Retakes: How much of a GPA bump is worth it?

[fiznat]

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So the season is getting a little late, and with no good news coming out of my applications yet I am starting to get a little nervous. I was hoping some of my fellow DO applicants could help me out with some advice. I'll try to keep it as brief as possible.

Basically I am a bit of a nontraditional applicant, 28 years old, post-bacc approach to the prereqs with something of a checkered academic history. I have a cGPA of 2.77, sGPA 3.3, and a 30N on the MCAT. In addition to that I have some strong ECs, with 10 years in the field as a practicing paramedic, instructor, etc. About 200 hours of DO shadowing as well. I applied a little late, ending up complete in mid/late November

I'm still waiting to hear from a bunch of schools from this application season, but I know very well that my 2.77 cGPA is holding me back. I'm starting to plan for the worst and thinking about doing some retakes this spring semester for some fresh (and early!) applications next season. Problem is, I work full time and it is really difficult to get classes in. Not to mention money is really tight, and $1300+ per class is a real strain. I did some calculations though:

Replace 1 class - new cGPA = 2.83
Replace 2 classes - new cGPA = 2.92

These wouldn't be science classes so the sGPA would stay the same.

I wanted to ask what this community thinks is "worth it" as far as a cGPA bump here. I can really only afford to take one class this semester, but two MIGHT be possible with a loan and some crazy reworking of my work schedule. I'm just not sure if it's worth taking 1 class for a .06 GPA bump, or that second class for the additional .09. Applying early next year with a cGPA of 2.92 sounds pretty good to me right now, but I'm not sure if I can pull it off. What do you guys think?

 

[randomusername]

If it's mostly just non-science classes keeping your cGPA down, you could always retake through a community college (I'm assuming for $1300/class you're talking about taking them at a four-year school) and have it work for grade replacement so long as the courses are ~equivalent in topic and the new course is at least as many hours as the old course. Since they're non-science classes, they'll be less-likely to give a darn where you retook the courses.

 

[fiznat]

If it's mostly just non-science classes keeping your cGPA down, you could always retake through a community college...

I've looked into that, problem is the classes I need aren't really generic classes that every place offers. I need a few very specific upper level psychology classes which I've had some real trouble matching elsewhere. And hey, $1300 is cheap compared to a lot of other 4 year schools! Though CC would prob be cheaper....

 

[Dr Yiot]

man thats a ruff situation to be in. At least with me I was retaking prereq's so my science GPA bumped up. Was your post bacc structured? or did you do it yourself at a school? I dunno, with a 3.3 science GPA and a 30 mcat, your a decently strong applicant. Along with your good EC's I don't know why your not hearing much from schools? How many did you apply 2 and I am assuming you didnt apply to the ones who have "strong" 3.0 gpa cutoffs like DMU. hmmm I dunno man, your quite a unique applicant I do not know if "retaking" these classes would possibly be worth it. Since they arent bringing you over the 3.0 mark which schools would like to see. I wish I could help you. maybe you could tell us more about your post bacc.

Oh and retaking that mcat is definitly out of the questions.

I dunno, maybe take it slow and retake 1 at a time so as to not stress you out and make sure you can be sane enough to do well and succeed at work.

 

[Kevin Baker]

I haven't heard of many people getting in with a 3.0 or less, unless they have done an SMP. I think you might best be served by retaking classes until you're above a 3. That is also a cutoff at tons of places.

 

[fiznat]

Was your post bacc structured? or did you do it yourself at a school?

It was a la carte... Although I got a LOR from the director of the post-bacc program at the school.

 

[CopToEM]

Send letters of intent to the schools that you have the best chance at. Explain your dedication to the school, that you will accept the seat if offered, and talk about the positive that you have to offer. You have to show the school that accepting you is as much a benefit of yours as it is theirs.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

I would try to consider what grades you're actually replacing- are you getting F's and D's fixed on your transcript, or are you just replacing C's? If they are D's and F's, I would say try to retake them. Are these numbers separate from your post bacc GPA and if so, what are those numbers? Honestly though, if you're trying to boost your GPA and the courses aren't really a. ones the adcom will be concerned or b. low enough grades to sweat that much, I would recommend taking more science classes. These will also contribute to your cumulative GPA and show the adcom more than retaking world civ, for ex. If this is your post bacc GPA, this might present a problem because this is often a time when people redeem checkered academic pasts. If that's the case, I might recommend an SMP as well, or a post bacc that is affiliated with a school and more so can give you a shot at acceptance, but not run you as much money and time as most SMPs. DCOM has one in its first year and it seems to be going pretty well. Good luck!

 

[fiznat]

I would try to consider what grades you're actually replacing- are you getting F's and D's fixed on your transcript, or are you just replacing C's? If they are D's and F's, I would say try to retake them. Are these numbers separate from your post bacc GPA and if so, what are those numbers?

Grace, thanks for replying. The grades I'm looking to replace are two non-science courses from my undergraduate that are a D and a F. The only two of their kind, thankfully... They are not courses that I think adcoms particularly "care about" other than the grade itself. My post-bacc GPA is fine, but I have some skeletons in my undergraduate closet that I'm trying to rectify as well.