<p>I'm sure this question has been asked hundreds of times already, but I was just looking for some opinions on whether re-taking science courses C's were earned in is worth it or not. I got C's in both of my general chemistry classes. I talked to multiple advisers and they all said not to re-take them, but to just work hard in upper division science courses later on, as I'm only going to be in my third semester of undergrad. My GPA took a pretty big hit from the two C's, but if I re-took one of the semesters over the summer (this is the only year I can re-take it), I would have to give up the lab job (experience) that I picked up that's during the same time as the summer course.
Also, I know that even if I re-take it, it still shows up on my transcript as a C and will likely be averaged out by med schools in the end (which is why it was advised to me not to re-take it).</p>
<p>So basically I'm stressing out over whether I should quit my lab job to re-take one of the two C's I earned my first year and if it is really worth it in the end...especially since the summer course is pretty expensive and I'm iffy on whether I'd be able to pull an A in it or not...
I realize I need to work harder for the science classes I'm taking this semester, I'm just worried on whether or not I will be able to pull off As or Bs; which would probably kill my chances at being accepted...
Thanks!</p>
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<p>This is the advice you will get in this forum also. Especially don’t retake during the summer since summer classes tend to viewed with some skepticism by adcomms as being less competitive than regular term classes.</p>
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<p>Not likely. WILL BE. AMCAS requires that ALL classes, even if they don’t show on your transcript, be reported. Both the old grade and the retake are included in GPA/sGPA calculations for allopathic medical schools.</p>
<p>My advice–keep your lab job, but spend the summer figuring out why you got Cs in chemistry. Are you not grasping basic concepts? Do you lack appropriate math skills? Science background? Do you have poor study habits? Are you not doing your homework? Once you understand why, then develop a plan to fix the problem—and stick to it.</p>
<p>One last thought—not everyone is meant to be scientist or physician. There’s no shame in finding that your talents lie elsewhere.</p>
<p>As WOWmom said, your advisers were correct - the only grade you want to retake in prereqs are C-minuses (because that is too low to be accepted by med schools for prereq credit). Also, if you do retake a course that you got a C in and get anything other than a solid A, you will seriously hurt your application. Take some other science courses and do well in them.
But really, a C or two isn’t going to hurt too much - I had a few Cs (in chemistry, the bane of my existence) and they weren’t even mentioned in my interviews. Although admittedly that was 4 years ago and things have continued to get more competitive.</p>
<p>agree with the others, but I have a different issue, which relates to the next chem course, Organic. If you struggled in Gen Chem, the likelihood is that Organic will be a bigger stretch. Perhaps try a bio course or two next year, to see how they go, and hold organic until Jr year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses, everyone. Before yesterday, I was leaning more towards not retaking it because of the information I received from my adviser (which is basically what I’ve heard here), as I mentioned before, but I just recently got back to debating it again when some friends that are a couple of years older than me (who are also in pre-med) were quick to tell me to re-take the course while I could because the one or two Cs they received their first couple years really put a damper on their overall and science GPAs and they regret not re-taking the courses they got Cs in (my University doesn’t differentiate between C, C-, and C+). I’m guess I’m just really stressed out about it because I’m stuck in that mindset that the two Cs will come back and hurt me in the long run and I (like my friends) will look back and regret not taking it. Thank you though, everyone!</p>
<p>if they end up hurting you, i can assure you that retaking would not have undone the damage (unless you’re going for DO school).</p>