Re-take or Take New Science Classes

[queenofhearts]

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So I'm a 4th year planning on graduating this december and applying to med school in june of 2011. Currently my cgpa is fairly competitive ~3.65 but my sgpa is pretty low ~3.33. I'm trying to decide between two options: either retake my gen chem and calc classes (4 classes total) that I got C's in my freshman year or take completely new science classes as a way to boost my sgpa.

The fastest way to raise it is by retaking the 4-C's and get A's (therefore a B on amcas) however it would be more expensive since my school doesn't allow retakes on classes passed with a C or higher which means that I would have to take it through the extension program= $3100 out of pocket after I've graduated during the winter and spring quarters of 2011. My sgpa would then equal 3.45

On the other hand I could stay an extra quarter from Jan-March and possibly take extra classes over the summer (only during these times b/c constrained by the unit cap!!). Would be a total of 7 extra science classes and would raise my sgpa to a 3.42.

I would be willing to pay the $3100 except that I have a feeling that med schools would prefer the 2nd option. What do you think, should i retake, take new or a combo of both? 😕

 

[Schemp]

Take higher level classes. Not only will you actually learn something new, but AMCAS averages your retakes anyway. So if you got a C, retook and got an A, it still averages to a B. The only time it's worth retaking classes is if your grade is so low that it doesn't qualify at a medical school (or for your graduation) or you feel you really didn't learn everything you should have.

 

[deleted212936]

Yes, take higher classes, and study hard to get A's.

 

[flip26]

Many colleges will not allow you to retake a C. Only a C- or worse.

Check with yours.

Regardless, the best plan is to take more upper levels anyway and make As in those.

 

[Narmerguy]

Take upper levels but only if you think you'll do well in them. More C's would be killer 🙁

 

[nisarg2010]

only take higher level classes if your sure you can pull off an A or a B. If you cant, then might be better to retake classes and get an A (which would averge to a B). If you get C's in higher level classes, thats going to hurt you.

 

[Catalystik]

The only time it's worth retaking classes is if your grade is so low that it doesn't qualify at a medical school (or for your graduation) or you feel you really didn't learn everything you should have.

Or if you're applying to DO med schools which only count the most recent grade when calculating the application GPAs.

 

[metallica81788]

Or if you're applying to DO med schools which only count the most recent grade when calculating the application GPAs.

Yup - only retake if you're applying DO.

Take new classes that you think you can do well in. And even if you get a B, it would be the same as if you retook the other class and got an A.

 

[just one]

Yup - only retake if you're applying DO.

Take new classes that you think you can do well in. And even if you get a B, it would be the same as if you retook the other class and got an A.

NO! If you take a class and get a C, taking the same class again and making an A is a 3.0 for six credit hours (assuming class is 3 credit hours). Basically averaging the two. A C in said class for three credit hours combined with an A in a higher level class worth three credits is also a 3.0 over six credit hours. But your scenario of a C in The first class with a B in a different class is a 2.5 over six credit hours, which is not equilvalent to the 3.0 over six credit hours. Your calculated gpa does not care which class you take, it is all about quality points divided by credit hours.

I love how most people say that IF you retake a class it gets averaged. All classes are averaged to calculate GPA.

Now this advice is for MD only, where classes are not forgiven after a retake. For DO, retakes are usually a good idea because a A in a retake replaces the first grade instead of averaging (creating the retention GPA).

 

[queenofhearts]

Thank you everybody for your responses- I realize that I was mistaken, taking the classes over would be the same as taking new science classes. For some reason I thought that it would replace the old grade 🙁 (only DO, i know) But I will be staying a couple extra quarters and I've calculated that my sGPA should theoretically be a ~3.45 and my cGPA ~3.7-3.75 if I get all A's in about 7 extra classes, which hopefully won't be too bad since that's what I've been averaging after my freshman yr. I just need to check with my adviser to see exactly how many extra classes I can take before getting kicked out (b/c of excess units lol).

Would an sGPA 3.45 and cGPA 3.7 be fairly competitive? What kind of mcat should I shoot for?

p.s. sorry i guess this turned into more of a wamc

 

[just one]

The highest MCAT you can get.. Period

if you are really trying to ask "what MCAT makes me competitive", that depends on the school. Look at their published averages or median stats. It is always best to be above those.

 

[Tatastrophy]

why would u retake?
MD schools will not replace your grades with new ones.
go for upper level stuff.

 

[jl lin]

So what about re-taking some sciences you did well in, b/c they were so long ago? How could this be viewed as a bad thing? And if that is OK, why wouldn't the bump up in sGPA matter, although, depending, it wouldn't be all that much?

 

[boaz]

Take upper level classes that you are confident you can do well in with decent input of work. If you're not a math type I'd avoid p-chem. If you were good at orgo you might look into advanced orgo. Biochem is always a good bet.