Need advice! Should I retake physics II or take a higher level bio class?

[cm0512]

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Hello guys, I hope you can help me out!
I'm currently in my first gap year after graduating and plan to apply MD in the next cycle. I've been working in a research position, volunteering, and am nearly done retaking physics I at a local university. As an undergrad, I got a C and C- in my 2 physics courses (rough year full of mistakes that are irrelevant at this point) and thought it might be best to retake these classes to show adcoms I do actually know the material now. However, after this first retake semester, I'm questioning if I should keep going with this plan. I've found Physics I to be pretty easy because I pretty much relearned the material on my own last year when I took the MCAT (I scored a 516, including a 128 on the chem/phys section). I think I'll be feeling similarly next semester when I retake physics II, and am wondering if it would be a better use of my time and money to take a new higher level biology class such as immunology? Some people have told me that physics isn't even that important to most schools. At the same time, I don't want to be automatically screened out for that C-...
I appreciate any and all input! Thanks!

 

[HomeSkool]

It's not in your best interest to retake that course for three reasons. First, you won't be screened out for a C- or two. Second, retaking it won't make the C- disappear -- for AMCAS purposes, both grades will be averaged into your GPA. Third, if you do retake that class, adcoms will expect an A since you've already been exposed to the material. So you stand nothing to gain by retaking it, and you actually could hurt yourself.

If you want to retake it to bone up on the material for MCAT purposes, audit the course.

 

[calivianya]

A bunch of schools have a C, not a C minus, as a hard requirement. You might not get screened out at those places, but they'll make you retake it anyway before you can matriculate. Might as well retake it now while you have some momentum.

 

[cm0512]

It's not in your best interest to retake that course for three reasons. First, you won't be screened out for a C- or two. Second, retaking it won't make the C- disappear -- for AMCAS purposes, both grades will be averaged into your GPA. Third, if you do retake that class, adcoms will expect an A since you've already been exposed to the material. So you stand nothing to gain by retaking it, and you actually could hurt yourself.

If you want to retake it to bone up on the material for MCAT purposes, audit the course.

Okay, thank you so much. I am getting an A in physics I right now, but I almost feel silly going through this material again. Also just to clarify - I have already taken the MCAT and don't plan on retaking the 516 (not sure if I have the energy in me to do any better than that lol...) @HomeSkool do you think I should take the higher level bio class then? I am most interested in immunology or biology of reproduction.

 

[HomeSkool]

Okay, thank you so much. I am getting an A in physics I right now, but I almost feel silly going through this material again. Also just to clarify - I have already taken the MCAT and don't plan on retaking the 516 (not sure if I have the energy in me to do any better than that lol...) @HomeSkool do you think I should take the higher level bio class then? I am most interested in immunology or biology of reproduction.

I was a microbiology major with a medical micro emphasis, so my advice is almost always to take the higher-level bio course. (And then people look at me and say, "Take the bio course? WTF? We were talking about football." But I digress.) In this case, though, my answer is that it depends on why you're taking it. Are you doing a DIY post-bacc to bring up your GPA? Then it may be worthwhile to take the course. But if it's solely for your own edification and interest, you may want to just audit. Since your grade on that course would be averaged into your AMCAS GPA, you should only take the course if you're relatively certain you can get an A.

 

[cm0512]

I was a microbiology major with a medical micro emphasis, so my advice is almost always to take the higher-level bio course. (And then people look at me and say, "Take the bio course? WTF? We were talking about football." But I digress.) In this case, though, my answer is that it depends on why you're taking it. Are you doing a DIY post-bacc to bring up your GPA? Then it may be worthwhile to take the course. But if it's solely for your own edification and interest, you may want to just audit. Since your grade on that course would be averaged into your AMCAS GPA, you should only take the course if you're relatively certain you can get an A.

I guess I'm doing a sort of mini DIY post-bacc... I had to get a full-time job, so taking a full course load wasn't really an option. I figured A's in 2 more courses would get my GPA up .06 or so and keep my upward trend going.

 

[HomeSkool]

I guess I'm doing a sort of mini DIY post-bacc... I had to get a full-time job, so taking a full course load wasn't really an option. I figured A's in 2 more courses would get my GPA up .06 or so and keep my upward trend going.

What's your GPA now?

 

[cm0512]

What's your GPA now?

3.45... So definitely not great at all.

 

[HomeSkool]

3.45... So definitely not great at all.

But not terrible. You're competitive for DO schools, and possibly some MD schools, too. I advise only taking further courses if you're very sure you can get A's. Otherwise, you have a lot of risk with very little reward.

@Goro, what are your thoughts?

 

[Lawpy]

Hello guys, I hope you can help me out!
I'm currently in my first gap year after graduating and plan to apply MD in the next cycle. I've been working in a research position, volunteering, and am nearly done retaking physics I at a local university. As an undergrad, I got a C and C- in my 2 physics courses (rough year full of mistakes that are irrelevant at this point) and thought it might be best to retake these classes to show adcoms I do actually know the material now. However, after this first retake semester, I'm questioning if I should keep going with this plan. I've found Physics I to be pretty easy because I pretty much relearned the material on my own last year when I took the MCAT (I scored a 516, including a 128 on the chem/phys section). I think I'll be feeling similarly next semester when I retake physics II, and am wondering if it would be a better use of my time and money to take a new higher level biology class such as immunology? Some people have told me that physics isn't even that important to most schools. At the same time, I don't want to be automatically screened out for that C-...
I appreciate any and all input! Thanks!

Pretty sure you would need to retake prereqs if you got anything below a C, so it's better to retake that physics course. A 3.45/516 with an upward trend should be okay for all DO schools, and some mix of low and mid tiers (and your state schools). 516 isn't high enough to compensate for the low GPA to impress the stat hungry schools and Top 20. I'd apply to a mix of MD and DO to ensure acceptance somewhere in your cycle.

 

[cm0512]

But not terrible. You're competitive for DO schools, and possibly some MD schools, too. I advise only taking further courses if you're very sure you can get A's. Otherwise, you have a lot of risk with very little reward.

@Goro, what are your thoughts?

Just to put the rest of my application into context, I was thinking I'd have a shot at MD with my (hopefully somewhat) unique narrative. I'd be happy with any MD school and will definitely apply DO if I need to, but I took these 2 gap years to try and make my application as competitive as possible for MD. Unfortunately the GPA is really bringing me down and can't come up that much :/ .

Sorry for the ramble, and not sure if it is at all relevant, but my main question - do you think an A in a new higher-level bio class will give adcoms more confidence in my future abilities? I will also retake physics II if I have to next year during the app cycle, but I just really want to demonstrate that I am capable of handling med school coursework, despite my performance in the first 2 years of undergrad! @Goro I would be more than grateful for any insight you have as well!

 

[Lawpy]

Just to put the rest of my application into context, I was thinking I'd have a shot at MD with my (hopefully somewhat) unique narrative. I come from an immigrant African family (moved here when I was 11) and was lucky enough to attend one of the HYP schools. While there, I did a lot of volunteer work with immigrant populations and global health research focused on the region my family comes from. I'm hoping to center my application around my commitment to working with underserved populations/ my global perspective from growing up on two continents. I'd be happy with any MD school and will definitely apply DO if I need to, but I took these 2 gap years to try and make my application as competitive as possible for MD. Unfortunately the GPA is really bringing me down and can't come up that much :/ .

Sorry for the ramble, and not sure if it is at all relevant, but my main question - do you think an A in a new higher-level bio class will give adcoms more confidence in my future abilities? I will also retake physics II if I have to next year during the app cycle, but I just really want to demonstrate that I am capable of handling med school coursework, despite my performance in the first 2 years of undergrad! @Goro I would be more than grateful for any insight you have as well!

This changes things. I think you can apply anywhere you want and your GPA won't be much of a hindrance. I would still aim to retake the C- in physics because some schools specifically want all prereqs being C or higher. Other than that, you should be fine applying MD only.

Your 516 MCAT already demonstrates your strong academic ability. You can take more courses if you want to continue the upward trend, but I think you will be fine as is.

 

[cm0512]

This changes things. I think you can apply anywhere you want and your GPA won't be much of a hindrance. I would still aim to retake the C- in physics because some schools specifically want all prereqs being C or higher. Other than that, you should be fine applying MD only.

Your 516 MCAT already demonstrates your strong academic ability. You can take more courses if you want to continue the upward trend, but I think you will be fine as is.

Okay, thank you for the advice! The GPA is still not super great though and I had plenty of classmates with compelling stories AND grades lol. What's done is done though. I'm really going back and forth on this since the deadline to sign up for courses is coming up. But I guess you're right about the MCAT/academic ability so might as well get this physics done with.

 

[HomeSkool]

I dug into MSAR stuff and discovered that @Lawper is right: you should retake the C- course, as some schools want prereqs to be C (not C-) or higher. I don't know where that particular brain fart came from, but there it is.

The rest of my advice still stands: don't take additional coursework unless you're certain you can do well enough to increase your GPA. Your GPA/MCAT combination and other details are compelling enough already, and I agree that your MCAT score demonstrates your academic chops. Apart from the physics retake, you'd probably just be wasting your time and money by taking additional courses.

 

[Goro]

But not terrible. You're competitive for DO schools, and possibly some MD schools, too. I advise only taking further courses if you're very sure you can get A's. Otherwise, you have a lot of risk with very little reward.

@Goro, what are your thoughts?

Agree with my learned colleague 100%

 

[Goro]

Just to put the rest of my application into context, I was thinking I'd have a shot at MD with my (hopefully somewhat) unique narrative. I come from an immigrant African family (moved here when I was 11) and was lucky enough to attend one of the HYP schools. While there, I did a lot of volunteer work with immigrant populations and global health research focused on the region my family comes from. I'm hoping to center my application around my commitment to working with underserved populations/ my global perspective from growing up on two continents. I'd be happy with any MD school and will definitely apply DO if I need to, but I took these 2 gap years to try and make my application as competitive as possible for MD. Unfortunately the GPA is really bringing me down and can't come up that much :/ .

Sorry for the ramble, and not sure if it is at all relevant, but my main question - do you think an A in a new higher-level bio class will give adcoms more confidence in my future abilities? I will also retake physics II if I have to next year during the app cycle, but I just really want to demonstrate that I am capable of handling med school coursework, despite my performance in the first 2 years of undergrad! @Goro I would be more than grateful for any insight you have as well!

One A in one course isn't going to help as much as multiple As in multiple courses.

 

[cm0512]

@Goro That all makes sense. I had all A's/A-'s in my senior year and mostly A's junior year, but I didn't take very many biology courses as compared to chem and biochem. I think I'll stick with retaking physics II to fulfill the requirement. But man, I really wish I could've done a full post-bac! Would've made me feel a lot more confident going into this cycle.

 

[21Rush12]

Might as well retake it now while you have some momentum.

I see what you did there...