does retaking a class replace the old grade?

If you got a D on it the first time and retake the class and get a B will the second grade count towards gpa or both?
From the hand book it says

“Each time a student repeats a course, it appears on the student’s transcript. When a course not designated as repeatable has been repeated, all of the credits and grades earned are included when calculating the student’s grade-point average. However, the course counts only once as a graduation requirement.”

But Im not sure if thats only for unrepeatable classes or all classes.

If you take a class and get a D, and then retake the class and get a B, both grades will show up on your transcript and the D will affect your GPA. You wouldn’t count a required class with a D anyway as you need a C or above in most required courses. I’d check with your advisor for clarification.

So the D still affects my GPA? I thought retaking a class would make the better score count towards your GPA but both show up on your transcript?

^ @jlhpsu

Unless the class is considered “repeatable” which means that you can retake it as many times as you want. I don’t think there are many classes like that. They are special classes. Most classes are not designated “repeatable” but you can repeat them up to 3 times - but all grades will show up on your transcript.

Yeah but will they count towards my cumulative gpa? Like both the D and B for the same class.

You quoted the policy above – “all of the credits and grades earned are included when calculating the student’s grade-point average.” All grades are used for calculating your GPA.

All grades will show up unfortunately… at least that’s how it was when I went to UP.

I don’t understand why some schools allow students to retake class and only count better grade of the two. It is almost like cheating in my honest opinion…

@bodangles @txl146 @jlhpsu Do you guys know if a class is a pre-requisite to another class do you have to get a C or above to be able to take the class after?

The grading scale says that a D grade “indicates the student may not have achieved the minimal level of comprehension in carrying a more advanced course for which this course is a specific prerequisite,” but I’m not sure if that means “You can’t move on with a D,” or just “Move on but be ready to work harder.” Perhaps you could email the freshman advisor on the MatSE page http://www.matse.psu.edu/undergraduate/advising and say that you just switched intended majors and have the problem of this grade and are trying to figure out what to do next.

Are you now thinking of not retaking the class?

@bodangles Im thinking about retaking it because chem 112 may be harder for me, if I dont. But the thing is if I do retake the class it would be because its recommended for chem 112, I understood a lot of the material in chem 110 just made poor choices, I dont know if retaking the class is helping anything besides my gpa (which I could redeem by not being this idiotic again in the future). Before I was just annoyed that I let this happen and was being mopey. I just am trying to figure out the rest of my schedule at this point, Im thinking about doing a summer semester, and taking physics and math so Im ahead and can catch up. I evaluated how i studied and what I could of done better, and Im using my annoyance with myself as motivation to do better.

Have you taken chem 112? if you have would you say that retaking chem 110 would help? would you say “working harder and moving on” would work for chem 112? (btw on the exams, I made simple mistakes and got a low score, and if I retake the class I wouldn’t fall for them again. )

Sorry if that was extra detail, but I have one more question, the summer sessions only allow 6 credits per session, But the physics and math classes I plan tot are concurrent and they start mid session, can I take them both at the same time? It would be 8 credits but they both kind of go along with each other and start mid second session and end when the 3rd session ends. The only reason Im taking them at UP and not a community college is because Im not sure if transfer credits count from the college I would be taking the classes.

Transferring credits: https://www.admissions.psu.edu/my_admissions/tas/psuToOthers.cfm Use this tool to check if the other institution’s class counts as equivalent. However, this page (http://summersession.psu.edu/current-students/frequently-asked-questions/) says “Students may take any combination of credits during the three summer sessions,” which seems to imply you can group the credits however you want between the three sessions. If you took 19 credits (the limit) you’d have to do 6-6-7 anyway.

Perhaps you could start by emailing an advisor, whether one from the MatSE page I linked above or one for ENGR in general. While you wait for them to respond, check out this site: http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem112/General%20Materials/expected_background.htm

@bodangles I dont know if you took chem 112, but if you did, does chem 112 have a lot of thermochemistry? The site says it only covers chapter 1 so Im guessing not? that was my weakest topic in chemistry, in fact my only weak topic, its part of the reason why I didn’t do so well on the final.

I used the tool for transfer credits already but the thing is I have to submit an evaluation for the college near me because not many people have transferred credits from it (words of my adviser).

and thank you for the summer session info.

I did but that was a full two years ago at this point so I have no idea. The site does seem to imply that thermochemistry is important only for chapter 1.

Don’t take chemistry 112 if you got a D in 110. Take 110 and get the highest grade possible to mitigate the D.
Have you taken 111?
Also, I seem to recall you had trouble in calculus too, or am I confusing you with another poster whose username starts with Ajpat?

@MYOS1634 111 is the lab, which Im on wait list for at the moment and if I understood a lot of the material in 110 (especially the ones on the site bodangles gave me), should I still retake it? and what do you mean it will mitigate the D?

111= so, you’ll take it next semester?

If you’re a stem major, you don’t get to decide. You will not be allowed to declare a stem major with a D in Chemistry 110. You must retake it.

That D is pulling your GPA down and your access to major 'GPA’too. If you get a B+ you pull yourself out of the problem spot for access to major. With an A or A- you mitigate your grade (lower the weight of the bad grade).

@MYOS1634 For 111 if I get in to the class then yeah, I will take it next semester.

do you know this for sure? Materials engineering doesn’t require a C in chem 110 (not sure about how prerequisites work, the only thing stopping me from retaking it is scheduling conflicts), If I have to then I have to, but Im still deciding whether to retake it or not, based on how it will help me chem 112 (which based on the website that bodangles gave eme doesnt really do much from chem 110 besides thermo, stoichiometrey and the basic stuff). My gpa wont change much because both the D and the new grade will count towards my cumulative gpa.

To the best of my knowledge a D counts in the GPA but doesn’t count for any requirements and doesn’t allow you to take the next level.

@MYOS1634 really? is this the case for PSU because it doesn’t state anything like that in the handbook?