Schools Want to go to eng grad school, will a bad lab grade affect this?

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The discussion centers on a senior at a liberal arts college studying math and physics who is contemplating whether to retake an advanced physics lab course in which they received a C. The individual has a strong academic record overall, with a GPA of 3.72 and A's in most other physics and math classes. Concerns are raised about the impact of the C on future applications to engineering graduate schools, particularly top programs. Responses emphasize that graduate admissions typically consider the overall academic profile, including GPA, test scores, and letters of recommendation, rather than focusing on a single grade. It is suggested that one poor grade is unlikely to significantly hinder admission prospects, especially given the candidate's strong performance in other courses.
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I am currently a senior at a no name liberal arts college studying math and physics. I am unsure about want I want to do in the future, but I am considering engineering for graduate school in the far future. Field yet to be determined.

Last year I took an advance physics lab course and absolutely bombed the class because I bit off more than I could chew in terms of all the classes I was taking. I ended up with a C for a final grade :(*

I don't really want to take the class again because I really didn't like it. Next semester is the last chance I have to retake it in hopes of getting a better grade. My question is, is it worth retaking? Will engineering graduate schools really care that *I bombed one class if I did well in all my other classes? Will I still have a good shot at getting into the top 75 engineering grad programs with this one C?*I'd prefer not to take the class again, especially final semester of senior year, because it's a lot of work.*

Just to give you some background, I've gotten A's and A-'s in all of my other physics classes. Similar with math (except 1B and 1 B-). My GPA is 3.72.
 
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One bad grade will not keep you from getting into a good graduate program.

It's a pattern of bad grades that's a problem.
 
Eng grad school and bad grades

I'm an undergrad senior who is a *physics major. I plan on going into engineering for graduate school.

Last year I took an advance physics lab course and got a C because I was overworked.

I don't really want to take the class again because I really didn't like it. My question is, should i retake the class? Especially since it's a lab course and engineering is all about applications? Will engineering graduate schools really care that *I got a C if I did well in all my other classes? Will I still have a good shot at getting into the top 30 grad schools?*

Just to give you some background, I've gotten A's and A-'s in all of my other physics classes. Similar with math (except 1B and 1 B-). My GPA is 3.72.
 
Graduate admissions generally looks at the over-all candidate; this includes your transcript(s), test scores (GRE, etc), and letters of recommendation. How you did in one isolated course is not likely to make a difference.
 
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