Feeling very down.

[fly10]

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HEY EVERYONE.
TODAY I MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE(ok maybe im exaggerating a little!) but i went to go see a SCIENCE "ADVISOR" AT MY UNI.

she basically told me that no optometry skool will ever take me with a 3.1 gpa (with a D in micro)... im in my 3rd yr and only 1 class short from getting a degree by the end of next yr. i wanted to ask if they would let me take 6 classes during the fall term( so i could graduate on time and start opto skool by sept 2012). she said NO.cause my gpa isnt good enough.
Also told me that "IF SHE WAS ME, SHE WOULD SPEND A WHOLE YEAR OVER THAT 1 CLASS" I JUST WANTED A DEGREE CAUSE I KNOW IT WOULD INCREASE MY CHANCES OF GETTING IN..MY SKOOL IS GIVING ME REALLY HARD TIME WITH "HELPING" ME OUT, AND THESE "SO-CALLED ADVISOR'S ARE USELESS" ..
ANY ONE KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO FROM HERE? ............

 

[VballTL16]

I don't think your grades are bad... From reading people's stories.. It seems like you might have a chance... I'm a third year too so I don't know by personal experience... Just don't give up hope though... About your classes... If you're missing just a class, or some credits, why not just take it over the summer at a community college or something and have it transferred to the uni you're at now.. They might accept that as a replacement... Just make sure with your uni that they accept that particular class though.. Hope that helps.. Good luck..

 

[jc328]

3.1 GPA is still possible for opt school, but you will need a higher OAT score to balance out the GPA, and make sure your GPA doesn't get any lower to stay competitive. You will most likely need to retake micro since most opt schools do not accept D. You can still be enrolled in optometry school without graduating in Spring; a doctor I shadowed took a summer course and finished his BS degree right before opt school starts. If you really want to graduate in spring and can manage your time really well, you can also try to take equivalent course in community college to get the 6th class out of your way.

 

[Shnurek]

You will get in with a 3.1. All you need is to score high on the OAT, around 70th percentile or better (330) TS/AA.

Also, you will have to retake microbiology because C is the lowest grade any opt school will accept.

 

[thecgrblue]

Please, PLEASE learn how to spell school first.

 

[SIUE optkid]

Please, PLEASE learn how to spell school first.

haha true,

but seriously,

see if any of the classes you need can be taken online at a community college. Your school cant stop you from doing what they don't know about. I know all about horrible advisers, they've been screwing me over my whole college career. good luck! retake micro and do great on the OAT's!

 

[fly10]

Thanks guys. My UNI. Has made it clear to me that they will not accept any credits from any other institution(In my case) she also said that it's against the UNI. Policy to allow students to be enrolled in 2 institutions at once.
I think I'm just going to email the opto skool I want to apply to and tell them about my situation.

By the way. Does any1 know when optomcas calculates gpa, does it include summer classes as well? I'm just wondering because my uni. Does not include summer classes in our gpa.

My gpa is 3.1 including the summer classes I have taken (4 in total).

 

[ABaverage]

You will get in with a 3.1. All you need is to score high on the OAT, around 70th percentile or better (330) TS/AA.

Also, you will have to retake microbiology because C is the lowest grade any opt school will accept.

Do this and you will be fine 😛

 

[Mewcakes]

Thanks guys. My UNI. Has made it clear to me that they will not accept any credits from any other institution(In my case) she also said that it's against the UNI. Policy to allow students to be enrolled in 2 institutions at once.
I think I'm just going to email the opto skool I want to apply to and tell them about my situation.

By the way. Does any1 know when optomcas calculates gpa, does it include summer classes as well? I'm just wondering because my uni. Does not include summer classes in our gpa.

My gpa is 3.1 including the summer classes I have taken (4 in total).

What? You're not allowed to be enrolled at more than one school at one time? Where the heck do you go to school? Has anyone else heard of this?? Strange....Well either way, you can always finish your one class, graduate, and THEN start at a community college to redo some of your lower classes. Most of the OD schools will take CC classes happily. No one ever said it had to be all at one institution.

Your school doesn't include summer courses either...? What?? Do you go to a school in the US? Usually, I would say that Optomcas DOES include summer classes, but that's assuming it shows up on your transcript, so that optomcas can verify your grade.

 

[fly10]

What? You're not allowed to be enrolled at more than one school at one time? Where the heck do you go to school? Has anyone else heard of this?? Strange....Well either way, you can always finish your one class, graduate, and THEN start at a community college to redo some of your lower classes. Most of the OD schools will take CC classes happily. No one ever said it had to be all at one institution.

Your school doesn't include summer courses either...? What?? Do you go to a school in the US? Usually, I would say that Optomcas DOES include summer classes, but that's assuming it shows up on your transcript, so that optomcas can verify your grade.

I go to the University of Alberta in western canada! yes they offer summer classes and i am taking them, but even after taking the summer classes im 1 class short. i asked if they would let me do an overload.. the said NO! (your gpa isn't good enough) ..
i asked if i could take that 1 class some where else they said (cant be enrolled in 2 institutions at once)

I asked that i need to retake microbio since its a pre-req. (they said it is against their school policy to allow any student to repeat a class unless they get an F!).
NO other uni. is offering microbio in the summer, however this other UNI, is offering a health science class called (introductory microbiology) and they did give me permission to take that. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SCHOOLS I APPLY TO WILL CONSIDER THAT A REPEAT.
SO WHEN I APPLY IN JULY I WILL HAVE THAT CLASS DONE, but i am still a class short for my degree and my school is doing absolutely nothing to help me out.

I THINK EVERY ONE IN THE U.S. SHOULD BE THANKFUL TO THEIR SCHOOLS FOR AT-LEAST ALLOWING YOU TO REPEAT COURSES AND INCREASING YOUR GPA. IM STUCK WITH THAT BIG FAT D! 🙁

OH WELL, I GUESS THAT'S LIFE.

 

[jc328]

My undergrad (from US) wouldn't let students retake with a "D" either, just have to take the course at a different institute. You should probably contact the opt schools you are applying to before you take "intro to micro", since most schools want "microbio with labs" so you don't waste time and money.

 

[Hoffy]

That really is absurd. I feel bad for you. Why a school wouldn't help you out to bring up your GPA, fully knowing that opt schools don't accept D's, is beyond me. 😕 I hope things work out for you.

 

[stoikiometry]

this other UNI, is offering a health science class called (introductory microbiology) and they did give me permission to take that. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SCHOOLS I APPLY TO WILL CONSIDER THAT A REPEAT.

Optomcas:

Repeated courses taken at a different school will be counted as a normal course and will be included in the GPA calculations.

 

[dawnfirenight]

I go to the University of Alberta in western canada! yes they offer summer classes and i am taking them, but even after taking the summer classes im 1 class short. i asked if they would let me do an overload.. the said NO! (your gpa isn't good enough) ..
i asked if i could take that 1 class some where else they said (cant be enrolled in 2 institutions at once)

I asked that i need to retake microbio since its a pre-req. (they said it is against their school policy to allow any student to repeat a class unless they get an F!).
NO other uni. is offering microbio in the summer, however this other UNI, is offering a health science class called (introductory microbiology) and they did give me permission to take that. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SCHOOLS I APPLY TO WILL CONSIDER THAT A REPEAT.
SO WHEN I APPLY IN JULY I WILL HAVE THAT CLASS DONE, but i am still a class short for my degree and my school is doing absolutely nothing to help me out.

I THINK EVERY ONE IN THE U.S. SHOULD BE THANKFUL TO THEIR SCHOOLS FOR AT-LEAST ALLOWING YOU TO REPEAT COURSES AND INCREASING YOUR GPA. IM STUCK WITH THAT BIG FAT D! 🙁

OH WELL, I GUESS THAT'S LIFE.

What about online courses at Athabasca University? I know they offer Intro Micro with labs (several friends are taking it now), and the University of Calgary, at least, has no problem with students taking courses through Athabasca while enrolled in regular courses at U of C. I can't understand why U of A wouldn't let you do that.

 

[fly10]

What about online courses at Athabasca University? I know they offer Intro Micro with labs (several friends are taking it now), and the University of Calgary, at least, has no problem with students taking courses through Athabasca while enrolled in regular courses at U of C. I can't understand why U of A wouldn't let you do that.

the problem is that i am taking 4 summer classes 2 in may/june and 2 in july/aug.
if i take 1 class at Athabasca university then i have to take all 4 of them there, which i think wouldn't be smart. cause Athabasca courses are all online and self study and you decide when you want to write your exams, i don't know if that is such a great idea to do. knowing me i would probably keep extending my exam dates thinking i would do better the "next-day".

 

[Bioflare]

Why can't you just take microbio at the other uni's once you are done your summer courses, aka in the fall term? You know you don't have to complete the credits before applying, just be enrolled.

 

[Rhodopsin]

Fly10, do NOT worry. How ridiculous that your counselor would tell you that you won't get in with a 3.1- Western's AVERAGE of acceptance for last year was 3.1. Not to mention all the others that are more competitive and take students with like 2.8s. Don't listen to people that don't know the stats!

I did undergrad at UofC and took Athabasca courses (I actually took Athabasca Microbio and loved it! Highly recommended). Why would you have to take all courses at Athabasca then? You can just take the one, you can combine the courses within the semester. Unfortunately it's a different institution so opto schools will consider it as a new course rather than a retake, so they'll average it.

What optometry school do you want to go to? 🙂

 

[Bioflare]

I don't know about 2.8 cGPA... that's pushing it. But for those candidates that did, they had high OAT scores or experience in the field.

Fly10, I can tell you this, my cGPA is 3.1~ as of applying and I've been accepted already and I applied late in the cycle. Apply early, fix that microbio and you're set. Oh yea study hard for your OAT and you'll get into an Optometry school... just not Waterloo xD (sorry).

 

[Rhodopsin]

I don't know about 2.8 cGPA... that's pushing it. But for those candidates that did, they had high OAT scores or experience in the field.

I should have been clearer, I just meant that there are applicants getting in with 2.8s, even though it likely isn't common since it's at the extreme low end.

 

[John Durian]

Never listen to advisers. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they don't know jack.

A 3.1 is not a great GPA, but it can be balanced with a higher test score. Or if all else fails then try a post-bac or a masters to show growth, maturity, and development. Never give up! Good luck 🙂

 

[fly10]

@Rhodopsin
i want to get into PCO and if i don't then i would consider NECO.

What the advisor basically told me was that, "ok, you have a 3.1 which is not that bad but you got a D in mico and you weren't even taking a full coarse load"
She said based on the fact that i was only enrolled in 3 classes both semesters and still ended up with a 3.1, the optometry schools would not even CONSIDER ME!

Just to say a little bit in my favour, after that year when i got the (3.1) (which was last year at MacEwan University) i transferred to The University of Alberta and what i did was the stupidest thing that anyone could possibly do.

I took, physics 1,micro bio, biochem, ochem 2, all together my first semister at the U of A. I was not even familiar with the University and i took such a heavy coarse load my first semester there. What ended up happening was i got a D in micro bio, C in physics and B in O chem 2 and B in Biochem.

I am not the type of person who enrollees in hard classes and doesn't put in the work, that semester i was in the library 10 am- 10 pm 7 days a week! but unfortunately for me things just didn't work out, I'D LIKE THINK THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF BUT AFTER WHAT I WENT THROUGH LAST SEMESTER, IT REALLY DOESN'T (IN MY SITUATION). AFTER THAT I GOT SO DEPRESSED DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.. IS WASN'T BECAUSE I GOT A D, IT WAS THE FACT THAT I SPENT 12 HRS IN THE LIBRARY 4 MONTHS STRAIGHT, DIDN'T SEE MY FAMILY, LOST CONTACT WITH MOST OF MY FRIENDS BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS IN THE LIBRARY 24/7 AND DOES THAT REFLECT IN MY TRANSCRIPT ?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!... IT'S JUST SO SAD, BECAUSE MY TRANSCRIPT SAYS, I TOOK HARD CLASSES BUT DIDN'T PUT IN THE WORK, ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

--------------ANY WAYS I HAVE A GENERAL CHEM 2 FINAL IN 6 DAYS SO IM OFF TO GO STUDY FOR THAT----------

AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR FINALS!

 

[Rhodopsin]

@Rhodopsin
i want to get into PCO and if i don't then i would consider NECO.


Ahh cool- good luck getting in! Also, I totally relate to what you were saying about the amount of effort not reflecting in your grades/transcript and losing touch with people. I had a semester like that too haha, it lowered my gpa by 0.4 points haha.

Hard work definitely doesn't always pay off, but hey without the hard work there would be no chance for the payoff so it's a necessary evil 😉

 

[Shnurek]

Judging by your errant way of typing, your low course grades, and your profuse use of caps, I hope you do not get into optometry school. Yes, I'm a meanie.

 

[Rhodopsin]

Judging by your errant way of typing, your low course grades, and your profuse use of caps, I hope you do not get into optometry school. Yes, I'm a meanie.

If you're kidding, then I missed your sarcasm and I apologize for the next comment. If you aren't kidding then you are a meanie like you said and I think it's weird for you to judge someone based on their excessive use of capitalization on a forum (a place where grammar doesn't matter...). Not all undergrads are created equal, some are way harder than others so a 3.1 at one place may just be a 3.3 at another, or a 2.9 at another- it's crazy how relative it all is so we can't judge people for grades.

 

[Shnurek]

IS WASN'T BECAUSE I GOT A D, IT WAS THE FACT THAT I SPENT 12 HRS IN THE LIBRARY 4 MONTHS STRAIGHT, DIDN'T SEE MY FAMILY, LOST CONTACT WITH MOST OF MY FRIENDS BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS IN THE LIBRARY 24/7 AND DOES THAT REFLECT IN MY TRANSCRIPT ?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!... IT'S JUST SO SAD, BECAUSE MY TRANSCRIPT SAYS, I TOOK HARD CLASSES BUT DIDN'T PUT IN THE WORK, ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

He/she apparently tried their best and could not keep up. I had colleagues like that in my undergrad that never went out to drink/party, studied ~24/7 and still had a significantly lower GPA than me. Not to brag but I never really bought textbooks in undergrad and didn't study for any test more than 2-3 hours the day before and I went to a university not a community college. I guess some people just have innate ability. I had colleagues in my bio major with more ability than me that tried as much or less and had higher GPAs. And yes I was jealous 😛

I rather speak brazenly and not give false hope to people.

 

[fly10]

He/she apparently tried their best and could not keep up. I had colleagues like that in my undergrad that never went out to drink/party, studied ~24/7 and still had a significantly lower GPA than me. Not to brag but I never really bought textbooks in undergrad and didn't study for any test more than 2-3 hours the day before and I went to a university not a community college. I guess some people just have innate ability. I had colleagues in my bio major with more ability than me that tried as much or less and had higher GPAs. And yes I was jealous 😛

I rather speak brazenly and not give false hope to people.

It's sad that you're an optometry student and think that you can Judge me based on one post that i wrote. Why don't you go do some research on the Western Canadian undergrad it's definitely nothing like American or Eastern Canadian Undergrad (University of Alberta Particularly) . A few of my friends go to NECO and i know for a fact that they add 0.4 to our GPA's because of the difference in institutions.

I MEAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT ME, THIS IS JUST A BLOG.

 

[fly10]

Judging by your errant way of typing, your low course grades, and your profuse use of caps, I hope you do not get into optometry school. Yes, I'm a meanie.

NO, you're not a meanie just immature. And keep hoping that because no one can stop me from reaching my goal.

 

[hoops123]

He/she apparently tried their best and could not keep up. I had colleagues like that in my undergrad that never went out to drink/party, studied ~24/7 and still had a significantly lower GPA than me. Not to brag but I never really bought textbooks in undergrad and didn't study for any test more than 2-3 hours the day before and I went to a university not a community college. I guess some people just have innate ability. I had colleagues in my bio major with more ability than me that tried as much or less and had higher GPAs. And yes I was jealous 😛

I rather speak brazenly and not give false hope to people.

seriously it's embarrassing that educated people still think like this. You don't even know this person. you sound like a high school kid.

 

[Hoffy]

He/she apparently tried their best and could not keep up. I had colleagues like that in my undergrad that never went out to drink/party, studied ~24/7 and still had a significantly lower GPA than me. Not to brag but I never really bought textbooks in undergrad and didn't study for any test more than 2-3 hours the day before and I went to a university not a community college. I guess some people just have innate ability. I had colleagues in my bio major with more ability than me that tried as much or less and had higher GPAs. And yes I was jealous 😛

I rather speak brazenly and not give false hope to people.

Yeah some of us (90% of us most likely) lack the innate ability to absorb something in 2-3 hours the night prior to an exam and ace it, and some of us lack the innate ability to have class and speak tactfully. Which do you think is going to be the bigger problem considering you will be interacting with patients in the future? Hmmmmmmmmm! 🙂

 

[weiss]

It's sad that you're an optometry student and think that you can Judge me based on one post that i wrote. Why don't you go do some research on the Western Canadian undergrad it's definitely nothing like American or Eastern Canadian Undergrad (University of Alberta Particularly) . A few of my friends go to NECO and i know for a fact that they add 0.4 to our GPA's because of the difference in institutions.

I MEAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT ME, THIS IS JUST A BLOG.

A 3.1 isn't absolutely horrible so calm down. I will agree with Shrunek in that it comes off as if you're angry/immature when you use caps (imo). What is "Western Canadian Undergrad?" As well, I didn't know there was a gradient of difficulty as you went east across the country. If you're implying that some schools are easier/harder than others, then yes, I would agree...but that's an obvious statement to make

 

[Bioflare]

It's sad that you're an optometry student and think that you can Judge me based on one post that i wrote. Why don't you go do some research on the Western Canadian undergrad it's definitely nothing like American or Eastern Canadian Undergrad (University of Alberta Particularly) . A few of my friends go to NECO and i know for a fact that they add 0.4 to our GPA's because of the difference in institutions.

I MEAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT ME, THIS IS JUST A BLOG.

Sorry but no means to bash you, but they aren't adding 0.4 to your GPA. UofA isn't hard, I have friends that go there and some that have transfered from there to my school. Consensus is its much easier than most schools in Ontario. The only thing you have going for you is that UofA has a medical school, and its one of the lowest entry requirements for med school along with UofCalgary (In province favouritism lol). But most informed US schools respect the fact that a school has a medical school and will consider your education slightly harder =). You will not get a 0.4 boost in your GPA lulz.
To sum that up, even if you get a gpa boost which would be at most 0.2 your gpa is only 3.3, so if you have a less than average OAT, your chances will be low regardless of the boost in gpa.

NO, you're not a meanie just immature. And keep hoping that because no one can stop me from reaching my goal.

At least you're confident and that's a good sign. Keep it up and you will get in... given that you fix that D, a D is a D no matter which school you came from. Maybe learn to take some criticism, you could have changed Shnurek's opinion of you if you made a proper response. He's from NY so he's got that personality, one of many different personalities that you will encounter IF you become an optometrist.

 

[DawgOD]

if it looks like a hater.. smells like a hater.. talks like a hater..

90% of the time it's a HATER.

To the original thread starter: Get a plan together and just bust your tail. It will be worth it. Don't listen to all the negativity on this forum. Some people think their opinion is LAW, but to your benefit most of the time they have no clue. Good Luck!

 

[hoops123]

Sorry but no means to bash you, but they aren't adding 0.4 to your GPA. UofA isn't hard, I have friends that go there and some that have transfered from there to my school. Consensus is its much easier than most schools in Ontario. The only thing you have going for you is that UofA has a medical school, and its one of the lowest entry requirements for med school along with UofCalgary (In province favouritism lol). But most informed US schools respect the fact that a school has a medical school and will consider your education slightly harder =). You will not get a 0.4 boost in your GPA lulz.
To sum that up, even if you get a gpa boost which would be at most 0.2 your gpa is only 3.3, so if you have a less than average OAT, your chances will be low regardless of the boost in gpa.



At least you're confident and that's a good sign. Keep it up and you will get in... given that you fix that D, a D is a D no matter which school you came from. Maybe learn to take some criticism, you could have changed Shnurek's opinion of you if you made a proper response. He's from NY so he's got that personality, one of many different personalities that you will encounter IF you become an optometrist.

Im sure the requirements for med a very similar through out Canada as my mom is a physician who sits on the selection committee.

 

[Rhodopsin]

Im sure the requirements for med a very similar through out Canada as my mom is a physician who sits on the selection committee.

I agree with you- generally it's easiest to get into med in your own province because the schools heavily favor you if you're from there. I don't think it varies much between provinces...

 

[ovenmitts]

Chin up. Keep working hard. Retake Microbiology. A 3.1 GPA is not terrible by any means and you still have some time to bring it up.

That advisor sounds like a pain in the ass. Don't listen to her. She's probably bitter about something that went wrong with her university education.

Also, to the people who are getting their panties in a bunch over caps/poor grammar, seriously. Internet is not serious business.

 

[imemily]

Shrunek isn't even an optometry student

As such, I would not take him/her seriously.

Best of luck to you - it really isn't a big deal.

 

[Bioflare]

Im sure the requirements for med a very similar through out Canada as my mom is a physician who sits on the selection committee.

OFFTOPIC:

They are similar for out of province. But not similar as some provinces such as Alberta have a great difference between in province applicants and out of province. Specifically the only ones are Alberta (UofC and UofA) and Dalhousie University, all other Canadian Med schools do not discriminate between resident/non-resident.

3.2-3.3 minimum for in-province for alberta
3.7 minimum for out of province
The only reason I would see for doing this is to get candidates who plan to stay in province. To infer that the education in Alberta is better than the rest would be a little overboard lol.

/OFFTOPIC

fly10 - to be a successful Optometrist, you need to develop better communication skills, even if this is just a forum, it doesn't hurt to stop with the "E-YELLING". It will definitely help you in school and in the workforce. You wouldn't start yelling at a child who's your patient just because he called you names? or would you 😉

 

[DawgOD]

it doesn't hurt to stop with the "E-YELLING". It will definitely help you in school and in the workforce. You wouldn't start yelling at a child who's your patient just because he called you names? or would you 😉

🤣 sad thing is ... you are serious.

 

[fly10]

LOL

Continuing the convo about MED.

Although on the U of A website it says you need a 3.3 to apply, their average gpa for 2010 med as 3.9, so what does that really say. they only have 3.3 up there so students with 3.3's apply and they continue to make money from that.

Trust me, i have so many friends in undergrad trying to get into U of A med and when you consider the 1340 applicants and 167 seats that's a 12% chance, and also taking into account the 3.9 gpa, The chances are very slim. And even if U of A has province favouritism the chances of actually being accepted are very slim. Alot of my friends who are sitting at 3.5's and 3.6's, which is a very decent GPA know that their chances of getting into U of A are extremely low(almost impossible) which is why alot of them are going to the U.S. to do MED since their averages are around 3.6...

 

[NguyenDDS]

HEY EVERYONE.
TODAY I MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE(ok maybe im exaggerating a little!) but i went to go see a SCIENCE "ADVISOR" AT MY UNI.

she basically told me that no optometry skool will ever take me with a 3.1 gpa (with a D in micro)... im in my 3rd yr and only 1 class short from getting a degree by the end of next yr. i wanted to ask if they would let me take 6 classes during the fall term( so i could graduate on time and start opto skool by sept 2012). she said NO.cause my gpa isnt good enough.
Also told me that "IF SHE WAS ME, SHE WOULD SPEND A WHOLE YEAR OVER THAT 1 CLASS" I JUST WANTED A DEGREE CAUSE I KNOW IT WOULD INCREASE MY CHANCES OF GETTING IN..MY SKOOL IS GIVING ME REALLY HARD TIME WITH "HELPING" ME OUT, AND THESE "SO-CALLED ADVISOR'S ARE USELESS" ..
ANY ONE KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO FROM HERE? ............

DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR ADVISOR.
My boyfriend got in with a 3.0 with a below average OAT score. Apply broadly.
A medical doctor I once shadowed told me HIS advisor back in undergrad told him that "no one would accept him because of his low GPA". Guess what? He retook a few prereqs at community college, aced them all, and got accepted at various medical schools. They never asked about the community college retakes.