help! good upper level science grades, bad basic science grades

[heat85]

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I'm pretty new here, and I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I am in my senior year of my BA undergrad at McGill, and did not-so-well my first 2 years (just under 3.0) including most of the med school prereqs.
However, in my junior year last year where I took two upper level bios and physiology, i did very well (3 A's and a B-). So far in my senior year I have received all A's (and im taking some upper levels now too like microbiology and gross anatomy).
I am thinking of applying to post-bacc programs to retake the basic sciences, probably the one at UConn, but I'm not sure if I fit the situation. It's not that I havent done the prereqs, because for the most part I have, but the first 2 years of university i had a lot of personal stuff going and that unfortunately reflected in my grades. Here is what I got in them, let me know if you think i should concentrate on retaking them, or just concentrate on doing more upper-level work.

Gen Chem I: B
Gen Chem II: B-
Physics I: B-
Physics II: C+
Gen Bio I: A-
Gen Bio II: B+
Calc I: F (yikes!!.. 😱 I know, looks pretty bad... but my bf was deployed to iraq the day before the final and stupid me didnt ask for an exam deferral, and I totally blanked during the final and failed🙁 )
Calc II: havent taken it yet (obviously!! )
Org Chem I: B-
Org Chem II: haven't taken it yet

So as you can see, those grades are pretty much lackluster. But junior year I had a 3.86, A's in all my upper level sciences... so its not that I can't do the work, I just hit a rough patch early in undergrad.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! thanks!

 

[wutwinb]

so what is your exact science gpa right now?

 

[heat85]

currently its a 3.16, but it should go up to about a 3.2 after this semester

yeah i know, not great... thats why i think i should just re-do them.

 

[wutwinb]

okay, i'm about where you are for science gpa. the way i see it is (and i've spoken with many pre-med advisors about this): i'm only retaking the grades that look the worst, i.e. anything C- and below. the retakes in those classes can most likely impact your science and overall gpa. then , i've just been focusing on doing well in upper level science classes in order to bring the BCPM gpa up. the upward trent is extremely important retaking a lot of those pre-reqs with B- grades probably won't do anything significant for your grade overall, because the AAMC will average the two scores.
to soften the blow of the lower science gpa, i've really been working on studying hard for the MCAT. getting a high score will show that i know the material, can critically read, etc.
i strongly suggest you retake that F in Calc I and maybe one of the C+/B- grades you got in a class that perhaps you didn't learn anything in (for the MCAT's sake)

retaking just seems like a waste of time if you can make it up with a good MCAT.
that's just my 2 cents though. good luck

 

[heat85]

thanks, your advice helped a lot.... good luck to you too!