Good idea to retake classes?

Started by MFT2006
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MFT2006

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Just wondering if I could get a little advice...

I am currently working on my master's degree and am planning to take the MCAT in April. In undergrad I received a C+ and a B for the two semesters of organic chemistry. Would it be most beneficial to retake organic chemistry in order to bump up my organic chemistry grades and science gpa? Any advice or comments would be helpful! Thanks! 🙂
 
MFT2006 said:
Just wondering if I could get a little advice...

I am currently working on my master's degree and am planning to take the MCAT in April. In undergrad I received a C+ and a B for the two semesters of organic chemistry. Would it be most beneficial to retake organic chemistry in order to bump up my organic chemistry grades and science gpa? Any advice or comments would be helpful! Thanks! 🙂
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It all depends on what your GPA is right now. Most people would advice you not to unless you received anything below a C. I am currently retaking a 4 credit course that I received a C in during my freshmen year because I could use any little increase in my GPA as possible. You'd be surprised how much a retake can increase your GPA. If you have the time and money and are sure that you can receive an A then why not? Doesn't hurt right?
 
I am about to enter into the second year of the master's program I am in, and I have maintained a 4.0 throughout. In undergrad, I had a 3.1 science and 3.6 overall gpa. I'm just trying to decide whether or not it would be worth it to retake the class, because I would like to improve my science gpa as much as I could. Were you able to see an increase when you retook the class?
 
I had what I considered to be low grades during my earlier undergraduate career, generally C's and D's, including C-'s. I never went to grad school, but I took more advanced undergraduate classes later. I did retake some classes. Anything with a D. I only had a C+ in organic, but I chose to retake the course. I generally am not a person to advice people to retake courses (with the exception of prerequisits with unacceptable grades [<C-]) , especially if it is only one or two classes with lower than B-, but I felt that organic was definitely viewed differently from other coursework by medical schools. It was three years from the time that I took organic I to time I did the retake, and I received an A with a different, harder instructor. So I did notice an improvement in my grade, but I think it was a matter of maturity rather than repetitiveness (although with certain aspects of the course it did help to have heard the nomenclature used before, etc.).

Because you're pursuing a graduate degree now, and because you're doing very well, I'm not sure if you should retake organic. It depends on what your program is (i.e a medical sociology program vs. a biomedical sciences, biology, or science-based MPH) so that admissions comittees can have comparable scientific coursework to evaluate. If it is a non-science program, then retake. The other strategy I used when determining to retake a class, was to find out if there was an advanced science course which covered the material, and that mastery of that class would demonstrate an understanding of and proficiency (i.e. instead of retaking bio II which I received a C in, I took molecular, cellular biology, or vertebrate physiology). In your case you may consider taking biochemistry (and maybe biochem II) which are direct applications of chem II and organic chemistry. Also, I tried to get a high score on the MCAT in the area I had the most trouble with gradewise (physical sciences), which backed up the retaking of other classes. But if you've been taking graduate science coursework, I would consider just focusing on a solid MCAT score in both areas, and using your grad work as academic credentials. If not, retake organic I and II, and consider taking at least biochem I. I hope this helps!

-Aaron
 
MFT2006 said:
Just wondering if I could get a little advice...

I am currently working on my master's degree and am planning to take the MCAT in April. In undergrad I received a C+ and a B for the two semesters of organic chemistry. Would it be most beneficial to retake organic chemistry in order to bump up my organic chemistry grades and science gpa? Any advice or comments would be helpful! Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...

No, retaking would be a waste of time & money. Focus your resources on doing well in future classes. The only reason you should retake a class is if it is a D or F.
 
MFT2006 said:
I am about to enter into the second year of the master's program I am in, and I have maintained a 4.0 throughout. In undergrad, I had a 3.1 science and 3.6 overall gpa. I'm just trying to decide whether or not it would be worth it to retake the class, because I would like to improve my science gpa as much as I could. Were you able to see an increase when you retook the class?
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Your overall GPA is looking good and your science GPA, although could be higher, is not bad at all. Having seen your GPA, I think it would be a waste of time and money. You are doing really well in your master's program right now so I my advice would be to focus on that instead of worrying about the retake.
 
Depending on what year you are in undergrad and what classes you have already completed, I would move on to Bio II and see how you do and not worry about retaking that class. You always have your grades from your chemistry classes and physics, plus Biochemistry or any other science courses you may take. 🙂
 
it depends what you gpa looks likes. if it is descent, dont worry about it and go on with life.
 
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