<p>The logical, obvious thing to do would be to take the credit you worked your butt off for in high school by studying for AP exams, but wouldn't "re-taking" the intro/freshman classes also have benefits? For example, you would probably have a higher GPA your first year since you've learned the material anyways, and it will be good review. Also, you would be in classes with fellow freshmen instead of sophomores, so that you can make friends who are in your grade. The cons would obviously be the $$$, time, and effort required to take those classes again.</p>
<p>Argh it’s really up to you, but I don’t believe most Graduate schools care about how you did in your first and second year. Its the third and fourth year that really counts.</p>
<p>oo i just read something like this on another forum…</p>
<p>"If you know you’re going to be premed majoring in bio/chem it would behoove you take AP tests that will help in getting you credit for basic core classes (humanities, calculus, etc). Do not use your AP credits on the basic science classes like bio101/chem101 because you need the easy As to boost both your cGPA and sGPA, especially your sGPA. Getting some of the core classes out means you have more time to focus on other classes you feel to be more relevant or interesting. And you’ll have more time to spend volunteering rather than reading that 150 page tolstoy book for english class.</p>
<p>If you’re a non-science premed … well use your best discretion in determining how you can maintain a high GPA while doing what you love. I’d probably still use AP credits to get non-major required classes out of the way though I’d still retake my basic science because you need that stuff for MCATs anyway.</p>
<p>My best advice for you incoming Freshman/high school kids is that getting into med school is about playing the game right … THEIR game. And that game is high MCAT, high GPA and ECs. Many kids come into college with the high school mentality of taking the hardest classes possible and skip the easy classes. WRONG!! Those easy classes will boost your GPA and it takes time to adjust to college workload. Overeagerness will kill you. Obviously this depends on the college you go to but people tend to find out what the game is late. It’s not about being smart in the classroom, the key is actually strategy and giving the adcom what they want. " - coming from a med student</p>
<p>[AP</a> test suggestion from a med student | hSDN | Student Doctor Network](<a href=“AP test suggestion from a med student | Student Doctor Network”>AP test suggestion from a med student | Student Doctor Network)</p>
<p>"1. Yes, med schools don’t really care if you take honors or regular classes. They want to see a good GPA and MCAT which indicates you’re a hard worker and can handle the first year course load. This also means that the college you go to doesn’t really matter either. Obviously this doesn’t mean take classes like smoke pot 101 or stare at dirt 103 but take classes you are interested in and do well in them. Especially when you’re in college don’t think that just cause you take Honors pchem is going to make you look any different to the adcom. A C in honors pchem will hurt you more than an A in basic gen chem.
2. Any classes you take in high school should be geared at making your life in college (at least first year) easier. Take all the AP sciences and maths but don’t take the AP test because it’s useless. Those AP credits get you out of general classes that are easy As and will help boost your GPA. So opting out of them to take “harder classes” will only hurt you … see post #1. I personally would only make exceptions for APs for English or Foreign Language classes since they’re often required for graduation and entails a lot of busy work and the grading tends to be subjective. But that’s me.
3. Any and all EC activities you do BEFORE college WON’T MATTER. You can’t and shouldn’t put them in your AMCAS while applying. Not to say don’t do anything but do it to gain contacts so you’ll have someone that can write a good rec for you later and a place to do stuff during the summer of your college years.</p>
<p>Med school admissions is a game. You have to be smart about it. "
^more persuasion</p>
<p>Yes, you should retake classes related to your planed major.</p>