2nd Degree or Early App

[nabeel76]

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What would you do in this situation,

I am 3 credits shy of a second bachelors degree in Chemistry (first one is in Biology). I am also finishing a masters degree this year that will require full time attention this fall and coming spring semester, thereby leaving me no time to squeeze in the 3 credits for the 2nd BS during the year. I am going to be applying to med school in the summer (June 2011). I plan on finishing the second degree regardless, but would like to see what you guys would recommend in regards to timing. Here's the situation:

1. Finish the 2nd BS early in the Summer (1st Session) - this session ends around the 13th-17th of June - and then immediately send in AMCAS, wait for my transcripts to reach AMCAS, and hopefully be complete by (assuming 2 weeks for AMCAS to recieve transcripts) end of June. Then I might have to wait approx 4-5 weeks for AMCAS to verify everything and won't technically be able to apply to schools until late July - early August - but will have the 2nd degree.

2. Finish the 2nd BS in the summer as planned, but send in my AMCAS without completing it when AMCAS opens in early June. Be complete and verified by AMCAS by mid to late June and begin applying ASAP with a very early application but no 2nd degree at that time. Not sure if you can update AMCAS afterwards?

I know the 2nd degree is not necessary but since I am 3 credits shy of it I am going to complete it for my own personal reasons. Would the completion of a 2nd BS be more advantageous than a early app?

 

[wolverinepwns]

What would you do in this situation,

I am 3 credits shy of a second bachelors degree in Chemistry (first one is in Biology). I am also finishing a masters degree this year that will require full time attention this fall and coming spring semester, thereby leaving me no time to squeeze in the 3 credits for the 2nd BS during the year. I am going to be applying to med school in the summer (June 2011). I plan on finishing the second degree regardless, but would like to see what you guys would recommend in regards to timing. Here's the situation:

1. Finish the 2nd BS early in the Summer (1st Session) - this session ends around the 13th-17th of June - and then immediately send in AMCAS, wait for my transcripts to reach AMCAS, and hopefully be complete by (assuming 2 weeks for AMCAS to recieve transcripts) end of June. Then I might have to wait approx 4-5 weeks for AMCAS to verify everything and won't technically be able to apply to schools until late July - early August but will have the 2nd degree.

2. Finish the 2nd BS in the summer as planned, but send in my AMCAS without completing it when AMCAS opens in early June. Be complete and verified by AMCAS by mid to late June and begin applying ASAP with a very early application.

I know the 2nd degree is not necessary but since I am 3 credits shy of it I am going to complete it for my own personal reasons. Not sure if its completion could be viewed as a positive by med schools that might outweigh a very early app.

as you mentioned second degree isn't necessary, SO I would stress the importance of early submission, so apply early!!!! then after you've submitted all your apps, you have a whole year to take the last class and get your second B.S.

so in summary:

-Applying early >>>>>>>>> second B.S.
-you can always take the last class after you submit all you apps, after all you still have a whole year off.

 

[just one]

For application purposes, you will be treated like you have the second degree. Think about all the traditional applicants, most do not have their first degree before applying. It makes absolutely no sense to delay an application to finish one course. There is a spot for future coursework/degrees in amcas

 

[TTigers70]

I would definitely clarify with a deans office that you can get a "second" BS. It sounds to me that you would be double majoring and thus receive one diploma (and only one degree) in the two majors. On the other hand, if you had completed your BS requirements in bio and were pursuing a BA in Classics, etc; you could be in a position to graduate with two degrees and thus two diplomas.

People double major all the time. Bio and Chem may have a lot of overlap and not be too impressive to Adcoms. If you are already working on a MS, I wouldn't be too worried about improving the quality of my BS.

 

[Ischemic]

how would this second degree be of any use during the application process? Not gonna really change your app much.

 

[nabeel76]

For application purposes, you will be treated like you have the second degree. Think about all the traditional applicants, most do not have their first degree before applying. It makes absolutely no sense to delay an application to finish one course. There is a spot for future coursework/degrees in amcas

Yeah I was thinking about this too, it makes sense to apply early and just indicate that I will complete the second degree in the future coursework.

 

[nabeel76]

I would definitely clarify with a deans office that you can get a "second" BS. It sounds to me that you would be double majoring and thus receive one diploma (and only one degree) in the two majors. On the other hand, if you had completed your BS requirements in bio and were pursuing a BA in Classics, etc; you could be in a position to graduate with two degrees and thus two diplomas.

People double major all the time. Bio and Chem may have a lot of overlap and not be too impressive to Adcoms. If you are already working on a MS, I wouldn't be too worried about improving the quality of my BS.

The 2nd degree is not from the same university, I completed the first degree and then applied as a 2nd bachelor degree seeking student to the 2nd university over a year later.

Yeah I hear you - bio and chem majors do have some overlap, but i didn't do it to impress adcoms or anything like that, I genuinely have a strong interest in chemistry and when it comes to upper level courses such as inorganic chem, pchem, or analytical chemistry, there is quite a bit of difference between the two majors. I think your right though, as far as adcoms are concerned, especially since I am doing a masters, the 2nd BS probably won't matter much to anyone but me.