Retaking classes vs taking new classes

[letmein145]

---

Members do not see this ad.

If I do a post bacc, is it better to retake the science classes i got C's in (i.e. o-chem, g-chem, physiology) or is it better to take classes that i've never taken before (advanced biology courses)? Here's some info about my gpa. Assumming that I receive an A in all the courses in the post bacc...

Current
Overall undergrad 3.02
BCPM: 2.76

Retake 4 classes
Overall undergrad: 3.19
BCPM: 3.03

Take 4 new classes
Overall undergrad: 3.10
BCPM: 2.9

Retake 8 classes
Overall undergrad: 3.33
BCPM: 3.27

Take 8 new classes
Overall undergrad: 3.16
BCPM: 3.02

Questions
1) It's obvious that retaking the courses will raise my gpa more, but will this even matter to adcoms since I had to take the course two times to get an A? By the way, I graduated in 2003, so it's been more than 4 years since I took some of these classes. Don't know if that makes a difference.

2) Is it better to take new classes such as advanced level bio courses since this proves that I can handle courses tougher than basic courses like G-chem?

3) Whatever courses I take, they will be taken at UCLA or UC Irvine extension. However, if I do get into Drexel MSP, would that be a better overall choice since they allow you to take med school/grad school courses?

Thank you

 

[postbacker]

If I do a post bacc, is it better to retake the science classes i got C's in (i.e. o-chem, g-chem, physiology) or is it better to take classes that i've never taken before (advanced biology courses)? Here's some info about my gpa. Assumming that I receive an A in all the courses in the post bacc...

Current
Overall undergrad 3.02
BCPM: 2.76

Retake 4 classes
Overall undergrad: 3.19
BCPM: 3.03

Take 4 new classes
Overall undergrad: 3.10
BCPM: 2.9

Retake 8 classes
Overall undergrad: 3.33
BCPM: 3.27

Take 8 new classes
Overall undergrad: 3.16
BCPM: 3.02

Questions
1) It's obvious that retaking the courses will raise my gpa more, but will this even matter to adcoms since I had to take the course two times to get an A? By the way, I graduated in 2003, so it's been more than 4 years since I took some of these classes. Don't know if that makes a difference.

2) Is it better to take new classes such as advanced level bio courses since this proves that I can handle courses tougher than basic courses like G-chem?

3) Whatever courses I take, they will be taken at UCLA or UC Irvine extension. However, if I do get into Drexel MSP, would that be a better overall choice since they allow you to take med school/grad school courses?

Thank you

The bolded statement is not true in AMCAS (for allopathic schools). Retaking a class previously taken does not replace or cancel out the first grade.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

For Allopathic (MD) schools, you should only retake a course if it...

• Is a Pre-requisite for medical school (like Organic or Physics)
• You get below a C (C-, D, F)

Otherwise, it's recommended to take upper-level sciences to show that you can handle science coursework rather than repeating a course.

 

[Kateb4]

Agree with the above statements. If you are applying DO, I'd retake. If you are going MD, then probably take some other upper level classes.

An aside for the retaking, only retake a C if you are certain that you can get an A the second time around. For me, I got a C in the first Orgo, and the second gen chem as well, and I don't honestly know if I could get an A the second time around.

 

[letmein145]

cool....thanks for the advice everybody

 

[tacocat]

Just as a follow-up, what if you haven't had the classes in a while? Like I'm considering retaking Chem and Bio classes, because it's been like 15 years.

I got out of undergrad in '99, but I APed out of Chem and Bio having taken them in like 93. Am I nuts for thinking I could get around taking them again, or do I just need to suck it up and retake both of them?