Advice on my DIY post bacc

[Big Tall Doctor]

Sorry I posted this in a different forum,but didn't know how to move it. I've decided to invest in myself and pursue classes at Sacramento State. However, because I will not be going for a degree, I will only be able to crash classes utilizing Open University. I was pretty sketched out at first, but after talking to the continuing education conselors and seeing other posts about this path, I feel alot better. Although when I went to talk to admissions, about being admitted for spring semester, the councilor was quite judgemental and kept telling me I was wrong about my post-bacc credits ,through open university, counting for anything towards my undergrad cGPA for AMCAS. Undeterred I was able to crash 2 classes for summer, with the professors being super awesome and actually let me know of availability in their fall classes, and will continue to crash for fall and spring semester.
So currently the plan is:
summer:
Human Reproduction, Parisitology (6 units total)

Fall: choosing 3 classes or 12 units (open university limit)
Mammology (maybe), Entomology (summer prof teaches this and confirms space), Pathogenic Bacteriology, Development Biology (vertebrates so I assume different class, will talk to professor next week)

Spring: 3 classes or 12 units
Virology, Immunology, Histology, maybe Biochem, or Clinical hematology

about me: 2.83 cgpa, 2.9 sgpa. I am currently working as a scribe at hospital, as well as shadowing an Trama surgeon (with possibility to shadow other specialties), volunteering in the mornings at Homeless center.
I did the math and if I take 30 units and maintain a gpa of 3.8 or better my cgpa will be above a 3.0. Will be applying for SMP's this next cycle as a backup for year 2, but plan is to apply MD/DO next cycle. I'm pretty confident about this path, and will seize this opportunity to better myself. But please let me know if anything stands out as odd or if my classes seem off. If you have any comments about open university/ other DIY post bacc experiences I would really appreciate the feedback!

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[rdyotz]

You can 'go' for a degree without finishing it. For my postbac, I signed up for a degree just so I could get into every class I needed as well as access to financial aid. I was treated as a senior and therefore had earlier access to register for classes.

If you have not taken biochem, then you definitely need to take that before the MCAT - it helps so much.

 

[jamaica jan sun princess]

I attended a 4 year University and community college as a degree seeking student during my post-bacc. It allowed me to get federal financial aid.

 

[Big Tall Doctor]

Very interesting @rdyotz and @procrastitator , I will definitely try to explore that for fall and spring quarter. I also already took the MCAT, (june 23 release date). How do my courses look? I am trying to take classes I haven't taken before as most of my science classes were a B average.

 

[Dr.Gains]

Very interesting @rdyotz and @procrastitator , I will definitely try to explore that for fall and spring quarter. I also already took the MCAT, (june 23 release date). How do my courses look? I am trying to take classes I haven't taken before as most of my science classes were a B average.

Goro recommends you take courses that mimic the medical school curriculum, based on that I think you're set. Just don't overload yourself (3 or 4 classes should be plenty) because you need to ace these classes to show adcoms growth as a student. Your overall plan is solid as well, looks like you did your research. Keep volunteering, shadowing, and scribing. Come next cycle, you'll be in an excellent position.

 

[PsychPop]

Wow I am literally in the same situation as you are! My current cGPA is 2.85 my science is nothing since I haven't taken one yet but I too plan to go straight for the science pre reqs for medical school. I am finishing up a bachelor's in psychology right now then I plan to embark on my post-bacc adventure for at least three semesters with summer terms as well. With 10-12 classes around 30 credits with a 3.8 or higher I should be in good shape. I am shadowing a family practice physician and I am starting volunteering in the ED at my local hospital. That's so cool that you are shadowing for a trauma surgeon that sounds very interesting! With these preparations and getting a strong score on the MCAT we should be in good shape!
Cheers!

 

[hyperactivehippo]

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[Big Tall Doctor]

Just a little update/Advice request on courses.
I was able to enroll in Mammology and Entomology, but having a bit of trouble getting a 3rd 4 unit. Currently trying for the Development bio class, but I was wondering how the following Psych courses would look. Psych courses: Cognitive Neuroscience; Abnormal Behavior (both 3 unit). I was wondering how taking the cognitive neuroscience would play out considering I already completed an overview type course of Neuroscience; and whether the Abnormal behavior class would be BCPM/ ok for my post bacc. @Goro

 

[Dr.Gains]

Just a little update/Advice request on courses.
I was able to enroll in Mammology and Entomology, but having a bit of trouble getting a 3rd 4 unit. Currently trying for the Development bio class, but I was wondering how the following Psych courses would look. Psych courses: Cognitive Neuroscience; Abnormal Behavior (both 3 unit). I was wondering how taking the cognitive neuroscience would play out considering I already completed an overview type course of Neuroscience; and whether the Abnormal behavior class would be BCPM/ ok for my post bacc. @Goro

The cognitive neuroscience is considered a BCPM courses per the AAMC, but the abnormal behavior course is most likely a non-BCPM (Psych) course. If you are looking to raise your science GPA I would enroll in the neuroscience course.

 

[Big Tall Doctor]

Thank you for the reply, I ended up getting into the Molecular Ecology lab (DNA biotech lab). So I will be in 12 units this semester taking: Entomology, Mammalogy, and molecular ecology. With a total of 9 hours of lab.