Retaking classes: Frowned upon? Or shows dedication?

[Canadakid]

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Hello all, I did some searching and couldn't find a direct answer.


Surely repeating a course will increase your GPA and thats good. However, in the midst of taking my new pre-reqs, I will have a few empty time slots, and I am thinking of filling it with some other courses I have taken before since DO schools take the second grade wholly and dont average.

Now the question rises: Even though DO schools will only take your second grade, is it something that is frowned upon somewhat? Or is it more of a "Im so dedicated Ill do everything twice just to get in?"

Just want to know how much is too much as far as repeats go, so I can decide whether improving that C+/B- is worth it or not in some calsses.

 

[dntke1518]

Though it shows dedication, I spoke with an ad com advisor this last cycle who said that if they start seeing more than three or four retakes it starts raising red flags for them. Yes, it does show dedication, but it also shows that you might not have exerted yourself the first time around. Now, remember than the grades that are retaken will still show up in your file, they don't disappear! Yet if your GPA is really in the tank I would retake the classes.

 

[Canadakid]

Though it shows dedication, I spoke with an ad com advisor this last cycle who said that if they start seeing more than three or four retakes it starts raising red flags for them. Yes, it does show dedication, but it also shows that you might not have exerted yourself the first time around. Now, remember than the grades that are retaken will still show up in your file, they don't disappear! Yet if your GPA is really in the tank I would retake the classes.

Do you think those red flags could be game breaking?

ie suppose I retook a handful of courses, but did well on my new pre-req classes, and did well on the MCAT

Really I just want as high a GPA as possible but retaking courses also seems like it could be detrimental

 

[ManBroDude]

This is also relevant to my interests. My story:
I graduated in 2007 with a 2.85 cum GPA and a BS Biology. I had retaken a bunch of courses in college (I made up for a strict religious upbringing by partying a lot, plus I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life), so if you average all my courses together, my GPA would actually be a 2.09, so MD and PA schools won't even look at me. I've been on SDN for a week solid learning everything about DO and the schools, compiling as much info as I can, but I have a couple of questions. I took my first post-bacc course last semester (A&P 1) and earned a 98%, which I'm proud of. This semester I'm doing equally well in A&P II and a retake of Microbiology (originally got a 2.0 C). This will raise my cGPA to 2.98 and my sGPA to 2.89 or so. I'm also retaking a couple other classes (Physics II and Chem I, both Cs) this summer for a couple thousand dollars and bump the sciGPA to 3.09. From there I can retake Biochem and Ecology and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy in the Fall 2011, taking me to a 3.43 sciGPA and in to the competitive level.
I started working as a scribe in the ER this month, and plan on continuing doing that (it's basically like shadowing and working with the ER docs). I am starting to volunteer at the refugee clinics with medical cases scheduling, plus I have plenty of good ECs from my college days when I served as secretary and then vice president of a student organization (fraternity). I'm trilingual and live in a rural area (Idaho) and plan on moving back to Idaho to practice medicine and help with the underserved and rural populations.

I know I should apply with the AACOMAS early, and put "retakes in progress" on there, but what would you do if you were me? Is putting Fall classes that I won't even get grades for till January as "planned retakes in progress" too much? Should I just put the two summer courses as the only retakes in progress? I know I have to have a stellar MCAT (29 or higher) to even have a chance.

I just don't want to wait till next year's application cycle. What would you do?

 

[Dr Yiot]

IMHO, retake until your GPA is in the competetive range. but this is coming from me, and I retook ALOT. for me I got my sci GPA from a 2.0 to a 3.2. I wasnt very succesful this cycle, but I am still retaking classes. I am worried about them bieng concerned with the amount of retakes but hopefully they will see that I suceeded in courses without retaking them as well, like anatomy and biochem. I guess if you have suceeded in other 3k level courses (not as retakes) then you might be ok. Honestly though, it is the FASTEST and CHEAPEST way to get your GPA up.

 

[ManBroDude]

I guess if you have suceeded in other 3k level courses (not as retakes) then you might be ok. Honestly though, it is the FASTEST and CHEAPEST way to get your GPA up.

Heh, 2,000 for two summer courses beats 45,000 per semester, huh? 😉

Has anyone applied in the summer and updated their aacomas after finishing their fall classes in December? I just want to know if that's possible.

 

[milosavljevic]

Though it shows dedication, I spoke with an ad com advisor this last cycle who said that if they start seeing more than three or four retakes it starts raising red flags for them. Yes, it does show dedication, but it also shows that you might not have exerted yourself the first time around. Now, remember than the grades that are retaken will still show up in your file, they don't disappear! Yet if your GPA is really in the tank I would retake the classes.

sorry, just to clarify, but when you say "more than three or four retakes", are you referring to 3-4 retakes OVERALL, or 3-4 retakes PER individual course?

 

[Sinfest]

sorry, just to clarify, but when you say "more than three or four retakes", are you referring to 3-4 retakes OVERALL, or 3-4 retakes PER individual course?

Probably the former

 

[Rob C]

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[Canadakid]

Thank you for all the responses guys, but the thread is getting slightly derailed...

Any more feedback on the OP regarding how an admissions officer may view a number of repeated courses?

 

[Rob C]

.

 

[Dharma]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just work hard and get them A's. You're better off taking new classes if you can afford it in terms of GPA.

 

[dntke1518]

sorry, just to clarify, but when you say "more than three or four retakes", are you referring to 3-4 retakes OVERALL, or 3-4 retakes PER individual course?

The ad director I spoke with at DMU was talking about 4 or more overall. As far as them being a red flag that is really detrimental I have no idea, just know that it is not preferred. I would say that there is a difference in retaking something that is lower than a C, and retaking a course that you got a C in. If that makes any sense, lol?