If graduating with poor GPA, why not just take random courses in CC?

[FredAstaire]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I always hear people saying how you should do a SMP, post-bac...etc etc to repair a poor undergrad GPA.


BUT, why not just register as a non-degree seeking student at a CC/3rd-tier state university and take a whole bunch of easy science courses and bring your GPA up that way?

1) It would be much cheaper
2) Much more flexible - take any science courses you want
3) Much less stressful - as you are only taking courses you are comfortable with as well as on your own preferable schedule.

 

[FutureDr8429033]

I always hear people saying how you should do a SMP, post-bac...etc etc to repair a poor undergrad GPA.


BUT, why not just register as a non-degree seeking student at a CC/3rd-tier state university and take a whole bunch of easy science courses and bring your GPA up that way?

1) It would be much cheaper
2) Much more flexible - take any science courses you want
3) Much less stressful - as you are only taking courses you are comfortable with.

Ummm, just guessing but maybe b/c adcoms are not mentally ******ed and will see through that **** in about 4 seconds? 😕

 

[flatearth22]

A lot of Med schools look down CC courses if they even accept them at all.

If you get a 2.9 at a 4-year institution and then take a bunch of CC courses and do well it still doesn't prove you can handle the material.

I never got the point of SMP's though....post-bac's count for your overall UG GPA which is far more important than your grad GPA.

 

[FredAstaire]

OK lets say I graduated from Cornell with a 3.1 GPA

Instead of going to SMP like everyone here suggests, I register as a non-degree seeking student at University of Nebraska at Omaha and take a full course load of 2nd and 3rd year science courses that I am comfortable with.

Isn't this the most logical option to repair a poor GPA?

 

[flatearth22]

OK lets say I graduated from Cornell with a 3.1 GPA

Instead of going to SMP like everyone here suggests, I register as a non-degree seeking student at University of Nebraska at Omaha and take a full course load of 2nd and 3rd year science courses that I am comfortable with.

Isn't this the most logical option to repair a poor GPA?

It's never logical to willingly live in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

[Whatyousay]

OK lets say I graduated from Cornell with a 3.1 GPA

Instead of going to SMP like everyone here suggests, I register as a non-degree seeking student at University of Nebraska at Omaha and take a full course load of 2nd and 3rd year science courses that I am comfortable with.

Isn't this the most logical option to repair a poor GPA?

So basically pursue a post-bacc without the post-bacc designation?

I don't understand the point of this thread.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

If you finished your degree at a 4-year school, wouldn't that mean you have taken most of the science courses that are usually available from a cc? I guess besides ones that are a step down from ones you have taken, but then I think going "backwards" is also generally not a good thing.

 

[Eric01]

Let's say you graduate with a 3.2 from a 4 year degree.

You would have to another 4 years and get a 4.0 to bring that 3.2 to a 3.6.

1 year would not be a dramatic change even if you got a 4.0.

 

[theWUbear]

Let's say you graduate with a 3.2 from a 4 year degree.

You would have to another 4 years and get a 4.0 to bring that 3.2 to a 3.6.

1 year would not be a dramatic change even if you got a 4.0.

Eric01 beat me to it. I'm someone who has lived out this scenario. Three semesters, two summers, and one winter of post-bacc classes (GPA:3.95) has brought me from 2.55 to 2.96. I'll be at 3.0 soon but I'm leaving it at that. The 4.0 I have from taking classes at an SMP at the same time is what will sparkle.

 

[Windbreaker]

Simple: Because adcoms know that CC's are not as challenging as 4 year universities and therefore show nothing about your academic aptitude. Why not do a SMP or Post-Bac or ACP (Tulane is one of the very few that uses this designation, its essentially a SMP), and prove there you are qualified.

 

[1AO KTG]

Why would a pre-med ask such a dumb question?

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Why would a pre-med ask such a dumb question?

Are you new to sdn?

 

[FutureDr8429033]

OK lets say I graduated from Cornell with a 3.1 GPA

Instead of going to SMP like everyone here suggests, I register as a non-degree seeking student at University of Nebraska at Omaha and take a full course load of 2nd and 3rd year science courses that I am comfortable with.

Isn't this the most logical option to repair a poor GPA?

^^^This is different than
This:

why not just register as a non-degree seeking student at a CC/3rd-tier state university and take a whole bunch of easy science courses and bring your GPA up that way?

But as someone already mentioned, good luck raising that 3.1.

SMPs are a way to prove your academic chops. They're not a ploy to fool admissions committees. You haven't stumbled upon some brilliant scheme. Disappointing, I know.

 

[blizzah]

If you do well at an SMP, particularly if they are medical school level classes, they show that you are academically strong enough to hang in med.

Taking CC courses does not do that.

 

[Iso4ane]

There is also the problem with averages.

After going through a four year college and coming out with say a 3.0. You would need exactly the same number of credits at 4.0 just to achieve a 3.5.

And if you are only counting science classes, for most science majors, since there course load is mostly science classes, their sGPA is nearly identical to their cGPA and is effected by the number of units already taken.

 

[physicsnerd42]

I always hear people saying how you should do a SMP, post-bac...etc etc to repair a poor undergrad GPA.


BUT, why not just register as a non-degree seeking student at a CC/3rd-tier state university and take a whole bunch of easy science courses and bring your GPA up that way?

You shouldn't do this because adcoms aren't stupid.

OK lets say I graduated from Cornell with a 3.1 GPA

Instead of going to SMP like everyone here suggests, I register as a non-degree seeking student at University of Nebraska at Omaha and take a full course load of 2nd and 3rd year science courses that I am comfortable with.

Isn't this the most logical option to repair a poor GPA?

I vote for this being fine and probably much more cost-effective than doing an SMP (if you're from Omaha).

 

[nyny87]

Eric01 beat me to it. I'm someone who has lived out this scenario. Three semesters, two summers, and one winter of post-bacc classes (GPA:3.95) has brought me from 2.55 to 2.96. I'll be at 3.0 soon but I'm leaving it at that. The 4.0 I have from taking classes at an SMP at the same time is what will sparkle.

Just read your MDApps. Just curious, I realize that you've probably thought of this before; but if you have two bachelors degrees at two different institutions, and the first a 2.55 and the second a 3.95, what's stopping you from just not listing the first one on your application? You're sending them the transcripts, it's not like they have access to a database. I mean, besides the 4 year gap in your education history.

 

[NickNaylor]

Just read your MDApps. Just curious, I realize that you've probably thought of this before; but if you have two bachelors degrees at two different institutions, and the first a 2.55 and the second a 3.95, what's stopping you from just not listing the first one on your application? You're sending them the transcripts, it's not like they have access to a database. I mean, besides the 4 year gap in your education history.

Not sending in transcripts because of a bad GPA?

#winning

 

[kami333]

Just read your MDApps. Just curious, I realize that you've probably thought of this before; but if you have two bachelors degrees at two different institutions, and the first a 2.55 and the second a 3.95, what's stopping you from just not listing the first one on your application? You're sending them the transcripts, it's not like they have access to a database. I mean, besides the 4 year gap in your education history.

They do have a database.

National Student Clearinghouse

 

[Supisak]

Just read your MDApps. Just curious, I realize that you've probably thought of this before; but if you have two bachelors degrees at two different institutions, and the first a 2.55 and the second a 3.95, what's stopping you from just not listing the first one on your application? You're sending them the transcripts, it's not like they have access to a database. I mean, besides the 4 year gap in your education history.

Well, for starters that would represent deception and omissions from your application and when they find out you did it you will NEVER get into any school. A lie of omission is still a lie
So…..It’s lying and its just not acceptable (great way to start off your medical career)

 

[nyny87]

Not sending in transcripts because of a bad GPA?

#winning

Morally questionable for sure. But that guy has just as many, if not more, 4.0 credits than any of you. He just screwed up a little first. I get that it's omitting a crucial piece of information, and is definitely a bit deceitful. However, he had all of the academic success that you had, plus more classes on top. 3.0 just doesn't seem fair.

 

[eugenierose]

how do you people still not know about the clearing house?

 

[235788]

People do SMPs because of linkages. Thus, it is easier to get into the host medical school. Not everyone is buried with debt following undergrad and can handle 20k in loans.

 

[raltima07]

Morally questionable for sure. But that guy has just as many, if not more, 4.0 credits than any of you. He just screwed up a little first. I get that it's omitting a crucial piece of information, and is definitely a bit deceitful. However, he had all of the academic success that you had, plus more classes on top. 3.0 just doesn't seem fair.

He will get caught quickly - there is a service that tells where the student has gone to school. Get caught = death.

 

[MedAdComMD]

Now, if OP went to undegrad in Canada and then did a 2nd degree back home, then he could get away - as the national student clearing house does not check Canadian schools.