Making up for a not so stellar grade

[estradiol9]

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Looking for some opinions..

I am a biology major. I took Physics I & II already. I got A's in the labs but C+'s in both of the lecture courses. I have gotten A's in all of my biology courses and B/B+'s in my chemistry courses. My current cGPA is a 3.7. My sGPA is a 3.6.

I'm worried about looking weak in physics. (I already know it is not my strongest subject.) I have not taken my MCAT yet but I plan to study as much as I possibly can, especially the physical sciences section.

Do you think it's worth retaking the classes? I am afraid of retaking and not getting that much of a better grade. I am taking Biophysics I (300 level physics course) and Biophysics II (400 level physics course) this upcoming fall/spring. If I do well in these two courses, do you think it will make up for the C+s in Physics I & II?

As a side note, my university grades on A/B+/B/C+/C/D/F scale as opposed to A+/A/A-/B+/B/B-/C+/C/C-/etc. Does that make a difference?

 

[Barcu]

Don't retake. It will have very little impact on your gpa and is just a waste of time.

Doing better on upper-division physics will help and so will a solid PS score. Just make sure you know the physics well enough to do well on the MCAT and those higher courses.

 

[vanillabear55]

I got A's in the labs but C+'s in both of the lecture courses. I have gotten A's in all of my biology courses and B/B+'s in my chemistry courses. My current cGPA is a 3.7. My sGPA is a 3.6.

AH! I took physics I, and got an A- in the lab and a C in the Lecture. I'm taking physics II's lecture this summer and HOPEFULLY won't get another C.

Do you think it's worth retaking the classes? I am afraid of retaking and not getting that much of a better grade. I am taking Biophysics I (300 level physics course) and Biophysics II (400 level physics course) this upcoming fall/spring. If I do well in these two courses, do you think it will make up for the C+s in Physics I & II?

I would definitely think that taking 2 semesters of upper level physics would make up for it, but are you sure you can do well in those classes? What type of topics does biophysics cover? I have never heard of it before- they don't have it at my school. :/

As a side note, my university grades on A/B+/B/C+/C/D/F scale as opposed to A+/A/A-/B+/B/B-/C+/C/C-/etc. Does that make a difference?

I don't think it does, AMCAS will calculate it the same way...but if you were on the brink of a B- gradewise it kinda sucks you got stuck with the C+ since your school doesn't give B- as a grade.

 

[Tapepsi]

Retaking it isn't worth it imo. One of the med schools I applied to said that anyone can do well in a class the second time, and so they disregard any repeated courses. In terms of biophysics, I would definitely recommend you NOT take it. If physics isn't a strong subject for you, this could be a disaster.

Make up for the lower grades in physics by doing really well on the physical sciences portion of the MCAT. That way schools will think that you do know your physics as you can do well on a standardized test, and that it might just be that your school has a tough physics professor.

 

[rafflecopter]

Make up for the lower grades in physics by doing really well on the physical sciences portion of the MCAT. That way schools will think that you do know your physics as you can do well on a standardized test, and that it might just be that your school has a tough physics professor.

This. Don't bother retaking or taking more physics, its unnecessary and just adding pain and misery to your life if it isn't your strongest subject. You have a great GPA already so I wouldn't let it bother you too much. Just focus on physics first for your MCAT review and soon it'll be your strongest subject. Good luck. 👍