Retaking C's for my core classes?

[retrofusion720]

I know there's lot of thread regarding retaking C's and how is it not beneficial to retake these core classes, but how about for person who have very low GPA? I have these core classes that I took 10 years ago and I did not do well.

These courses I have taken back in 2008-2009 at community college:
Gen Chem 1: C
Gen Chem 2: C
Calculus: C
General Bio: C
General Bio II: D
Physics 1-3: All C's
Genetics: D

Recently at university:
Organic Chemistry 1: B
Organic Chemistry 2: C+
Biochemistry : C+

Would it be more beneficial to retake all these core classes again especially for MCAT? or take upper division science classes like biology? My science GPA is low (2.5) and I would want to demonstrate adcom that I'm not the same student I was before.

I'm trying to get into a SMP first, then hopefully medical school right after that if everything goes according to plan.

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[HomeSkool]

Don't retake any course in which you've earned a C or better. Getting an A the second time around won't erase the original low grade since AMCAS doesn't permit grade replacement. You'd be better served taking a new course and getting an A in it.

Read this: HomeSkool's Simple Rules for Retaking Courses

 

[retrofusion720]

Don't retake any course in which you've earned a C or better. Getting an A the second time around won't erase the original low grade since AMCAS doesn't permit grade replacement. You'd be better served taking a new course and getting an A in it.

Read this: HomeSkool's Simple Rules for Retaking Courses

Great advice! However I graduated with a science degree and my GPA is still very low. There's not really much upper division science classes I could take to show Adcom that I can do well on my classes. What would be other solution I can do if there isn't much upper division classes I could take

 

[HomeSkool]

Great advice! However I graduated with a science degree and my GPA is still very low. There's not really much upper division science classes I could take to show Adcom that I can do well on my classes. What would be other solution I can do if there isn't much upper division classes I could take

Post-bacc or SMP. Start by reading this: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention.

 

[retrofusion720]

Post-bacc or SMP. Start by reading this: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention.

By reading Goro's intervention, I most likely have to do a 2 step in which I have to do a Post Bacc and then SMP because my GPA is so low. Or do you think doing very well on those post bacc and smp in top of high MCAT scores would be sufficient enough for Adcom?

 

[retrofusion720]

What other classes I can take to prep myself for preparing for SMP and MCAT?

 

[dr_kateb]

Man you’re really messing with the people that use the night theme.

 

[curbsideconsult]

By reading Goro's intervention, I most likely have to do a 2 step in which I have to do a Post Bacc and then SMP because my GPA is so low. Or do you think doing very well on those post bacc and smp in top of high MCAT scores would be sufficient enough for Adcom?

I don't think that's what @Goro stated. You do either a post-bacc or a formal SMP. If you do well in a post-bacc, there's no point in an SMP.

 

[retrofusion720]

I don't think that's what @Goro stated. You do either a post-bacc or a formal SMP. If you do well in a post-bacc, there's no point in an SMP.

As of this moment, I do not have the credential and score performance to even make a SMP or formal Postbacc. That why I may need to do a two-step process such as taking a DIY postbacc then SMP. Do you think that would be a viable option for me for the GPA so low? Or should I take a few upper division classes, try to do well in MCAT, and apply for SMP?

 

[retrofusion720]

Man you’re really messing with the people that use the night theme.

Sorry, I just realize that you can't see the post in night theme. I'm not sure how to light my post here

 

[curbsideconsult]

As of this moment, I do not have the credential and score performance to even make a SMP or formal Postbacc. That why I may need to do a two-step process such as taking a DIY postbacc then SMP. Do you think that would be a viable option for me for the GPA so low? Or should I take a few upper division classes, try to do well in MCAT, and apply for SMP?

Again, if you do well in a post-bacc (DIY or formal, it doesn't matter), you don't need an SMP. If you can get into an SMP, then great. Do one or the other but not both. "Post-bacc" generally refers to classes/programs after your bachelor's that don't fit into any category. Some formal post-baccs are done as a certificate program while others are done through the undergraduate college at that particular school. Informal aka DIY post-baccs you can do either as a degree-seeking student (and then not get the degree) or as a non-matriculated student (in which case you'd probably have a more difficult time getting the classes you want in a timely manner).

Yes, if you can find any upper level science courses you haven't taken yet and kill it and do well on the MCAT then yes you have a chance, just like everyone else. Based on your previous posts, it looks like you have a long hard road ahead of you.

Based on your previous grades, before you jump into any more classes, you might want to look into why you haven't been improving. You should have improved in the last 10 years. You need to look into why you didn't get mostly A's and B's (which is what you need to get into med school). Is English your second language? It might help to take some more English classes. Do you have an undiagnosed learning disability? Is it your study habits? Whatever it is, you should figure it out before wasting more time and money in taking more classes.

I understand you're here on SDN because you want to be a doctor. For most of us, it really is a passion and it's the one true thing we want in life, but remember that just because the doctor thing doesn't happen for you doesn't mean that you're any less of a worthy human being or that you can't contribute to society in other ways. And I'm saying this from the perspective that when I was going through this whole process I had to come up with a plan B and even a plan C if this whole thing didn't work out. I wasn't sure I would get in and that possible reality hurt me to my core, but I spent a lot of time thinking about what my goals were in life and how I could go about accomplishing them. My main goal was to be as helpful to others as I could possibly be and becoming a doctor was my number one choice in how I could do that. But if I couldn't get into med school, I thought about other ways like being a teacher or a counselor. I'm not saying you should give up on med school, but I am saying that it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't work out. Yes, it'll suck and it'll hurt, but at the end of the day, you'll still have something to offer to people in need.