Fail and repeat, or die trying?

[digitalfortress]

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I have a rather difficult situation. I planned on dropping one of the option courses because I really needed to work to solve my financial issue. This isn't a course required by any pharmacy program (Basic law course) and I requested the course to be dropped. I did fantastic on the midterm though, which is worth 30%)

However, I was shocked to learn that there was an issue with the WD request... and it's not too late to do anything about it. I will have to write a final exam (Worth 70%, Gott I am screwed)

At first, I was thinking about how I will kill myself by cramming... but then, an unusual idea came to me. What if I just ^%^$ fail and repeat it next year?

It sounds like a stupid thing to do, since repeated courses are frowned upon competitive pharmacy admissions. But more I thought about it, the more it made sense for me to fail. (Perhaps it's just my sanity slipping away, but at least hear me out)

1. University of Alberta look at the first passing grade. If my first attempt was F, then I got A+ (I can do this. It wasn't a hard course)... then it would look a lot better on the transcript that way instead of getting D or C.

If an applicant has repeated a course, the first passing grade is used to calculate the applicant's ranking. (UofAlberta)

2. University of Waterloo
They do look at all the courses... but see what it says on their pharm website...

Are repeated attempts of specific courses included in admission assessments?
Yes. The Admissions Committee will review all academic attempts for prerequisite courses including the course load (expected that 5 full year or 10 semester course credits are ‘normal load'). The School does not recommend that ‘mark upgrade' attempts be made once the passing grade is achieved.

So, if the first attempt is F, then repeating for A is "recommended" by the school? But wait, F + A /2 = C... so if averaged, it would mean pretty similar in terms of overall GPA.

So ultimately, do I want F and A on the transcript or one C~D for this option course? I guess overall GPA would point out that it makes little difference, but how would it look from admission's prospective? Would they be more sympathetic if they knew that I could have done better?

What you you folks think?

PS: I tried to contact my instructor about INC (Incomplete) option, but he just doesn't care all that much. He shows up for 2 hours in school, then he works elsewhere as a lawyer. (It's complicated. It makes sense to simply pay the lawyer, but at the same time... that's a bribe when he's teaching...?) Appealing is not an option. I really tried, but I am not going to waste more of my time when I could be going through practice exams + regular beauty sleep and ace the Calculus II final.

PSS: I called a guy I know who works in pharmacy, and he told me that a lot of people barely meet 75% min. overall GPA average anyway. (It's percentage in UofWaterloo) When overall GPA meets the requirement, I can excel in experience/resume/reference/interview since majority of the applicants do poorly in these areas. He said just meet the overall GPA, and really push the coresubjects' GPA (ex. Calculus, Biochem, organic chem, statistic, etc) since that really reflects how well you will be prepared for pharm program. Is that true? I knew overall GPA wasn't everything, but I thought all applicants would be submitting 90% overall GPA. (Sigh...

 

[diastole]

How about trying your best now and then repeating it? A C or D followed by an A is better in both scenarios and looks tons better than an F.

 

[digitalfortress]

How about trying your best now and then repeating it? A C or D followed by an A is better in both scenarios and looks tons better than an F.

I wish, but here's a problem. I am not allow to repeat it if I pass. They look at the first passing mark.

Seriously though, would an optional course with F make a huge difference if rest of the courses are A-B? I mean, it's not like I failed because I didn't try or I slacked off. Wouldn't I be able to justify my excuses, especially when I have only one course with less than B+?

 

[socalpharm86]

One of these "So crazy it just might work" plans. While the pharmacy school will take the higher grade, I still would say you shouldn't tarnish your transcript with an F even if you're retaking for an A. Just work for the C and be done with it.

 

[diastole]

I wish, but here's a problem. I am not allow to repeat it if I pass. They look at the first passing mark.

Seriously though, would an optional course with F make a huge difference if rest of the courses are A-B? I mean, it's not like I failed because I didn't try or I slacked off. Wouldn't I be able to justify my excuses, especially when I have only one course with less than B+?

It probably won't make a huge difference but neither will a C or a D and the latter grades won't affect your GPA as much. If you pull out the C, you won't even have to give an explanation. And wouldn't you rather be talking about your positive qualities rather than giving up some of your limited time to make a good impression over to trying to explain away an F?

 

[SmKN808]

It probably won't make a huge difference but neither will a C or a D and the latter grades won't affect your GPA as much. If you pull out the C, you won't even have to give an explanation. And wouldn't you rather be talking about your positive qualities rather than giving up some of your limited time to make a good impression over to trying to explain away an F?

said it best for me 🙂

 

[syjpark]

For U of A, you have to send in your whole transcript (not just your pre-req marks), so they CAN see if you've got an F. I get your logic on this, but you have to also consider the fact that they DO look at your cumulative GPA as well.