Should I Take My Last Pre-Req in Winter or Spring Quarter

I have one pre-req left for my major which is psych. I need to chem by at least spring before transfer as my goal school is UCLA. But I am worried because science has never been my strong suit that I will get a B in the class and it will drop my GPA which is currently a 3.96. I am also a one year transfer and I think I am a pretty strong applicant but my GPA dropping will definitely ruin my chances. UCLA psych major is extremely competitive so they really like to have all pre-reqs done by fall with exceptions to one or maybe two not finished (but have to finish by spring). I am currently registered for chem for winter quarter because my logic behind it was that the earlier I finish it the better. But my winter quarter ends before acceptances are out so I was thinking maybe I should take it in spring instead where acceptances will be out by then and my grades won’t matter as much. Especially because I am a one year transfer, I feel like they more heavily prioritize GPA so maybe taking it in the spring might be better. But the reason why I initially chose winter instead was because I thought it showed more ambition and showed that I know having a pre-req not done before fall isn’t ideal, hence me taking it as early as possible. I just really want to do everything I can to increase my chances for acceptance as UCLA is my top school.

Well, they aren’t going to factor either into the GPA. If you take in winter, they may request the grade just for a heads up, and you can send as well. Since you don’t have too many classes in your portfolio, I suppose winter might give a bit of an edge.

@Ohm888 If I take it in the spring will they still request it? If I do get a B in winter quarter and since they don’t factor it into GPA will it matter as much? Or will it give them a reason to reject me?

How many actual classes completed are they looking at as of end of fall (not counting AP)? I’ve just seen up here where they have sometimes emailed a person asking for a winter grade. Also you can send it in March. I don’t think a B will be an issue, but I’m not admissions. Either way, if you have a 3.96 and only 1 course missing it should be okay in spring. But again, I’m not admissions.

What they may do for spring is in your provisional contract note that you need a B (or occasionally a B+) in that course. Or they may simply give a term cumulative GPA required, or they might do the default, which is alert them if you get two Cs or one D.

@Ohm888 I will have 7 classes done with summer and fall quarter. All with A’s and one humanities course that isn’t a major pre-req with a A-. So are you saying is that spring might be better because there is the chance that they might go with the default way or just ask that I get at least a B?

I really don’t know. But 7 courses is a good collection to make an analysis.