taking a year-long course at two different schools

[handprint]

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I took the first semester of organic chemistry as a sophomore and got a B, but decided that I didn't want to take the second semester. Now I'm enrolling in pre-med courses at Postbacc School (a state school) and it's somewhat unclear to me whether I'll need to retake that class. A professor told me that if Postbacc School doesn't give me transfer credit for my undergrad organic chemistry course, I'll need to retake it because medical schools won't allow me to "mix and match." Does this sound accurate? If both schools are reputable, will medical schools care whether the second school granted transfer credit?

 

[Krisss17]

The only thing I can suggest is to check with the Post Bac school. For medical school purposes, I don't think they would care as much as long as you've taken Organic I and II. However, an advantage of taking both at the same school is that you might have the same instructor for both, thus giving you a better shot for a good LOR since he/she will know you for a longer duration. Also, when did you take Organic chem I? Was it a long while ago? or just a couple of years? A review wouldn't hurt?

 

[handprint]

My other course was three years ago. I am a little nervous about going straight to Organic Chem II, but a few people have told me that it would be a waste of time to retake the first semester.

That's a good point about getting a better LOR.

 

[gman33]

Retake it if you have the time and you think it will help you in OChem II. Assuming you did ok the first time, there is no other reason that you need to take it again. Med schools won't care. As long as your current school will allow you to register for Ochem II, then it doesn't really matter if they allow you to transfer the credit. You just need to have taken the 8 pre-req classes, it doesn't really matter where or when.

 

[queenbee]

it's fine.

 

[thoffen]

A professor told me that if Postbacc School doesn't give me transfer credit for my undergrad organic chemistry course, I'll need to retake it because medical schools won't allow me to "mix and match."

The professor is wrong. AMCAS will list every college credit you take and the grade you earn, and med schools don't care if you've taken classes in the same family at different institutions.

Now...if your postbacc institution doesn't recognize it, they might not let you into the class. That could be a problem, obviously. 🙂

 

[87138]

I took the first semester of organic chemistry as a sophomore and got a B, but decided that I didn't want to take the second semester. Now I'm enrolling in pre-med courses at Postbacc School (a state school) and it's somewhat unclear to me whether I'll need to retake that class. A professor told me that if Postbacc School doesn't give me transfer credit for my undergrad organic chemistry course, I'll need to retake it because medical schools won't allow me to "mix and match." Does this sound accurate? If both schools are reputable, will medical schools care whether the second school granted transfer credit?

I "mixed and matched" with Physics and with Biology (I was a transfer student) and it was no problem at all. I took Physics II at a third school actually, post-graduation, so I obviously didn't care of my Physics I from an earlier school "transferred" to that third school, so long as they recognized I had taken Physics I and was eligible for Physics II. I had the same concerns as you at the time . . . basically worried that my transcripts would seem erratic. But it really was a non-issue for the most part, and I ended up with 7 interviews and so far 2 acceptances.

That's not to say I didn't worry about that kind of stuff up until the very moment I got my first acceptance. I had several weird quirks with my application, mostly involving transferring and whatnot (and some grades), so I was constantly nervous, but things worked out great for me. I'm sure that they can work out great for you too!