Intro to Cognitive Science - BCPM??

[Delilah]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Your input would be much appreciated. I'm in the process of computing my BCPM, and would love to factor in this course: Intro to Cognitive Science. It's listed as a Psych 102. Can i include it in my BCPM? Does AAMC really investigate the course description? Would it backfire or would it slide? It would really MAKE or BREAK me in terms of tipping my BCPM to a 3.0.

Surveys the study of how the mind/brain works. Examines how intelligent information processing can arise from biological and artificial systems. Draws primarily from five disciplines that make major contributions to cognitive science: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science. The first part of the course introduces the roles played by these disciplines in cognitive science. The second part focuses on how each of these disciplines contributes to the study of five topics in cognitive science: language, vision, learning and memory, action, and artificial intelligence.

 

[UMP]

i took a similar class, and I would say no. But you can always try, they either will accept it or won't.

I also took Biopsychology and I didn't even list that as Biology...

 

[DrJen]

Cognitive is a basic psych course, so I'd unfortunately but definitely say no.

 

[Chonson]

Cognitive is a basic psych course, so I'd unfortunately but definitely say no.

BCPM = Biology, Chemistry, Physics&Psychology, and Math

Right...?

 

[Delilah]

Alrightie, alrightie, I was just tryna test the waters. Another question, does a 2.99 BCPM round up to the 3.0 cutoff? This, unfortunately, is not a hypothetical question. By the time I apply in summer '07, I anticipate my BCPM to be a 2.993...

 

[Chonson]

Alrightie, alrightie, I was just tryna test the waters. Another question, does a 2.99 BCPM round up to the 3.0 cutoff? This, unfortunately, is not a hypothetical question. By the time I apply in summer '07, I anticipate my BCPM to be a 2.993...

Sorry, I think you're stuck with the 2.99. They keep at least two digits after the decimal.

 

[Delilah]

Sorry, I think you're stuck with the 2.99. They keep at least two digits after the decimal.

I know, but would it not make the elusive "cutoff". Does it still bear the stigma of a sub-3.0, all other things equal.

 

[Chonson]

I know, but would it not make the elusive "cutoff". Does it still bear the stigma of a sub-3.0, all other things equal.

I don't think most schools use rigid cutoffs to completely toss out applicants. If someone looks at your application, the 2.99 is more or less the same as a 3.0. What is your overall GPA and how did you do on the MCAT?

 

[Delilah]

Cum GPA is a 3.46, haven't taken the MCAT yet. Strong upward trend, family tragedy explanation, Ivy league undergrad, and taking courses. I'm planning on taking Spring and Summer I session courses to boost to a 2.99 (assuming that I'll get A's). Taking an extra class to boost my BCPM to a 3.05 would require me to take (and ace) a second summer class which ends on Aug 10th. I was wondering whether I should risk delaying my AMCAS application for that end. Or is it still not late, if I complete everything else, which with a grade pending. Since I'm a borderline candidate, I'm not sure whether I should risk the delay or if it's worth the wait for a 3.05 instead of a 2.99. Advice much appreciated.

 

[Missterious1]

Are you sure you haven't forgotten about any other possible bcpm classes? Like maybe community college classes you may have taken while in high school (even if your school did not give you credit for it)? Or research-for-credit in the sciences? Or statistics (regardless of which department it was taken in?)

Personally, I think it's probably best to get your app in as early as possible and not wait until mid-August to submit, since you may not be verified until October. In the end, I'd rather apply earlier with a 2.99 and get myself to the front of the line rather than wait until August to submit with a GPA that is 0.06 higher. It also really depends on what you get on the MCAT too.

 

[DrJen]

BCPM = Biology, Chemistry, Physics&Psychology, and Math

Right...?

I wish! I was a psych major... My BCPM would be much nicer.

 

[tch001]

Your input would be much appreciated. I'm in the process of computing my BCPM, and would love to factor in this course: Intro to Cognitive Science. It's listed as a Psych 102. Can i include it in my BCPM? Does AAMC really investigate the course description? Would it backfire or would it slide? It would really MAKE or BREAK me in terms of tipping my BCPM to a 3.0.

Surveys the study of how the mind/brain works. Examines how intelligent information processing can arise from biological and artificial systems. Draws primarily from five disciplines that make major contributions to cognitive science: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science. The first part of the course introduces the roles played by these disciplines in cognitive science. The second part focuses on how each of these disciplines contributes to the study of five topics in cognitive science: language, vision, learning and memory, action, and artificial intelligence.

i took physiological psychology, which was basically cognitive neuroscience, listed it in BCPM and it was accepted. Give it a try! the worse they are going to do is correct it.

 

[DrJen]

i took physiological psychology, which was basically cognitive neuroscience, listed it in BCPM and it was accepted. Give it a try! the worse they are going to do is correct it.

Cognitive and physio psych are two very different courses....

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Cum GPA is a 3.46, haven't taken the MCAT yet. Strong upward trend, family tragedy explanation, Ivy league undergrad, and taking courses. I'm planning on taking Spring and Summer I session courses to boost to a 2.99 (assuming that I'll get A's). Taking an extra class to boost my BCPM to a 3.05 would require me to take (and ace) a second summer class which ends on Aug 10th. I was wondering whether I should risk delaying my AMCAS application for that end. Or is it still not late, if I complete everything else, which with a grade pending. Since I'm a borderline candidate, I'm not sure whether I should risk the delay or if it's worth the wait for a 3.05 instead of a 2.99. Advice much appreciated.

0.06 isn't going to make a difference. Applying uber early in the cycle will. I too had around a 3 BCPM. Apply early.

 

[tch001]

Cognitive and physio psych are two very different courses....

okay, well at my shcool they weren't. My text book was titled "Cognitive Neuroscience" but the course was called Physiological Psychology. My school's weird though.

 

[Quix]

I wish! I was a psych major... My BCPM would be much nicer.

Ditto.

 

[iheartcheerios]

i included cognitive psych as bcmp. and there were no issues.

 

[Delilah]

Not to beat a dead horse, but here's the info. Including this course in my BCPM will tilt my BCPM to a number I need.

It's listed on my transcript as COGS 101 - Introduction to Cognitive Science.

Here's the course description:

Surveys the study of how the mind/brain works. Examines how intelligent information processing can arise from biological and artificial systems. Draws primarily from five disciplines that make major contributions to cognitive science: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science. The first part of the course introduces the roles played by these disciplines in cognitive science. The second part focuses on how each of these disciplines contributes to the study of five topics in cognitive science: language, vision, learning and memory, action, and artificial intelligence.

Can I include it in BCPM, or will I risk a delay in AMCAS processing (applying summer '07).

 

[etf]

Not to beat a dead horse, but here's the info. Including this course in my BCPM will tilt my BCPM to a number I need.

It's listed on my transcript as COGS 101 - Introduction to Cognitive Science.

Here's the course description:

Surveys the study of how the mind/brain works. Examines how intelligent information processing can arise from biological and artificial systems. Draws primarily from five disciplines that make major contributions to cognitive science: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science. The first part of the course introduces the roles played by these disciplines in cognitive science. The second part focuses on how each of these disciplines contributes to the study of five topics in cognitive science: language, vision, learning and memory, action, and artificial intelligence.

Can I include it in BCPM, or will I risk a delay in AMCAS processing (applying summer '07).

for a while i was a cognitive science major, so i wish these classes would count, but alas, they don't.

 

[Falco2525]

B= biology
C= chemistry
P = physics
M= Math

if its not one of those categories it doesnt count

 

[TMP-SMX]

I listed one of my two introductory anthropology courses as BCPM and they didn't say otherwise. The course was Human and Cultural Evolution. I felt that more than half the class was associated with studying basic genetics, various mutations and their evolutionary significance, and anatomy of hominid remains in the context of evolution. Only you know what the class covered. They say if you felt that more than half the subject matter was a science or math, then you are entitled to have it count for your BCPM GPA.

Honestly though, in the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure that one 4.0 is really going to change your GPA a whole lot. The problem with making every class remotely like a science listed as a BCPM class is that it becomes obvious that you are being dishonest.

 

[IT2MD]

B= biology
C= chemistry
P = physics
M= Math

if its not one of those categories it doesnt count

I thought this was this case too? Can somebody please explain? Why do some people count classes that are not supposed to be in there?

 

[Delilah]

I listed one of my two introductory anthropology courses as BCPM and they didn't say otherwise. The course was Human and Cultural Evolution. I felt that more than half the class was associated with studying basic genetics, various mutations and their evolutionary significance, and anatomy of hominid remains in the context of evolution. Only you know what the class covered. They say if you felt that more than half the subject matter was a science or math, then you are entitled to have it count for your BCPM GPA.

Honestly though, in the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure that one 4.0 is really going to change your GPA a whole lot. The problem with making every class remotely like a science listed as a BCPM class is that it becomes obvious that you are being dishonest.

This one class would make a SIGNIFICANT difference (between a 2.9 and over a 3.0 BCPM). So it's not benign. All my other courses in BCPM are strictly science, this the only unobvious one.

 

[MinnyGophers]

B= biology
C= chemistry
P = physics
M= Math

if its not one of those categories it doesnt count

Exactly. Psychology classes ( even with fancy terms such as cognitive/physio sciences) are neither Math, Physics, Chemistry, nor Biology. Some schools might just not care enough to try to change one class, but it does look like you would be reaching.

 

[lunaire]

I don't know about your cognitive psych course, but mine had very little basic science content. I'd say you'll be wasting your time by listing it as BCPM.

 

[BigRedPremed]

Your input would be much appreciated. I'm in the process of computing my BCPM, and would love to factor in this course: Intro to Cognitive Science. It's listed as a Psych 102. Can i include it in my BCPM? Does AAMC really investigate the course description? Would it backfire or would it slide? It would really MAKE or BREAK me in terms of tipping my BCPM to a 3.0.

Surveys the study of how the mind/brain works. Examines how intelligent information processing can arise from biological and artificial systems. Draws primarily from five disciplines that make major contributions to cognitive science: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science. The first part of the course introduces the roles played by these disciplines in cognitive science. The second part focuses on how each of these disciplines contributes to the study of five topics in cognitive science: language, vision, learning and memory, action, and artificial intelligence.

Honestly, I don't see how this class is different from a typical psych course (which would not be considered BPCM).