Is there a limit on class repeats?

[teddibendel]

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I recently graduated college (UCLA) with a Physiology major and am planning out my next year before applying to DO schools.

I've taking all prereqs for med school but didn't do well in them. Therefore, I am planning on retaking about 8-10 classes (2 semesters + summer perhaps) at a State college and was wondering if there was an actual limit to how many classes you are allowed to retake.

I know that while I was enrolled at UCLA, there was something like a 16 unit repeat limit (meaning that I was only allowed to retake about 4 classes). Do any of these limits apply to me after I graduated? Will they look bad upon me for retaking so many classes?

Also, would it be bad for me to take some classes at a Community College instead of a State college?

Thank you!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I recently graduated college (UCLA) with a Physiology major and am planning out my next year before applying to DO schools.

I've taking all prereqs for med school but didn't do well in them. Therefore, I am planning on retaking about 8-10 classes (2 semesters + summer perhaps) at a State college and was wondering if there was an actual limit to how many classes you are allowed to retake.
No, there is no explicit limit on the amount of courses you can retake, however money and time is always a limiting factor.

I know that while I was enrolled at UCLA, there was something like a 16 unit repeat limit (meaning that I was only allowed to retake about 4 classes). Do any of these limits apply to me after I graduated? Will they look bad upon me for retaking so many classes?
Call UCLA, and it'll probably look kinda bad, but it's better than having 8 C's & D's on your transcript.

Also, would it be bad for me to take some classes at a Community College instead of a State college?
Many Pre-DO's on SDN have repeated classes at CC's, I cannot say whether it is inherently a bad choice, but as stated above, it is better to have 8 more A's from a C.C than 8 C's & D's.

Thank you!

Good luck.
I'm curious though, what is your gpa to make you want to retake 8 classes?

 

[teddibendel]

Good luck.
I'm curious though, what is your gpa to make you want to retake 8 classes?

Thanks for the quick response serenade.
My GPA according to AACOMAS right now is

Non-sci = 3.07
Science = 2.74
Cumulative = 2.86

I did some calculations and concluded that in a hypothetical situation where I would get all As in the 8 repeats that I'm planning on taking, my GPA according to AACOMAS would be

Non-sci = 3.07
Science = 3.35
Cumulative = 3.25

Or if I were to retake 10 classes and get all As (I'd retake 2 Math classes, which is considered non-science by DO schools if I'm not mistaken), my GPA would be

Non-sci = 3.31
Science = 3.35
Cumulative = 3.34

I know it's hypothetical and I'm likely to break down in the midst of it all, but right now it's my plan. I also know the GPA I'll end up with is not ideal, but I'm willing to try. I know what I'm capable of, but lacked the motivation to ever really study in college. It's about time I grow up though.

Thanks again!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I think those 2 math courses have a lot of effect on your gpa so they might be worth retaking. But yes, try to retake the classes in which you got extremely low grades D's & F's first and then if you really need to, then move on to C's.

 

[teddibendel]

I think those 2 math courses have a lot of effect on your gpa so they might be worth retaking. But yes, try to retake the classes in which you got extremely low grades D's & F's first and then if you really need to, then move on to C's.

Thanks for the advice serenade!

Most of the classes I'm retaking, I took during my first 2 years in college. During my 3rd year I started taking school more seriously so I have mostly As and Bs and a couple of Cs in my upper division science classes. So hopefully the upward trend will help me a little.

I got Cs in all the classes I'm retaking =\.

 

[deleted245139]

with all that, I would HIGHLY recommend you either do a Post-bac program somewhere, or a masters program with research (try to get published). I had a 2.9 science from UG, but did a masters and got a 3.65. Even that put me low for some schools im sure... Alot of them see those basic courses as a window into your ability to handle the course load in med school. GL!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

with all that, I would HIGHLY recommend you either do a Post-bac program somewhere, or a masters program with research (try to get published). I had a 2.9 science from UG, but did a masters and got a 3.65. Even that put me low for some schools im sure... Alot of them see those basic courses as a window into your ability to handle the course load in med school. GL!

Sorry, but going to graduate school and spending a ton of money on a worthless degree to get into medical school is pretty much a really dumb idea. The only masters programs you should try to get into is a SMP, and on the topic of an post-bacc, it's going to be completely ineffective at bringing his gpa up and cost a hell of a lot.
Anyways, medical schools don't really even care too much about your graduate school gpa as many adcoms believe graduate school has extreme grade inflation. As such it really is noting but a good EC in most peoples cases.

 

[deleted245139]

Sorry, but going to graduate school and spending a ton of money on a worthless degree to get into medical school is pretty much a really dumb idea. The only masters programs you should try to get into is a SMP, and on the topic of an post-bacc, it's going to be completely ineffective at bringing his gpa up and cost a hell of a lot.
Anyways, medical schools don't really even care too much about your graduate school gpa as many adcoms believe graduate school has extreme grade inflation. As such it really is noting but a good EC in most peoples cases.

haha no need to apologize, my MS was sort of worthless in the end... I agree with you. The thing is though... repeating that many courses and trying to 'replace grades' is going to 1-cost MUCH more than its worth, and 2-give you ZERO to show for it in the end...

I suggested the MS more as a way to offer yourself something to branch into if all else should fail. If your heart is set on medicine, the post-bac program is going to serve the purpose just fine, but a post-bac opens up no new career options. I'm not trying to be mean, but those stats will never get a person into a medical school... I got out of my MS program with virtually no loans. It can be done, and what the OP really needs is options that will provide them an avenue for sucess...

That said... youre right lol... if med school didnt work out, a MS in Neuroscience wouldnt have done much for me

 

[teddibendel]

haha no need to apologize, my MS was sort of worthless in the end... I agree with you. The thing is though... repeating that many courses and trying to 'replace grades' is going to 1-cost MUCH more than its worth, and 2-give you ZERO to show for it in the end...

I suggested the MS more as a way to offer yourself something to branch into if all else should fail. If your heart is set on medicine, the post-bac program is going to serve the purpose just fine, but a post-bac opens up no new career options. I'm not trying to be mean, but those stats will never get a person into a medical school... I got out of my MS program with virtually no loans. It can be done, and what the OP really needs is options that will provide them an avenue for sucess...

That said... youre right lol... if med school didnt work out, a MS in Neuroscience wouldnt have done much for me

Thanks for your response and honesty.

I understand that retaking that many classes will cost a lot of money, but it will still be considerably less than a formal post bacc program. From what I understand, what I'm doing is considered an informal post bacc.

The only difference I've noted between the two is that the formal post bacc is structured and offers a support system. I just can't seem to bring myself to first of all possibly move far away for something I can do close to home, and second of all pay so much extra money for just counseling/support when I have SDN 😛

As for doing a MS program, this will still be a viable option for me if med school doesn't work out. I know it will be a hard road, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I just don't want to regret not trying at all later on in life.

To address Serenade's point about doing an SMP: I'm probably going to be applying to SMP while I'm applying to DO schools. From what I've researched, SMP programs are extremely selective and hard to get into as well, which with my stats I'm not making the cut quite yet.

Thanks again for the responses!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

SMP programs aren't horribly selective, they look at people based on one test score. But they are dangerous and could tank your application even more if you don't get above a 3.5 in one.

 

[deleted245139]

Thanks for your response and honesty.

I understand that retaking that many classes will cost a lot of money, but it will still be considerably less than a formal post bacc program. From what I understand, what I'm doing is considered an informal post bacc.

The only difference I've noted between the two is that the formal post bacc is structured and offers a support system. I just can't seem to bring myself to first of all possibly move far away for something I can do close to home, and second of all pay so much extra money for just counseling/support when I have SDN 😛

As for doing a MS program, this will still be a viable option for me if med school doesn't work out. I know it will be a hard road, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I just don't want to regret not trying at all later on in life.

To address Serenade's point about doing an SMP: I'm probably going to be applying to SMP while I'm applying to DO schools. From what I've researched, SMP programs are extremely selective and hard to get into as well, which with my stats I'm not making the cut quite yet.

Thanks again for the responses!

no worries! just offering options... above all the key is to stay hungry and hot get discouraged. It can be a long road, but if you're persistent you can make it (this is me speaking from experience!) GL to you!