Would you re-take a class?

[glasscandie]

I ended up with a C in college algebra last semester (owch). It was basically a bad semester for me - I was juggling two internships, my daughter was sick (genetic disorder), I'm the editor for my school's psych. newsletter, and I just took too many classes. I didn't spend the time I should have on the course. However, I'm fairly confident I'll get a decent GRE quant. score (estimating by my GRE tutoring and my practice scores from ETS tests), and in my current semester (5 classes, including stats) I'm getting all A's. I'm debating re-taking it over the summer, because I know I can do better - I just didn't put the effort I should have in the class. But, I don't want to waste the $700 on the class if it won't really matter in the long run. I have research experience (2 internships, one at a leading research university), a publication, a great GPA (minus the stupid C), assume good GRE score, 2 senior theses (one under IRB review and one which will begin within the next few months), great recs, etc. I should mention I got a C in my astronomy class that semester, which is another example where I didn't put my efforts - in my defense, that teacher was teaching a 100 level class like it was a 400 level class.

Anyway. If you were in my situation, would you re-take it? Or would you let the subsequent great grades coupled with a brief explanation (or no explanation) about the situation speak for itself? I need to make a decision, b/c I'm taking summer classes regardless, and it would be one of the classes I'd need to sign up for...

[Aceflyer]

Definitely explain what happened that semester to cause your grades to tank. It also wouldn't hurt if you either re-took the course or took a more advanced math course. Whether you should go this extra mile or not depends on how much of an emphasis your prospective grad programs place on math. (Although if you're already going to be taking a more advanced math course anyhow then the point is moot.)

A stellar GRE Quant score can also help mitigate the impact - roughly what Quant score do you anticipate getting?

[glasscandie]

Thanks for the quick response

I'm estimating somewhere in the high 600's/low 700's for quant. unless something magical happens that throws me in the high 700's lol (based on my tutoring and the ETS practice scores I've gotten). I'm applying to behavioral neuropharmacology programs...so I'm assuming they'll look at quant. more than verbal (I got a 670 on verbal w/out studying, so I'm not worried there - my scores have always been lopsided in favor of verbal). I'm taking stats this semester (A so far, don't anticipate anything lower); and I'm taking a research methods class over the summer. I wasn't really planning on taking physics or calculus or anything, though. Would you take a higher level math, or would you re-take algebra?

This C really annoys the heck out of me, it was the first semester I got lower than an A - there's just a giant drop in my scores for that one awful semester.

[rising_star]

The thing with the GRE Quant is that low 700s actually isn't super high percentile wise. I got a 760 quant and that's 83%ile.

[Aceflyer]

Thanks for the quick response

I'm estimating somewhere in the high 600's/low 700's for quant. unless something magical happens that throws me in the high 700's lol (based on my tutoring and the ETS practice scores I've gotten). I'm applying to behavioral neuropharmacology programs...so I'm assuming they'll look at quant. more than verbal (I got a 670 on verbal w/out studying, so I'm not worried there - my scores have always been lopsided in favor of verbal). I'm taking stats this semester (A so far, don't anticipate anything lower); and I'm taking a research methods class over the summer. I wasn't really planning on taking physics or calculus or anything, though. Would you take a higher level math, or would you re-take algebra?

This C really annoys the heck out of me, it was the first semester I got lower than an A - there's just a giant drop in my scores for that one awful semester.

Hmm... well, since anyone looking at your transcript would be able to clearly see that that grade is obviously an anomaly, IMO the explanation should be enough. Of course, if you want to cover all your bases, it can't hurt to go the proverbial extra mile. Personally, I'd take a more advanced math course, but I love math (I minored in math in college) so I'm biased. You should do whatever you feel most comfortable doing. If you're going to be facing a heavy courseload or workload, I'd say just re-take algebra.

Also, rising_star is right in that a GRE Quant score in the high 600's/low 700's isn't that amazing. If you want to impress people with your GRE Quant score I'd recommend shooting for at least a 760. Congrats on Verbal though - I worked quite a bit on Verbal but was unable to break the 650 'barrier'.

[rufzilla]

Was it a class you needed for your major? Is it integral to the field you are applying to?

If not, I would just explain the grades in your statement. Graduate committees know that classes cost money. So, unless you failed or if Alg1 is integral to your profession, I would just let it go. There isn't really any use in spending so much money on something that may not even really help you in the long run. I guess what you have to think about is: will this class help me in the future or am I simply going to re-take it to re-take it? You've obviously proven that you can do the work and that you've improved your grades a lot more. I think that is more important to graduate committees than a little A in Beginning Algebra.

However, you also have to do what helps you sleep better at night. If you truly feel re-taking Algebra will put your mind at ease then go for it. It is your money, after all.

[liszt85]

The thing with the GRE Quant is that low 700s actually isn't super high percentile wise. I got a 760 quant and that's 83%ile.

Rightly said. My 780 was only a 90%. So what you call a "stellar" quant score must be a 790 or 800. Lesser than that isn't really stellar. If however your program doesn't tend to look at quant scores too seriously, a 720 might work just fine as well. Anything below 700 in my opinion is a poor quant score.

Also like the others said, if you include just a line in your SOP explaining that bad semester and then clearly mention how you've grown since then, mentioning all your important and relevant research activities and publishing experience, it should do just fine. I've had one AWFUL semester. I got 2 F's and my GPA (called CPI here) was once upon a time a dismal 5.2/10. Those were core engineering courses which I abhorred. Then I entered the departmental phase and did well in Physics and my GPA rose to 7.0/10 which for my university is a decent score (not too good either!) but what got me accepted into two very good programs (and awaiting one more for which I'd received an informal +ve email) was my research experience and the paper I'd submitted for publication as first author. My writing samples also helped (a very good term paper on which I'd worked really hard). So if such an academic record doesn't matter in the long run, yours shouldn't either. I have to say though that my grades were responsible for rejections from the top schools (Berkeley, McGill (my first choice)). All of those professors wrote positive things about my research work but said that I couldn't win funds from the university because my grades posed a problem.

So you may now decide if you want to retake that class.

[Aceflyer]

'Stellar' GRE Quant score depends on the field. In engineering disciplines you will want to have at least a 780 or above; at top engineering programs 790's and 800's are typical (even a 790 is still only 92%). In non-engineering disciplines I think there is a bit more leeway - but I could be wrong.

[glasscandie]

Oh great, now I'm thinking the mid-700's would be less than stellar. lol I think the average GRE quant. score for most of the schools I'm applying to is around the mid-700's. U MD College Park is between 700-760, American U's BCAN program is about 700, too. I'm applying to behavioral neuropharmacology programs, so I assume the GRE quant. is going to be weighted more than the verbal, unfortunately; but I'm directly interning in the exact field at the moment, and we've never used any of the math that's on the GRE. What we do use from algebra is logs, but mostly it's statistical work which I'm fine with.

Hm. I'm still undecided whether I should re-take the class or not. I don't want it to affect a funding decision.

[MaximKat]

even a 790 is still only 92%

800 is 94%

[Aceflyer]

Oh great, now I'm thinking the mid-700's would be less than stellar. lol I think the average GRE quant. score for most of the schools I'm applying to is around the mid-700's. U MD College Park is between 700-760, American U's BCAN program is about 700, too. I'm applying to behavioral neuropharmacology programs, so I assume the GRE quant. is going to be weighted more than the verbal, unfortunately; but I'm directly interning in the exact field at the moment, and we've never used any of the math that's on the GRE. What we do use from algebra is logs, but mostly it's statistical work which I'm fine with.

Hm. I'm still undecided whether I should re-take the class or not. I don't want it to affect a funding decision.

Most of the actual material tested by the general GRE isn't really all that directly relevant to most graduate fields of study. However, it remains that the GRE is part of grad school applications, and some schools do give it some weight in evaluating applicants.