Retaking classes

[medhope4]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am planning of doing an informal postbacc and i am wondering how schools will look at me retaking classes. For two of these classes, it would be my 3rd time taking it, however, both were last taken about 8 yrs ago. Here are the classes and my grades.
Bio1: 9 years ago. C
Bio:2 8 years ago C
Chem1: 9 yrs ago B
Chem2: 9 yrs ago B+
Org1: 7 yrs ago C

Both physics I took 7 years ago and got B+'s. Org 2 not taken. I probably won't retake physics. But do grades expire with some schools. Keep in mind, I won't be applying for another year or two. I'll call different school but I am just looking to get a rough idea. Also with bio 1 and chem 1 it would be my 3rd time taking them.

 

[Ferocity]

What is your overall GPA and you have taken the MCAT yet?

 

[medhope4]

Overall from my first university is 2.05 but did not graduate there. I tranferred to an online school, took 50 crds there and got a 3.6.

 

[trinifootdoc]

Overall from my first university is 2.05 but did not graduate there. I tranferred to an online school, took 50 crds there and got a 3.6.

As long as you do much better in those classes schools usually don't mind, HOWEVER, what is your overall including the 50 credits from the online school? I am asking because you started off pretty low from your first university. I am hoping you brought your overall to around a 3.0 or at least really close to it.

 

[SuperFeisty]

I think that if you do take postbac courses, you need to do a complete overhaul and maintain a near perfect GPA at an accredited 4 year university. Coming from a similar background, my GPA coming out of college was a miserable 2.55. Speaking with every podiatry school, they definitely place more emphasis on recent courses. If you show that you are able to maintain a very heavy science courseload while maintaining an excellent GPA, then it is more likely they will overlook your previous GPA.

 

[bobdolerson]

Online courses are notoriously easier to score well in, and your 2.05 before that will make it tough to get in anywhere.

Like the poster before me said, they care more about recent coursework, and your ability to maintain high course load while performing at a high level.

You need more classes, they need to be hard, you need to take several at a time, and you need to score very well in all of them. This needs to be at a reputable school, not a CC or an online university.

Scoring in the mid-30's might even make them overlook your current GPA situation, but you need to understand that they don't like when people take a lot of time off, then jump back into school.

It's the equivalent of running a few times a week, then taking 8 years off, then trying to run a marathon per week without working into it.

 

[medhope4]

So forget taking any of these and take genetics anatomy biochem etc? I haven't taken any biology in 8 years. Won't I need a basic understanding for these courses?

 

[dyk343]

So forget taking any of these and take genetics anatomy biochem etc? I haven't taken any biology in 8 years. Won't I need a basic understanding for these courses?

I'm not sure if you should retake courses over again or not. That is something you need to call and ask the admissions committees about

But if you do decide to take new courses I would recommend Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology. Any or all of those classes will help prepare a student for the first year curriculum.

 

[SuperFeisty]

If you decide to take courses, definitely go for the upper division ones if you can! However, I feel like science courses all build upon each other, and classes such as biochem fill in gaps between what you learn in physiology and microbiology etc. I would recommend you retake some of the biology/chemistry portions as a refresher if it's been 8-9 years.

 

[flyhi]

You are going to have to take Orgo 2, so I would suggest retaking your 2 Bios and Orgo 1. Take anatomy and physiology and maybe genetics and something like immunology with them. Then take your Orgo 2 and then biochem and another upper level bio/chem course. Get A's. The retakes will help you for your MCAT, which you need to do well on.

Good Luck!