Navigating Course Retakes: Understanding the Impact on Your GPA

For undergraduates, retaking a class can be a strategic decision, but it's crucial to understand how it affects your Grade Point Average (GPA). This article delves into the nuances of course repetition, grade replacement policies, and other factors to consider when deciding whether to retake a class.

GPA Calculation and Course Repetition

At many universities, including UW-Madison, all grades earned in every attempt of a course (from A to F) are included in the term and university GPA calculations. This means that simply repeating a failed course will not erase the initial failing grade from your academic record or your cumulative GPA. Even if you previously earned a passing grade (A through D) in a course, subsequent attempts will still be factored into your GPA.

Repeatable vs. Non-Repeatable Courses

It's also important to distinguish between courses that can be repeated for credit and those that cannot. Most courses are not repeatable for credit. The course guide usually indicates whether a course like Special Topics or Directed Study courses may be repeated for credit in the descriptions under "View Details,” as long as the content of each offering differs. If the phrase "Repeatable for Credit" is absent from the Course Attributes section, it signifies that the course cannot be repeated for credit. This distinction significantly impacts how grades and credits are calculated for repeated attempts.

Refresher Courses

Students enrolled in a refresher course are expected to actively participate in all aspects of the class, including attending regularly, engaging in discussions, and completing all assignments and exams.

Grade Replacement vs. Course Repetition

Grade replacement, which is available only to undergraduate students, goes a step beyond simply repeating a course. To initiate grade replacement, you must contact your advisor or school dean’s office after receiving a grade in the repeated course and request that it be applied to your record. While your transcript will still show all attempts at the course, the first attempt will be marked with an "X," and you will only receive credit once.

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Before opting for grade replacement, consult with your advisor to ensure it is the most suitable option for your situation. Typically, a student can use grade replacement for a maximum of 15 credit hours, subject to school approval. To qualify for grade replacement, the grade received in the repeated course must be the same as or higher than the grade in the previous attempt. In order to change the previous grade, a letter grade must be received upon retake.

However, some departments may not allow students to replace grades in courses required for a major, minor, certificate, honors program, or other recognition offered by the unit. It's also possible to replace an honors course (or a course taken under an honors contract) with a non-honors course.

Factors to Consider Before Retaking a Class

Retaking a class involves expending time and money. However, it can be a strategic move to improve your GPA and strengthen your understanding of crucial material.

Minimal GPA Impact

In most cases, retaking classes has a minimal effect on your GPA because retaken classes don’t replace your low grades - they average in with them. For example, if you have a 2.9 GPA and retake a 5-unit course in which you previously received an "F," earning an "A" in the retake will only raise your GPA to approximately 2.94.

Reasons to Retake a Class

Mastering Required Material: Retaking a class is particularly beneficial if you performed poorly in a required course, especially a required science course. PA school admissions committees, for example, need to know that you have mastered the basic science material on which the PA school curriculum relies.
Meeting Minimum GPA Requirements: If your GPA falls below the functional minimum (e.g., 3.0 for PA school), retaking courses in which you received less than a "B" can help raise your GPA.
Strengthening Knowledge: Repeating a course can strengthen your knowledge of a particular topic to prepare for future classes. The Science Sequence Regulations may require students to achieve a minimum grade of "C-" in order to continue on to the next course in the sequence. In other cases, students may wish to consult with a professor to determine whether auditing a class might be appropriate.

Courses to Prioritize

Required Science Courses: Foundational courses such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, general or organic chemistry (if required) should be prioritized.
Non-Required Science Courses: Retake any non-required science course that was over one unit.
English Composition Courses: These courses are essential for effective communication.

Courses to Avoid Retaking

Courses with Mediocre Grades: Retaking a course for a mediocre grade will have a minimal impact on your GPA.
Courses Failed Multiple Times: Doing poorly on a course the second time reinforces the idea that you can’t handle that material.

Strategies for Success

Focus on One Course at a Time: To maximize your chances of success, retake courses that you struggled with one at a time.
Utilize Available Resources: If a student chooses to repeat a course, they should maximize their chances for success by utilizing available resources and practicing good study habits.

Location of Retaken Courses

In most cases, PA schools care very little where you took a course. You don’t need to retake classes at the same institution.

Read also: Effective Class Scheduling

Advanced Degrees vs. Course Retakes

PA schools want to see that you can handle the courses on which their curriculum rests. Avoid detours like pursuing a Masters in Exercise Physiology or Immunology if you haven't proven you have absorbed General Chemistry.

Additional Options for Improving Your GPA

If you're not satisfied with a grade, retaking the class is one option, but there are others.

Appealing a Grade

In most cases, you should appeal a grade with the instructor who gave you the grade. If you can’t resolve the matter with your instructor, talk with the chair or director of your department. Check your school’s academic bulletin for information about the appeal process.

Removing an Incomplete

The process for removing an incomplete grade is different.

Repeat Course Policies

Some universities have specific repeat course policies that students should be aware of. For example, at the University of Rochester, this policy applies to courses taken for the first time in fall 2014 or later. Students can repeat a course for a new grade if they previously earned an unsatisfactory grade (C-, D+, D, or E) the first time they took it. When students repeat a course at the University, the second grade, which is not necessarily the better grade, will be factored into the grade point average. Credit can be earned only once. Credit for courses initially passed will be removed from the record when the “repeat” course is completed, even if the second grade is a failure. An “R” appears next to both listings of the course on the transcript. The earlier grade will still remain on the transcript, but will not be factored into the GPA.

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Financial Aid Implications

Students receiving any kind of institutional or federal aid must be enrolled full-time, carrying at least 12 new credit hours. Repeating courses for which you have already received a passing grade, and therefore received credit (C-, D+, D, D-, S) ARE NOT counted towards the 12 new credit hours. Repeating courses for which you have earned a failing grade, and therefore not received credit (E or F) ARE count towards the 12 new credit hours. International students have different financial aid requirements and should talk to a financial aid advisor and International Services Office (ISO) advisor before repeating any courses.

Repeat Course Policy Exceptions

Note that the individual academic departments are responsible for managing the following exceptions and special circumstances for repeat courses. When questions arise, it is always best to consult first with an advisor in the specific academic department for guidance.

Courses That CAN Be Repeated for Credit

Some courses can be taken more than once with a credit and a grade earned each time. This is because the class number stays the same, but the topic and the content within the course changes. The most common such course is Applied Music: Lessons at Eastman with 130 or 160 as the course number. Students can also take two-credit foreign language conversation courses such as FR 114 more than once. Students may take RUSS 126 no more than twice. Students can earn credit for both ECON 207 and ECON 207H, and for ECON 209 and ECON 209H. A student can receive credit for both CHEM 208 and CHEM 210 if they choose to take both. A student can also elect to replace a grade in CHEM 208 with a grade earned in CHEM 210. Students cannot, however, use a grade in CHEM 208 to replace a grade in CHEM 210. Beginning in spring 2019, students may not earn credit for FIN 204 after having completed FIN 205. Students can enroll in HIS 100 and earn credit more than one time; however, a student who wishes to repeat the course and replace the original grade must repeat the course under the same topic

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