Additional Courses. Please Help!

[Jaba]

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Hi everyone. I am feeling a bit down about this but need some input from you guys (hoping to not get shut down). I have decided to take an extra year to improve my GPA (additional courses in my case will boost it). My concern is that any extra courses taken after the completion of the degree are counted as 'Extra'. They will appear on the transcript and are for "personal interest". It is not to be used for credit towards the degree however. Since there are no averages or GPA calculations on my transcript (just courses and grades received) I was wondering what would happen if I took 'extra credits' ? would these count towards the GPA when AADSAS calculates them?..I had a rough 1st year and need to make up for it by taking courses.

Please help!! What options are there? Is there a positive solution to this dreaded question?

Thanks everyone.

 

[KOM]

Hi everyone. I am feeling a bit down about this but need some input from you guys (hoping to not get shut down). I have decided to take an extra year to improve my GPA (additional courses in my case will boost it). My concern is that any extra courses taken after the completion of the degree are counted as 'Extra'. They will appear on the transcript and are for "personal interest". It is not to be used for credit towards the degree however. Since there are no averages or GPA calculations on my transcript (just courses and grades received) I was wondering what would happen if I took 'extra credits' ? would these count towards the GPA when AADSAS calculates them?..I had a rough 1st year and need to make up for it by taking courses.

Please help!! What options are there? Is there a positive solution to this dreaded question?

Thanks everyone.

Hey there buddy-

I feel ya. Don't ya just wish sometimes you could go back in time and say, "you know just because I'm living on my own doesn't necessarily mean I should drink a case of beer every weekend." I'm in the same position...with a low science GPA. I talked with a dean of admissions and he told me a few different options that might apply to you as well. First of all, yes, I believe additional courses will be calculated into your AADSAS GPA calculation because you will list them along with all your other courses regardless of what your transcript says . However, the dean I talked to thought this was a possibility, but thought it would prove much more to any admissions committee if you were to get involved in a post-bacc program or a MS program and really do well there. This proves a lot more rather than taking a few other undergrad bio courses to cushion your GPA. In my opinion, I look at undergrad as a thing of the past...we're graduates now and we need to keep moving forward. The thing about post-bacc's and master's is that there's more risk involved....you do poorly...then that's it for you. You do well, you REAP THE BENEFITS. It's a very tough call. What's your undergrad science and cumulative GPA? If it's below 3.0...I'd say knock out a post-bacc program or MS degree because you've got a lot you need to prove. If not, and you're like me...then try not to freak out and make a decision. 👍

 

[IndDent]

Sup Jaba,
Actually, I had a question for you...since it wasn't clear from your post. Will you be taking additional courses at the undergraduate or graduate level? And will the courses be science related or just common curriculum? I do believe that AADSAS will include them in gpa calculation, but they will label it depending upong graduate or undergraduate gpa. At least that's what my understanding is.

It is a big decision to take an additional year to improve your stats, and I commend you for taking the initiative in realizing your weakness and attempting to strengthen it. What about 1-year masters programs? I have read somewhere in this forum that students who take masters programs at schools associated with dental schools...there is a high chance of getting accepted if you perform well. Look into it...but I do believe the deadline for applying to these programs is coming up fast.

Best wishes,
Indy

 

[IndDent]

well said KOM

 

[Jaba]

Hey there buddy-

I feel ya. Don't ya just wish sometimes you could go back in time and say, "you know just because I'm living on my own doesn't necessarily mean I should drink a case of beer every weekend." I'm in the same position...with a low science GPA. I talked with a dean of admissions and he told me a few different options that might apply to you as well. First of all, yes, I believe additional courses will be calculated into your AADSAS GPA calculation because you will list them along with all your other courses regardless of what your transcript says . However, the dean I talked to thought this was a possibility, but thought it would prove much more to any admissions committee if you were to get involved in a post-bacc program or a MS program and really do well there. This proves a lot more rather than taking a few other undergrad bio courses to cushion your GPA. In my opinion, I look at undergrad as a thing of the past...we're graduates now and we need to keep moving forward. The thing about post-bacc's and master's is that there's more risk involved....you do poorly...then that's it for you. You do well, you REAP THE BENEFITS. It's a very tough call. What's your undergrad science and cumulative GPA? If it's below 3.0...I'd say knock out a post-bacc program or MS degree because you've got a lot you need to prove. If not, and you're like me...then try not to freak out and make a decision. 👍

& quote :

Sup Jaba,
Actually, I had a question for you...since it wasn't clear from your post. Will you be taking additional courses at the undergraduate or graduate level? And will the courses be science related or just common curriculum? I do believe that AADSAS will include them in gpa calculation, but they will label it depending upong graduate or undergraduate gpa. At least that's what my understanding is.

It is a big decision to take an additional year to improve your stats, and I commend you for taking the initiative in realizing your weakness and attempting to strengthen it. What about 1-year masters programs? I have read somewhere in this forum that students who take masters programs at schools associated with dental schools...there is a high chance of getting accepted if you perform well. Look into it...but I do believe the deadline for applying to these programs is coming up fast.

Best wishes,
Indy


Thank you guys very much for the positive support🙂 It is true that I had a horrible first year because I was only 17 entering university and WAY to immature! I have learned a lot since then but that doesn't mean I should be exempt from my careless mistakes. I am not looking for easy courses by any means, if I were to take 'additional courses' it would be the regular upper year biology/chemistry courses just to show that I am NOW capable of getting the marks that I somehow just missed as a 1st year student. I am currently in my 3rd year and things are going much better; taking additional courses (if I have to) would just be there to improve my undergraduate GPA; I tend to stress time. I am from Canada, and I wish I knew what a 'post-bacc' program offered....not even the registrar I met with know about this. In addition, I have e-mailed several Universities about my inquiry and they have come to the same conclusions that you have just given me; yes the additional courses would be alright. I thank you both for your input; you will make great Doctors some day... I'll keep you guys posted, and best of luck!

Jaba

 

[KOM]

IndDent brought up a good point. Post-bacc options for certain schools really help guide students directly into their dental programs. You would be well advised to look into these and dig up some stats of some of the students matriculating from these programs.

 

[darius99]

Post-bacc options for certain schools really help guide students directly into their dental programs. You would be well advised to look into these and dig up some stats of some of the students matriculating from these programs.

do u know which programs are like this?