Informal post-bac: which classes to take?

[MilkmanAl]

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If I don't get in this cycle, I'll be applying to my local college, UMKC, to take some classes next fall. I double majored in physics and biology and minored in chemistry, so I'm loaded up on sciences, to say the least. Since I'm up to snuff on all the premed requirements and then some, what types of courses should I take? Should I take some more science classes? Maybe some business or econ classes or something? Ideally, I'd like to take some 1st-year med school courses, but I don't know if they'll allow that. Also, what kind of course load should I take on? 9 hours? 12? 15?

 

[Isoprop]

you should take upperdivision science classes. even though you took a lot, your need to raise your BCPM gpa and demonstrate that you can handle a full-load of science classes. take enough to get you to full-time status and do well.

what is your amcas overall/bcpm gpa by year? is there an upward trend?

 

[MilkmanAl]

A bit of an upward trend, I suppose. My sophomore year was a total disaster thanks to me overloading my schedule and a truckload of personal/family problems. I made Dean's List in both semesters my senior year and also pulled out a 3.4 last semester despite taking 4 400-level science courses. Unfortunately, I don't know my exact GPA's by year. If I had to guess for overall, I'd say something like 3.2, 2.6, 3.4, 3.6, and 3.4 in my 9th semester. I have no idea what the BCPM looks like, but it's probably fairly similar.

It turns out that 12 hours is the most a "visiting/community" student can take at UMKC, so that works perfectly. I'm pretty sure I can find 4 high-level courses that interest me. Thanks for the advice!

If I end up getting rejected by all the schools I applied to this cycle, should I wait a year for my grades to be posted, or should I go ahead and reapply this summer?

 

[Isoprop]

that's a tough question. how much has your application improved since last summer? your senior year grades + your 9th semester looks like it would bring your gpa up. crunch the numbers, if your bcpm gpa will be 3.0 or greater, than applying this summer wouldn't be a bad idea. if it's below 3.0, i'd sit next cycle out.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Well, it looks like I'll have a 3.04 BCPM GPA. Works for me! Other than that, I've held steady at my pharmacy tech job, and I'm volunteering at a local hospital. It's not leaps and bounds better (though I suppose breaking that 3.0 threshhold is huge), but I'm certainly not languishing.

 

[Gutierrez001]

I havent taken phy 2 and I was wondering if it would be ok to take it at a community college, since my local college doesnt after any classes at night. I work full time.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I miscalculated. I actually have a 2.93 BCPM GPA. Crap. Fortunately I can get over a 3.0 with 6 hours of A work. I'm thinking I might try to do that during the first summer session and apply again subsequently. Does anyone know if nursing courses count towards BCPM?

 

[Isoprop]

I miscalculated. I actually have a 2.93 BCPM GPA. Crap. Fortunately I can get over a 3.0 with 6 hours of A work. I'm thinking I might try to do that during the first summer session and apply again subsequently. Does anyone know if nursing courses count towards BCPM?

nursing does not count

 

[ilovescience]

http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2008amcasinstructionsrvs.pdf

Starting on pg. 44, there are course classifications to determine which courses are BCPM and which are not so you can accurately calculate your GPA.