Taking classes at another college?

[nverqrui]

<p>So in my freshman year at Vanderbilt, I got a C- in gen chem for my first semester. After reading up on some medical school requirements, I realized that C- was not acceptable and that I would have to retake the class. </p>

<p>Vanderbilt's policy is that I have to retake the class within one year of the initial class. However, what can I do if that time has passed? I will be a junior this year. Does this mean that I will never be able to apply to med school because of this one grade? Or can I retake it at another college? </p>

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>You can certainly retake gen chem at another college; however, you need to take it at comparable/near comparable institution for it to be a creditable grade for adcomms. (IOW, you could retake it at your state flagship, but not at your local CC.)</p>

<p>You can certainly apply to med school with the C-, but your application will deemed to be missing a pre-requisite–one that you must complete before you can be admitted… </p>

<p>Can you apply with a pre-req missing or incomplete? Yes, but you must indicate on your application a plan to remediate gen chem 2. (Specific details like term, course titles and institution.) You must notify all schools you apply to in writing if any part of this plan changes. If your application is otherwise strong, you may even get some interviews despite the missing pre-req; however, any admission offer you receive will be conditional on you earning an acceptable grade on the re-take. (Acceptable will usually mean a B or better, but that varies by school. Your admission will be rescinded if you do not meet the benchmark grade your school expects.) </p>

<p>Your other option would be to contact the health professions advisor and ask if there is process to petition the chem dept. to allow you to retake the course at Vanderbilt.</p>

[Pancaked]

<p>To clarify what @WayOutWestMom said: While you’re certainly welcome to take the course at another university, it will not be transferrable to Vanderbilt; that is, it will not go on your Vanderbilt transcript or replace the grade you already received. </p>

<p><a href=“http://as.vanderbilt.edu/oas/academicpolicies/summerworkelsewhere/”>http://as.vanderbilt.edu/oas/academicpolicies/summerworkelsewhere/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Students enrolled in the College of Arts and Science may receive transfer credit for a maximum of two courses taken during summers at another four-year, fully accredited institution. To qualify for such credit, the student must be in good standing and must obtain authorization from the Dean and the appropriate department in advance of taking the course. Such courses cannot fulfill the AXLE requirements, count as part of the last 30 hours of residence, serve as repeat credit, or be taken on a pass-fail basis.”

</p>

<p>I would imagine they do make exceptions to the one-year rule. You need to ask the registrar ASAP if you’re able to enroll for repeat credit for this course.</p>

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>RE: taking gen chem at another college. I was referring to how AMCAS/medical school admission works.</p>

<p>OP, you also need to be aware that AMCAS does not allow grade replacement for re-taken classes. If you do re-take gen chem 2, regardless of where you take it, both grades will be included when computing your GPA/sGPA for medical school admissions and grades for both the original and retaken class will be reported to medical schools. Both grades must be reported and will be included in your GPA/sGPA calculations even if grade replacement is allowed.</p>