I attended a 4-year university and received failing grades in organic chem 1 and 2 biology courses but would have to take the entire chemistry series at the community college I now attend due to extenuating circumstances. They are only giving me credit for the first chemistry course in the series and would have to take chem 1b chem 1c before I could take organic chemistry. Should I spend the extra time retaking this course which I failed 3 times over or just focus on my major preparatory courses because I am now a cs major?
Did you take the Organic Chem class at a UC when you failed it? If so, then you can’t retake it at a cc. You have to retake it at a UC.
Since you’d have to retake several chem classes before you even get to retake the Orgo; and since you’ve already failed Orgo three times, I think it’s a very bad idea to retake Orgo. Even if you didn’t have to retake other classes to get to Orgo, you will most likely fail it again; and it’s not even required for your new major. What I would rather you do is move on, and get really strong grades from this point forward.
It is possible to get into a UC as a transfer with an F on your transcript, if everything else is strong. Yes, it’s an issue - but I really think you have a high risk of failing the class again if you retake it. Plus you have to retake other classes to get there. Plus it’s no longer required for what you’re now majoring in. The risk of trying to retake is too high.
If you do decide to retake Orgo, and if you feel you really could pass it this time, I’d suggest you retake it at a university, if doing so would mean you don’t have to retake all those pre-req classes. If you had originally taken it at UC, that uni needs to be a UC.
But talk to a transfer counselor at your current CC. If you’re in California, they will be very, very familiar with the requirements of the UCs you like.