DIY postbacc, What is the best route?

[kittymeg]

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Hello everyone. I will be doing a DIY postbacc with approximately 30 credits in total (2 semesters). I was going to apply for a 2nd bachelors but I was told that the deadline had passed. Now the only option I have is to apply as a nondegree-seeking student.

My question is: Should I apply as non-degree seeking (my school only allows 15 credits) and go for FALL 2018 and apply for 2nd bachelors for SPRING 2019 and do my other 15 credits worth of work there? or Should I simply wait until SPRING 2019 to do everything under a 2nd bachelors? (This option would shift the timeline a bit)

I am doing this postbacc to raise my GPA a bit, I was facing medical hardships throughout most of undergrad until my diagnosis came in this year. After brain surgery, I feel like I don't want to give up just yet.
I was planning on applying for the 2019-2020 cycle but I am not sure what to do.
I have done research on the pros and cons of non-degree seeking and 2nd bachelors.

Thank you all for your time. Your responses are greatly appreciated.

 

[Dr.Gains]

Hello everyone. I will be doing a DIY postbacc with approximately 30 credits in total (2 semesters). I was going to apply for a 2nd bachelors but I was told that the deadline had passed. Now the only option I have is to apply as a nondegree-seeking student.

My question is: Should I apply as non-degree seeking (my school only allows 15 credits) and go for FALL 2018 and apply for 2nd bachelors for SPRING 2019 and do my other 15 credits worth of work there? or Should I simply wait until SPRING 2019 to do everything under a 2nd bachelors? (This option would shift the timeline a bit)

I am doing this postbacc to raise my GPA a bit, I was facing medical hardships throughout most of undergrad until my diagnosis came in this year. After brain surgery, I feel like I don't want to give up just yet.
I was planning on applying for the 2019-2020 cycle but I am not sure what to do.
I have done research on the pros and cons of non-degree seeking and 2nd bachelors.

Thank you all for your time. Your responses are greatly appreciated.

What is your current stats? Total credits, cumulative and science GPA?

 

[kittymeg]

What is your current stats? Total credits, cumulative and science GPA?

Thank you for your response, right now I am at a 2.96 cGPA and 2.72 sGPA with a total of 133 credits

 

[Dr.Gains]

Thank you for your response, right now I am at a 2.96 cGPA and 2.72 sGPA with a total of 133 credits

Just doing some simple calculations. If you choose to do 1 year of DIY post-bacc at 30 credits and you ace it, you could potential raise your cumulative GPA to a 3.15. However, acing a second bachelors at 120 credits would only raise your GPA to a 3.45 (an extra three years worth only a .3 bump?) I think choosing choosing the 1 year DIY post-bacc route would put your GPA above a 3.0 (so you don't get screen out by some schools) paired with a competitive MCAT score, you should definitely get some Il from many DO schools and even some MD schools. I really don't think you would benefit from a second bachelors.

 

[kittymeg]

Just doing some simple calculations. If you choose to do 1 year of DIY post-bacc at 30 credits and you ace it, you could potential raise your cumulative GPA to a 3.15. However, acing a second bachelors at 120 credits would only raise your GPA to a 3.45 (an extra three years worth only a .3 bump?) I think choosing choosing the 1 year DIY post-bacc route would put your GPA above a 3.0 (so you don't get screen out by some schools) paired with a competitive MCAT score, you should definitely get some Il from many DO schools and even some MD schools. I really don't think you would benefit from a second bachelors.

Thank you for that. I have started studying for the MCAT and will be doing that DIY post-bacc as well. I was thinking about adding some SMP programs as a safety net in case I don't hear back from medical schools. That way I can continue to improve. Does this seem reasonable to you?

 

[Dr.Gains]

Thank you for that. I have started studying for the MCAT and will be doing that DIY post-bacc as well. I was thinking about adding some SMP programs as a safety net in case I don't hear back from medical schools. That way I can continue to improve. Does this seem reasonable to you?

Sounds like a solid game plan. Just be sure to research the SMPs you are interested in, always look for reputable SMPs that are attached to medical schools because they essentially function as a backdoor to get into the medical school. Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck!

 

[smukke]

I don't see the issue here. Just start off as non-degree seeking assuming you can afford it and can get into the classes that you want.

Just doing some simple calculations. If you choose to do 1 year of DIY post-bacc at 30 credits and you ace it, you could potential raise your cumulative GPA to a 3.15. However, acing a second bachelors at 120 credits would only raise your GPA to a 3.45 (an extra three years worth only a .3 bump?) I think choosing choosing the 1 year DIY post-bacc route would put your GPA above a 3.0 (so you don't get screen out by some schools) paired with a competitive MCAT score, you should definitely get some Il from many DO schools and even some MD schools. I really don't think you would benefit from a second bachelors.

Going for the 2nd bachelors is usually for loan eligibility and priority registration. There's no need to complete the degree, people usually just stop when they reach the number of credit hours they need.