GPA question

[PreMedHopeful]

So I ended up with a C+ in Anatomy and Physiology 1 (which was gonna be considered my Biology course since I passed out of Bio 1 and 2 due to AP Biology) so yeah my GPA went down to like 3.5ish so now what should I do:

a) retake A & P 1 next semester and improve the C+ to a A or B
b) take A & P 2 next semester and take A & P 1 again in summer or next year
c) take A & P 2 next semester and just keep the C+

**If I retake the class, the C+ will remain on the transcript, but GPA will improve....

so yeah what should I do since won't medical schools like it if I retake it and get a better grade to show that I learned the material instead of not doing anything...IDK what to do and I feel stupid

 

[AlanAlanine]

you should take bio 1 and 2 with labs and get A's in those classes regardless of AP credit, since those are actual pre-requisite courses for medical schools.

don't retake anatomy and physio.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

yeah the medical schools I contacted said if you have AP credit, it's fine, you just have to take upper level biology courses and my college recommends A & P 1 and 2, then microbio, genetics and so on....

 

[shaggybill]

Don't retake A&P unless you are genuinely interested in the class and want to continue to A&P II. I don't think med schools will consider A&P as upper level bio courses anyways. Just move on to genetics and take the hit.

 

[236116]

Don't worry about the C+, take A&P2 next term. What is its course number- that is how you tell if it's upper-level.

Are micro and genetics higher level at your school? Some schools have 2 versions.

The requirement is one year of biology. Rarely is it specified which classes, although there are those with defined course lists.

Bryn Mawr: http://www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/documents/MedSchAdvanSci_Requirements2009.pdf

Columbia: http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/preprofessional/health/forms/additional_biology_reqs.pdf

 

[229141]

Do not retake it..realize that it will NOT raise your AMCAS gpa..which is the only GPA that matters. They state that they count both grades into your gpa if you retake a class...so only retake it if you honestly feel like you didn't learn the subject.

The best plan is to take part 2, get an A, and show you made progress

 

[135892]

You got a C+... it's not like you failed the class or anything

You do not need to retake it. If you want to go on to A and P II, then you should. But the class isn't a pre-req for med schools, so if you don't want to take it, you absolutely don't have to. I really don't think there is too much to worry about here...

 

[FIREitUP]

don't dwell in the past, it won't make any difference if you retake the class.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

the course number is 3320, so it's a junior level course, but why wouldn't AMCAS take the higher grade in the GPA since they can still see the original grade, but wouldn't the factor in the new grade?

also, which medical schools specifically want Biology and won't accept AP credit besides med schools in CA?

 

[236116]

the course number is 3320, so it's a junior level course, but why wouldn't AMCAS take the higher grade in the GPA since they can still see the original grade, but wouldn't the factor in the new grade?

also, which medical schools specifically want Biology and won't accept AP credit besides med schools in CA?

Because AMCAS is god and they take both grades.

I was under the impression that almost all of them accepted AP as long as you had a year of bio after that. There's probably a list around here somewhere, otherwise it's on the website for the school.

 

[229141]

the course number is 3320, so it's a junior level course, but why wouldn't AMCAS take the higher grade in the GPA since they can still see the original grade, but wouldn't the factor in the new grade?

also, which medical schools specifically want Biology and won't accept AP credit besides med schools in CA?

Basically...say you take it again and get an A. They'll just count both your C+ in the class and the A so it averages out to a 3.0..kind of pointless if you can just go into second semester and prove yourself in there. Are you 100% positive that you will make an A if you retake?

They do some other stuff that sucks. I have several A+'s (over 98%) and one A- (90-94). The A+ counts for 4.3 at my school...but the AMCAS will count it as 4.0. My A- is a 3.7 at my school...the amcas will count this as a 3.7.

Cool so they treat my A+ grades as nothing but still treat my A- as a 3.7...fun! Nothing like getting a 3.7 for a 93% in a class