Classes to up GPA

[Tango123]

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I'm not sure if i'm going to get into OT school so I'm currently in the process of making a "back up plan" I have a job lined up for next year teaching in sped (what my degree is in), Observation hours lined up but I want to take a class this summer to up my GPA. Any advice on an easy online class? I have all my pre-rec's done so its just now about getting my GPA up! Thanks!!!!

 

[CurlyHairedGirl]

An "easy" class would really depend on you. Is there an interest you would be passionate in learning more about? If you've never taken a formal class in something but you already know a lot about it, you would have an advantage. Are there areas that are naturally easy to you?

Did you take a lot of foreign languages in high school, but didn't in college? You could take an intro class in that language online or at a community college.

 

[lizzo76]

I think it looks kind of weird to randomly take some irrelevant class (rather than OT prereq)... I don't think it would help much. First, one class is going to do little to up your GPA. Second, OT schools do not follow a standard method for calculating GPA... the new grade is not necessarily going to get averaged into your undergraduate GPA (unless you haven't graduated yet and you're taking it at your undergraduate institution.) Also, some random online class will probably look like you're taking it just to try to raise your GPA.

I think it would be more useful to take a difficult science course to show that you can get an A in something like that, although even then, it probably won't be factored into your uGPA.

 

[Jeckika]

I don't think it is completely irrelevant to take classes that aren't OT prereqs. Think about taking a class that would help better your understanding of working with people or improving your knowledge on holistic wellness, such as stress management or cultural psychology. Also some schools may look at your overall GPA, factoring in your most recent classes. OTCAS does that.

 

[lizzo76]

I would just check before taking time, money, and effort to do that. Not a single school I'm looking at would factor those classes into your overall undergraduate GPA, and I wouldn't stray too far. I'm not saying only take things that fall into the required courses for OT programs, but taking some random, unrelated easy online course probably won't look good. I don't mean to sound obnoxious, but your own words - that you're looking for an easy online class to up your GPA - really should turn off any OT school. They're not going to hear you say those words, but they can tell certain things from your transcript. The other thing is that one class added to, say, 32 courses from undergrad, will make virtually no difference in your overall GPA, even if the class IS factored in.

 

[Jyess]

Hi Tango,

Some schools list some recommended pre requisites, maybe you should try and take those. Also, most of the schools I applied to here in California don't just look at your undergraduate GPA, but the last 90 units or your cumulative GPA (including the classes after your undergraduate). When I applied on OTCAS, it combined all my grades from each institution to calculate my GPA. Good luck!