Should I retake the class or just try my best in my remaining science classes

[Dreamstoo]

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Hey guys

So this term wasn't that great. My science grades were OK in physics and physiology (these two classes were in the 3.5 range). I had to take a class that is science related having to do with computer science (it has a science prefix that goes under the science gpa) and it goes as a D =/. This class has nothing to do with pre med.

I have all A's and B's in my science classes, I did very well especially in my physics, organics, and gen chem classes (mostly As) and had Bs in my gen bios (but I am planning to take a few more bio courses).

Current stats with this update is a 3.3cgpa/3.3sgpa(very close within 0.01 or 0.02)

I was thinking of applying this year but should I retake this class at some point? It is only offered once a year and it's the same professor. In relation to my class, my final average was either at the class average or slightly below it (very tough course).

I am planning to contact a school I'm interested in applying to (I do plan on applying to about 12-15 DO schools, my MD science has turned out to be quite pathetic at a 3.0-3.1, plan not to waste money applying there) tomorrow morning asking for advice but any stories or tips would be great as of now.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Retake only if it won't slow down your app process.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Retake only if it won't slow down your app process.

If I apply this year, would it raise a red flag? My science gpa is still ok I think to be moderately competitive.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Hey guys, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

To be honest, if I do apply this year and do not get in, I definitely plan to retake this hopefully for an A or a B. I have been focusing hard on the MCAT, I was around a 25(10/7/8) about 6 months ago. With some studying here and there, I feel a lot more comfortable with the physical sciences(10-12) and verbal(8-9). I still score around a 8-9 for practice biological sciences section, still need practice. My goal is a 32+, something like a 12/10/10.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

If I apply this year, would it raise a red flag? My science gpa is still ok I think to be moderately competitive.

Doubt it would raise a red flag, but it's something that could get you off a waitlist due to the GPA increase.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Doubt it would raise a red flag, but it's something that could get you off a waitlist due to the GPA increase.

That actually makes a lot of sense. If I do get in before I have the opportunity of retaking it, I think I will just leave it as is. But if I haven't heard back from schools yet at that point next year, I think I will retake it since it will be a very similar course.

 

[DocWinter]

It's not a app killer...It's not good, obviously, but you are not shut out by one bad grade.
With a 30+ MCAT and a solid all around GPA of 3.3, you are in the game. I'd focus on MCAT prep and knock it out with a 30+, that will go a lot further in your favor than retaking a single bad grade in a non required course.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Hey guys, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

To be honest, if I do apply this year and do not get in, I definitely plan to retake this hopefully for an A or a B. I have been focusing hard on the MCAT, I was around a 25(10/7/8) about 6 months ago. With some studying here and there, I feel a lot more comfortable with the physical sciences(10-12) and verbal(8-9). I still score around a 8-9 for practice biological sciences section, still need practice. My goal is a 32+, something like a 12/10/10.

Definitely hit it hard closer to when you take the actual thing. Even for 3-4 weeks if you can really make it your life I think the focus really puts you in the MCAT mindset. I think studying here and there is good for a time, but when it gets closer, kill it.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Definitely hit it hard closer to when you take the actual thing. Even for 3-4 weeks if you can really make it your life I think the focus really puts you in the MCAT mindset. I think studying here and there is good for a time, but when it gets closer, kill it.

Of course thats the plan, I plan to go crazy for 2-3 months this upcoming summer. For the time being, I plan to put in about 10 hours a week. I feel pretty comfortable being around a 25-29 but I hope to be in the 31+ range before I start my hardcore studying. My dream MCAT score is a 32-34 or even higher. I have 3 friends who scored 35+ and some of them had to do it to compensate for a low GPA.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Of course thats the plan, I plan to go crazy for 2-3 months this upcoming summer. For the time being, I plan to put in about 10 hours a week. I feel pretty comfortable being around a 25-29 but I hope to be in the 31+ range before I start my hardcore studying. My dream MCAT score is a 32-34 or even higher. I have 3 friends who scored 35+ and some of them had to do it to compensate for a low GPA.

Yea dont stress too hard about it now. Honestly my advice is to not bog yourself down for a long period of time. Like after roughly 10-14 weeks of studying for it at 40 hours a week I definitely started to see diminishing returns and/or burnout. So I think try and set a reasonable goal, but remember that quantity does not always mean quality. I would say doing 5 full passages under timed conditions is better than reading 5 entire chapters on those topics. Unfortunately I thought it would be the other way around, so I am now spreading my experiences with you.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Yea dont stress too hard about it now. Honestly my advice is to not bog yourself down for a long period of time. Like after roughly 10-14 weeks of studying for it at 40 hours a week I definitely started to see diminishing returns and/or burnout. So I think try and set a reasonable goal, but remember that quantity does not always mean quality. I would say doing 5 full passages under timed conditions is better than reading 5 entire chapters on those topics. Unfortunately I thought it would be the other way around, so I am now spreading my experiences with you.

Appreciated, this week I have off so I'm doing about 5-6 hours a day. Found a lot of great organic problems last night for Princeton Review that helped me further understand one of my weak chapters. I'm comfortable with organic as a whole but some of the stuff I am relearning are topics I pulled allnighters for in college and forgot some of it after the class was over.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Appreciated, this week I have off so I'm doing about 5-6 hours a day. Found a lot of great organic problems last night for Princeton Review that helped me further understand one of my weak chapters. I'm comfortable with organic as a whole but some of the stuff I am relearning are topics I pulled allnighters for in college and forgot some of it after the class was over.

Yea in the end thats sort of how organic was for me on the MCAT. Like when I took organic a lot of stuff made sense (at least for the test that I was taking because I had studied on it recently). But on the MCAT organic felt like a pretty random subject that didnt really feel like it had its place. Princeton does help a bit with that. Definitely hit it like you would for the class- a crap ton of practice problems.

 

[Dreamstoo]

@Goro

I would like some feedback on my situation from an experienced person in med school applications. Any advice would be great!

 

[Goro]

100% concur with my young colleague.

Retake only if it won't slow down your app process.