Physics course credit discrepancy

[Darkskies]

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I posted earlier this summer about whether I should take both an MCAT course and physics I and II over the summer. I decided in only taking the physics courses at a local private university(state schools are far from my vicinity). I had recklessly taken physics I and II at my 4 year institution and fared poorly in them due to a number of factors. My grades were C+ and C- respectively for the first and second semester courses. These classes were worth 4 credits because the labs were counted in. The labs at my university were quite elementary and were only graded on a pass/fail basis to contribute some percentage to your grade. Now that I am taking the courses again over the summer( I am currently enrolled in the first semester) the college I'm enrolled in offers the class separate from the lab so each course only consists of three credits and the lab is separate and to be counted as 1 credit. I did not enroll for the laboratory 1 credit courses. I am doing quite well in the class however and should get an A at least for physics I so far. Since the courses are only three credits however does that mean averaging my C+/C- with 2 As worth only three credits each will not result in a grade boost to B+/B?

I ask this because I had actually taken a higher level physics class my freshmen year and ended up withdrawing from it but had completed the labs and when I retook physics my sophomore year(when I fared poorly) I did not have to retake the lab which indicates to me that even though the lab grade accounted for a segment of my lecture course GPA, there may exist separate records for each at my university. Does anyone know if there might be some way to have the lab and class grades appear separately on my transcript(for people who have had similar physics courses where the lab and lecture course grades are given as a whole) so that adcomms would be able to see that I did perfectly fine in the labs and only poorly in the lecture course for which I should hopefully redeem myself this summer with the three credit courses? The reason I'm not taking the extra 1 credit labs is because that would amount to another 1k I'd have to pay for the courses. How would adcomms view this? Is obtaining As in the three credit lecture courses equivalent to redeeming my C+/C- the first time I took physics? The courses should be equivalent since the extra 1 credit is only due to the fact that the lab was incorporated or this is what I am assuming. Please reply ASAP as this is very concerning to me. Thanks,
Darkskies

 

[Darkskies]

I realize the above post may have been slightly confusing and long-winded so I will try to restate my main questions.

1.Would scoring 2 As in these three credit equivalents of physics I and II be looked upon as a redemption of my past poor performance in physics I and II(each worth 4 credits due to their accompanying labs presumably) at the University I normally attend?

2.Since I am not taking the 1 credit lab accompaniments to these lecture courses, and the labs I did complete when taking physics at the regular University were incorporated into 1 grade, does that mean it would appear as if I received a C+/C- in the labs as well?

3.Is there some way to have the lab grade or just an indication of its completion(since I remember that for the second semester, the labs were only graded on a pass/fail basis) appear separately from the lecture course grade on my transcript? I ask this last question to other students whose physics lab grades were just worth a portion of the course grade and anyone else who may have some insight into this.

Lastly the advice I have been getting from all of you well informed SDNers is absolutely invaluable to me and I would immensely appreciate replies!

 

[Zimmeed]

To the best of my ability I will try to answer those questions, although by no means am I an expert.

For the first question, although you may do better in the 3 credit classes, it does not completely "redeem" yourself from the physics you took because you did not retake the labs as well. Therefore, when averaging your Physics GPA for MD schools, the prior "C" grades will be weighed much more heavily. However, regardless of the "number game", the improved grades should prove that you have a better understanding of physics (although expected the second time around).

For the second question, you are correct in believing that your lab grade will be assumed the same as your "overall" grade. I have only slowly started to fill out my application online for an early admission program, but I believe when you list all your courses, you have the option of choosing "lecture and lab" for that particular course. Therefore, because the way your university sets it up, there is no way to have a distinct "lab" and "course" grade.

For the last question, no there is no way to list a lab and class grade separately if they are incorperated into a "4 credit course". Also, from what you stated, you really wouldn't want it to. It appears you did well in you lab (which I am assuming why you want it seperate) so it actually brought up your overall grade that is listed, so if things were "separate" (from my understanding), your actual "class" grade would be lower (which as a 3 credit class on its own is considered more important). I hope this helped at least a little bit...I apologize if it did not. Best of luck.

 

[Darkskies]

That helped quite a bit Zimmeed, thanks! This upcoming year I'll be a senior and in the best case scenario of scoring a 4.0 for both semesters, my GPA will be brought up to a 3.47(not counting the 6 credits of physics I'm taking this summer). If I do earn 2 As in these physics courses(which is the trajectory I'm on for physics I at least) and score a high enough MCAT(32+) along with a projected GPA somewhere in the 3.4's would that make me competitive enough for low tier allopathic schools? My main dilemma is that I'm wondering if performing well in these two 3 credit courses is sufficient(though I understand now that my first stint with physics will be weighed more) or whether it was essential to retake those labs as well??? Please reply!

 

[flip26]

I realize the above post may have been slightly confusing and long-winded so I will try to restate my main questions.

1.Would scoring 2 As in these three credit equivalents of physics I and II be looked upon as a redemption of my past poor performance in physics I and II(each worth 4 credits due to their accompanying labs presumably) at the University I normally attend?

2.Since I am not taking the 1 credit lab accompaniments to these lecture courses, and the labs I did complete when taking physics at the regular University were incorporated into 1 grade, does that mean it would appear as if I received a C+/C- in the labs as well?

3.Is there some way to have the lab grade or just an indication of its completion(since I remember that for the second semester, the labs were only graded on a pass/fail basis) appear separately from the lecture course grade on my transcript? I ask this last question to other students whose physics lab grades were just worth a portion of the course grade and anyone else who may have some insight into this.

Lastly the advice I have been getting from all of you well informed SDNers is absolutely invaluable to me and I would immensely appreciate replies!

Why don't you get a copy of your official tranny and see how it is represented? If you are asking if they will modify it for you, umm, no. When lecture and lab are combined, they appear as one entry on the tranny, with one grade - no separation - you got a C- for the 4 hours.

With that C- in a combo physics lecture and lab, you better check with some med schools to see if the lab grade, which is of course now a C-, too, will be accepted...I assume you retook the class because a C- is not accepted at many (most?) med schools, right?...seems like the smart thing to do would have been to take the 1 hour labs this summer, too, knocking out an A and removing any question of your pre reqs adequacy from the discussion.

 

[Darkskies]

Does that mean it's imperative that I retake the labs for a potential medical school acceptance? The reason I didn't register for the labs was because my parents were already grumbling about having to pay 3k for the 2 courses. I can still register for the lab for physics II(that's the one I got a C- in) by the end of this month but I don't know if my parents will be willing to fork over the cash. Most medical schools won't overlook a C- as a lab grade? Is it fine if I just take the 1 credit lab courses next summer on their own? Regardless of the labs though, the 2 As should show adcomms that I understand the lecture course material though, correct? I just want to be sure that my grades for these courses won't be considered for naught(say it isn't so since this would be devastating!) just because they're 3 credits and I'm lacking the labs.

 

[flip26]

Does that mean it's imperative that I retake the labs for a potential medical school acceptance? The reason I didn't register for the labs was because my parents were already grumbling about having to pay 3k for the 2 courses. I can still register for the lab for physics II(that's the one I got a C- in) by the end of this month but I don't know if my parents will be willing to fork over the cash. Most medical schools won't overlook a C- as a lab grade? Is it fine if I just take the 1 credit lab courses next summer on their own? Regardless of the labs though, the 2 As should show adcomms that I understand the lecture course material though, correct? I just want to be sure that my grades for these courses won't be considered for naught(say it isn't so since this would be devastating!) just because they're 3 credits and I'm lacking the labs.

All I can recommend is that you check some of the med schools you know you will apply to regarding the lowest acceptable grade on a pre req...the labs are pre reqs...all schools have a minimally acceptable grade, and IIRC that is a "C" meaning a "C+" is fine but a "C-" is too low...some may accept the C-, I just don't know...why run the risk?

Yes, you can take the lab courses separate and apart from the lectures, so next summer would be fine. I really don't understand why you wouldn't go ahead and take that 2nd lab this summer...different strokes, I guess?

As for what the adcoms will "think" about your grades in individual classes, who knows? The C+ and C- will definitely hurt your BCPM, even with retakes with A...