Retake pre-reqs?

[bananaz]

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Here are my grades on the pre-reqs I've taken so far. I'm on the quarter system, in case that isn't obvious. In general my study habits weren't the best last year. I had next to no science background and was transitioning from mostly liberal arts courses to classes where there's only one right answer and you can't just reason your way out of it.

Chem 1: B, Lab: A-
Chem 2: C+, Lab: B+
Chem 3: B+, Lab: B-

Bio 1: B
Bio 3: A
Bio 4: B- (an advanced biochem/genetics alternative to Bio 2 that I LOVED)

I am wondering if I should try to retake Chem 2 or Bio 4, or if I should just focus on doing well in o-chem and physics next year. Both classes were blown due to bad performance on one test (I was in A-/B+ range otherwise), which is killer when classes are only 10 weeks long.

I've also taken several other lower-level chemistry, biology and physics classes and have gotten mostly A's with one B, giving me an overall science GPA of 3.37. I am definitely planning on doing a post-bacc to get some upper-division science courses under my belt and hopefully boost my GPA after I graduate, but I don't know if that should include retaking any of the basics as well.

 

[Reaction]

From what I have read here on SDN, most people recommend you only retake a class that you have a C- or below in. Hope this helps! 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

You are not obliged to retake those classes in order to have a competitive application. Just do well in the rest of your prerequisites and upper-level Bio courses to raise your overall BCPM.

 

[bananaz]

Thanks for the responses. That's what I was thinking but my school's pre-med advisor said anything B- or lower "must" be retaken.

 

[Reaction]

Thanks for the responses. That's what I was thinking but my school's pre-med advisor said anything B- or lower "must" be retaken.

Really you have to retake them? That kinda sucks but then again you can improve your science GPA now

 

[bananaz]

Really you have to retake them? That kinda sucks but then again you can improve your science GPA now

Oh no, I don't actually have to, my advisor just made it out like there was no chance of getting into a med school with a B- or worse in any of the pre-reqs. But based on the feedback here and what I've read I think I am just going to take the crummy grades and do better on future courses.

 

[TarHeelEMT]

If you blew the grades because of an isolated bad test grade and are confident in your abilities going forward, then I wouldn't worry about retaking them. Doing well in upper level classes says much more about your abilities than general level coursework. Just make sure you do well from here on out, and you should be ok.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

pre-med advisors are idiots.

 

[bananaz]

pre-med advisors are idiots.

Yeah I was pretty underwhelmed by my one and only meeting with this advisor. She was a very nice lady but nearly every word out of her mouth went directly against what I had learned on my own from reputable sources. She has since stopped pre-med/vet/dental/optometry advising at my school and is apparently finishing her master's in comparative literature 😕

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Yeah I was pretty underwhelmed by my one and only meeting with this advisor. She was a very nice lady but nearly every word out of her mouth went directly against what I had learned on my own from reputable sources. She has since stopped pre-med/vet/dental/optometry advising at my school and is apparently finishing her master's in comparative literature 😕

I loled, even though this is mostly likely a troll thread.

 

[CopToEM]

pre-med advisors are idiots.

+10000000. There are occasions where this is not true but they are far and few between. You probably know more about med school admissions than your Pre-Med advisor does. I wish I was kidding.

 

[bananaz]

I loled, even though this is mostly likely a troll thread.

Haha, not quite. This would be a pretty boring way to troll.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks for the responses. That's what I was thinking but my school's pre-med advisor said anything B- or lower "must" be retaken.

To be fair to the advisor, there are (from what I've read on SDN) med schools that specify B or better in the prerequisites, but there are plenty of others without that requirement. Perhaps it is true of some (or one) of the med schools in your state where most from your undergrad school would want to attend.