I’m currently a junior in college on the pre-med track working to finish up the last few of my pre-reqs needed for med school. For reference of my track, I’m looking to take 1-2 gap years (looking more like 2 since my BCPM GPA isn’t the best because of some lower grades I received in some of my pre-reqs like intro bio & orgo and I am seriously considering a post-bacc program or special masters program to enhance my academic record). As I look at the courses I have yet to fulfill and plan out my schedule for my last year in undergrad, I am heavily questioning whether or not I should retake both parts of Physics. I took both Physics I and II w/ labs at my high school and received 8 dual enrollment credits from my local community college, all of which transferred and are shown on my current, four-year university transcript as “transfer credit.” My question essentially is, how do med schools factor in a pre-req that I’ve taken as dual enrollment (even when I still have access to my transcript from the community college it was taken through, along with the grades received). Does this reflect poorly or showcase my inability to handle the college rigor of a science course? I am just really worried because my one opportunity to take both sections of the course would be the summer, and summer classes are very expensive at my University. Additionally, I’m thinking that since I’m considering doing a post-bacc or special masters program anyways, is it even necessary for me to waste the money and time to retake physics if I’ll have to take it again through one of those programs anyways? I know it could be beneficial for the MCAT, but I guess I’m just trying to think of the most logistical and justified answer here. Mainly, how will med schools view this. Thanks.
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your dual enrollment classes are listed separately from your college grades and labeled to identify them as coursework you took in high school.
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even though your dual enrollment classes are shown on your college transcript, you still need to send a separate transcript from the CC to AMCAS (and to the med school should you be accepted)
Personally, I would suggest you do not retake physics, esp if you earned a C+ or better originally.
Any retake of a pre-req is a risk. If you earn an A, then it doesn’t really improve your applications (Of course user736825 got an A in Physics 1, he’s seen all the material before.). If you earn less than an A, then it actually hurts your application. (Look, user 736825 couldn’t master physics even the second time through.)
The general advice regarding a poor grade in a pre-req is if you passed with C+ or better, move on, don’t re-take. Instead take harder classes and earn As.
BTW, You won’t be retaking physics at GPA enhancing post bacc unless you earned less than C+ when you originally took the classes. SMPs have the same admission requirements as med schools–you must have C+ or better in all your pre-reqs for admission.
Both of those programs will concentrate on upper level biology classes that mimic the type of coursework you’ll take in med school. Mostly advanced biology/ biochemistry topics.
What’s your current sGPA? Do you have a significant upward sGPA trend?
Have you considered osteopathic medical schools?
Have you taken the MCAT yet? What is your score?
Most (all?) SMPs require a MCAT for admission.