Re-taking failed pass/no pass course?

[tychromancy]

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[Turkishking]

Should you re-take a failed non-science course taken pass/fail? Thanks,

Depends what course it is.

 

[tychromancy]

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[Catalystik]

How many credit hours was it?
Was it your choice to take it P/F or is that the only way in which it's offered (like a required freshman college-orientation type class)?
Do you have a year of English credits on your transcript already? If so, what grades did you earn?

 

[tychromancy]

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[Catalystik]

I earned an A for all terms of a full year of a more rigorous course on "western civilization" (Greece, Rome); the course satisfies the English pre-req.

I had the option of taking the failed course, worth 4 credits, for a letter grade.

While your school might count the Western Civilization course toward your English requirement to graduate, will med schools also count it toward their requirement for matriculation? It would help if the course has an ENG or RHET prefix. If it doesn't, you might have to ask each med school individually if it counts. Some will say no.

 

[tychromancy]

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[Catalystik]

I've checked, and it counts. Does this change anything? Thank you,

If you're sure it counts, you don't have to retake the class. Failing a P/F class does not impact your application GPA, but it is noted on your AMCAS transcript in a separate place.

Have a good explanation in case you're asked about it at an interview.

 

[tychromancy]

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[Catalystik]

Do you think re-taking it would be advantageous, in context of the admissions process? I'll definitely double check.

It would look better.

 

[tychromancy]

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[Catalystik]

A W in a course you don't need won't hurt you. It won't "look bad" like an F would. There'd be less reason to retake, but if you did, doing so for a grade would "look better" as you're accepting accountability. It wouldn't matter if you did so as a postbac. JMO