on with your life. Like someone else said, a B in that class won't keep you out of HMS.