retake or not. please help.

[Edenbook85]

---

Members do not see this ad.

im going to apply to st george for fall 09. here are my stats

B.S. in Biology (graduated may 08)
3.117 overall
3.2 science
no mcat (taking in march)
alot of volunteer. did research and summer internship.
currently doing post bacc work at a small university.

this is my question. i got a C the first time i took chem 2. i retook it and got a D. so im thinking of retaking it again this semester (spring 09). do you think its a good idea to retake chem 2 a third time? will it help my chances? i got A's in organic chem 1 and 2. and a B in analytical chemistry. i just need to know wheither its worth the time, effort and money to retake chem 2 a third time. id rather focus all my time to MCAT prep.

please give advice. thanks.

 

[McGillGrad]

You can probably squeeze by with the original C in the course, but you better not take it a 3rd time unless you are 100% sure you'll score an A, because then it looks like you are a few cards short of a full deck.

If you can manage a 30 on the MCAT, the C will be a moot point.

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

That GPA concerns me for St. G. Why not open up your chances to ROSS, SABA, and AUC. You may need a 27+ on MCAT or else you will be retaking that chemistry class in ST. G's premedical program.

PS: Do not retake the chemistry now. Interview and see what happens. Chances are, you will get in or not get in regardless of the chem D. You really need a mcat score for anyone to give you any more accurate infor. Also, why are you applying so late.

MARCH MCAT = april score = class is 90% full, unless you are applying for 2010. BS in 2008 +St. G "premed" possibility in 2010 = You Could have done a 1 year master of science degree and had a shot at a US school. JMO!

 

[Diane Lane]

A third time? That will look bad, unless as someone else already said, you know that you could ace the class. And I happen to have an inside track on the SGU interview/acceptance process and graduated from there myself. With your stats, forget SGU and look to other schools if you really think you are meant to be a doctor. I met a couple of really great people my first year of med school that really wanted to be a doc. But their grades just weren't there and the load at SGU was way too much for them. One guy failed SGU's biochem class even though he had a BS degree in biochem! Maybe Ross or the one in Antigua. But if your overall is only 3.1, you should really make sure this is for you and get a backup plan in case you fail. Afterall, the MCAT is killer compared to college work and the exams only get harder and more expensive from then on. And you cannot, let me stay that again, CANNOT, retake a USMLE EVER!!! The number of attempts at those exams mean so much more than the scores themselves. So if you really, really want medicine - you had better ACE that MCAT. Good Luck.

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

Eden, I slightly disagree with Diane Lane. I, nor Diane, should be trying to scare you out of a chance at med school. 3.1 GPA is better than 2...something. Who knows what you faced and overcame in your undergrad years. Maybe you partied your way through undergrad. Only you know, but a >3.0 GPA should earn you a shot at a medical degree chance, IMO. Students change and get more focused when they realize that 200k in debt is riding on the line. However, some students do not change and fail out. I refuse to believe that smarts alone will get you through medical school. Don't get me wrong, it helps, but you need organization, determination, etc. and you can't accurately explain these traits in a GPA. This is exactly why they hav ecaribbean schools like Ross to get students with potential a second crack at their dream career. You are already smart by looking at carib med schools and not even bothering with the US process. However, a MS @ 4.0 and a >30 MCAT would make me sit and reapply to US schools this hear, expecially if you are URM. I do agree with Diane that you should apply broadly and not just set your sites on St. G. Just relax and try to do >30 on that MCAT. If you do, I strongly suggest taking a 1 year MS program and reapplying to US schools the following cycle and have carib schools on the "just in case" list. JMO!

 

[Edenbook85]

That GPA concerns me for St. G. Why not open up your chances to ROSS, SABA, and AUC. You may need a 27+ on MCAT or else you will be retaking that chemistry class in ST. G's premedical program.

PS: Do not retake the chemistry now. Interview and see what happens. Chances are, you will get in or not get in regardless of the chem D. You really need a mcat score for anyone to give you any more accurate infor. Also, why are you applying so late.

MARCH MCAT = april score = class is 90% full, unless you are applying for 2010. BS in 2008 +St. G "premed" possibility in 2010 = You Could have done a 1 year master of science degree and had a shot at a US school. JMO!

i do intend to apply to all big 4 and maybe guadalajara, but st george is my first choice.