retaking a course

[joefosho315]

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Hey, I'm a sophomore and have been interested in dental school since last year. So I started with a year of general chemistry, without any prior chemistry experience AT ALL. I got a B- first semester which is lower than I expected...but then a C for second semester! Now that was really a big blow to me, as I've never got a C before. I was actually later diagnosed in the summer with an anxiety disorder that developed in college and with that fixed, I was able to get an A in Organic Chem 1 during the summer at my local state school. Big improvement! So now I am thinking about retaking my chem 2 course as I am confident as hell that I can pull off at least an A- now that I received help for my problem. The thing is, my pre-health advisor advised me not to retake chem 2 because at my school, I get 0 credits for it, and only a letter grade. So basically, since it does not factor into my Science GPA at all with 0 credits, she advised that I just not retake and focus on my courses for this semester. My question for you guys is, even if it doesn't factor into my Science GPA, wouldn't it be worth taking to prove to dental schools that I have overcome this problem and that I have an A level knowledge of general chemistry? Instead, my advisor told me that as long as I show improvement in my future science courses, it would be "a better argument," because everything is about "patterns" with your grade. So as long as I constantly do well, then I'll be fine. But I am still questioning this. I feel like it's an A that I am letting go, although it may be mathematically irrelevant. What would you guys do if you were me? Thanks a TON guys!

P.S. - When you apply to dental schools, do they recalculate your GPA including retaken courses, such as a retaken chem 2 grade, or do they still follow your individual school's policy on credits for retaken courses?

 

[joefosho315]

bump for help!

 

[VegasBabyVegas]

I go to BYU and they say if you get a "C" or higher to not retake. I think it's too competitive these next few years to follow that though. However, if you still have a lot of science classes left that you can do well in, it will average out to be a decent SGPA. They do factor in both the original grade and the retake ie: you got a C in chem and retake and get an A-, your new grade is really a B/B- . I would bet dollars to donuts that a good chunk of apps. (including myself) have a "C" on our science report card and should still be okay, just don't make a habit of it.

 

[RaiderNation]

Does anyone find it interesting that on SDN every single person that gets a bad grade either had a death in the family or was diagnosed with some sort of disorder? It seems that after every "I got a C" there is a quick explanation of "my mom was hit by a semi that semester" or "I had brain and heart surgery the same week and was stuck in the hospital for 3 months."

 

[joefosho315]

Does anyone find it interesting that on SDN every single person that gets a bad grade either had a death in the family or was diagnosed with some sort of disorder? It seems that after every "I got a C" there is a quick explanation of "my mom was hit by a semi that semester" or "I had brain and heart surgery the same week and was stuck in the hospital for 3 months."

Yeah that is pretty interesting. It's also interesting noting the fact that after receiving a B-, C, B+ (B+ coming from my strongest subject) in my science courses, I somehow miraculously got an A in an upper level chemistry course? I guess it's just coincidence and nothing else. Lucky me. 🙄

 

[Audio]

Yeah that is pretty interesting. It's also interesting noting the fact that after receiving a B-, C, B+ (B+ coming from my strongest subject) in my science courses, I somehow miraculously got an A in an upper level chemistry course? I guess it's just coincidence and nothing else. Lucky me. 🙄

Organic Chem 1 isn't an upper level chemistry course.

 

[RaiderNation]

At my school it's a 300 level course. There is also a lower division course but its mainly for nursing students.

 

[howui3]

I would not bother retaking the class; you still have 2 years and a lot of science courses to boost your GPA. I got the only C in one of the physics classes sophomore year, and when I graduated I had a 3.4 undergrad gpa.

You want to study and do well on your remaining classes and do well on the DAT, then that lone C will not be such a factor.

Also, dental schools are not as crazy to get into as medical schools. Take a look at the Barron's book of all the dental schools and their average GPA's and DAT scores. I think the highest two are at UCLA and Harvard with about a 2.7. A lot of schools, good schools, have an average GPA of 3.2-3.5.

 

[joefosho315]

I would not bother retaking the class; you still have 2 years and a lot of science courses to boost your GPA. I got the only C in one of the physics classes sophomore year, and when I graduated I had a 3.4 undergrad gpa.

You want to study and do well on your remaining classes and do well on the DAT, then that lone C will not be such a factor.

Also, dental schools are not as crazy to get into as medical schools. Take a look at the Barron's book of all the dental schools and their average GPA's and DAT scores. I think the highest two are at UCLA and Harvard with about a 2.7. A lot of schools, good schools, have an average GPA of 3.2-3.5.

Well for this semester, I have this open block that only chem fits well into. So my question is, is there any potential harm in retaking chem 2?

 

[VegasBabyVegas]

Organic Chem 1 isn't an upper level chemistry course.

What school do you go to? Because Ochem 1 at every other school is 300 level. 351 at mine.

 

[Audio]

What school do you go to? Because Ochem 1 at every other school is 300 level. 351 at mine.

As you can see, I attend the university of toronto. At my school, it's a first year course. OChem 2 is a second year course. And don't hate on UofTs faculty of chemistry, it's one of the best in the world 😀