Retake classes?

[Kool Dad]

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I'm going to have a very light schedule pursuing my BS and I'm debating if it's worth it or not to retake some science classes I did poorly on in the past. Currently, my cgpa is about a 3.4 and my sgpa is a 2.9ish. I managed to actually bring that up from around a 2.0.

These are the classes that are bring down my sgpa..

Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2: C's
Intro to Chem: C
Intro to Biotechnology: C
Comparative Anatomy: C

My other science classes are..

Chem 1 and 2: A's
Bio 1 and 2: A's
Organic Chem: TBD (summer class)

Is it a waste of time to retake those C's? Next semester I'll be taking Physics 1 and Calculus 2... sadly every other class is a prereq of those 2 classes. Would it be a waste to retake during that time? Or would my time be better spent elsewhere? Thanks for your time.

 

[NTF]

Yes, retaking C's in science would be worthwhile. If you're smart and include DO schools in your app process, AACOMAS allows grade replacement. But even for allo apps retaking C's in the courses you mention will help.

Best of luck.

 

[Kool Dad]

Ok. Thanks. 🙂 Should I retake a math as well? I have a C in one.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

NTF,
You said retaking Cs will help for MD schools, I am curious, since they average the two grades, from my understanding, it really doesn't improve your sGPA any more than any other A in any other course would... Can you explain your reasoning? I have been taking new courses because I was told to not worry about lower level Cs and to focus on upper level As...

 

[NTF]

SBB, mostly I'm recommending retakes because doing so simultaneously benefits AACOMAS and AMCAS GPAs. It hugely benefits the DO app GPA via grade replacement. It's true that the impact is less on the MD app GPA, but why not kill two birds with one stone?

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Fair enough, I wasn't sure if there was some secret that I didn't know... I'm sure there are many, and I want to know as many as I can!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

When it comes to replacing grades with AACOMAS how does that work? I looked through their application guidelines and didn't find anything about gpa calculations. My major question is, I took a full year of biochem at one college and got Cs, I'm retaking one semester biochem course at a different university, and should get an A, do you (or anyone) think the grade is replaced? Or is it just a new A on my transcript?