Retake C- after application?

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220678

Hi everyone! I love this Network- so many people going through the same things and emotions. Whew.

Here's my situation- I received a C- in General Physics 2. It was my senior year and I had a million things going on so I slipped up in my time management. =( Anyway, I am unable to apply to a medical school because they require C and above grades. It's just this one school, but my question is, should I retake this Physics course? Would that look better to admissions committees? I've been out of school for 4 years. My GPA is 3.3 and my MCAT is 27. I have tons of clinical research experience and actually a lot to talk about on my essays, etc. But I'm wondering if I should consider retaking the Physics course at a local university. I received a P in General Physics 1. To be honest, I don't remember why I chose to do a Pass-Fail thing for that course. I think I didn't do well on my first test and my counselor suggested this so as not to hurt my GPA too much and I just went for it. Don't know the actual grade I would've gotten. Physics is not my strong suite as you can tell.

Any advice???
 
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I'm not sure if schools accept pass/fail credits in pre-reqs, but I know they don't accept anything below a C. You'll at least need to retake Physics 2, and you'll likely need to take Physics 1 for a grade. Call a few schools you're interested in to see if the pass/fail thing will be an issue.

Also, you'll probably want to take the MCAT again. A 27 isn't awful, but it's pretty low for MD schools. Without a stellar GPA to back it up, you'll probably have a rough time getting in anywhere.
 
I'm not sure if schools accept pass/fail credits in pre-reqs, but I know they don't accept anything below a C. You'll at least need to retake Physics 2, and you'll likely need to take Physics 1 for a grade. Call a few schools you're interested in to see if the pass/fail thing will be an issue.

Also, you'll probably want to take the MCAT again. A 27 isn't awful, but it's pretty low for MD schools. Without a stellar GPA to back it up, you'll probably have a rough time getting in anywhere.

If I'm applying for the Fall 2009 class, do you think it's too late to retake?
 
Not at all. You just need to have everything completed before you matriculate. That might mean taking a summer course, but it's still feasible. The MCAT thing might be another story, but if you're from a state with lots of good, stat-forgiving schools (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, etc.), then you might be okay this time around.
 
Not at all. You just need to have everything completed before you matriculate. That might mean taking a summer course, but it's still feasible. The MCAT thing might be another story, but if you're from a state with lots of good, stat-forgiving schools (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, etc.), then you might be okay this time around.

Thank you for the advice! I will retake the course. It just seems like a good option overall. Now I gotta contact all my schools and let them know....oy...=)
 
I have a similar Q and sorry for asking in this post, OP - but it'd be a waste to create a new thread I think.

I got a solid C my freshman year in Genetics...and I hear constantly that Genetics is an essential class and med schools look at that course as very important - and I messed it up and was not giving it my best. I know I could get an A- or better retaking the course - but is it just a waste of time to take it? If i did retake it and get an A- or A...won't they just average grades? Or should I just not take it over, period?

Also, my only other C+ is in Ochem #1...but I worked my ___ off to ensure that I got a solid A in ochem 2 and a solid A in ochem 3...so that goes by well since I showed in the actual ochem (not naming and that stuff that was boring/etc.) I am proficient in, right? 🙄
 
Thank you for the advice! I will retake the course. It just seems like a good option overall. Now I gotta contact all my schools and let them know....oy...=)

well retake the course cuz p/f won't fly for virtually all schools.

And if you did well on physical science on MCAT, and did well on retake first semester physics, you could update the school and you might be OK, otherwise you could consider waiting a year but that's gonna have to be your decision though. I would just apply this year anyway
 
I wouldn't retake genetics/ochem if i were u. Genetics isn't one of those crucial ones, and it was fresh year. Probably too late to retake now to make a difference, it'd be like retaking calc 1 in senior year after having taken calc 2 in sophomore year.

ochem i think you are fine too cuz you did well later on. retaking is overrated unless you are really bored like I and have too many credits with nothing else to do.


I have a similar Q and sorry for asking in this post, OP - but it'd be a waste to create a new thread I think.

I got a solid C my freshman year in Genetics...and I hear constantly that Genetics is an essential class and med schools look at that course as very important - and I messed it up and was not giving it my best. I know I could get an A- or better retaking the course - but is it just a waste of time to take it? If i did retake it and get an A- or A...won't they just average grades? Or should I just not take it over, period?

Also, my only other C+ is in Ochem #1...but I worked my ___ off to ensure that I got a solid A in ochem 2 and a solid A in ochem 3...so that goes by well since I showed in the actual ochem (not naming and that stuff that was boring/etc.) I am proficient in, right? 🙄
 
For those who got a single lonely C, just leave it.

The ones who need to retake are those who came out with a C- or lower, in any pre-reqs. Courses need to be completed before matriculation, but it's okay to apply with the intent of completing them in time. Don't take pre-reqs as P/F courses.
 
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