Worth retaking classes to bring a 3.9 to a 4.0?

[Myosin]

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Hello everyone.

As the title says, I'm rataking classes in the spring to bring my prereq gpa up. I have 4 possible to retake and I have already decided on 3 of them. The last one being Bio 101.

I just don't know if it's worth retaking an entire class for such diminishing returns.

Pros
Brings my cumulative gpa from 3.47 to 3.5
Puts me at a 4.0 prereq gpa

Cons
Difficult and time consuming class (Considered a "student weed out" class at my school)
Costs an additional $500 and I don't get scholarships since I already graduated. I can afford it easily though.
Cuts deeper into the amount of time I can work to save up money and study for the GRE more and get more PT hours.

I also have the choice of taking 3 of them in the spring and then doing the bio class in the summer. The only downside to this is that I won't have it completed when I apply to MUSC and East Carolina University because they open early decision July 2 and I will finish the class the first week of August.

Would applying one month late to the early decision even make a difference?

I have spoken with a professor and the PT I am currently shadowing. They both told me that the extra points won't really mean that much, but there is a big psychological component to seeing a 4.0 compared to a 3.9 on a transcript. They said that since finances are not an issue, that it would be beneficial, but they don't think it will break me.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the TLDR

 

[nomattic]

I was under the impression that PTCAS averages the two grades when factoring in a retake, which wouldn't actually raise your GPA to a 4.0, more like a 3.95, 6, something like that? Unless the schools you're applying to don't use PTCAS and have a last grade standing policy, in which case I'm incorrect.

 

[Myosin]

I was under the impression that PTCAS averages the two grades when factoring in a retake, which wouldn't actually raise your GPA to a 4.0, more like a 3.95, 6, something like that? Unless the schools you're applying to don't use PTCAS and have a last grade standing policy, in which case I'm incorrect.

None of the schools I am applying to use PTCAS and they all do grade replacements with the highest retake.

 

[nicolej5]

i wouldn't put yourself through that. if a school thinks you're an excellent candidate at 3.9, they will think the same at 4.0. likewise, they won't accept or deny you just because you have a 3.9 vs a 4.0.

 

[DPTHopeful2012]

How about spend your time gaining some more observation hours at a different setting? I doubt the 0.1 difference in GPA would make a huge difference.

 

[GTT4DPT]

And if you put the time and energy you save into your GRE prep, it will probably more than offset any possible loss of stature from a 4.0-->3.9.

 

[dacoaz77]

Maybe I am in the minority here, but are you really asking other people the difference between a 3.9 and 4.0? May I be the first to say that I think you are being to anal and adding to much stress on yourself. This is physical therapy school, not M.D. school. You will be fine with a 3.9. Take the advice of others and use that time to shore up other weaknesses you might have in your application.

 

[funtertaining15]

No. Simple as that. 🙂

Sent from my LG-P509 using SDN Mobile

 

[bnwj89]

I would definitely say that your time and money will be better spent preparing for the GRE and observation hours. It seems that most schools use GPA and GRE to make their first cuts, and I would say with a 3.9 pre-req gpa, you are pretty solid. I would buy a GRE prep book and start studying...it takes some work to become prepared.

As my book put it, "The GRE doesn't measure how much you learned in college, it measures how well you prepared for the GRE."

Good Luck!

 

[Axesmasher]

MUSC opens in July but isnt due until October. You would be fine getting it in. For you Pre-req GPA they will take the higher score, but for your overall GPA they look at both classes the first take of it and the retake in calculating overall GPA. Just something to think about.

 

[rangardrum]

I wouldn't do it personally. Like you said, diminishing returns is the problem.

 

[NewTestament]

You would be wasting your time. Spend your time and money trying to raise your GRE (if you think you need to, or if your score is <300 overall), observing in different settings, or even preparing yourself academically by doing an intensive study of anatomy or physiology. The difference between 3.9 and 4.0 is so insignificant. 3.9 is very competitive. Take the advice of others here and don't retake any classes.

Kevin