Are online classes okay?

Started by jaxon
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jaxon

jaxon

Full Member
7+ Year Member
I can't really find this anywhere, but for those of us doing a post-bacc (I'll be working a full time job for a year or two after college while getting a little boost in the ug GPA), are online classed looked down upon? They won't be filling any prereqs, just trying to get my science GPA a little higher.
 
Same dude lol, I saw somewhere on the dental forums that Dent Schools only accept a few credits worth of online classes so I have no idea.
 
jaxon said:
Same dude lol, I saw somewhere on the dental forums that Dent Schools only accept a few credits worth of online classes so I have no idea.
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I'm not sure if there's a hard rule in terms of number of online classes. I don't think having a couple more than a few will hurt you either tho. I mean I took some because I was genuinely interested, and then others for some GPA cushion. This is my first semester getting crazy with it though. I'm taking 6 this semester lol but I'm also a chemistry major with good grades in much harder classes to prove that I can get A's in tougher classes.
 
MSAR for specific classes, as far as overall I would talk to each institution individually.
 
I had 1 English course taken online, and it disqualified me from several programs. Probably 20-30% of those I would have applied to. Didn't affect me from getting accepted, but narrowed the field.

Best advice is to do ALL pre-reqs butt in seat, no exceptions.
 
DocWinter said:
I had 1 English course taken online, and it disqualified me from several programs. Probably 20-30% of those I would have applied to. Didn't affect me from getting accepted, but narrowed the field.

Best advice is to do ALL pre-reqs butt in seat, no exceptions.
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Thanks! Fortunately, I got all my prereqs done already. I'm just talking about upper level electives that I'm taking at Harvard ES to increase my sGPA like histology, immunology and the like. Some courses sound really interesting, and I'd love to take them, but I'm asking if I'd be wasting time and money on specific courses med schools don't consider impressive because they're online.

From gmbz it seems like I have to invest in MSAR to get better info?

JustaDO said:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TAKING+ONLINE+CLASSES+MEDICAL+SCHOOL
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That's cute, but none of those posts answers my question. I've only found two other threads with something similar to my specific question and they have conflicting consensus. Thanks anyway.
 
jaxon said:
That's cute, but none of those posts answers my question. I've only found two other threads with something similar to my specific question and they have conflicting consensus. Thanks anyway.
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The first link solved all of your questions in one go. However, since it was not explicitly stated, and you couldn't figure out the answer to it, here's a context clue to consider:

If school X is willing to accept a online pre-req, then on the same note, why would school X then not accept / frown upon classes if pre-reqs are generally considered the core of the pre-medical education?
 
Not really a logical step I'm willing to take.
jaxon said:
don't consider impressive because they're online
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Not considering post-bacc coursework impressive, and accepting it are two different things as far as I'm aware.

Let me restate the question: is it better for me to spend my post-bacc time/money with ass-in-seat, or does it not make any difference at all? Med schools might accept both, but that doesn't preclude adcoms from having a preference, especially when I'm trying to prove I can handle medical school course-loads. The answers I am seeing from other threads are conflicting. I am getting both, "yea doesn't make a difference" and "you better have a good reason for not just taking the class in person." I am simply asking for some clarity.

But go ahead, keep doing you, brother.
 
@jaxon Honestly it is an all around essential tool. Yeah the 25 USD or whatever does not sit well..
 
@gmbz Yea I understand I'll have to pick it up eventually haha. It's just money I don't want to spend until I have to.
 
Your first question was would medical schools frown upon X class online. I answered that one.

Your second question was then would medical schools be impressed by a online class, and here's my answer : if you think that there is a possibility a school would ever find it impressive that you took a online class, or a in person class anything short of a Ph.D level course, then simply stated, lol.

Strong work nonetheless, keep it up, all the way everyday, army strong, whatever slogan works for you.
 
@JustaDO Alright, cool. So somewhere I was being a jerk and provoked this extremely passive aggressive response.

I apologize for being unclear, but here's my situation: I'm going to be working a 9-5 in a research lab, doing clinical volunteering and coaching chess on the side, on top of taking 2-3 science classes at Harvard ES. I had a rough start in college but so far I've had a good upward trend. If I finish strong including, say, 30 credits at HES, I should end up with a 3.70c and 3.80ish science.

To show I can handle medical school course loads, should I just stick to in person classes, or would taking one or maybe two of those classes online instead not be so bad? What is the attitude towards them? I understand most schools take them, but is the attitude completely neutral or not so much? I'm trying to figure out my weekly schedule for the next year or two along with my expenses, and if my goal with taking these classes won't be met by an online class I'd like to know (seriously, it's like $1400 per course).

Again, I apologize if I was being a jerk. I'm just a standard neurotic Dr. Hopeful trying to sort his life out right now.
 
I'm looking to take two semesters+(maybe) a summer's worth of classes. The way my college goes about course selection didn't give me much of an opportunity to make more than 1-2 sciences at a time (it's all based on lottery and pick times); also I was a music major my first two years, so I was given last pick on classes. Even this year as a senior, I was unfortunately only able to get into one science because I got the second to last pick time last spring. Basically if I do well this year, I'll end up with anywhere from a 3.57-3.62 in both GPAs with a pretty middling science course load throughout college. I want the GPA boost and a strong course load to at least put me in the peloton for mid-tier MDs. I'm from CA, so as far as I can tell, I don't have much of an in-state cushion to fall back on, and I just want to give myself the best chance possible. Do you think that's a fair assessment of my situation?
 
No worries at all.

Any class in person, or at least on the transcript from a accredited school is probably preferred over that of a online class. That being said, any class > no class, since it demonstrates you are working towards a goal, and improving your knowledge base in some manner, and any incrementation your GPA increases is better then not in such a competitive environment.

That being said, if you took General Biology for nursing online, that would be sketchy, as would something like philosophy 101 online.
 
@JustaDO Thanks man, it really eases the spirits to hear from actual med students on this stuff.
 
Some schools like Einstein have a question on the secondary, "have you ever taken a class online, please explain" should watch out for that
 
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