BCPM Questions

[RNtoMD87]

I have a few questions regarding GPA. I will start off with my background. My GPA isnt as high as I thought I had remembered.

I currently have 122 BCPM related Hours attempted. Some of these were taken 2006-2007 when I was fresh out of highschool and I made an F in algebra and a C in a 1 hour biology lab. Aside from this, I have straight As. The rest of the courses were taken 2012-2013.

I have 27 hours left of prerequisites. I have calculated that the highest GPA I can achieve assuming all A's would be a 3.328.

1. What is my best option at this time? Should I boost my GPA with whatever BCPM classes i am strongest at, or try to boost each subset B-C-P-M?

2. Will the adcoms care much that I have a 4.0 excluding 2 classes that I took over 10 years ago?

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[SpoiledMilk]

Boost your BCPM gpa with courses you believe you will excel at and get A's.

Rising grade trends are looked upon favorably.

Is that 3.328 your cumulative or science gpa?

 

[RNtoMD87]

That is my BCPM GPA. Assuming I make all A's in my remaining prereqs. My current BCPM is a 3.18

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Assuming that your cGPA is higher, crush your MCAT, and your ECs are solid, there are MD schools that reward reinvention @Goro

You are also fine for DOs.

 

[RNtoMD87]

Assuming that your cGPA is higher, crush your MCAT, and your ECs are solid, there are MD schools that reward reinvention @Goro

You are also fine for DOs.

Is cumulative every class I've ever taken or all classes that counted toward my degree?

 

[SpoiledMilk]

cGPA is all college-level courses you have ever taken.

 

[RNtoMD87]

cGPA is all college-level courses you have ever taken.

I'll calcuate when I get home in a few. My curriculum was nursing with a 7 point grading scale and largely was subjective, so I'm regretting that.

 

[RNtoMD87]

Okay, so my total cumulate GPA is 3.46. This is from 180 hours.
Broken down,
College was 3.571 from 84 hours
Nursing was 3.360 from 96 hours

Another question- my RN to BSN is completely online. This will make up quite a large portion of my nursing GPA. Will schools calculate this into GPA if they do not accept online classes for prerequisites?

 

[SpoiledMilk]

After you open an application with AMCAS, you will have to input college level courses from your transcripts. AMCAS will verify and calculate your cGPA and sGPA. Then it will send your verified application to the MD schools you chose.

Whether the school will accept your online classes is entirely dependent on the school. There are MD schools that will accept online course while others won't. Subscribe to MSAR to investigate the schools that do and target them.

I am not familiar with DOs and whether they accept online courses. @Goro @AnatomyGrey12 may be able to help.

 

[Goro]

After you open an application with AMCAS, you will have to input college level courses from your transcripts. AMCAS will verify and calculate your cGPA and sGPA. Then it will send your verified application to the MD schools you choose.

Whether the school will accept your online classes is entirely dependent on the school. There are MD schools that will accept online course while others won't. Subscribe to MSAR to investigate the schools that do and target them.

I am not familiar with DOs and whether they accept online courses. @Goro @AnatomyGrey12 may be able to help.

My school accepts online coursework as long as it's from an accredited university.

 

[RNtoMD87]

My school accepts online coursework as long as it's from an accredited university.

LSUHSC told me they don't accept any online prereq work, and said that they didn't really care about grades other than BCPM but I was also told at one point in time that you needed a bachelors degree, then was told later that you only need 90 hours. It seems like the people answering the phones don't know what theyre talking about because every time i call i get different answers. Its really frustrating.

 

[rdyotz]

I have a few questions regarding GPA. I will start off with my background. My GPA isnt as high as I thought I had remembered.

I currently have 122 BCPM related Hours attempted. Some of these were taken 2006-2007 when I was fresh out of highschool and I made an F in algebra and a C in a 1 hour biology lab. Aside from this, I have straight As. The rest of the courses were taken 2012-2013.

I have 27 hours left of prerequisites. I have calculated that the highest GPA I can achieve assuming all A's would be a 3.328.

1. What is my best option at this time? Should I boost my GPA with whatever BCPM classes i am strongest at, or try to boost each subset B-C-P-M?

2. Will the adcoms care much that I have a 4.0 excluding 2 classes that I took over 10 years ago?

I am having some trouble following you. It sounds like you have all A's with the exception of 1 F and 1 C, then somehow end up with a 3.328 after 128 credits? Or were there more, lower grades taken during the time frame of 2006-07, and the F and C were more recent? Perhaps a GPA breakdown per year would help me understand more.

LSUHSC told me they don't accept any online prereq work, and said that they didn't really care about grades other than BCPM but I was also told at one point in time that you needed a bachelors degree, then was told later that you only need 90 hours. It seems like the people answering the phones don't know what theyre talking about because every time i call i get different answers. Its really frustrating.

Answers you get depend on the question you asked. Assuming you are talking about LSUHSC med school: If you asked what do I need to apply, then you might hear 90 credits - which would allow people to apply the summer before their senior year. If you asked what I need to go to med school, then you might hear a bachelors degree. While you can apply with only 90 credits, you need a bachelor's to attend.

 

[RNtoMD87]

I am having some trouble following you. It sounds like you have all A's with the exception of 1 F and 1 C, then somehow end up with a 3.328 after 128 credits? Or were there more, lower grades taken during the time frame of 2006-07, and the F and C were more recent? Perhaps a GPA breakdown per year would help me understand more.



Answers you get depend on the question you asked. Assuming you are talking about LSUHSC med school: If you asked what do I need to apply, then you might hear 90 credits - which would allow people to apply the summer before their senior year. If you asked what I need to go to med school, then you might hear a bachelors degree. While you can apply with only 90 credits, you need a bachelor's to attend.

I have all A's except the C and F in my BCPM classes. I have some B's and possibly some C's in other non BCPM classes. Since I left the army in 2012, I have made straight A's in all of my classes, aside from my communications class, which is not a BCPM class, in which I made a B.

I have a 3.18 BCPM currently. This is from the All A's, with 1 F in Algebra and a C in Bio Lab.
I have 27 hours left of BCPM prereqs to enter school. IF all A's, my GPA will be a 3.328.

My BCPM Classes altogether are:

2006
Algebra 161 W 3 hour course
Algebra 161 F 3 hour course
Bio 151H A 3 hour course
2007
Bio 152L C 1 hour course
2012
Bio 153 A 3 hour course
Bio 154L A 1 hour course
2013
Algebra 161 A 3 hour course
Zoo 250 A 3 hour course
Zoo 252L A 1 hour course
Zoo 251 A 3 hour course
Chem 101 A 3 hour course
Medical Micro 223 A 3 hour course
Medical Micro 224L A 1 hour course
Stats 241 A 3 hour course


Edit: Okay I goofed somehow. I only have 28 hours of BCPM here. Maybe the 122 was quality points. 110QPE/124 QPA = 0.8871 * 4.0 GPA =3.55 GPA?

 

[rdyotz]

I have all A's except the C and F in my BCPM classes. I have some B's and possibly some C's in other non BCPM classes. Since I left the army in 2012, I have made straight A's in all of my classes, aside from my communications class, which is not a BCPM class, in which I made a B.

I have a 3.18 BCPM currently. This is from the All A's, with 1 F in Algebra and a C in Bio Lab.
I have 27 hours left of BCPM prereqs to enter school. IF all A's, my GPA will be a 3.328.

My BCPM Classes altogether are:

2006
Algebra 161 W 3 hour course
Algebra 161 F 3 hour course
Bio 151H A 3 hour course
2007
Bio 152L C 1 hour course
2012
Bio 153 A 3 hour course
Bio 154L A 1 hour course
2013
Algebra 161 A 3 hour course
Zoo 250 A 3 hour course
Zoo 252L A 1 hour course
Zoo 251 A 3 hour course
Chem 101 A 3 hour course
Medical Micro 223 A 3 hour course
Medical Micro 224L A 1 hour course
Stats 241 A 3 hour course


Edit: Okay I goofed somehow. I only have 28 hours of BCPM here. Maybe the 122 was quality points. 110QPE/124 QPA = 0.8871 * 4.0 GPA =3.55 GPA?

Thank you for your service. Were the online courses during the time you were in the Army? It appears that some schools make exceptions to online courses for those serving (just from what I have heard, no sources to actually back it up though).

The quality points makes sense and it is also better news, as it puts you at a 3.55 BCPM, and assuming you keep getting A's for your remaining 27 pre-req hours, you can end with a 3.76 BCPM. If you haven't done so already, then I would recommend putting all your classes into the AMCAS GPA calculator (excel workbook) to get a better idea of all GPAs and trends. Many schools will place an emphasis on your more recent coursework, especially with an upward trend, so that should work in your favor.

 

[RNtoMD87]

Thank you for your service. Were the online courses during the time you were in the Army? It appears that some schools make exceptions to online courses for those serving (just from what I have heard, no sources to actually back it up though).

The quality points makes sense and it is also better news, as it puts you at a 3.55 BCPM, and assuming you keep getting A's for your remaining 27 pre-req hours, you can end with a 3.76 BCPM. If you haven't done so already, then I would recommend putting all your classes into the AMCAS GPA calculator (excel workbook) to get a better idea of all GPAs and trends. Many schools will place an emphasis on your more recent coursework, especially with an upward trend, so that should work in your favor.

I did not complete them while I was in the Army. I am currently doing the online courses because as far as I'm aware, RN to BSN does not exist in an offline component, or if it does, it's quite rare.

And you asked about ECs, I am currently working at the coroners office as an intern, performing autopsies while monitored by the pathologist and autopsy technicians. There are very limited tasks I am not to do, such as opening the cranium on head GSWs. (Incase it goes to court). I am allowed to do pretty much anything else.

I also intend to soon volunteer at the YMCA that I have been a member of for 3 years where I will teach health promotion classes and perform BP checks for the elderly.

In addition to this I plan to shadow a physician for 50-120 hours.

I have also uploaded my resume for your review

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

Brother! Do you have residency in Louisiana?! Your state school takes the last 32 credits... You’re in a golden state!

 

[RNtoMD87]

Brother! Do you have residency in Louisiana?! Your state school takes the last 32 credits... You’re in a golden state!

I sure do man.

I am very weak in physics and chemistry. Does anyone have any good resources for getting a jump on these classes before I start? I have about a year and some change before I can attend school so I have lots of study time.

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

I sure do man.

I am very weak in physics and chemistry. Does anyone have any good resources for getting a jump on these classes before I start? I have about a year and some change before I can attend school so I have lots of study time.

I’m a huge fan of AK lectures... For O-chem I think “Organic Chemistry as a Second Language” is a MUST!

 

[RNtoMD87]

I’m a huge fan of AK lectures... For O-chem I think “Organic Chemistry as a Second Language” is a MUST!

Is the last 32 creds for sGPA or cGPA

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

Is the last 32 creds for sGPA or cGPA

It looks like “science” gpa... I’d imagine with you being a resident of LA they would give you a true holistic review. In my opinion policies reflect the environment of an institution, so I’d consider this great news for ya. Isn’t LSU on of the schools that ONLY does in-state applicants?

Requirements - Admissions - LSUHSC School of Medicine

 

[RNtoMD87]

I just wonder what they consider "Post baccalaureate". If that means 32 hours on top of the prereqs. That would be a very long time for me. Just the 27 hours of prereqs is going to take me around 2 years.

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

I just wonder what they consider "Post baccalaureate". If that means 32 hours on top of the prereqs. That would be a very long time for me. Just the 27 hours of prereqs is going to take me around 2 years.

The 32 hours is anything after your transcript for your bachelors is “closed”... So if that includes your prerequisites then your pre-reqs count towards it. If you do the pre-reqs while working on your bachelors they will NOT be considered a post-bac. The second scenario is the one I’m finding myself in and it sucks. I’m finishing up my senior year and the classes I have taken are all cross-listed graduate courses (33 credits of 500 level). Now if I want to do a post-bac I only have around 9 credits that can be done at my school that would be considered “rigorous”. I thought I was doing myself a favor by showing I can do upper level sciences but in reality I shot myself in the foot. Take time to think about this and figure out what’s best for you. It might be advantageous for you to wait and “close” your transcript before doing your pre-reqs!

 

[RNtoMD87]

The 32 hours is anything after your transcript for your bachelors is “closed”... So if that includes your prerequisites then your pre-reqs count towards it. If you do the pre-reqs while working on your bachelors they will NOT be considered a post-bac. The second scenario is the one I’m finding myself in and it sucks. I’m finishing up my senior year and the classes I have taken are all cross-listed graduate courses (33 credits of 500 level). Now if I want to do a post-bac I only have around 9 credits that can be done at my school that would be considered “rigorous”. I thought I was doing myself a favor by showing I can do upper level sciences but in reality I shot myself in the foot. Take time to think about this and figure out what’s best for you. It might be advantageous for you to wait and “close” your transcript before doing your pre-reqs!

Ah okay. Yeah Ill have my Bachelors of Nursing Science this December, so that works out well. Working full time, going to school full time, and interning leaves no time for extra courses anyhow.

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

Ah okay. Yeah Ill have my Bachelors of Nursing Science this December, so that works out well. Working full time, going to school full time, and interning leaves no time for extra courses anyhow.

Good luck brother! Keep this thread up to date on your journey and your decisions. I bet many people in the future will be traveling the same path and you can help them navigate the BSN to MD journey!