Opinion on failed classes?

[Future OSU Vet]

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I have 3 failed ("F") classes on my transcript. I realize that retaking them is probably the best thing but one was from a decade ago and I'm not sure any of the classes are still available. So attempt to retake them, just try to explain why or ignore them if your GPA is high enough?


2001: Exercise physiology (undergrad)- was working full-time with 2 jobs as a full-time student, class listed no pre-reqs but should have

2005: 2 online education classes (grad) - briefly considered taking the classes for Alternative Licensure to teach HS Biology. I didn't do well with the online classes and dealing with depression.

 

[moosenanny]

You probably don't need to retake these classes specifically since they are not pre-req classes, and you took them so long ago. I think it is more important to take upper-division science classes now and do well.

If I were you the thing I would worry about is having gotten F's in 2001 and 2005. You didn't just have one isolated semester of bad grades that you could explain away as unusual circumstances. Since you got F grades at two different points in your life, adcoms might be suspicious that you don't know how to learn from your mistakes. If you explain both your 2001 and 2005 circumstances, adcoms might think you're just making excuses.

If you choose to utilize the explanation statement, make sure you show what you've learned from these experiences and how you are certain it won't happen again in the future.

 

[twelvetigers]

If your more recent academic history (in more relevant classes) is solid, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[Future OSU Vet]

You probably don't need to retake these classes specifically since they are not pre-req classes, and you took them so long ago. I think it is more important to take upper-division science classes now and do well.

If I were you the thing I would worry about is having gotten F's in 2001 and 2005. You didn't just have one isolated semester of bad grades that you could explain away as unusual circumstances. Since you got F grades at two different points in your life, adcoms might be suspicious that you don't know how to learn from your mistakes. If you explain both your 2001 and 2005 circumstances, adcoms might think you're just making excuses.

If you choose to utilize the explanation statement, make sure you show what you've learned from these experiences and how you are certain it won't happen again in the future.

This is why I'm thinking I shouldn't even bother applying and why I've been debating about it for several years.


I started college at 16 (PSEO) and worked full-time for the most part. I went to college for seven years straight without breaks (5 for undergrad, 2 for grad).

In 2001, I was a senior with 2 jobs, living with my grandma and was pretty overwhelmed. I was only 20.

In 2006 (not 2005 like I said), I decided to restart my graduate Education coursework (after stopping the previous year) so emailed the advisor. She said I had to sign up *that day* for discounted tuition so instead of thinking things through and waiting for the next quarter, I jumped on it. I immediately regretted it. I don't do well with distance learning and I was working full-time (in a field I hated). I was also struggling with depression and had just started dealing with it. Failing these classes just made me feel worse about myself. I looked into retaking them a year or two later and was told they no longer offered the classes.

I realize these just sound like excuses. It may not seem like it, but I did learn from my mistakes. I hate failing more than anything.

This past June, I graduated from my vet tech program Summa Cum Laude with a 3.815 GPA (major GPA 3.958) and made the Dean's List every quarter. Even with my three failed classes, my GPA is above a 3.0. I would hate to be rejected just because of this.

 

[moosenanny]

This is why I'm thinking I shouldn't even bother applying and why I've been debating about it for several years.

No! Don't interpret my post with this conclusion. I didn't mean to discourage you. You just need to be realistic about your weaknesses and strategically address them (in the explanation statment and/or personal statment and/or supplemental essays and/or interview). Like TT said, as long as your more recent coursework proves you can succeed in demanding science classes, you may be totally fine. If you have great experience and a solid GRE score, you definitely stand a chance! You won't know unless you try. And worst is you apply and don't get in on the first try - but then you can get a file review and get constructive criticism from the school(s) so you know how to improve for next time.

 

[LetItSnow]

This is why I'm thinking I shouldn't even bother applying and why I've been debating about it for several years. [...]
This past June, I graduated from my vet tech program Summa Cum Laude with a 3.815 GPA (major GPA 3.958) and made the Dean's List every quarter. Even with my three failed classes, my GPA is above a 3.0. I would hate to be rejected just because of this.

Hey, FOSU.....

People get in with sub-3.0 GPAs. Sure, they have to rock the rest of the application that much more, but it IS possible. And people with a 4.0 get rejected. It happens.

So. You're just like anybody else - you might get rejected, you might not. But I'd try to avoid thinking of your grades as a reason to not apply; they're either an asset or an opportunity. There are plenty of reasons not to apply (financial, lifestyle, difficulty, deciding it's not the career path you want, etc.), but don't let wondering about your grades be the reason. That sort of reason is the kind of thing that bugs you down the road when you'll be wondering 'what if', as opposed to an intentional, resolved 'I don't want to do that' decision.

Anyway... fwiw.

 

[pennyonthefloor]

This is why I'm thinking I shouldn't even bother applying and why I've been debating about it for several years.


I started college at 16 (PSEO) and worked full-time for the most part. I went to college for seven years straight without breaks (5 for undergrad, 2 for grad).

In 2001, I was a senior with 2 jobs, living with my grandma and was pretty overwhelmed. I was only 20.

In 2006 (not 2005 like I said), I decided to restart my graduate Education coursework (after stopping the previous year) so emailed the advisor. She said I had to sign up *that day* for discounted tuition so instead of thinking things through and waiting for the next quarter, I jumped on it. I immediately regretted it. I don't do well with distance learning and I was working full-time (in a field I hated). I was also struggling with depression and had just started dealing with it. Failing these classes just made me feel worse about myself. I looked into retaking them a year or two later and was told they no longer offered the classes.

I realize these just sound like excuses. It may not seem like it, but I did learn from my mistakes. I hate failing more than anything.

This past June, I graduated from my vet tech program Summa Cum Laude with a 3.815 GPA (major GPA 3.958) and made the Dean's List every quarter. Even with my three failed classes, my GPA is above a 3.0. I would hate to be rejected just because of this.

My $0.02:

If it is something you are passionate about and truly do want to be in this profession-- DO NOT GIVE UP! Do not let grades be a major barrier to your desire to be a vet. They matter, but they aren't everything. One of the admissions people told me a few years back-- Rejection will either cause you to give up or light a fire under your butt. You have to decide which.

Case-in-point: Me. I start at OSU this fall. I am one of the rare sub-par GPA people.... I can give you exact figures on my GPA if you'd like, but know this: my calculations of undergrad GPA was 2.95.... Grad school, I brought it up significantly. I kept beating on the door of OSU's vet school and wasn't going to take "no" for an answer. I made myself 100% focused on getting in and veterinary medicine-- pushing myself outside of my comfort zone constantly to better my application. This was my third time applying (once in 07, once in 09 and then last year)....

Vet schools (especially OSU) look for trends. Did you fail a few classes early on but snap out of it and prove that you can handle it? Did something happen in life (e.g. death in the family) that caused you to do horrible for a quarter or two but you bounced back? Because of my crap-tastic GPA in undergrad, my overall GPA when I applied to vet school wasn't impressive (less than a 3.5).... I had circumstances that I had to overcome in undergrad that were outside the norm and yes, they took that into account.

Don't be discouraged just because you bombed a few classes. It happens. Learn from it, make yourself an amazing applicant and don't let it happen again. 🙂

Best of luck!

 

[that redhead]

I have 3 failed ("F") classes on my transcript. I realize that retaking them is probably the best thing but one was from a decade ago and I'm not sure any of the classes are still available. So attempt to retake them, just try to explain why or ignore them if your GPA is high enough?

2001: Exercise physiology (undergrad)- was working full-time with 2 jobs as a full-time student, class listed no pre-reqs but should have

2005: 2 online education classes (grad) - briefly considered taking the classes for Alternative Licensure to teach HS Biology. I didn't do well with the online classes and dealing with depression.

I wouldn't retake the classes because they aren't pre-requisites so they don't really matter as much. But I wouldn't ignore them, even if your GPA from then on has been perfect As - at least address them in your explanation statement. (And to be frank, "class listed with no pre-reqs that should have had pre-reqs" isn't a great explanation since I'd bet other students passed with no pre-reqs. Just sayin'.)

And as mentioned above, they are from two different (and spaced) times in your life, no one isolated incident. It appears that you've been able to turn around, though, with your most recent grades. I would also be prepared to talk about what you've learned from these occurances, because the ability to deal with life (jobs, etc) while taking classes is valuable to admissions people. They like to see that you can either handle it or drop the class before you let yourself bomb it. Good luck.