Recs + Low GPA??

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Depending on your school, the re-take does not replace the original bad grade. Ex: If you fail Psych 101 and re-take it, and get an A, both the F and the A are on your transcript.

now some schools DO offer a Freshman Forgiveness program that allows for re-takes to actually REPLACE the bad grade, but that opportunity only exists for students under a certain number of credit hours.

As a professor on a university committee that deals with this issue, I have to say these policies vary so much from campus to campus that I wouldn't even attempt to make a general statement. The OP should thoroughly read through her campus's current catalog policy on retaking classes, and then follow up with the Registrar's office to make sure she's interpreting it correctly before spending time and money retaking a class.

At my campus, we even have different policies for undergraduate and graduate level courses. Our philosophy has been that it you're willing to pay again and do the work, and you achieve a higher grade, your highest learning level should be acknowledged. We've started discussing limits on how many times students can retake some important science classes; we have an issue with students trying to replace Bs with As for medical, PT, and nursing school admission. These upperclassmen fill up seats, and then first timers can't get into the classes they need. Limited lab space and faculty limits how many sections can be offered. This is a complicated issue! We talked about averaging the grades if you take a class twice, but that does not acknowledge the highest level of achievement...continuing to work to achieve higher mastery should not be penalized.

I will say that transfer classes rarely, if ever, are factored into your "home school" GPA. Usually, you have to get a minimum grade to be able to transfer in the class, but the actual grade doesn't count.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

As a professor on a university committee that deals with this issue, I have to say these policies vary so much from campus to campus that I wouldn't even attempt to make a general statement. The OP should thoroughly read through her campus's current catalog policy on retaking classes, and then follow up with the Registrar's office to make sure she's interpreting it correctly before spending time and money retaking a class.

At my campus, we even have different policies for undergraduate and graduate level courses. Our philosophy has been that it you're willing to pay again and do the work, and you achieve a higher grade, your highest learning level should be acknowledged. We've started discussing limits on how many times students can retake some important science classes; we have an issue with students trying to replace Bs with As for medical, PT, and nursing school admission. These upperclassmen fill up seats, and then first timers can't get into the classes they need. Limited lab space and faculty limits how many sections can be offered. This is a complicated issue! We talked about averaging the grades if you take a class twice, but that does not acknowledge the highest level of achievement...continuing to work to achieve higher mastery should not be penalized.

I will say that transfer classes rarely, if ever, are factored into your "home school" GPA. Usually, you have to get a minimum grade to be able to transfer in the class, but the actual grade doesn't count.

On one campus where I teach, you can petition to replace a grade with a new grade, and generally, students can do it ONCE in their undergrad career.

[AZTheta]

Another "pearl": use a Grade Point Average calculator when you are attempting to improve your GPA.