Quick Question Regarding Undergrad Course Re-takes

[steveo1012]

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Hi Everyone,

I am going to take 2 courses this fall and 2 next spring before I apply to med schools in the summer of 2010. I was going to re-take Animal Phys; however it was a 4 credit course at my undergrad institution and is a 3 credit course at the nearest 4 year institution. I emailed the prof to see if there is a lab component offered in the spring, but I wasn't sure how adcoms would view the credibility of the re-take and how I would calculate my GPA. I'm assuming that I would just re-calculate everything based on 1 less credit hour, but it would defeat the purpose if the course won't be recognized as a valid replacement. This is my only option for 4 year institutions, and this course is not offered at the local community college. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks!
Stephen

 

[commymommy]

Are you retaking animal phys because of a bad grade? Since grade calculation will include your originalgrade as well as the new grade, you might just consider taking something else altogether.

 

[ucsfstudents]

I don't know what grade you received in Animal Physiology, but it's probably not worth retaking the class. It's not one of the requirements for medical school, so unless you received a really bad grade, adcoms aren't going to really care about the course.

 

[steveo1012]

Well I'm going to be applying primarily to DO schools, which will replace the new grade with the old one in GPA calculation. That being said, I will apply to a few MD schools and understand that they average the grades together. Over the next 2 semesters, I was going to re-take courses in which I received a C (Animal Phys being one) to improve my GPA. I guess I could also take entirely new classes. I didn't take Biochem, Genetics, or Micro in undergrad, so those come to mind. I just thought re-takes would be the most efficient use of my time and money over the next year in terms of what would help my GPA. If I'm going down the wrong road, suggestions are welcome!

 

[commymommy]

Honestly, I think that I would simply enroll in new courses and try and do A work. It's ok to move forward and let some of your mistakes rest. That's just my opinion though. If these were pre-reqs, I might suggest you retake one or two, but I vote that you just enroll in diff. courses.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I would take Biochem and/or Genetics rather than retaking Animal Phys, unless you feel that you are weak in Physiology and could use the extra help. Physiology will help you on the MCAT. But, then, so will Genetics (not so much Biochem. That will help you in Medical School.)