Confused about applying to take classes at Rutgers to complete informal post-bac

[idkidk]

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Hi all

I graduated from a top 10 liberal arts school with a mediocre science GPA.

I wish to take informal post bacc classes to raise that GPA, and the closest University to take these courses would be Rutgers Newark.

The problem is that I do not know what kind of student I should apply there as. (Do I even qualify as a transfer because I currently have a degree?)

For 2nd degree, on their website, it states not to do this if I want to raise my GPA because I will have to take approx 30 credits worth of classes. (But can't I always drop out?)

For Non Matric, says it's not calculated into the GPA so that's useless.

They also have a formal post bacc program for 20ish credits for people who want to raise their science GPA, but the issue is I don't want to take the basic sciences again. I would rather take upper-level courses.

Essentially I want to complete post bacc courses informally (as opposed to enrolling in a formal post bacc program where I would have to redo all the basic sciences).


My question is whether to apply for admission as a transfer student or a second-degree student.

 

[cherryghost]

Hi all

I graduated from a top 10 liberal arts school with a mediocre science GPA.

I wish to take informal post bacc classes to raise that GPA, and the closest University to take these courses would be Rutgers Newark.

The problem is that I do not know what kind of student I should apply there as. (Do I even qualify as a transfer because I currently have a degree?)

For 2nd degree, on their website, it states not to do this if I want to raise my GPA because I will have to take approx 30 credits worth of classes. (But can't I always drop out?)

For Non Matric, says it's not calculated into the GPA so that's useless.

They also have a formal post bacc program for 20ish credits for people who want to raise their science GPA, but the issue is I don't want to take the basic sciences again. I would rather take upper-level courses.

Essentially I want to complete post bacc courses informally (as opposed to enrolling in a formal post bacc program where I would have to redo all the basic sciences).


My question is whether to apply for admission as a transfer student or a second-degree student.

These are good questions, and I hope that someone at Rutgers has a better perspective than I do.

http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/admissions/admissions/nonmatriculating-students

While non-matric classes/grades seem to be labeled a certain way on a transcript, I don't think Rutgers can say one way or another what does and does not get factored into a cumulative GPA unless one is pursuing a Rutgers degree. If the grades are letter grades on any official transcript at all, I'm sure they're cool for AMCAS GPA purposes, even if they're labeled with an "E-" to designate that you weren't pursuing an official Rutgers degree.

I think there may be some SMP options near Newark that might work for you, but I don't really know anything about that. Obviously make sure that if you do want to raise your GPA, that you're doing it in a way that makes sense from a tuition cost/GPA benefit perspective.

From what I understand, some postbacs (Hunter, for example) encourage students to enroll officially as second degree students for priority registration and financial aid purposes. You might want to call them at Newark and see what their postbac office recommends.

I'd be interested in what others at Rutgers schools have done. Thinking of taking my pre-reqs at NB.