To audit or re-take for grade?

[PsyMom]

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HI all,
I'm new to SDN and am in need of some serious guidance. I'm currently a psychologist and am just starting to prepare for MCAT - possibly summer '08. Here are my stats:
Graduated from a top 5 school in 2000 w/ ugpa of 3.5, BCPM 3.3
Took the Mcats in '99 as an aspiring undergrad doc and bombed with a 24. Was highly encouraged by the pre-med advisor at the time (the one and only person who would be writing the lor to med schools) that I was not cut out for medicine with a 24 mcat. Being young and naive, I, rather unfortunately, listened to her.
Went on to grad school for degree in school psychology and graduated with a 3.9 (no hard core science courses, just social science).I've been a practicing psychologist for the past five years and have recently realized that my true passion continues to lie in medicine (you all know the story I'm sure). So, here I am, diligently preparing for MCATs by teaching myself the subject matter.
Now, for my questions:
Seeing as I'm "rusty" on some of the pre-reqs for med school, should I audit certain classes I feel weak in (organic chem and physics, namely) or should I retake these courses for a grade? (I'm thinking if I elect to be graded, it will show med schools that I'm still capable of handling the rigors of science classes all the while working full time). There are some post-bac programs in my area but they're insanely expensive and wouldn't allow me to continue working full time. Therefore, I would take these courses on a part-time basis at a more affordable university.

Now, more importantly, if I do decide to re-take these for a grade, will amcas compute them in the BCPM gpa despite the fact that I already took the courses almost ten years ago?

And one last question - for now 🙂
Is it advisable to garner some extra higher level science courses before applying just to, again, demonstrate to schools that I'm capable of handling the courses? Assuming, of course, that I score 30 or above this upcoming summer on MCAT.

Thanks!
p.s. if you've gotten this far, sorry so long!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

If you did well in your pre-reqs the first time, I would not re-take them. Instead I would take upper level science courses and enroll in an MCAT review course.

 

[PsyMom]

Thanks for the insight Captain!

Based on my following undergrad grades, would it still be advisable to take higher science courses? Or should I repeat any of the courses to improve the grade?

Following are my undergrad pre-req hard core science grades:

Calc 1 & 2 A-
Stats B
Chem 1 B-
Chem 2 B-
Ochem 1 C
Ochem 2 B
Gen. Bio B
Cell Bio/Genetics C- (same killer semester as ochem 1)
Bio Anthro A-
Physics 1 A
Physics 2 A-
Reason my overeall bcpm gpa is higher is b/c of all the other sci. courses I took (mostly related to psych - psychobiology, pharmacology, neurology, etc...)

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[bumpy22]

PsyMom,
I have similar grades in my prereq classes from 10 years ago and was advised by the premed advisor at Hunter College in ny, as well as the post bacc program at Columbia, to retake the courses and do very well in them (try not to get less than an A-) to prove that I can handle the work. I am currently enrolled as a postbacc at Hunter on a parttime basis (9credits), while working full-time as a nurse. It is very stressful and I have absolutely no life, but it's great preparation for med school 🙂 Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Thanks for the insight Captain!

Based on my following undergrad grades, would it still be advisable to take higher science courses? Or should I repeat any of the courses to improve the grade?

Following are my undergrad pre-req hard core science grades:

Calc 1 & 2 A-
Stats B
Chem 1 B-
Chem 2 B-
Ochem 1 C
Ochem 2 B
Gen. Bio B
Cell Bio/Genetics C- (same killer semester as ochem 1)
Bio Anthro A-
Physics 1 A
Physics 2 A-
Reason my overeall bcpm gpa is higher is b/c of all the other sci. courses I took (mostly related to psych - psychobiology, pharmacology, neurology, etc...)

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I think it really boils down to personal preference and what you need to prove. When I went back for my post-bacc I was advised that taking these courses again wouldn't show much. I should get A's since I'd already had the classes once and passed them. So for my post-bacc I jumped in right where I left off, finished the pre-reqs and took upper level courses. I'm not going to blow smoke and say jumping into Biochem ~10 years after my last chemistry course was easy, but it was a challenge I could overcome. I think pulling it off reflects very positively on my application.

The MCAT is the other great equalizer. You have to do well on it. If you've had the pre-reqs before, a review course should be adequate to get you up to speed. I used ExamKrackers self-study and that was sufficient for me.

But, it's about you, your application, and your comfort level. I felt I could handle jumping back in where I left off and that repeating courses wouldn't give me the best return on investment. So I tailored my post-bacc for me. As always, YMMV.

 

[pete0643]

For what it is worth, here is what I would do:

-Don't repeat classes you if you obtained an A or B (I think this is a waste of time and money)
-You may want to repeat courses you got C's in (ie, Cell and Genetics) and get A's
-Take Biochemistry and a couple of other upper division science courses that you have not taken and get A's

This plan would show improvement in your grades, show you can handle the coursework now, and help you prepare somewhat for the MCAT, but not go over board with spending tons of money on classes, it adds up.

Best of luck,
Pete

 

[pete0643]

One more thing:

You may want to eval your BCPM gpa because I believe Psychology courses are not considered science/math.