<p>Hey,
I am getting an A in everything else but Physics this semester. I currently have around a C- average in it. With the exam counting for 25% of the grade, I can maybe round it up to a C+ if I do well in it. Also, I have the choice to just get a D and retake it next semester. My school will remove the previous grade and only include the new grade in calculation of the GPA.</p>
<p>I'm interested in going to med school so I'm sort of worried that they will count both grades into the GPA calculated by AMCAS.</p>
<p>Let me know what you think I should do. Thanks for your input!</p>
<p>Are you sure that if you retake the class, then the D will not be on your transcript in any place?</p>
<p>Get the grade as high as possible, because AMCAS will average both grades (even if your school doesn’t).</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids yes, they remove the prev grade and only count the new one in the GPA. the transcript will mention the class and a R in front of it, which means I repeated it. and it will mention the new grade in the repeated class</p>
<p>@cadrethiel - The policy at my school only allows the removal of the past grade from the gpa if I retake it under the freshman forgiveness policy. That policy only applies if i get below C- in the class.</p>
<p>Doesn’t matter what your school’s policy is on re-takes and on whether or not it appears on your transcript. AMCAS requires you to list both grades when you submit your application and both grades will be included in its computation of your GPA.</p>
<p>*the transcript will mention the class and a R in front of it, which means I repeated it. and it will mention the new grade in the repeated class</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Ugh! Then it will get included for med school apps.</p>
<p>You’re better off getting the highest grade now and then taking another science course to “dilute” the C.</p>
<p>okay, i think it will be better if I just take more science courses and work hard in them to raise my science GPA up.
I was also thinking of transferring after my freshman year, so the replacement of the C/D could really help me out. Although, I still have 3 years in my undergrad. I guess there are more chances to prove myself.</p>
<p>i had another question. will a better grade in a more advanced physics sort of make up for this?</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that med schools require no less than a “C” grade in pre-reqs (i.e. no “C-” grades) - if you get a C- or lower in a pre-req, you must retake it for med schools to accept it.
That being said, a C or C+ in a pre-req or two isn’t going to kill your application, and taking additional (more advanced) courses in the same subject and doing well will certainly help by showing the adcom that you can handle tough science material.</p>
<p>I’m a little confused.</p>
<p>Will your transcript say something like:</p>
<p>“Spring 2011: Physics 104: C- R
Fall 2011: Physics 104: B+ (or whatever)” </p>
<p>And then only the B+ counts toward your university GPA? If that’s the case, then yes, AMCAS will see it, it will go toward your AMCAS GPA, and it’s probably not worth it to retake it. Get the best grade possible and move on, noting (as Icarus pointed out) that you must do better than C for it to count as a pre-req.</p>
<p>Or will it say something like:</p>
<p>“Spring 2011: Physics 104: R
Fall 2011: Physics 104: B+”</p>
<p>If that’s the result of your school’s freshman forgiveness policy, then I have absolutely no idea how AMCAS would view it (since there’s no letter grade really associated). I’d venture a guess that it’d be treated like a W (withdraw) or something. </p>
<p>How will it appear on your transcript–will your original grade appear anywhere?</p>
<p>I looked up the AMCAS instruction manual, for your reading pleasure:</p>
<p>Page 34:
“When entering course work, you must include information and corresponding grades for every course in which you have ever enrolled at any U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution, regardless of whether credit was earned.
This includes, but is not limited to: Courses from which you withdrew.
Courses for which you received a grade of “Incomplete” and for which no final grade has been assigned.
All attempts at courses that have been repeated, which includes any courses removed from your transcript or GPA as a result of academic bankruptcy or institutional forgiveness policies.
Courses that you failed, regardless of whether they have been repeated.
Courses in which you are currently enrolled or expect to enroll in prior to entering medical school.
Remedial/developmental courses.
College-level courses you took while in high school even if they were not counted toward a degree by any college.
Courses taken at an American college overseas.
Courses removed from your transcripts or GPA as a result of academic bankruptcy, forgiveness, or similar institutional policies.”</p>
<p>Page 39
“If no grade is on the transcript, no grade entry is required unless the course has been subsequently repeated or removed due to academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies. For the initial attempt of a repeated course, or for courses removed due to academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies, the transcript grade should be the original grade earned before the course was repeated, regardless of whether or not it appears on the official transcript or GPA. Failure to enter original grade received for repeated courses can lead to returned applications, missed deadlines, and forfeited fees.”</p>
<p>Be very careful… I would do the best you can… Med Schools will see that you retook a class and it may be detrimental to your acceptance.</p>
<p>First of all, I want to thank you all very much for your input!</p>
<p>@cadriethiel yes the policy clearly states that AMCAS will include my original grade in their gpa calculation. It is better to just get the highest grade I can and take other science courses and do well in them.</p>
<p>@kristin5792 It will say something like this.
“Spring 2011: Physics 205N: R
Fall 2011: Physics 205N: B+”.</p>
<p>Interesting. If I’m reading cadriethiel’s post correctly, it seems like you’ll need to post the original grade even though that grade won’t be on your transcript. Sounds like a mess! </p>
<p>Have you tried talking to your professor about all of this? You might be surprised how generous professors can be with final grades, especially for students who show marked interest. I know of at least a few professors who will fudge grades in favor of students for students who consistently attend class, have had upward trends in grades, do well in other areas of the class that might not count for as many points (so maybe, you do stellar work in lab but aren’t great on tests, etc), etc. If it’ll mean you get a B- instead of a C+, that conversation could be the most valuable one of the semester!</p>
<p>PS: If you’re going to talk to your professor about it, you’ll get the best results if you take responsibility for your grades rather than blaming the course or something else. So it would be better to say something like, “I know I failed the first test. It happened to be the first test of my college career, and I clearly did not prepare adequately for it and it was more difficult than I expected. However, I did improve on the next one–and I think that’s because I studied better.” rather than “Your tests are impossible. I’m a smart kid, I did great in high school, and if I’m failing, everyone else should be failing too. How do you expect your students to be competitive for med school and grad school if you write such impossible tests? I deserve at least a B- in this class.” (yeah I know someone who actually said the latter! Didn’t work out so hot)</p>
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<p>Yeah, and I have no idea how that will work with AMCAS’s verification system. For those of you not acquainted with this system, an AMCAS “verifier” manually cross-checks your official transcript with what you entered into AMCAS. If anything doesn’t match, they change it and mark it as “changed by AMCAS” or something to that effect. So I don’t know how the policy that cadriethiel posted works with this fact. If it’s not on your transcript, they aren’t going to want to accept it, even if their own policy says you must disclose it. </p>
<p>Your best bet is probably to call AMCAS and ask them what to do. (and write down when you called and who you spoke with)</p>
<p>@kristin5792 THANK YOU so much for your advice. I just came back from talking with the professor. Turns out, I can make a B- in the class with a 92 in the final (with him bumping me up a little) 
Alright, I gotta go study for this exam like there’s no tomorrow</p>
<p>Good luck!! Hope you ace that final!!!</p>