Retaking a class with B will be really bad?

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

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When I was in second semester as a freshman, I did bad in a biology class which ended up a B. Maybe you guys won't think a B is anything bad but there were many other reasons which made me think how serious it was. Here I'm not interested in elaborating the reasons though, so anyway forgive me about that.

That class was not difficult but I realized some issues in my methods of studying. I ended up a B anyway. So, by that moment I retook it for whatever reasons. You might think me childish and stupid, but I did appreciate my decision. This is not because retaking boosted my GPA, but retaking somehow proved my way of thinking and studying, giving me a confidence to keep pursuing medicine at that particular moment. After that, other classes just ran well. My overall GPA calculated by AAMCAS should be about 3.9 (I don't have the exact breakdown so far). MCAT is about 514 (91%)

However, I've seen people concerning about retaking. It seems retaking will be thought as a EXTREMELY bad decision, especially I got a B which might not be a big deal for you guys. Here I'm asking simply because I want to get an idea how adcom thought about this. I don't care whether my retaking impresses them in a positive way or not, but I do care whether they actually thought this is a bad idea?

Retaking occured long long ago. So I'm not able to change this fact on my record, but just curious about that.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Retaking a B will call into question your judgment. It's an odd move to say the least.

 

[TheBiologist]

LOL

3.9/514 and you are talking about retaking 1 B? I would calm down by med school if you don't want to go absolutely insane

get some sleep, gooood night🙂

 

[bbbcccppp]

Looks like a nonissue. In fact if someone notices and asks at an interview I find your answer interesting in a positive way. 3.9 and mcat will speak for themselves.


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[Geo16]

Don't!
I'm not even going to retake my C's in chem even if they bother me!

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Bad idea. Retaking above average grades suggests you'd rather bump your GPA the easy way (taking a class you already passed again and will thus be super easy) than the hard way (taking higher level classes in the same subject and doing well on them). Like Pagan said, it will call your judgment into question if you make that choice.

 

[aformerstudent]

A doctor has to make good decisions. Asking this question, questions your judgment.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

Don't!
I'm not even going to retake my C's in chem even if they bother me!

Again, as I've been said, retaking occurred years ago. I'm just curious how people might think this things on my record.

Bad idea. Retaking above average grades suggests you'd rather bump your GPA the easy way (taking a class you already passed again and will thus be super easy) than the hard way (taking higher level classes in the same subject and doing well on them). Like Pagan said, it will call your judgment into question if you make that choice.

True, this is what I've heard. That's why I posted this thread. However, the moment I retook that was not only intended to bump up the grade, and I also have other reasons to think getting a B is bad anyway. So far I think there's no issue, I've taken tons of advanced classes. Also even if I do have issue because of that already-occurred retaking, it's on my record and I'm not able to erase that anyway. I hope I can get an interview and possibly they may or may not ask this things on my record.

 

[Geo16]

Again, as I've been said, retaking occurred years ago. I'm just curious how people might think this things on my record.

My apologies, I just assumed your content just by reading the title. Please forgive me 🙁
I have no idea on the courses that are already retaken.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

I thought I didn't make the things clear. I'm really sorry about that. I will clarify that one more time.

I got a B in a biology class in my second semester of my freshman year. Then after that semester, I immediately retook that class and got an A.
This would be on my record. I'm a senior right now, so this thing is already happened long long time ago.

My question is, how will adcom think about this fact which has already occurred?
I've taken many advanced classes after that. My GPA calculated by AAMCAS should be around 3.9, and my MCAT is 514 (91% percentile). So I'm just curious about possible reactions and thoughts from adcom.

 

[strider144]

From what I've heard on here, med schools try to avoid perfectionism, and to me retaking a B would suggest an inability to deal with imperfection. It already happened, but if it comes up, you might want to reflect on how you've grown and changed since then.

 

[aformerstudent]

My question is, how will adcom think about this fact which has already occurred?

Oh damn! So you made the bad decision already? You're going to get grilled on this bro...IF they grant you an interview. They're going to be like, "This guy ain't no Einstein." REJECT.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

From what I've heard on here, med schools try to avoid perfectionism, and to me retaking a B would suggest an inability to deal with imperfection. It already happened, but if it comes up, you might want to reflect on how you've grown and changed since then.

Thank you for bringing up the "perfectionism", this is something I haven't thought about. I definitely could explain and reflect how this decision made me happier latter in all of my course works though. I just wonder how they potentially will think about my decision in the past, and you definitely provided me a good answer.

Oh damn! So you made the bad decision already? You're going to get grilled on this bro...IF they grant you an interview. They're going to be like, "This guy ain't no Einstein." REJECT.

Well, it occurred about 2 years from now. You could call me childish and stupid at that moment. Anyway I still appreciated my decision. There were things I think I couldn't see without retaking it. I would say it's just like "where you fell will be where you stand up again". Moving on can be a good option but I chose the otherwise which was acceptable for me.

So I'm just curious about what they might think without interviewing me. Thank you for your response. It seems like generally people have a EXTREMELY strong negative bias to those who are retaking the class, although I really think that retake was critical for me.

 

[aformerstudent]

Thank you for bringing up the "perfectionism", this is something I haven't thought about. I definitely could explain and reflect how this decision made me happier latter in all of my course works though. I just wonder how they potentially will think about my decision in the past, and you definitely provided me a good answer.


Well, it occurred about 2 years from now. You could call me childish and stupid at that moment. Anyway I still appreciated my decision. There were things I think I couldn't see without retaking it. I would say it's just like "where you fell will be where you stand up again". Moving on can be a good option but I chose the otherwise which was acceptable for me.

So I'm just curious about what they might think without interviewing me. Thank you for your response. It seems like generally people have a EXTREMELY strong negative bias to those who are retaking the class, although I really think that retake was critical for me.

Yeah bro I got you. Don't worry about it man. Worst comes to worst, you got PA school.

 

[kamakazi5]

You may get a question or two in interviews but just explain it the best you can and be done with it. It's on your record so own it and move on. It's extremely unlikely to be a major issue.

 

[Doctor-S]

I thought I didn't make the things clear. I'm really sorry about that. I will clarify that one more time.

I got a B in a biology class in my second semester of my freshman year. Then after that semester, I immediately retook that class and got an A.
This would be on my record. I'm a senior right now, so this thing is already happened long long time ago.

My question is, how will adcom think about this fact which has already occurred?
I've taken many advanced classes after that. My GPA calculated by AAMCAS should be around 3.9, and my MCAT is 514 (91% percentile). So I'm just curious about possible reactions and thoughts from adcom.

If asked about it, assume responsibility for poor judgment as a freshman student, and explain what you learned about yourself since then (i.e., four years later as an aspiring medical student). I'm assuming you enrolled in much more challenging BCPM courses following your freshman biology class, and you earned strong grades in those upper-division BCPM classes - so I really don't have any interest in discussing a single biology course from your freshman year.

 

[cactusman]

Don't draw attention to it. It would be best if it's mostly ignored, but if it isn't then explain that you had bad judgement but also know that you learned better study skills, etc. from the retake.

The retake won't look great, but I'm sure other schools will be interested in an overall strong app.

 

[liquidsodium]

I retook a C in calc several years later for the same reasons you listed above. Then I aced calc 2 and 3 to prove a point. I couldn't tell you how that affected my app (I knew there was no grade replacement and the retake might be viewed as odd) but it was personally fulfilling to prove I could own the material and then some. This was a financially fine decision since there was a flat fee for 13 credits and any credits beyond that were free. My app cycle last year went fine-- not sure anyone cared about the retake.

You already made the decision, succeeded the second time around, and now you need to own the choice you made. Don't overthink it-


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[ortnakas]

It looks weird and it was a bad decision, but if it's the worst decision you've ever made, I think you're going to be okay.

 

[bbbcccppp]

Non issue. Was years ago. You won't need to defend yourself. You could be asked about it out of curiosity. Just have a good quick sound bite answer. No big deal


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