AP or IB Credit
Some programs will accept AP or IB credits, but many do not. For those schools that accept AP or IB credit, the credit must be reflected on your official transcript. In other words, you must have received credit for them at Wake Forest. Some schools will only accept AP and IB credits if additional advanced coursework has been taken in that discipline. Since you do not decide what schools to apply to until well into your college career, it is best not to count on AP/IB credits.
Online Courses
Most programs do not accept online courses in the sciences, particular if they have a laboratory component. Some schools will accept blended courses, where lectures are online but the lab is done in person. However, unless you have graduated and are unable to take a course any other way, it is best not to take any science courses online. If the only way that you can take a course is to take it online, be sure to check with the programs you plan to apply to before doing so.
Summer Courses
Most of your science courses should be taken at Wake Forest, so that schools know that you have had a rigorous experience in these courses. If you do choose to take one or two courses elsewhere, make sure that it is at an accredited four-year university or college. Unless you are a science major, it is not necessary that the courses transfer into Wake Forest. You will need to submit an additional transcript for these courses with your medical school application. Courses taken in the summer for transfer must be pre-approved by the department before the course is taken (this requires a copy of the syllabus). The Registrar’s Office keeps a list of courses that are pre-approved. You might save yourself a lot of time if you start there!
Repeating Courses
The best thing to do is never get into a situation where you have to repeat a course! Most programs will not accept grades lower than a “C.” So if you get a C- or lower in a class, you will need to repeat it. But if you are struggling in a course, don’t think it is better to just go for a C-, so that you can repeat the course. Even though Wake Forest allows you to repeat courses and remove the first attempt from your Wake Forest GPA, the first grade is still on your transcript. Also, when you need to calculate your science GPA, you will need to include all of the science courses you have taken, even if you have repeated some of them. So they don’t just go away! The fact that you repeat a course and get a B+ or A- instead of a C- doesn’t necessarily put you in a better position.