Old Credits and Florida...

[YeEhAw]

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So, like a lot of people here, I am going back to school after an appreciable hiatus (10 years, perhaps you can tell by my registration date) and I went to sign up for a few classes today and get the ball rolling, so to speak.

I already took some of the prerequisites back during my initial academic foray, but not all of them. For example, I took the first semester of Bio 1, but not 2. I took 2 semesters of Gen. Chem, but no Orgo and things of that nature. My performance ranged from good to bad.

Anyways, since it is has been so long, I was planning on just retaking the lot of them since 1) I heard some schools won't accept credits after a certain length of time, 2) I need the refresher for the MCAT (and my GPA) since I forgot most of everything beyond some fundamental concepts and 3) I know I couldn't get into any kind of SMP/med school the way things currently stand.

However, today when I went to register, I was informed that I could not register for some of the classes since I already received a C or better in them during my previous attempt. Apparently, this is a Florida law and applies to all public schools in the state of Florida. It doesn't matter if it was 10 years or 20 years ago, got a C or better? Can't retake it. Forgot everything? Too bad.

Suffice it to say, this throws a wrench into what I previously thought were my well-laid plans.

I know some schools would say not to re-take the pre-reqs, if you have already taken them and got a C or better and to take an upper division alternative instead. However, since I don't remember most of Gen Chem 1 and 2 for instance, it would be quite dumb of me to take something that builds upon those courses. Taking the MCAT after a ten year break from the very subjects it focuses on would be quite dumb too. Also, I worry about the schools that would say my credits are too old, of course.

I was curious if other states have this rule (I might end up having to move elsewhere) and if anyone, who perhaps encountered a similar situation had any advice.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: My current tentative plan for the spring semester, is just to take/re-take the courses I can and 'fill in the holes' in my prereqs.

 

[GenusTide]

I do not know this to be the norm. I personally know of a handful of students at USF that have retaken orgo's, physics, etc... because they wanted to replace their "C" with a better grade. However, I would not recommend retaking any course that you previously did well in (A,B) due to a chance of getting a lower grade and cutting yourself off at the knee's so to speak. I also know at least two "Non-trads" who took pre-req's years ago and really made the effort to study the MCAT material offered by Kaplan and really did surprisingly well on the real test. I would guess it would depend on the institution your going to and the rules they have.
Good luck

 

[YeEhAw]

I was pondering taking the MCAT by just buying some study materials for it and hitting the books for a few months, but I figured it would be prudent to take/re-take the classes first.

I still need to take some of the classes either way.

My previous school (UF), would let you re-take the class if you got a C or better, they just wouldn't award you credit for it and thus it wouldn't affect your GPA. They wouldn't just straight up bar your from taking the class however, so it seems that "state regulations" aren't enforced very consistently.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Anyways, since it is has been so long, I was planning on just retaking the lot of them since 1) I heard some schools won't accept credits after a certain length of time, 2) I need the refresher for the MCAT (and my GPA) since I forgot most of everything beyond some fundamental concepts and 3) I know I couldn't get into any kind of SMP/med school the way things currently stand.

I know some schools would say not to re-take the pre-reqs, if you have already taken them and got a C or better and to take an upper division alternative instead. However, since I don't remember most of Gen Chem 1 and 2 for instance, it would be quite dumb of me to take something that builds upon those courses. Taking the MCAT after a ten year break from the very subjects it focuses on would be quite dumb too. Also, I worry about the schools that would say my credits are too old, of course.

I got my degree in FL, but I am no longer in state, so I am unfamiliar with that particular policy. I am, however, in a similar situation time-wise...but I've got a few years on you. 😉

I audited a few old classes prior to taking the MCAT. I would highly recommend going that route. You typically need to get a signature from the dept. head and just pay an administrative fee. My profs had different policies on what they allowed - one only to sit in on lecture, one said I had to do all testing, others let me do what I wanted/needed. It was a great way to review the material.

I then took a Kaplan course and reviewed the info I hadn't retaken through class, supplemented by all of their online preview and post-class quizzes.

I did okay (32), but I think if I had found time to audit all the courses I needed, I would have been golden. It's not worth me retaking, but if I could go back in time....

Anyway, hope this helps!

 

[cantthink]

i've shared this idea on here before....because I think it's awesome and it's worked so well for me thus far.....

I have old prereqs too...i got my undergrad degree in 2004. I needed to refresh myself in Chem 1 so I could take Chem 2 this spring. I checked what edition of the book Chem 1 is using this semester (the 9th, for discussions sake). So then I went on Amazon and looked up the 8th edition and click on the "Used from" link on the page.....used old editions of books cost about 25-50cents...

you get most of the same content to get you up to speed with the class and plenty of practice problems to help learn.

its a great way of getting info cheap 🙂


I think if you can show that you still get it,(getting an A in chem 2 even though its been 10 years since your C in Chem 1 for example) it would offset any negative view of the old prereq.