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[PieceOfGum1]

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[graden]

I say take it at the community college. If you're only taking one pre-req at a CC, even if it's one you previously failed, it won't really work against you in any way.

 

[rdyotz]

It is going to look bad taking it at a CC. It looks like you are running away from the harder class to take an easier one. Granted, not every ADCOM will notice or care, but do you want to risk it?

I would not rush into it next week though, you are not applying for another year anyway. You could use some time to brush up on things from Orgo I and re-learn things from Orgo II. Going into an expedited class next week will likely hurt you. Organic Chemistry as a 2nd Language by Klein helped out for Orgo.

 

[rdyotz]

That's a tough situation being so far away. Is there a 4-year college near your house (granted this could also look like you're running away - but likely not as bad as a CC)? I see the conundrum applying with an unresolved D, however, getting anything less than an A in the retake would likely look worse.

It's a tough situation, you could try to contact some schools and see what they think of retaking at a CC - but what the person on the phone thinks and what the person who reads your app thinks might differ. You could also tag some ADCOMs here to see their perspective.

 

[Moko]

In general:
A in 4 year college > A in CC >>> poor grade in 4 year college or CC

It is better to get a good grade somewhere, than to do poorly again and remove all doubt. At least with an A at a CC you could argue that finances, location, etc necessitated taking the course at the community college. So take the path that will result in you acing the class. Keep in mind though that many schools still prefer seeing pre-reqs done at 4 year institutions. If there are particular schools that you're interested in, it might be worthwhile to look up their preferences.

Personally, I do believe that 4 year colleges on average are more rigorous than community colleges. If I saw an applicant who bombed class(es) at a 4 year university start getting markedly improved grades at a community college, I do wonder whether the grade improvement was from differences in academic rigor rather than better mastery of the material. There will definitely be other adcom members who will also scrutinize your application more carefully (though with the understanding that low grades can sometimes be explained by extenuating circumstances).

If the rest of your science grades are robust and this D is an outlier, you probably would be fine pursuing it at the community college. If you are in a place where you need to "prove" that you can handle the academic rigor, then taking it at a 4 year college may be better (if and only if it is financially-feasible and you feel confident that you can get an A -- see my first point). Good luck

 

[Goro]

Do you know how I could ask Adcoms? Can I just tag them? @Goro @LizzyM are the ones I've seen before, any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Like it or not, the orgo at the 4 year school will be taken more seriously, as you yourself have pointed out, the CC course is easier.

 

[candbgirl]

What makes you think you will even pass the retake? You said that you didn’t learn anything in Orgo I and then immediately the next semester you got a D in Orgo II. Now several years later you are going to attempt Orgo II in a very intensive, five week session. You still don’t know Orgo I and undoubtedly you don’t know Orgo II. As much as I’ve heard that ADCOMS don’t like CC courses I’ve also heard they expect As in retakes. Do you really think you can get an A in OrgoII in a five week class?I hate summer or midterm or short classes. You really have no time to learn and retain.

 

[Goro]

This is why I'm conflicted. The problem is other than this summer, I don't think there's any other time where I can take a class at my four-year university, since it doesn't offer weekend classes or anything; also I really feel like Med schools won't like me taking a semester off of working full-time to take one single class at a 4 year university, or taking a summer off to do a summer class next summer. Do you think if the rest of my application is strong enough, I can offset re-taking this one class at a CC in the Fall, @Goro ?

I'm more concerned with the observations candbgirl made. I'd like to hear your answers.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I always look where pre reqs are taken, at home university or in summer school or CC. Not a deal breaker, but a factor in the strength of my recommendation for admission.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hopefully for me, if I do take it in a community college, they would understand my reasons and view it as just a small piece of the puzzle, and don't hold it too much against me.

Why not retake Orgo II at your home university in the spring as a post bacc? Alternatively, can you take it at a 4 year university closer to your home in a regular session as a part time post bacc?

There's no guarantee you'd receive an A in Orgo II at your CC if you were to retake it right away.

 

[Seihai]

If I did it in the spring, that would mean I would have to quit my full-time job and come to college to just take one class. I feel like that doesn't make sense. I've also looked at schools nearby, and unfortunately none of their times work well with also working in a normal full-time job. I feel like if I don't do it this summer, I will have to do it in Community College.

You've already got your answer regarding what adcoms think about CC versus university level, and you got some additional considerations (can you actually do well in it in a short session?)

At this point, what you do is essentially entirely up to you. There's not much more advice anyone can give on this front, since what action you take is entirely based on your own assessment of your abilities and time.

 

[Goro]

I agreed with everything candbgirl said. I didn't learn much in Orgo 1, and got a D in Orgo II because that semester I was unmotivated, and just kind of gave up on doing well in that class by skipping lectures and not doing homework. Now I'm much more driven and motivated, however I'm worried about the sheer amount of material being learned in such a short amount of time, and also worried that this week of prep time I have until the class starts isn't enough to refresh the fundamentals of Orgo I and get ahead for the Orgo 2 material.

If I was confident that I would do well in the class, I would do the summer class no question, however I'm not confident. Because I already feel so behind, I fear that a "B" is more realistic of a grade I'll get, which will look bad for a retake. The question is, does it look better than getting an A in the Community College retake? If I take the CC retake, I will ensure I get an A by prepping from now until September when the class starts, and then because the class is a traditional semester (15 weeks), I can ruminate the material more thoughtfully and let the knowledge soak in better. Simply put, I don't know if I'm cut out to get an A in my home school simply because it's starting so soon and it's so accelerated.

I'm hoping adcoms will accept my answer that wanting a more traditional semester vs. an accelerated 5 weeks isn't a cop-out, and with the A's I already have in upper-level Biology and Chemistry classes, as well as hopefully doing well in the chemistry section of the MCAT, it'll "forgive" the retake in CC. However, if even with all that, medical schools will not give it a pass and will look unfavorably upon it, I guess I have no choice but to do it in my 4 year school, and risk getting a B or lower. Do you think it's worth the risk for me, @Goro ?

Taking a B is less of a hit than the look of taking the class at the CC. Even some people on my DO Adcom will kvetch at times over CC coursework...but overall, my Adcom is more forgiving.