retake math classes to boost GPA?

[nekrogg]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

hey guys.

I am in a bit of a dilemma here. I calculated my GPA and i have a 3.8 BPCM gpa. I realized though that without getting Bs on all my math courses, i could have a 3.95 GPA.. now i know 3.8 is a solid GPA but a 3.95 would just look SOO much better on my resume. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to retake those courses. I hear frightening stories of people who get interrogated during interviews for withdrawing from classes. If I retake the 3 math classes I got B's on, they would show up on my transcript as a withdraw. Any help and input would be great.

Thanks

 

[riceman04]

hey guys.

I am in a bit of a dilemma here. I calculated my GPA and i have a 3.8 BPCM gpa. I realized though that without getting Bs on all my math courses, i could have a 3.95 GPA.. now i know 3.8 is a solid GPA but a 3.95 would just look SOO much better on my resume. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to retake those courses. I hear frightening stories of people who get interrogated during interviews for withdrawing from classes. If I retake the 3 math classes I got B's on, they would show up on my transcript as a withdraw. Any help and input would be great.

Thanks

Here is my input:
Get a life. Show that you are human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only imagine how you are in person if you are seriously trippin over that!
Now I would understand your want to retake the classes had you earned a "C" or lower. But to ponder over those B's in math shows much more than your "genuine concern for getting the best possible grades."
It also shows your immaturity.

I do not usually put people down like that, but i had to break my own rule for this case.

 

[nekrogg]

Here is my input:
Get a life. Show that you are human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only imagine how you are in person if you are seriously trippin over that!
Now I would understand your want to retake the classes had you earned a "C" or lower. But to ponder over those B's in math shows much more than your "genuine concern for getting the best possible grades."
It also shows your immaturity.

I do not usually put people down like that, but i had to break my own rule for this case.

thanks for the input. its not that im trying to show genuine concern: its that i want to have the best numbers possible for my resume.

and while on the topic of whats human or not, im competing with people like this: http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=783

 

[riceman04]

thanks for the input. its not that im trying to show genuine concern: its that i want to have the best numbers possible for my resume.

and while on the topic of whats human or not, im competing with people like this: http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=783

Ok, so I was kind of harsh and I apologize for that. But I guarantee that adcoms will not focus on that .1 diff when your gpa is already that great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Use your summer to do other things (assuming you are thinking about retaking one of these classes during the summer).

A person who has a 3.6 with a comparable MCAT score can gain acceptance over a person with a 4.0 if his/her experiences are
more meaningful.

 

[nekrogg]

hmm. thats a very good point, but i have alot of time on my hands to play around with... but my biggest concern is if there is going to be any big reprecussions of retaking a class? my friend (a pre-dental) said that interviewers specifically asked him why he withdrew from one of his classes (he wasnt doing so well in the class, hence he withdrew). his response was that he had too much stress. the interviewer looked dissapointed and he feels that this was the reason why he wasnt accepted into that school. now my biggest question is how does withdrawing or retaking classes look to admission board?

 

[WayChanger]

hmm. thats a very good point, but i have alot of time on my hands to play around with... but my biggest concern is if there is going to be any big reprecussions of retaking a class? my friend (a pre-dental) said that interviewers specifically asked him why he withdrew from one of his classes (he wasnt doing so well in the class, hence he withdrew). his response was that he had too much stress. the interviewer looked dissapointed and he feels that this was the reason why he wasnt accepted into that school. now my biggest question is how does withdrawing or retaking classes look to admission board?

I agree with some of the earlier posters...if you had gotten a C or lower, then retaking would be justified. Retaking a B, however...well, although it's true that it could (marginally) improve your GPA, your GPA is quite solid enough as it is that retaking would seem to reflect poorly on your character. Why don't you spend the extra time collecting some more clinical experience?

 

[gusterfan14]

hmm. thats a very good point, but i have alot of time on my hands to play around with... but my biggest concern is if there is going to be any big reprecussions of retaking a class? my friend (a pre-dental) said that interviewers specifically asked him why he withdrew from one of his classes (he wasnt doing so well in the class, hence he withdrew). his response was that he had too much stress. the interviewer looked dissapointed and he feels that this was the reason why he wasnt accepted into that school. now my biggest question is how does withdrawing or retaking classes look to admission board?

I feel as if retaking a class that you recieved a B in would just show to an adcom that you are obsessive about grades. Not sure exactly how that would influence your applicatoin, but i assume its not so good. like others have said, i would worry more about EC's in your time and just leave your GPA as is.

 

[beponychick]

If you do retake the 3 courses, you are not necessarily guaranteed an A. You may have different/harder professors and still end up with Bs. I think the Adcoms will look unfavorable on this.

 

[fullefect1]

and while on the topic of whats human or not, im competing with people like this: http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=783

That applicant got into just about every school they applied to, and then withdrew from all the other schools. There are always people out there who have absolutely oustanding stats that get into alot of schools, and there are also alot of individuals who have sub-perfect stats and also get into alot of schools. A GPA in the 3.8 range is still well above the average in most all schools in this country.

 

[DrBowtie]

Also will your school let you retake a B? Check the policy...Also going from a B to an A-/B+ (average of a B and A) isn't a huge deal.

 

[nekrogg]

well there were a few B-'s too... meaning extremely close to C+

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

hmm. thats a very good point, but i have alot of time on my hands to play around with... but my biggest concern is if there is going to be any big reprecussions of retaking a class? my friend (a pre-dental) said that interviewers specifically asked him why he withdrew from one of his classes (he wasnt doing so well in the class, hence he withdrew). his response was that he had too much stress. the interviewer looked dissapointed and he feels that this was the reason why he wasnt accepted into that school. now my biggest question is how does withdrawing or retaking classes look to admission board?

Not to be harsh, but if you have so much time on your hands, you probably should be doing something better with it than attempting to turn Bs into As.

 

[beanbean]

One of the most important skills a physician has is judgement. Evaluating a situation and reaching an appropriate conclusion and executing the correct plan of action are what we do everyday. I highly recommend finding a volunteer activity that will broaden your life experience and help you fine tune these skills.

To retake classes in which you have received a grade of 'B' when your gpa is already high, is, quite frankly, insane. Acceptance to med school is not about perfection; it is about hard work and perserverence. If your gpa is borderline and you have done poorly in some classes, then it is appropriate to consider retaking some. With a 3.8 you have shown that you can handle academics; consider working on the other areas of your application. Lastly, AMCAS averages the two grades together so your gpa will still not be a 3.95.