retake lower div class vs. upper division class

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d33ds

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I'm in a dilemma, I'm trying to decide between retaking a class in which I got a D (it was a general bio class-cell bio and physiology), or taking a higher division bio class in physiology. I know that the AAMCAS factors in all of your grades in your GPA, so it wouldn't change my undergrad GPA, but which would look better? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks
 
d33ds said:
I'm in a dilemma, I'm trying to decide between retaking a class in which I got a D (it was a general bio class-cell bio and physiology), or taking a higher division bio class in physiology. I know that the AAMCAS factors in all of your grades in your GPA, so it wouldn't change my undergrad GPA, but which would look better? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks

Do both if you can. If not, then it probably makes sense to retake the D. It depends though on whether you are still in school, whether you are a science major, what your GPA is, etc. No one rule of thumb works for all applicants.
 
d33ds said:
I'm in a dilemma, I'm trying to decide between retaking a class in which I got a D (it was a general bio class-cell bio and physiology), or taking a higher division bio class in physiology. I know that the AAMCAS factors in all of your grades in your GPA, so it wouldn't change my undergrad GPA, but which would look better? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks

It would be better if you took an upper level biology course and got an A in it rather than retaking the general bio course and getting an A in it. Here's the catch, though: you got a D in a basic biology course, and that's not a good sign for being able to handle an upper level bio course that is more detailed, harder, and faster than basic bio. You gotta learn to walk before you can run.

How'd you get a D in general bio? Did you just goof off, or did you try really hard but just didn't do well? Why you didn't do well needs to factor into your decision.

So before you decide which class you take, sit back and think, "if I take this higher division course, am I sure I can get an A in it?" If you end up with a C, that's not going to be a good thing.
 
I have a related question. I'm trying to come up with a backup plan for if I don't get in this cycle. I've been out of school for a year, and while working full time, I've been taking a few evening classes, 2 of which were upper level science courses. I got an A- in one, and the other is pending. I really screwed up big time in my undergraduate pre-med classes-- due to a combination of reasons: partly goofing off, partly because the classes are just damned hard, partly because I didn't really have a good study method, and partly the "challenge thyself" mentality leftover from high school (Honors Calculus? What was I thinking?!).

If I don't get in this year, I'm pretty sure it'll only be because of my low GPA. Should I take my pre-reqs over? or go for some masters level classes? Part of me wants to do the pre-reqs over because I know I can ace them this time around, but I also feel like that's a waste of time because I should be learning something new. I wouldn't mind doing an intro physio class again, but I'm not so sure about taking ochem again (for the reason of wasting my time on something I've already done, that won't really prove I can do well in med school). I work at WashU so I get great evening tuition benefits, so I can really only afford to go to class at night, while working full time during the day. That also factors into whether I want to take really challenging courses, because whatever I do, I'd better ace them.
 
ahumdinger said:
I have a related question. I'm trying to come up with a backup plan for if I don't get in this cycle. I've been out of school for a year, and while working full time, I've been taking a few evening classes, 2 of which were upper level science courses. I got an A- in one, and the other is pending. I really screwed up big time in my undergraduate pre-med classes-- due to a combination of reasons: partly goofing off, partly because the classes are just damned hard, partly because I didn't really have a good study method, and partly the "challenge thyself" mentality leftover from high school (Honors Calculus? What was I thinking?!).

If I don't get in this year, I'm pretty sure it'll only be because of my low GPA. Should I take my pre-reqs over? or go for some masters level classes? Part of me wants to do the pre-reqs over because I know I can ace them this time around, but I also feel like that's a waste of time because I should be learning something new. I wouldn't mind doing an intro physio class again, but I'm not so sure about taking ochem again (for the reason of wasting my time on something I've already done, that won't really prove I can do well in med school). I work at WashU so I get great evening tuition benefits, so I can really only afford to go to class at night, while working full time during the day. That also factors into whether I want to take really challenging courses, because whatever I do, I'd better ace them.

I would say definitely do the post bacc.
 
d33ds said:
I'm in a dilemma, I'm trying to decide between retaking a class in which I got a D (it was a general bio class-cell bio and physiology), or taking a higher division bio class in physiology. I know that the AAMCAS factors in all of your grades in your GPA, so it wouldn't change my undergrad GPA, but which would look better? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks

don't you have to retake ti anyway? in my school we have to get c's in all the classes required for your major
 
kristy117 said:
don't you have to retake ti anyway? in my school we have to get c's in all the classes required for your major
Yeah, and med schools don't take D's in pre-reqs.
 
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