Is it worth it to retake these courses? And a general application question

[c0smopolitan]

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Hi guys! 3 quick questions:

1. Back in 2010 before I cared about school, I took English writing 1 and public speaking, both of which I got a C in. I have since taken writing 2 (received an A) and literary interpretation (received a 3.5, 4 credit course) and a handful of other gen ed courses. A few schools I'm applying to want English courses, as well as public speaking. Would it be worth it for re-do college writing 1 (even though I've taken #2) and public speaking?
2. Most schools I'm applying to also want some social science/humanities courses. Does the application process allow me to choose which courses I'd like to put towards this requirement? (I.e. I got an A in a class, can I choose to use that instead of a class I got a B in?) or do the schools decide which classes get used toward this requirement based on the grade?
3. Kansas says 5 credits of orgo,and LMU says 6, but I'm taking 4 credit orgos, so does that mean I'll need to do both orgo 1 and 2 to satisfy this credit requirement? If so, how does that work for GPA?

Thanks so much!

 

[VetMedVetMed]

Hi guys! 3 quick questions:

1. Back in 2010 before I cared about school, I took English writing 1 and public speaking, both of which I got a C in. I have since taken writing 2 (received an A) and literary interpretation (received a 3.5, 4 credit course) and a handful of other gen ed courses. A few schools I'm applying to want English courses, as well as public speaking. Would it be worth it for re-do college writing 1 (even though I've taken #2) and public speaking?
2. Most schools I'm applying to also want some social science/humanities courses. Does the application process allow me to choose which courses I'd like to put towards this requirement? (I.e. I got an A in a class, can I choose to use that instead of a class I got a B in?) or do the schools decide which classes get used toward this requirement based on the grade?
3. Kansas says 5 credits of orgo,and LMU says 6, but I'm taking 4 credit orgos, so does that mean I'll need to do both orgo 1 and 2 to satisfy this credit requirement? If so, how does that work for GPA?

Thanks so much!

1. My advice is, don't waste time retaking them. Just take courses that you need and get A's now. When you apply they'll see last 45 units which will not include the ones from 2010. Some schools look more heavily at last 45 as well, so keep that in mind.
2. You cannot choose which courses you use for what. You just have to look at each school's specific requirements, and make sure you take those courses at your college. You will send ALL of your transcripts in, so they will no matter what see every class you've taken amd the grades for them. They take the classes that go for that requirement, not the grade.
3. Pay attention to if they say semester credits or quarter credits and the numbers required. If Kansas says 5 semester units of organic and your course is only four semester credits, then yes you need to take two semesters of organic so that you satisfy that requirement. However if your organic class was five units, you would just need one semester (unless they specifically ask for more than just one class).

 

[battie]

Actually, Kansas only requires one semester of O chem. My o chem was 4 units with the lab and they took it. The say five units because their organic is 5 units.

If you're unsure, you need to ask the schools directly. LMU might be different.

 

[c0smopolitan]

1. My advice is, don't waste time retaking them. Just take courses that you need and get A's now. When you apply they'll see last 45 units which will not include the ones from 2010. Some schools look more heavily at last 45 as well, so keep that in mind.
2. You cannot choose which courses you use for what. You just have to look at each school's specific requirements, and make sure you take those courses at your college. You will send ALL of your transcripts in, so they will no matter what see every class you've taken amd the grades for them. They take the classes that go for that requirement, not the grade.
3. Pay attention to if they say semester credits or quarter credits and the numbers required. If Kansas says 5 semester units of organic and your course is only four semester credits, then yes you need to take two semesters of organic so that you satisfy that requirement. However if your organic class was five units, you would just need one semester (unless they specifically ask for more than just one class).

In regards to #2- how does that work if I have multiple gen Ed courses that count be counted towards the social science/humanities requirement? If they require say 9 credits of electives and or/ss courses but say I have 20 credits that could count towards the 9 credits?
#3. They were definitely semester credits, but I figured I'd have to take both courses since it was 5 and 6 credits for the schools.

Actually, Kansas only requires one semester of O chem. My o chem was 4 units with the lab and they took it. The say five units because their organic is 5 units.

If you're unsure, you need to ask the schools directly. LMU might be different.

That's good to know for Kansas! I did send out a few emails yesterday, hopefully I'll hear back soon.

 

[dyachei]

In regards to #2- how does that work if I have multiple gen Ed courses that count be counted towards the social science/humanities requirement? If they require say 9 credits of electives and or/ss courses but say I have 20 credits that could count towards the 9 credits?
#3. They were definitely semester credits, but I figured I'd have to take both courses since it was 5 and 6 credits for the schools.



That's good to know for Kansas! I did send out a few emails yesterday, hopefully I'll hear back soon.

ask the schools you are applying to. every school does this a little differently

 

[c0smopolitan]

ask the schools you are applying to. every school does this a little differently

Thanks, I think I'll send them all an email!

 

[CynicKitten]

As far as VMCAS goes (the common application), you can "pick" which classes get counted for the prereqs. For example, if you have taken 4 English courses, but the school you are applying to only requires 3, you highlight the 3 you want to submit for the prereq.

This is what it looks like now (as VMCAS is closed):

So you get to pick the course that goes with each prereq.

 

[cheathac]

As far as VMCAS, I just filled out some last year as I was playing around with it. Will that carry over to this cycle or do I lose everything?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[c0smopolitan]

As far as VMCAS goes (the common application), you can "pick" which classes get counted for the prereqs. For example, if you have taken 4 English courses, but the school you are applying to only requires 3, you highlight the 3 you want to submit for the prereq.

This is what it looks like now (as VMCAS is closed):

So you get to pick the course that goes with each prereq.

This is exactly what I was looking for! And just for curiousity, if you have a course retake does it give you the option to enter both? Also, when you do your application does it calculate your science gpa, and last 45 for you for each school?

 

[LyraGardenia]

As far as VMCAS, I just filled out some last year as I was playing around with it. Will that carry over to this cycle or do I lose everything?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I don't think we know yet. 2014 was the first year that they carried over application data from the previous cycle, but then last year they completely re-did their website so nothing was saved.

To the OP, as far as re-taking your courses from 2010, if you decide not to, make sure the schools you're applying to will accept pre-reqs taken that long ago. I know for some schools they won't count pre-reqs more than 6 years old, but I'm not sure if that's at the time of application or matriculation.

 

[CynicKitten]

This is exactly what I was looking for! And just for curiousity, if you have a course retake does it give you the option to enter both? Also, when you do your application does it calculate your science gpa, and last 45 for you for each school?

It doesn't calculate your science GPA. Not that I saw, at least. Nor the last 45. But I might have missed that?


As for your first question... I don't think so. You just pick one. (Likely, the better one.)

 

[Cephal0pod]

Also, when you do your application does it calculate your science gpa, and last 45 for you for each school?

It doesn't calculate your science GPA. Not that I saw, at least. Nor the last 45. But I might have missed that?

VMCAS does calculate an overall science GPA after you submit/get verified, but the schools do the last 45 I believe. Once you have submitted and been verified, you can go back in and look at all the GPAs that VMCAS calculated for you.

 

[c0smopolitan]

To the OP, as far as re-taking your courses from 2010, if you decide not to, make sure the schools you're applying to will accept pre-reqs taken that long ago. I know for some schools they won't count pre-reqs more than 6 years old, but I'm not sure if that's at the time of application or matriculation.

The dates were a concern of mine as well, and it's definitely going to have to be something I look into when it comes to for me to apply based on the schools requirements.

It doesn't calculate your science GPA. Not that I saw, at least. Nor the last 45. But I might have missed that?


As for your first question... I don't think so. You just pick one. (Likely, the better one.)

Thank you!

VMCAS does calculate an overall science GPA after you submit/get verified, but the schools do the last 45 I believe. Once you have submitted and been verified, you can go back in and look at all the GPAs that VMCAS calculated for you.

The science GPA I've heard can vary a bit from school to school, is that true? Will your last 45 per school show on your application or is that just information that they hold?

 

[Cephal0pod]

The science GPA I've heard can vary a bit from school to school, is that true? Will your last 45 per school show on your application or is that just information that they hold?

Kind of - I don't have a ton of experience with that, but my understanding is that some schools may calculate a pre-req GPA, for example. So, that may or may not vary a bit from your science GPA that VMCAS calculates, as well as among schools. Your last 45 doesn't show up anywhere on your VMCAS app, and I don't remember seeing it on any of the online portals for the schools I applied to. I just calculated it on my own to get a feel for what it would probably be and didn't worry about it.

 

[CynicKitten]

VMCAS does calculate an overall science GPA after you submit/get verified, but the schools do the last 45 I believe. Once you have submitted and been verified, you can go back in and look at all the GPAs that VMCAS calculated for you.

Ah, I see! Mine was never "verified", as I applied to CSU only, and they did not look at VMCAS LORs, so I didn't have my recommenders fill that out.

 

[VetMedVetMed]

As far as VMCAS goes (the common application), you can "pick" which classes get counted for the prereqs. For example, if you have taken 4 English courses, but the school you are applying to only requires 3, you highlight the 3 you want to submit for the prereq.

This is what it looks like now (as VMCAS is closed):

So you get to pick the course that goes with each prereq.

I think this depends on the individual schools you apply to though right? I did not have this option, so is it only certain schools you can pick?

 

[CynicKitten]

I wouldn't know. :/ Only applied to one.

 

[VetMedVetMed]

I wouldn't know. :/ Only applied to one.

Yeah because I applied to two different schools (not CSU), and I did not have this option on vmcas for either school. I am assuming this is not for every school, and will probably be only for some.