the truth about repeating courses.

[socal2014]

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So I cannot find a reasonable answer as to how optometry schools calculate repeated courses.

I was under the assumption that almost all PRIVATE schools take the better grade. Could anyone chime in as I'm pretty much unsure. I tried checking the schools website but no where does it say anything about repeats.

thanks

 

[Commando303]

Under OptomCAS, I think most schools leave the calculations to the program (some might make their own, from their supplemental applications); thus, you ought to contact the service, rather than your colleges, with this question.

 

[physicslover]

has anyone been granted conditional admission granting they re-take some of their prerequisites and get above C in them? If so, did they retake them in summer?

 

[danielallen2008]

So I cannot find a reasonable answer as to how optometry schools calculate repeated courses.

I was under the assumption that almost all PRIVATE schools take the better grade. Could anyone chime in as I'm pretty much unsure. I tried checking the schools website but no where does it say anything about repeats.

thanks

So Heres the truth about Optomcas and re taking pre-req's

If you fail a course and retake that same course at the SAME institution Optomcas REPLACES the grade when calculating your overall GPA

If you fail a course and retake that same course at ANOTHER institution they calculate BOTH grades in your overall GPA

In terms of schools, I would assume that it is always SAFE to assume that they are using the Optomcas calculated GPA, the schools DO NOT see your original transcripts, they see the courses you've taken but that's about it. Also remember, Schools especially private ones see hundreds of application per year, so Im pretty sure that they use the Optomcas gpa calculation to determine who they interview

 

[physicslover]

what about upgrading marks? if you didnt fail a course, but you got below C, is it the same thing?

 

[danielallen2008]

what about upgrading marks? if you didnt fail a course, but you got below C, is it the same thing?

Yes the same rule applies, if youve taken a course twice they calculate the higher grade if youve taken the course at the SAME school, they calculate BOTH grades if youve taken the same courses at DIFFERENT schools

 

[danielallen2008]

what about upgrading marks? if you didnt fail a course, but you got below C, is it the same thing?

And this is comming right from a lady that I talked too when I called Optomcas

 

[physicslover]

And this is comming right from a lady that I talked too when I called Optomcas

thanks!

 

[socal2014]

thanks.

 

[CarolinaBlueEye]

So Heres the truth about Optomcas and re taking pre-req's

If you fail a course and retake that same course at the SAME institution Optomcas REPLACES the grade when calculating your overall GPA

If you fail a course and retake that same course at ANOTHER institution they calculate BOTH grades in your overall GPA

In terms of schools, I would assume that it is always SAFE to assume that they are using the Optomcas calculated GPA, the schools DO NOT see your original transcripts, they see the courses you've taken but that's about it. Also remember, Schools especially private ones see hundreds of application per year, so Im pretty sure that they use the Optomcas gpa calculation to determine who they interview

I spoke with OptomCAS about this and this is what I understand:

If the course is repeated at the same school, regardless of the grade, the newest grade replaces the old grade.

If the course is repeated at a different school, the grades are AVERAGED as one course. This actually makes a difference in that the number of hours is fewer, making it easier to improve your gpa. This is actually slightly better than submitting both grades (and hours) for a single course. That's my understanding, anyway.

Also, are you entirely sure that the schools never see your transcripts? I am not disagreeing, I just questioned this b/c "receipt of transcripts" is one of the "application status" items for several schools. It can make a difference if there are any notes on your transcripts (i.e. academic probation, disciplinary measures, etc.). It makes sense that the schools don't have to bother with them, I guess.

 

[chic4rm714]

In terms of schools, I would assume that it is always SAFE to assume that they are using the Optomcas calculated GPA,the schools DO NOT see your original transcripts, they see the courses you've taken but that's about it. Also remember, Schools especially private ones see hundreds of application per year, so Im pretty sure that they use the Optomcas gpa calculation to determine who they interview

To my knowledge, once you're accepted, many schools ask that you submit another set of official transcripts directly to the school so that they can verify your information...so your acceptance is contingent upon the accuracy of what you reported to OptomCAS

 

[Commando303]

To my knowledge, once you're accepted, many schools ask that you submit another set of official transcripts directly to the school so that they can verify your information...so your acceptance is contingent upon the accuracy of what you reported to OptomCAS

Great, so you pay transcript-delivery fees twice... .

 

[Arctic]

If the course is repeated at a different school, the grades are AVERAGED as one course. This actually makes a difference in that the number of hours is fewer, making it easier to improve your gpa. This is actually slightly better than submitting both grades (and hours) for a single course. That's my understanding, anyway.

You are correct, it does in fact make it far easier to improve your overall gpa! I'll give a simple example:

Lets say I get a D in a 3 credit class, retake it at another school, and get an A. Let's also say that my overall gpa is a 3.5. Then, my gpa will be higher if the A and D are averaged together as one course, than if they were both inputted as separate courses. The reason is that the current gpa of 3.5 is far closer to an A (4.0) than to a D (I think that's a 1.0). So long as the gpa is closer to the higher grade, it will be beneficial for the classes to be averaged together as one course. If the gpa were exactly in the middle between the two grades, it would not matter which system were used (the gpa wouldn't be affected at all either way). If the gpa were somehow closer to the lower of the two grades (although I find this highly unlikely in normal circumstances) then it would be beneficial for the courses to be inputted separately.

 

[physicslover]

i thought they REPLACED the grade if you took it at the same institution. So essentially the first grade would be deleted, or not included in the GPA calc. Is this not true? Does the first grade still remain in the GPA calc?

 

[Arctic]

i thought they REPLACED the grade if you took it at the same institution. So essentially the first grade would be deleted, or not included in the GPA calc. Is this not true? Does the first grade still remain in the GPA calc?

You are correct, the grade is outright replaced if you take it again at the same institution. I was talking about the case where they are averaged together, and that's if you retake it at another institution.

 

[physicslover]

You are correct, the grade is outright replaced if you take it again at the same institution. I was talking about the case where they are averaged together, and that's if you retake it at another institution.

are you saying that it would be better for your GPA if you averaged the grades rather than replaced it??:S

 

[Arctic]

are you saying that it would be better for your GPA if you averaged the grades rather than replaced it??:S

No, it would be better for the grade to be replaced outright (assuming it's a bad grade; but why else would one retake a class??).

I was only comparing the two non-replacement options (which is what happens when you retake a course at another institution). Of the two potential non-replacement options, 'averaging' them together as one course will be better than counting each attempt as a separate course. Optomcas chose the 'averaging' option, which does help increase affected students' gpa's relative to the other non-replacement option they could have chosen.

 

[physicslover]

No, it would be better for the grade to be replaced outright (assuming it's a bad grade; but why else would one retake a class??).

I was only comparing the two non-replacement options (which is what happens when you retake a course at another institution). Of the two potential non-replacement options, 'averaging' them together as one course will be better than counting each attempt as a separate course. Optomcas chose the 'averaging' option, which does help increase affected students' gpa's relative to the other non-replacement option they could have chosen.

ooo thanks for clearing that up!

 

[Winggirl2]

Hi guys, I'm getting ready to submit my application through optom Cas. I have failed then repeated some courses. Do I include the failed ones in my application or just the retakes? I'm not sure if it is necessary to show them I failed the course if I repeated it. They will see it on my transcript either way but I would just like to know if it's necessary to add the failed semester grades? Please help! Thank you!!

 

[Nnhi_89]

Hi guys, I'm getting ready to submit my application through optom Cas. I have failed then repeated some courses. Do I include the failed ones in my application or just the retakes? I'm not sure if it is necessary to show them I failed the course if I repeated it. They will see it on my transcript either way but I would just like to know if it's necessary to add the failed semester grades? Please help! Thank you!!

You need to enter your transcript EXACTLY the way it is. Your fails, retake have to be all included. If your transcript entries are not the same as your transcripts which your school send to optomcas , your application will be delayed. At this point of the cycle, any delay would harm you more than it could at the beginning.