<p>How badly does it look if you had to retake a couple of the required course. Due to some personal reasons after my first year of college I had to take two years off. I got a D/C- in Bio I/II and a B-/C+ in Gen Chem I/II.. I definitely want to retake both of the courses, but am I automatically at a disadvantage when applying to medical school now? Also, do they look on Summer courses as bad? I'm going to have a tough time fitting in my major requirements and retaking those two classes. Any help would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I would retake Bio I/II & Gen Chem II.
But only if you're sure you can get a B in Bio I/II and an A in Gen Chem II. </p>
<p>Don't think that you retaking it would be a disadvantage, unless you did poorly again the second time. Summer courses [I should think] won't be a disadvantage either. . I would try to retake the mentioned courses during the Summer. .</p>
<p>Thanks, I hope thing go better the second time. Has anyone had any similar experiences?</p>
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Don't think that you retaking it would be a disadvantage
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<p>Actually it is, at least for allo (MD) schools, since they will average the two grades (and it doesn't look good to have to retake a course. You don't want to retake courses unless you have to (i.e. failed them). So retake Bio I and II, but don't retake either Gen Chem.</p>
<p>However, if you're planning on applying to osteo (DO) schools, it won't be as much of a disadvantage because they will take the most recent grade when calculating your GPA.</p>
<p>Oh, and there's nothing wrong with taking summer courses...</p>
<p>It would help if you quoted the entire sentence, I think.</p>
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Don't think that you retaking it would be a disadvantage, unless you did poorly again the second time
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<p>But I will change my advice to say that you should make sure you get an A.</p>
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It would help if you quoted the entire sentence, I think.
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<p>Nope - my advice remains the same, regardless of the second part of the sentence (which is why I didn't include it in the quote) :)</p>
<p>You absolutely should not retake a course unless you failed it (or less than a C for a pre-req). If you don't like your grades otherwise, take different, higher level courses and do better to prove that you can handle it and have learned from your mistakes, etc. Don't retake courses unless you absolutely have to.</p>
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But I will change my advice to say that you should make sure you get an A.
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The rationale behind Icarus's advice is that if you retake and get an A, then anyone judging your app will say "of course he/she got an A, they took the course twice". If you retake and don't get an A, they will say "they took it twice and still didn't get an A?". So unless you absolutely have to retake (ie, you literally failed the class), you should not.</p>
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I would retake Bio I/II & Gen Chem II.
But only if you're sure you can get a B in Bio I/II and an A in Gen Chem II.</p>
<p>Don't think that you retaking it would be a disadvantage, unless you did poorly again the second time. Summer courses [I should think] won't be a disadvantage either. . I would try to retake the mentioned courses during the Summer.
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<p>I have no idea why you think retaking a class wouldn't be a disadvantage.</p>
<p>Of course, it's going to be a disadvantage, regardless of what you get the second time (and you better get an A).</p>