Fixsens Bio class without Chem first

[ockhamsRzr]

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To any and all Harvard post-baccers (curiousTom or scooter):

I'm thinking about taking Dr. Fixsen's bio class without having taken the program's chem course. Am I crazy or is this totally doable.

Good luck to all of you in the program, thanks in advance,

Ock

 

[scooter31]

Whats your background, academically?

What else will you be taking this semester?


Normally, most would say no (I never took it, this is just what I observed through my time in the program), as GChem is a nice way to prep for Bio in many ways, and Bio is very tough to stay on top of. Yet, if you are from a bio background and/or have a light load otherwise for work/school, you could do it. Good luck! 👍

 

[ockhamsRzr]

It would be my only class this sem. Basically, even though I only have 100 credits from Umass (10 years ago) Owen Peterson told me he wold accept me in to the program assuming that sponsorship was contingent upon the HCP credits transfering to Umass to complete my Bachelors--however I do not yet know if this will fly with Umass. But, like many non-trads, I also have wife, two babies, etc, etc. So, I was thinking about starting HCP a la carte (1 class at first) to make sure I get the grades.

On the other hand, I'm considering applying to HES' ALB program (bachelor of liberal arts, concentration in natural sciences). HES would take 64 of my Umass credits and then assumng I take the same med school pre-reqs as the HCP program, I would need to only take 8 more classes at HES (which could be upper level bio, etc, etc).

Right now I'm REALLY torn. DO I simply go back to Umass and fininsh ALL my pre-reqs there and apply to med schools with a BAs in English and PoliSci (what I have right now, both majors, and core completed) or do I follow my original plan and use the HES post-bacc program credits tranfered to Umass to complete my Umass degree in that way (along with the distinction of completing the HCP program) OR do I completely transfer to HES and pursue the ALB degree.

I JUST DO NOT KNOW how med schools would look at each of these scenarios. Obviously that's the end game...med school! So any insight from ANYONE is helpful.

 

[sidewalkman]

If your GPA is good, I'm recommending your UMass major (pick one) and the Harvard HCP only b/c you'll stand out even more on an app. Of course, if you despise those subjects now, then forget I mentioned this, and get your HES degree.

If you can finish ONE UMass major (you want to be a doc; no one will care about 2 majors in the long run) via HES, do so. You need to find that out ASAP. If you can't, can you finish your major at a local UMass school (Boston, Lowell)? If yes, pick ONE major and finish it. If you can't, and you can swing it with your family, ask if you can finish your major at the main campus over the summer. Only when you have exhausted all of these options should you then consider an HES degree.

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Hey Sidewalk,

All my credits were done at Umass Boston where I matriculated in the Honors program 10-12 years ago. All of my class work for both majors and my distribution is completed, I just have some incompletes to finish (expecting to be complete by end of fall04) and about 15 credits to finish in order to graduate with a 3.6+ gpa. My problem of course is that I never took a single science course, hence my HES post-bacc interest.

I guess I figured that if the science prereqs at HES total 32 credits, and I could apply 15 of them to my Umass grad requirement, that I'd be able to focus my work at one school (Harvard) and move forward. But I've started to think about other options, hence my first post, like maybe I'd be better off just sticking at Umass.

With the exception of the distinction of the Harvard post-bacc (not sure how to quantify this), I'm thinking that by taking ALL my pre-reqs at Umass Boston, that I'd be able to both graduate (with the two majors I've already completed) while meeting all of my pre-reqs. My choices for med school are essentilaly regional and based on mitigating family issues (wife's career, dad thing, house), my schools of choice are (more or less in order): UNECOM, UMass, Brown, PCOM, Tufts.

There is the additional benefit of being able to secure more financial aid (a consideration) as a matriculating 4th year student at UMass as opposed to the limits placed on "5th year undergrad" as would be the case if I did HES.

So, I may have answered my own question (but thanks to Scoot and you for helping me in the process). The larger question I still have is the overall perception of my degree to Med schools from Umass versus that of HES. Is there something "fundamentally better" about doing my prereqs post-bacc at HES versus as part of my bacc course at Umass?

I'm leaning towards re-matriculating at UMB (my ole' school 🙂 ) and hit the ground running...it just seems like the the purest economy of time, money, and effort! Hopefully adcoms will agree 😕

Thanks!

Ock

 

[scooter31]

Best of luck to you, it looks like you have a platefull even without classes. So reading more about htings, yeah, I think UMB is the best route. Get one of your majors out of the way, maybe tack on a bio or chem class as an elective if you can, and go full steam at UMB with the postbacc stuff. I know a couple of people who went the UMB route and were happy with their decision. If it gets to the pint of applying and you need that extra boost for adcoms to give you a longer, harder look, maybe think about the HES a la carte, and take upper division courses (genetic, immuno, etc). Right now, it may not be the best thing to buck the system youre in.... whats important is to graduate, so whatever is going to get you there fastest is the way to go for the short term.

 

[sidewalkman]

I agree with Scooter31, no reason to rock the boat. And with financial aid as a added factor, UMass would be a better fit for your situation.

As far as prestige or whatever goes, I wouldn't worry about it. You were successful at UMB then, and certainly will be now, and that's the dominant admissions factor. Like I said earlier, your odds of acceptance may even go up with the UMB degree because fewer people in the applicant pool will have an English/Politics degree, regardless of the school.

And you can always sign up for HES classes should the mood strike you and/or you want that extra GPA boost.

I wish you nothing but the best of luck! 👍

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Hey thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. Good luck to both of you!

Ock