Retaking a class for grad school?

[stakof63]

Hi, so im a senior economics major. Here are my grades:

 

Pre-Calculus: A

Calculus 1:     A

Caluclus 2:     A

Statistics 1:    A

Statistics for Economists: A

Intro to Macro: B-

Intro to Micro: C-

Intermediate Macro: B+

Intermediate Micro:  A

Econometrics:          A

Health Economics:   A

Seminar in Econ:      A

Econ Development:  A

Current problems and policies: A

Money and Banking: A

American Economic History: A

Global Economics: C+

 

Pretty much, I want to have the best chance of getting into graduate school. I have room in my schedule for two classes. Would it be wise to retake both intro micro and intro macro? Im confident I can get A's in those classes though they will show up on my transcript. Or does it look better for the grad school to see that my grades were upward sloping? Instead of retaking those classes should I go ahead and take discrete mathematics and another course (cant take linear yet)?

 

[Econguy]

Hi Decaf,

 

I asked myself the same question in undergrad and the answer I found from advisors was a resounding NO.

 

First, there is nothing wrong with retaking a course but the ONLY reason to do this is if you did not understand what you were taught in the intro classes. Your grades in Intermediate Micro/Macro will tend to trump your intro grades and so the “upward sloping” trend is working in your favor. That being said, grades at the graduate level tend to be understood as an A=A, A-=B, B+=C, and anything lower means you passed by the skin of your teeth or that you failed. Still, I think you would probably be better served by taking another mathematics course (Statistics II?) or maybe trying to get some experience as an undergrad research assistant.

 

Best of luck