Retaking a pre-requisite, but doing it online?

[FutureFACS]

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Hi all, I am a current medical school applicant. Long story short, I had a rough semester freshman year, and got a C- in General Chemistry 1. In more advanced chemistry courses (Orgo 1, Orgo 2) I have been a straight A student.

Unfortunately, since I got a C- and not a C or better in Gen Chem 1, I think I will have to retake that prerequisite, yes?

I am graduating from a reputable state school in a couple of weeks, and was hoping to retake Gen Chem 1 as an online course ("Medical General Chemistry 1" as opposed to Gen Chem 1) through the University of New England, which claims that the online course if for 'health prerequisites.'

Is this a good or bad idea? Should I just take it on-campus at a 2 year CC? Or at my 4 year university (which I dont want to do because of tuition, living expenses in that area).
@Goro @gyngyn

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Goro]

What's your current cGPA and sGPA? if you've done really well since that FR year, then a repeat might not be needed.

 

[FutureFACS]

What's your current cGPA and sGPA? if you've done really well since that FR year, then a repeat might not be needed.

I have currently had a couple of MD interviews. My first two years of college I had a 2.5 cumulative, as I was playing sports, injured, and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Since realizing I wanted to pursue medicine, and finding a major that I love, I have had basically a 4.0 for the last 2.5~ish years.
My cumulative is only a 3.3, but I do have a 38 MCAT.

Gen Chem 1 C-
Gen Chem 2 C

Got Serious:

Orgo 1 A
Orgo 2 A
Biochem (Expect an A)

It would just be a nightmare to get accepted to my dream school (which I interviewed at), and then not be able to matriculate because of a C-

Thanks!!

Edit: I forgot my science GPA, which is about a 3.4. Keep in mind that all of my upper division sciences are a 4.0 (Except for a B in a 1 credit Orgo 2 lab)

 

[gyngyn]

School policies may vary but we would not require a re-take. You may want to check websites at the schools where you are interviewed (or just ask them!).

 

[SpartanWolverine]

School policies may vary but we would not require a re-take. You may want to check websites at the schools where you are interviewed (or just ask them!).

Echo this. My school DOES require retakes of C- prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation, so make sure you double check the policies of any school you may be admitted to. My school is fine with online coursework from UNE/UC Berkeley/etc. as a re-take.

 

[FutureFACS]

Echo this. My school DOES require retakes of C- prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation, so make sure you double check the policies of any school you may be admitted to. My school is fine with online coursework from UNE/UC Berkeley/etc. as a re-take.

Good to know about the online courses, I'll probably just end up doing that

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Good to know about the online courses, I'll probably just end up doing that

Again, if you do decide to re-take online, just make sure the course you take is accepted to fulfill the requirements of the schools you're interviewing at. I know, for one example, the UC Berkeley online biochem is hit-or-miss (i.e., some medical schools accept it and some do not -- because it's technically an "intro" course). Otherwise you could potentially be out $1,000 and in a bit of a bind.

 

[Holmwood]

Edit:
Correction.

Online coursework is fine for retaking coursework for credit.

However, any BCPM coursework that is pre-requisite for medical school will not be acceptable when taken online for many schools. Not even if it has an online laboratory portion.

If you are currently enrolled in a 4 year university, it is recommended that you take it at a 4 year university (some schools explicitly state this. For other schools, I needed the adcom to tell me directly.) This is due to junior colleges generally being less rigorous than 4 year universities. Although with cost considerations, you will be inclined to take it at a CC which is okay... but you have to make sure there is a laboratory portion as well.


If the gen chem was split into lecture and lab, and you got a C- in the lecture but a C+ or higher in the lab, then you only need to retake the lecture portion. If it was combined, you're going to have to retake both the lecture and lab.

 

[FutureFACS]

Edit:
Correction.

Online coursework is fine for retaking coursework for credit.

However, any BCPM coursework that is pre-requisite for medical school will not be acceptable when taken online for many schools. Not even if it has an online laboratory portion.

If you are currently enrolled in a 4 year university, it is recommended that you take it at a 4 year university (some schools explicitly state this. For other schools, I needed the adcom to tell me directly.) This is due to junior colleges generally being less rigorous than 4 year universities. Although with cost considerations, you will be inclined to take it at a CC which is okay... but you have to make sure there is a laboratory portion as well.


If the gen chem was split into lecture and lab, and you got a C- in the lecture but a C+ or higher in the lab, then you only need to retake the lecture portion. If it was combined, you're going to have to retake both the lecture and lab.

Thanks for the input, yeah it was a separate lab and lecture, and I did fine in the lab. So you are saying online is OK for retaking, but not for taking it the first time?

Thanks

 

[Holmwood]

Thanks for the input, yeah it was a separate lab and lecture, and I did fine in the lab. So you are saying online is OK for retaking, but not for taking it the first time?

Thanks

No, you misunderstand.

Online is okay for retaking non-medical school prerequisites.

If you're retaking Gen Chem (which is a med school prerequisite), then you are not to take it online.

To retake Gen Chem, you only need to retake the lecture portion at either a CC or Uni.

 

[FutureFACS]

No, you misunderstand.

Online is okay for retaking non-medical school prerequisites.

If you're retaking Gen Chem (which is a med school prerequisite), then you are not to take it online.

To retake Gen Chem, you only need to retake the lecture portion at either a CC or Uni.

Thank you for clarifying!


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