Should I retake Calc and Bio?

[hollywoodfl]

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I don’t even remember taking these classes. I literally had to order a transcript to see if I took them. I know that I had to take them to graduate but I don’t remember at all.

The good news is that I took them and graduated.

The bad news is that I got a C- in Calc 1 and 2, and I got a C in the first semester of Bio w/lab. These classes are from the mid-nineties.

I had to take a second semester of Bio w/ Lab to graduate which I did years later (I was on the ten year plan) and I got an A. This class is from 2002.

I am planning on taking Chem, OChem and Physics over the next three semesters, Summer 08, Fall 08 and Spring 09, with the MCAT in the end of spring. I generally do very well on standardized tests and am sort of counting on that to get my foot in the door, where I can hopefully make a noise in an interview that will be appealing to the adcom's ears.

My original graduating GPA was 2.57. Over time and a few semesters of A’s at the junior college, that has risen to a spectacular 2.87. I did the math and to get the GPA up over 3.0 will take another 17 credit hours, which I expect to get with the prereq’s. To get up to 3.3 will take 78 more credit hours, which I can probably do at night at the junior college. To get up to 3.5, I would need to take 159 more credit hours. This won’t happen.

Just for fun – to get a 3.9, I would need 1298 more credit hours (hehe).

 

[thoffen]

If you're aiming for DO, I would consider retaking the calc classes. Otherwise, skip it. They won't care about those grades, but it would be the fastest way to boost your AACOMAS GPA. I would definitely retake the Bio regardless. It's an important pre-req that will be looked at on your application, but more importantly it's chock-full of important MCAT material.

 

[Percival]

Calculus has NOTHING to do with medical school, but I would re-take the biology (at a 4 yr college, not JC) because you're going to be hearing that stuff over and over again, and you probably need a good grade in that class for your application. Your GPA is a little low. It would help out a lot if you could study hard and make an above-average MCAT grade.

 

[gman33]

3.0 is a pretty low GPA no matter what kind of MCAT you get.
You can aim for DO and retake some classes to boost your GPA, or try for an SMP. In any case, I'd retake BIO 1.

 

[hollywoodfl]

Calculus has NOTHING to do with medical school, but I would re-take the biology (at a 4 yr college, not JC) because you're going to be hearing that stuff over and over again, and you probably need a good grade in that class for your application. Your GPA is a little low. It would help out a lot if you could study hard and make an above-average MCAT grade.

Yah I see the point about the calc. Its funny but Bio is the only science that I took an AP in in HS and the only science that I have taken in college, although it has been some time, yet in looking at practice MCAT questions, it is the one I do the WORST in.

Are you suggesting that I retake one semester of Bio? I have an A in one semester and the poor grade is from 1997 or some such far away time. Or are you suggesting that I retake the whole year of Bio? Maybe I could take an upper level instead like cell or biochem. Any thoughts?

 

[hollywoodfl]

3.0 is a pretty low GPA no matter what kind of MCAT you get.
You can aim for DO and retake some classes to boost your GPA, or try for an SMP. In any case, I'd retake BIO 1.

Do you think it will help that I got an MS in psychology and got a 3.99 in that?

 

[gman33]

Retake the BIO you did poorly in and then taken some upper level classes.

Your grad GPA will have very little impact on med school acceptance. The only grad school that will help is an SMP.

 

[UVABranch]

look at the school's requirements. You can take upper level sciences to "negate" the prior low grades, but if a school requires a C or higher in a pre req (I know Downstate does) then the only way to be considered is to retake the course with an improved grade. Some schools may be flexible so I would say choose based on the schools you are applying to.

G'luck

 

[puchi]

Interestng, I have the same dilemma:

Only I got a D in Calc (but I have a C- in Stats) Im not quite sure if I should take both over.

Additionally I have a C+ in Orgo I. I could take it over, but if I dont that gives me more time to take some upper level bio classes that Ive never taken before.

Help!

(sorry to hijack!)

 

[hollywoodfl]

Interestng, I have the same dilemma:

Only I got a D in Calc (but I have a C- in Stats) Im not quite sure if I should take both over.

Additionally I have a C+ in Orgo I. I could take it over, but if I dont that gives me more time to take some upper level bio classes that Ive never taken before.

Help!

(sorry to hijack!)

No worries about the hijack - I am probably just going to take what I can now, apply in 2009 and then send in an update on grades from whatever upper levels I can fit in over summer and fall of 2009. I also am going to study like mad for the MCAT and try to slay that.

 

[puchi]

I think my saving grace is that I haven't taken my mcat either!! Good luck to you.

 

[hollywoodfl]

I think my saving grace is that I haven't taken my mcat either!! Good luck to you.

Good luck to both of us and everyone out there pursuing a dream.