<p>I need some advice. Because of an accident I received third degree burns on my arms. The treatment and and time away from my studies resulted in me tanking (2.7) an intro biology course (not my major).
Should I take the class over (the retake will likely appear on my transcript). Or, live with the grade( will this kill my chances of getting into med school).
My overall GPA is now a 3.3 down from a 3.8. All the advice is very much appreciated.</p>
<p>... That's a B-. I think you'll be okay. (How was one class able to bring your GPA down by .5 points?)</p>
<p>Did you mean that you did so poorly on your bio class that your GPA this past semester was a 2.7?</p>
<p>(Because otherwise, if one B- can pull your grades down from a 3.8 to a 3.3, that would imply that your previous GPA had consisted of 1.1 courses, which just doesn't make sense.)</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. My mistake (wishful thinking I'm sure), my GPA was a 3.5 in the previous semester. After the accident my second semester GPA was just over a 3.0 so it came out to a cumulative GPA of 3.3. I am pretty sure I will do better through the upcoming years it's just that the accident did take it's toll on that particular semester, and I'm particulary concerned about that 2.7 on my transcript which is why I'm considering taking the class over again. I'm also concerned about either going forward with the current GPA knowing there is absolutely no safety net, or redoing the class and having a little room to breathe.
Your thoughts?</p>
<p>A B- is definitely, definitely not worth retaking. No one grade (barring an F) can do that much damage to your cumulative GPA, and your transcript doesn't reflect any shock value until you get a C. And even then you're fine.</p>
<p>Redoing the class would not buy you any room to breathe regardless, since the old grade will still be calculated by medical schools, who ignore what your school tells them to calculate and follow AMCAS's comprehensive GPA.</p>
<p>I have friends who got Cs (multiple Cs) and got into some pretty good med schools. </p>
<p>Like Stanford. It may not be Duke, but it's pretty good. Isn't that right, mike? ;)</p>
<p>Stanford's certainly a very selective medical school -- by percentages, it's even more selective than Duke med.</p>
<p>Pfft. Wrong answer. :p</p>
<p>I also got a B in one of my intro Bio semesters, and I was really worried about it bringing my app down, but if you work through it then you can birng your GPA back up without too much trouble. Also if you are really worried and that semester stands out on your academic record then you can ask your registrar or doc to make a note that you were involved in a serious accident and spent a considerable amount of time in physical therapy and recovery. That path though is only if you are really worried, because having an excuse could be looked down upon as an inability to handle stress and a busy schedule. I think your best bet is just to work your but off and bring your GPA up, also wait and take the classes you think will be harder until Senior year so they don't appear on your application transcript</p>
<p>
[quote]
I also got a B in one of my intro Bio semesters, and I was really worried about it bringing my app down
[/quote]
You don't need all A's for med school. I'm hoping this is not news.</p>
<p>
[quote]
take the classes you think will be harder until Senior year so they don't appear on your application transcript
[/quote]
Obviously if you do this with too many of them, then people will have no way to evaluate your academic track record. When you have 2.5X as many applicants as spots, you can't afford to spend spots on people who are hiding their real abilities from you.</p>