Retake Physics

[Theafoni]

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I got a C in Gerenal Physics 1 last semester. Should I retake in the summer? I don't believe the class was hard but I don't think I opened the books once. I just tried to use the physics IB background I had from high school, bad idea as the professor's exams were pretty hard.

If not, I do intend to take Physics 2 this summer, any tips and study habits as I have no idea how to study for physics other than doing practice problems.

 

[About28]

Well firstly, med schools don't let a retake replace a previous grade, both grades are counted towards your GPA. Secondly, it is my understanding that med schools don't particularly like requirements that are taken over the summer. I hope that information helps!

 

[Augstartcodon]

You didn't realize after the first exam that you needed to change your habits? You don't think the class was hard but you got a C anyway?

From the sound of your post, you seem like a "casual" pre-med. I don't want to patronize, but getting into medical school is competitive. There are people that put in maximal effort to classes like physics so that they get an A. My first tip/study habit is to start putting that effort in. Whether you decide to retake or not, you should be treating college like a full time job. This means 40+ hours per week in class/studying. That being said, for physics specifically, I bought a subscription to the Chegg website because they had every answer to every problem in my textbook worked out like a solution manual. This enabled me to do every problem in the book for practice. When I got one wrong, I would make a note of it and come back to do it again after looking at the solution and seeing what I did wrong.

I hope that helped.

 

[allojay]

Retake it. It shows that you made an improvement. I can't agree of disagree with About28, since i have no idea about what med schools like per say. But retake it eitherways.

For physics, i advise using khan academy, chad's videos, and NOVA physics. NOVA physics really breaks it down and makes a lot of the complicated concepts make sense. Other than that, i advise you to attend lecture, read the book, listen to your prof, as most tend to hint their tendencies/ topics that may be hit heavily on the exam, and practice practice pratice.

 

[knv2u]

Well firstly, med schools don't let a retake replace a previous grade, both grades are counted towards your GPA. Secondly, it is my understanding that med schools don't particularly like requirements that are taken over the summer. I hope that information helps!

I disagree. As long as you can demonstrate you can handle the rigor of multiple science courses together, you'll be fine.

And OP, while you are not required to retake the course, since it is one of the courses tested on the MCAT, I would absolutely retake it personally. Taking it during the summer will also allow you more time to focus on those two courses.

 

[About28]

For physics, i advise using khan academy, chad's videos, and NOVA physics. NOVA physics really breaks it down and makes a lot of the complicated concepts make sense. Other than that, i advise you to attend lecture, read the book, listen to your prof, as most tend to hint their tendencies/ topics that may be hit heavily on the exam, and practice practice pratice.

Khan academy is an amazing resource, absolutely use it if you retake physics or pretty much any other class you're in.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Retake it. It shows that you made an improvement. I can't agree of disagree with About28, since i have no idea about what med schools like per say. But retake it eitherways.

For physics, i advise using khan academy, chad's videos, and NOVA physics. NOVA physics really breaks it down and makes a lot of the complicated concepts make sense. Other than that, i advise you to attend lecture, read the book, listen to your prof, as most tend to hint their tendencies/ topics that may be hit heavily on the exam, and practice practice pratice.

Should I retake 2 classes I got C+s in?

 

[knv2u]

Should I retake 2 classes I got C+s in?

What are the courses? In most cases, you're probably fine not retaking them. If the grades were in prerequisites or courses that are very useful for the MCAT, I would seriously consider it.

Edited: Also be aware that retakes will have diminishing returns for most adcoms. After having seen the material once, adcoms will expect you to be able to get an A. If you don't, it could be problematic for you.

 

[487806]

I got a C in Gerenal Physics 1 last semester. Should I retake in the summer? I don't believe the class was hard but I don't think I opened the books once. I just tried to use the physics IB background I had from high school, bad idea as the professor's exams were pretty hard.

If not, I do intend to take Physics 2 this summer, any tips and study habits as I have no idea how to study for physics other than doing practice problems.

You didn't place out of intro physics with IB credit? Or did you waste your IB credit just to take the class for breeze? Regardless, we don't know anything about your cGPA or sGPA.

I wouldn't recommend retaking a C (as long as your GPA isn't a disaster). Just do well on Physics 2 and you're fine. KhanAcademy is your friend and practice problems are key

 

[BlackBox]

You didn't realize after the first exam that you needed to change your habits? You don't think the class was hard but you got a C anyway?

From the sound of your post, you seem like a "casual" pre-med. I don't want to patronize, but getting into medical school is competitive. There are people that put in maximal effort to classes like physics so that they get an A. My first tip/study habit is to start putting that effort in. Whether you decide to retake or not, you should be treating college like a full time job. This means 40+ hours per week in class/studying. That being said, for physics specifically, I bought a subscription to the Chegg website because they had every answer to every problem in my textbook worked out like a solution manual. This enabled me to do every problem in the book for practice. When I got one wrong, I would make a note of it and come back to do it again after looking at the solution and seeing what I did wrong.

I hope that helped.

Shots fired!!

Haha

 

[BlackBox]

I would only retake if you thought you had a serious deficiency in comprehension. Otherwise, get your sh.t together and ace that 2nd class. I went with practice problems mostly- either you can do 'em or ya can't.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Chemistry, but I am confident in the material. I always did great on finals, just not great enough to make up the bad grades.

If I did retake it, it would have to be at a community college/other university. I don't have the time to take it during the year (until senior year) or money to take it in the summer. Would this be viewed negatively?

 

[BlackBox]

Chemistry, but I am confident in the material. I always did great on finals, just not great enough to make up the bad grades.

If I did retake it, it would have to be at a community college/other university. I don't have the time to take it during the year (until senior year) or money to take it in the summer. Would this be viewed negatively?

Many people take courses at CC and get into med school. However if a bias does exist, it will be on a school-by-school basis and impossible for people here to predict.

 

[allojay]

Chemistry, but I am confident in the material. I always did great on finals, just not great enough to make up the bad grades.

If I did retake it, it would have to be at a community college/other university. I don't have the time to take it during the year (until senior year) or money to take it in the summer. Would this be viewed negatively?

Blackbox is correct. There is a med school bias, but unless you're hoping to get into the top 10 medical schools in the nation, taking a CC class shouldn't bite you in the butt. The big thing with the admission process is that its completely unpredictable, and anything can happen. So don't let one or two classes at a CC discourage you, but do be aware of the bias that it comes with. Like i said earlier, if your numbers (GPA and MCAT are solid), most school could care less. Best of luck to you.

 

[Theafoni]

Yeah, that casual pre-med mentality is definitely true. I transferred to a university from a CC which is why I couldn't get out of physics with IB scores sucks I know. In transferring, I lost sense of what I was doing, it's a very large campus so you can easily lose yourself and your goals. I also worked a lot last semester, all my classes were in the evenings and nights, I had a lab until 9:30 at night, it was just awful--I didn't have any chances to study with friends or the time to get tutored. Hoping to bounce back this semester though, I'm working a lot less and intend to quit.

Alright, it's unlikely I will retake physics then. My GPA is still good despite the slight dip. I just hoping the conceptual stuff doesn't come back to bite me on the MCAT.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Many people take courses at CC and get into med school. However if a bias does exist, it will be on a school-by-school basis and impossible for people here to predict.

All right, I'll have to try to fit in 4 months of summer classes, I don't know how but maybe spread over two summers. 🙂

EDIT: Actually, now I'm beyond stressed. I can take them my junior year summer, if I take a gap year (most likely). Is it really necessary considering I will be taking higher up Bio/Chem?

 

[BlackBox]

All right, I'll have to try to fit in 4 months of summer classes, I don't know how but maybe spread over two summers. 🙂

EDIT: Actually, now I'm beyond stressed. I can take them my junior year summer, if I take a gap year (most likely). Is it really necessary considering I will be taking higher up Bio/Chem?

If you want to go DO, I would take them because those schools do grade replacement.

If you want to go MD, I would only retake them if my BCPM (or whatever the order is for that acronym) is on the lower side. What's low? Probably <3.5 . If you rock the remainder of your classes, these C+'s won't matter much.

The only other question you need to ask yourself is, why did you did poorly? General chemistry is on the mcat, so you need to master it.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

If you want to go DO, I would take them because those schools do grade replacement.

If you want to go MD, I would only retake them if my BCPM (or whatever the order is for that acronym) is on the lower side. What's low? Probably <3.5 . If you rock the remainder of your classes, these C+'s won't matter much.

The only other question you need to ask yourself is, why did you did poorly? General chemistry is on the mcat, so you need to master it.

I plan on retaking it next summer if my sGPA is not at a 3.5+ by the end of junior year along with obviously having to do a gap year.
My other concern is that I've taken this Chemistry at a CC, kind of. I tutored my friend and did all her online homework/saw her exams/etc. It was really easy. I just need to show up. So I would be taking them purely for the A on my transcript, not necessarily to gain much (maybe in some parts, yes, especially Chem 2).

 

[Theafoni]

I plan on retaking it next summer if my sGPA is not at a 3.5+ by the end of junior year along with obviously having to do a gap year.
My other concern is that I've taken this Chemistry at a CC, kind of. I tutored my friend and did all her online homework/saw her exams/etc. It was really easy. I just need to show up. So I would be taking them purely for the A on my transcript, not necessarily to gain much (maybe in some parts, yes, especially Chem 2).

Bad mentality, I did that for physics and got a C (albeit at a uni). Don't give yourself excuses, make sure you put in effort and aim for a good marks.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

You didn't realize after the first exam that you needed to change your habits? You don't think the class was hard but you got a C anyway?

From the sound of your post, you seem like a "casual" pre-med. I don't want to patronize, but getting into medical school is competitive. There are people that put in maximal effort to classes like physics so that they get an A. My first tip/study habit is to start putting that effort in. Whether you decide to retake or not, you should be treating college like a full time job. This means 40+ hours per week in class/studying. That being said, for physics specifically, I bought a subscription to the Chegg website because they had every answer to every problem in my textbook worked out like a solution manual. This enabled me to do every problem in the book for practice. When I got one wrong, I would make a note of it and come back to do it again after looking at the solution and seeing what I did wrong.

I hope that helped.

Wow i didn't realize theafonis mom was on this forum as well

 

[Theafoni]

Wow i didn't realize theafonis mom was on this forum as well

Thanks mom, much love

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Bad mentality, I did that for physics and got a C (albeit at a uni). Don't give yourself excuses, make sure you put in effort and aim for a good marks.

Of course, it would be during the summer so I could study. But I did my friend's work for her (she has a learning disability, took it many times) so I'm pretty confident, but I doubt I'll even retake it.

EDIT: By the way, sorry for hijacking your thread. I also don't think one C is a big deal, unlike my few ha.

 

[Theafoni]

Of course, it would be during the summer so I could study. But I did my friend's work for her (she has a learning disability, took it many times) so I'm pretty confident, but I doubt I'll even retake it.

EDIT: By the way, sorry for hijacking your thread. I also don't think one C is a big deal, unlike my few ha.

Yeah no problem. I actually have another C+ from calc 1, another class I took in high school I didn't do so great in. Just work harder I guess.

 

[487806]

Should I retake 2 classes I got C+s in?

Sorry to be rude, but can you stop hijacking other people's threads? If you have a concern, create your own thread and we'll help you there.

 

[487806]

Yeah, that casual pre-med mentality is definitely true. I transferred to a university from a CC which is why I couldn't get out of physics with IB scores sucks I know. In transferring, I lost sense of what I was doing, it's a very large campus so you can easily lose yourself and your goals. I also worked a lot last semester, all my classes were in the evenings and nights, I had a lab until 9:30 at night, it was just awful--I didn't have any chances to study with friends or the time to get tutored. Hoping to bounce back this semester though, I'm working a lot less and intend to quit.

Alright, it's unlikely I will retake physics then. My GPA is still good despite the slight dip. I just hoping the conceptual stuff doesn't come back to bite me on the MCAT.

Sounds like you have a solid plan. Good luck

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Sorry to be rude, but can you stop hijacking other people's threads? If you have a concern, create your own thread and we'll help you there.

I know, I did and I apologized.