Should I retake the course?

[ThePrincessBride]

So I am taken Gen Chem I and Bio. I'm doing fine in Bio (for now), but not so much in Gen Chem. In the class, you can only lose 60 points to get an A. So far, I have lost about 46 points. This was after three midterms (81, 90, 84) and 10 labs (plus four more to go) worth 100 points total (so far, I have 97.2/100). Out of the 400 points graded, I only have 352.2 points, and we have a 150 point final in a couple of weeks, and having only an 88 (and they don't give out B pluses), I doubt I will get that 90 I need for an A.

My nursing program is extremely competitive. The average prereq GPA is a 3.6. I basically need all As to get into the program.

Should I retake the class and get an A at my university in the fall?

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

How much does it matter if you don't get in the first time you apply? If you have other gen ed classes to do, it might be almost as good to have them done before starting nursing school. If you are borderline about having enough money saved up and an extra year of working more hours will let you work fewer hours while in nursing school or a job that pays less but offers more flexible hours, again, it might not matter much if you don't get in the next time.

And what is the opportunity cost of retaking the chemistry? If it is only $$ for the credits, and you have the money and an otherwise light schedule, that is different than if retaking it means have to quit a job to make time for the class or take so many credits that you can't realistically do well in any of your classes.

And how sure are you that you have to get an A to have any reasonable chance of getting in? If you know you are barely average even if you get the A and decidedly below average if you have the B that is different than being above average either way and just gaining a little piece of mind with the A.

It matters a TON if I don't get in. If I don't get in, that would have been two years worth of college wasted. I have a relationship on the line, and if I don't get in, it will add MORE years of college, time and money that I just don't have.

The average prerequisite gpa is 3.68/3.7. I am right at the average. However, I have three more classes to take, including my second chem course and a human anatomy course. I doubt I will get A's in either.

[Saysfaa]

Well, thinking on paper here, the rule of thumb is two to three hours study per credit hour, chem 1 was probably a 3 or 4 credit class (5 if it includes a lab). If you split that 10-12 hours per week between the Chem II and the anatomy, giving them 4 to 5 hours of study time per credit hour could you get an A in them? Getting As in them instead of Bs would do more for your gpa than retaking the chem I.

[Music in My Heart]

There's certainly risk entailed in standing pat with your present grade.

However, there's a significant risk in retaking the class, too. If you earn anything less than an A, I believe that your chances are greatly diminished. After all, in your second try, there's no reason that you shouldn't earn an A.

I think the safest approach is to finish up your prereqs and then consider your chances. If you believe that you're a mediocre applicant then you might as well accept the risk of repeating the class.

Repeating a class from a B smacks of desperation to me. I wouldn't do it.

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

I'd definitely try for an A in this class you're engaging in currently. Like some others have said, there's no guarantee you will receive an A if you take it over again. I'd wait it out, since the 3.6 and above is what is more likely to get you into the program, you should have been just fine if you pulled off a B! I'm currently completing my last two pre-reqs, and made a B in one of them. If I make an A in these last two, meaning all A's, 1 B, I'll still have a 3.8 in the end, for selection!

Whatever you chose to opt for, I wish you the best of luck in what you're doing now! :)

[caliotter3]

Since a year has passed, did you get A's in your remaining classes? Did you repeat the Chem class? Did you get accepted?