Retake biochem or take something else?

[crazydiamond]

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For those of you who remember a thread I started a few months ago contemplating not pursuing med school, I'm in the game 100% now. I had an epiphany and realize that this is the true path I want to take.

Background: I got my BS Biology in 2001. uGPA around 3.3, science GPA around 3.2 also. Assume I'll get a 30 on the MCAT.

I have not taken any science classes since I graduated 7 years ago. I'm hoping to apply next cycle, which means I really only have one semester to "refresh" myself, so to speak. One class I took years ago was biochem and unfortunately I got a C+ in it (terrible study habits that have since been corrected). The school I really want to get into requires biochem.

I can only take one class this spring.


Do I:

A) Retake biochem and get an A this time

B) Leave biochem alone and instead take another difficult biology course (immuniology or molecular genetics, for example) and get an A

C) Delay applying one more cycle to get 3 semesters of As in before applying. If I do this, I'll be able to take at least 5-6 classes before applying.

or

D) ?? Something else

 

[dec0y]

I vote for C.

What are you grades for the other science pre-reqs?

 

[NTF]

I vote for C as well. Since you haven't had science coursework for 7 years (and your GPA is on the low side), adcoms will wonder whether you're ready to handle the courseload for M1 and M2. I think three semesters of A's will do allot to allay those fears. A single A in one course won't really do that.

 

[ChairmanMao]

C as well. It's what I would do

 

[gman33]

Where are you planning on applying?

You have a bunch of work ahead of you to be competitive at MD schools. Your grades aren't terrible, but they are significantly below average.
A year or two of full-time A's are needed to boost your chances.

 

[crazydiamond]

Thanks for the responses. I had a feeling option C would be the best to take. Oh well, I can wait another year.

The grades for my other pre-reqs are all pretty good. I got a few of Bs in my science classes the first two years but my last two years were As. I know I'm not a very strong candidate, but pretty much plan on applying to my state school and to a bunch of DO schools.

I'm finishing up an MBA right now (will graduate in May), which is why I can't really take more than one bio class in the spring.

I appreciate the honesty 🙂

 

[crazydiamond]

Oh, another question. . .

Should I even bother retaking the biochem? Or, should I just take a bunch of other classes?

 

[crazydiamond]

I just recalculated my GPA and it's actually a 3.45. I had a few classes entered wrong on the spreadsheet, which is why it was so low before. BCMP remains a 3.27, however.

If I take 6 science classes and get As in them, I can get my cum GPA to nearly a 3.6 and my BCMP to nearly a 3.4.

That sounds better, no?

 

[gman33]

That is better.
If you are looking at DO schools, retakes are good because they only count the new grade. You should already be competitive at many DO schools, assuming a decent MCAT.

 

[omelette1230]

I graduated undergrad 5 years ago with a 3.0. these last two years ive done a post bacc. i have 30 hours with a 3.9 and im taking 12 more hours this fall with A's in all my classes so far. so i could potentially have 42 hours with a 3.93. these are all upper level sciences:

anatomy
physiology
cell biology
human genetics
molecular biology
immunology
developmental bio
neuroscience
animal behavior
nucleic acid biochem
lipids and carbohydrates biochem
endocrinology
pathophysiology

do you think doing well in these classes can convince them that i can handle it with my low undergrad gpr? should i take more classes next sem while i apply? ive also been working in a lab full time with 13 co-author papers. very stressed and close to demoralized.
thanks