-
CycleTrack and SDN are teaming up to make medical school admissions more transparent and accessible! Read the announcement to learn how we’re supporting the future of CycleTrack’s free application-tracking tools .
Summer classes
Started by Med2k14
Get help with your application
Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.
That's a toughy. Can you do two retakes and still fit in organic and physics 2? You'll want to take organic and physics before the MCAT for sure. Also, how much would your GPAs increase if you retake one or two of those D's and get A's? I have a calculator that might make the calculations easier:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=973078
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=973078
If you can manage it, I'd make retaking those D's a priority over any new classes.
I agree with this.
Right now, your main priorities are: (1) Rocking the MCAT, and (2) getting that cGPA above a 3.0 (just so you don't get screened out by a lot of schools). Focus on what you need to study for the MCAT, and retake those 2 Ds before taking any new classes (outside of the pre-reqs).
You need to take O. Chem and Physics 2 for the MCAT, so you don't have a choice with that. At this point, you need to see if retaking only 1 of those Ds will get you above a 3.0. If it doesn't, you will need both.
Its a tough spot like brakk said, but you could manage it. Alternatively, you could postpone applying, but that's only if you think you can't handle the 4 classes and MCAT over the summer.
This is recipe for disaster. You're taking two of the toughest premed courses in the summer and expecting a high mcat? In addition, you want to retake other courses? This won't end well.
ugh, I'm going to be brutally honest here.....
I don't think many people could handle anything remotely close to what you are trying to do. It is quite a load. You are planning on studying for the MCAT prior to taking any organic and physics 2? Big mistake. In fact, I made the mistake of taking physics II and cell bio during the summer while I was taking the PR class. Although I got A's in both the classes, my mcat prep suffered. and you are planning on doing this ONTOP of retaking 1 or 2 classes that you got D's in.
If I were you, I would retake both of the classes that you got D's in. I would wait until fall and take classes like Ochem I & II, and physics II during the semester so that you wont feel rushed and can really focus on learning the subject matter. I would lightly prep for the MCAT with some prep material and take the kaplan prep class next spring, preparing to take the MCAT next april/may and apply then.
Honestly, you need some GPA repair, and just think, by retaking 1-2 classes and taking a kaplan course, what if that hurts your studies in Ochem or Physics II and you end up getting a C or D in one of those courses. Then you would be back at square 1....
I don't think many people could handle anything remotely close to what you are trying to do. It is quite a load. You are planning on studying for the MCAT prior to taking any organic and physics 2? Big mistake. In fact, I made the mistake of taking physics II and cell bio during the summer while I was taking the PR class. Although I got A's in both the classes, my mcat prep suffered. and you are planning on doing this ONTOP of retaking 1 or 2 classes that you got D's in.
If I were you, I would retake both of the classes that you got D's in. I would wait until fall and take classes like Ochem I & II, and physics II during the semester so that you wont feel rushed and can really focus on learning the subject matter. I would lightly prep for the MCAT with some prep material and take the kaplan prep class next spring, preparing to take the MCAT next april/may and apply then.
Honestly, you need some GPA repair, and just think, by retaking 1-2 classes and taking a kaplan course, what if that hurts your studies in Ochem or Physics II and you end up getting a C or D in one of those courses. Then you would be back at square 1....
Thanks for the reply. bassed on my calculations one retake would put me over to the 3.0 range. Two retakes assuming I do well in my other classes will put me just over 3.1 cGPA. The retake classes are a joke and I intend on taking them in fall if I dont get to it this summer, but I would rather bump up my cGPA now so I have a shot at applying in august.
Sometimes you need brutal honesty. I think that retaking two classes may be a little much. I think ill do 1 retake bump by cGPA above a 3.0. Would medical schools take into account the classes I am taking in fall when I apply? Thanks for the heads up about the prereq classes over shadowing MCAT prep, I think if happens ill just take Kaplan over again in fall no biggie. After all if im not hitting the scores I want on the practice tests im going to delay my exam.
