How will summer class affect medical school chances?

[Poisonfry217]

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Hi, I am currently a sophomore studying neuroscience at the George Washington University. This past summer, I took physics 1 at UPenn to build a foundation in physics as I did not have a strong foundation for it in high school, and wanted to get a general idea of the course material. I took the course without the intention of sending to back to GW and obtained a B in the course. I was reading and know that AMCAS requires applicants to send all transcripts. I was curious as to how this would affect my medical school chances as I obtained a B and am currently taking physics 1 at GW.

 

[coffee&scrubs]

The course will count towards your AMCAS GPA and your BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPA. A B is not a death sentence, but focus on utilizing what you’ve learned in that class to get As in your physics classes (and other science classes) at GW.

 

[ihoop24]

Why are you retaking a class you got a B in?

 

[ciestar]

Why are you retaking a class you got a B in?

This will look more bizarre than the B. Unless OP’s undergrad won’t accept the transfer credit.

 

[deleted996731]

Why take an actual course in the first place for just practice? You could’ve just self-studied...

 

[Blueprint Med School]

AMCAS will require for you to send in all transcripts (which is annoying- I also took one class at Penn and have to pay $10 any time I want to send a transcript).

I'm also pretty confused- why are you retaking Physics I when you got a B in it at Penn? Although a B isn't ideal, it's also not terrible. Generally, retakes are only beneficial when you receive a C- or below in a course, and even then, medical schools tend to view retakes in one of two ways.

1: They see that you messed up, and worked hard to improve for the next time around.
2: They consider your grade improvement to be the result of you taking the course twice.

The fact that Physics I was taken at Penn won't matter that much.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Gilakend]

If it isn't too late to drop the class (meaning it wouldn't show up on your transcript as a W) you should. Unless you HAVE to retake it, taking a full-on physics class to "get a feel for it" and then retaking a class you got a B in looks very neurotic, go out and party and enjoy undergrad.

My lowest grade was a pre-req summer class I took at another institution (my school didn't offer it) and no one even mentioned it.