Is taking online coursework to boost GPA ok?

[amapples]

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I was playing around with numbers and checking out my class schedule for the next year. I've taken all my pre-reqs and many upper division biology courses already at my institution. I am also taking many upper division courses this next year.

Unfortunately I just realized my GPA is not as high as I'd like it to be. I would only come out with a 3.58 cGPA/3.38 sGPA.

Taking 2 science courses online (something like Medical Micro, Anatomy, or Pathophys) from UNE would help bring me up to a 3.6 cGPA/3.4-43 sGPA. A small positive difference but probably has the potential to be quite impactful.

Would this be looked down upon? Since it is online… and I am doing it for the GPA boost (at interviews I would say that I took it because I was interested in it. Which is true as well…).

@Goro @Catalystik

 

[Catalystik]

I was playing around with numbers and checking out my class schedule for the next year. I've taken all my pre-reqs and many upper division biology courses already at my institution. I am also taking many upper division courses this next year.

Unfortunately I just realized my GPA is not as high as I'd like it to be. I would only come out with a 3.58 cGPA/3.38 sGPA.

Taking 2 science courses online (something like Medical Micro, Anatomy, or Pathophys) from UNE would help bring me up to a 3.6 cGPA/3.4-43 sGPA. A small positive difference but probably has the potential to be quite impactful.

Would this be looked down upon? Since it is online… and I am doing it for the GPA boost (at interviews I would say that I took it because I was interested in it. Which is true as well…).

@Goro @Catalystik

As a generalization for AMCAS schools, I'd say that two on-line science courses (ideally, not in the same term) amid a sea of difficult upper-division Biology classes with excellent grades across the board would be unlikely to sink a typical applicant. However, in your case, in light of your mediocre grades in the earlier college years, if you are loading your schedule with less rigorous, low course prefix-type classes (a possibility you've entertained in other posts), I fear that this strategy to raise your GPA will rebound against you, as adcomms are highly likely to micro-analyze your transcript to see what's what with the less-than-average-for-acceptees BCPM GPA. There is still a lot of bias out there against distance learning and a perception, accurate or not, that it's easier to earn As in these classes, which won't act in your favor.

 

[claduva94]

Adcoms will see right through this.

 

[corvettefan]

I also have a similar question to the OP. Although my situation might be somewhat different... I've done okay in all of my science classes (3.54 sGPA / 3.66 cGPA) up to Biochemistry 2. Since I only need two classes to graduate and I have a full scholarship, I figured I might as well take classes I enjoy to fill up the other 24 credit hours for this year.

The problem is, I no longer live nearby my college, thus I would need to take most of my classes online besides Biochemistry lab. Would taking easier classes online seem like I'm just boosting my GPA / "taking it easy"?

 

[GrapesofRath]

Are these classes listed as online classes on your transcript? If not, I don't see how an ADCOM would look at pathophysiology and instantly think "fluff" class used to pad GPA.

However, if they are listed on your transcript as online classes I would avoid doing this. Someone with a 3.9 who takes 2 online classes probably isn't going to have much attention raised to them. Someone with a middling GPA is much more likely to have this be looked upon unfavorably.

 

[Holmwood]

I have one online upper division biology course that was indistinguishable from the other classes in my transcript.

So long as it's not listed as an online class in your transcript, you're not going to have issues. It would be quite obvious if they got a transcript from a primarily online institution such as UOP or UMUC though.

 

[amapples]

As a generalization for AMCAS schools, I'd say that two on-line science courses (ideally, not in the same term) amid a sea of difficult upper-division Biology classes with excellent grades across the board would be unlikely to sink a typical applicant. However, in your case, in light of your mediocre grades in the earlier college years, if you are loading your schedule with less rigorous, low course prefix-type classes (a possibility you've entertained in other posts), I fear that this strategy to raise your GPA will rebound against you, as adcomms are highly likely to micro-analyze your transcript to see what's what with the less-than-average-for-acceptees BCPM GPA. There is still a lot of bias out there against distance learning and a perception, accurate or not, that it's easier to earn As in these classes, which won't act in your favor.

Thank you, I think it would only seem to hurt to take those online classes (I was planning on doing both my spring semester senior year).

These were my JR year grades-
(first semester)
Bio 2xx - Neuroanatomy - A-
Bio 2xx - Micro - B+
Bio 2xx - Botany - A
Physics 1 - A
Humanities class - A
Poli sci - A

(second semester)
History - A
Art - A
Bio 3xx - Biochem - B+
Bio 3xx - Embryology - C
Physics 2 - A-
Bio 2xx - B+

Jr year cum/BCPM - 3.68/3.43ish
(it took a hit with second semester since I took on more ECs)

my first two years were abysmal -
Freshman GPA/BCPM: 2.8ish/2.3
Sophomore GPA/BCPM: 3.3/3.1

I am currently taking summer classes and this is what my schedule looks like for the SENIOR year-

summer 2015-

Bio 2xx - A
Bio 3xx - Immunology - A
Elective 1xx - A
Elective 2xx - A
Elective 1xx- No grade yet
Elective 1xx- No grade yet
English 2xx - No grade yet
(these are my grades so far and I'm taking 3 more classes for summer session 2)

Fall 2015-
Bio 2xx - Histo -
Bio 3xx - Bioinformatics -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem
PHY 1xxx - Astronomy type course - (possible fluff)
Foreign Language -
Elective 3xx -

Spring 2016-
Bio 3xx - Molec and Cell Bio -
Bio 3xx - Ecology -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem -
Chem 4xx - Independent study - (possible fluff)
Elective 2xx -

This is roughly my schedule for my senior year. So as you can see I am loading on my schedule with upper levels hoping to do my very best on them.

Do you think I should just stick to this and not add on the 2 online courses and be happy with obtaining a 3.58 cGPA/3.38 sGPA at best? And of course doing well not the MCAT (standardized test taking is my jam so I'm excited for that).

Of course I wouldn't want to take additional online courses if they will simply hurt me instead of help me. Sorry for the long post and thank you for your time.

I guess one of the main reasons I really wanted to take on those two courses is to meet the 3.4 sGPA cutoff which seems to be the 10th percentile for a lot of schools. Additionally if you have any suggestions about courses I should omit or replace, please let me know!

 

[amapples]

Are these classes listed as online classes on your transcript? If not, I don't see how an ADCOM would look at pathophysiology and instantly think "fluff" class used to pad GPA.

However, if they are listed on your transcript as online classes I would avoid doing this. Someone with a 3.9 who takes 2 online classes probably isn't going to have much attention raised to them. Someone with a middling GPA is much more likely to have this be looked upon unfavorably.

Yeah I would be doing the online courses through UNE ideally. But I guess if it's a bad idea and would only look bad...

 

[samac]

If asked why you took those courses at another university how would you answer?
I ask this because I did I
a summer program at a different college where I got credit, so I submitted it. Every one of my interviewers asked me why I had a random class from a different school.

 

[amapples]

If asked why you took those courses at another university how would you answer?
I ask this because I did I
a summer program at a different college where I got credit, so I submitted it. Every one of my interviewers asked me why I had a random class from a different school.

"My own institution didn't offer it and I was interested in the subject and learning more about it."

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you, I think it would only seem to hurt to take those online classes (I was planning on doing both my spring semester senior year).

These were my JR year grades-
(first semester)
Bio 2xx - Neuroanatomy - A-
Bio 2xx - Micro - B+
Bio 2xx - Botany - A
Physics 1 - A
Humanities class - A
Poli sci - A

(second semester)
History - A
Art - A
Bio 3xx - Biochem - B+
Bio 3xx - Embryology - C
Physics 2 - A-
Bio 2xx - B+

Jr year cum/BCPM - 3.68/3.43ish
(it took a hit with second semester since I took on more ECs)

my first two years were abysmal -
Freshman GPA/BCPM: 2.8ish/2.3
Sophomore GPA/BCPM: 3.3/3.1

I am currently taking summer classes and this is what my schedule looks like for the SENIOR year-

summer 2015-

Bio 2xx - A
Bio 3xx - Immunology - A
Elective 1xx - A
Elective 2xx - A
Elective 1xx- No grade yet
Elective 1xx- No grade yet
English 2xx - No grade yet
(these are my grades so far and I'm taking 3 more classes for summer session 2)

Fall 2015-
Bio 2xx - Histo -
Bio 3xx - Bioinformatics -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem
PHY 1xxx - Astronomy type course - (possible fluff)
Foreign Language -
Elective 3xx -

Spring 2016-
Bio 3xx - Molec and Cell Bio -
Bio 3xx - Ecology -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem -
Chem 3xx - Upper level Chem -
Chem 4xx - Independent study - (possible fluff)
Elective 2xx -

This is roughly my schedule for my senior year. So as you can see I am loading on my schedule with upper levels hoping to do my very best on them.

Do you think I should just stick to this and not add on the 2 online courses and be happy with obtaining a 3.58 cGPA/3.38 sGPA at best? And of course doing well not the MCAT (standardized test taking is my jam so I'm excited for that).

Of course I wouldn't want to take additional online courses if they will simply hurt me instead of help me. Sorry for the long post and thank you for your time.

I guess one of the main reasons I really wanted to take on those two courses is to meet the 3.4 sGPA cutoff which seems to be the 10th percentile for a lot of schools. Additionally if you have any suggestions about courses I should omit or replace, please let me know!

Here are my thoughts. You probably won't like them.

You took on a heavy load with coursework and ECs the last term of your junior year and ended with a C in Embryology. Rather than course-correcting and backing off, you plan to take even heavier loads your senior year and "hope to do your best in them". I don't see this ending well. You are in too much of a hurry. You dug a deep GPA hole over your first two years of college and you are thinking you can fix it in a short time. Since a high GPA in your classes is essential to resuscitate your GPA if you plan to aim for MD schools primarily, consider dropping some of your planned courseload and adding an extra term or two to your college experience, while you further develop your ECs. More overall undergrad college credits, taken over a longer time, with a surer chance of earning As, are far more likely to get your GPA where it needs to be in order to become competitive. Why not figure out what your GPA could be with an extra year of college credits calculated into it.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Here are my thoughts. You probably won't like them.

You took on a heavy load with coursework and ECs the last term of your junior year and ended with a C in Embryology. Rather than course-correcting and backing off, you plan to take even heavier loads your senior year and "hope to do your best in them". I don't see this ending well. You are in too much of a hurry. You dug a deep GPA hole over your first two years of college and you are thinking you can fix it in a short time. Since a high GPA in your classes is essential to resuscitate your GPA if you plan to aim for MD schools primarily, consider dropping some of your planned courseload and adding an extra term or two to your college experience, while you further develop your ECs. More overall undergrad college credits, taken over a longer time, with a surer chance of earning As, are far more likely to get your GPA where it needs to be in order to become competitive. Why not figure out what your GPA could be with an extra year of college credits calculated into it.

This is largely accurate. You have to realize how damaging a C is your final two years when you are really trying to prove yourself as a changed student. A C your final year even if overall you end up with a solid GPA for that year is going to cause problems. It's possible it can call into question all these electives you are taking to some extent and getting A's in. Were these just easy A's you sought out and don't prove that much and that the real you still reflected to some extent in the first two years when you did poorly in pre-reqs? This is a question that could come up to some ADCOMs and while this might sound a little extreme, it speaks to the idea that A's are what matter, not when you take them.

Also you should realize upper level chem classes are FAR different than upper level bio classes. Different skill sets for different types of people. If you did poorly in chem classes your first two years stop and really think why you'll do better this time around. Alot of these upper level chem classes aren't just reading books and memorizing info(albeit lots of it) like a number of upper level Bio classes such as anatomy could be categorized as. As a chem minor from the few upper level chem classes I've been a part of I've seen if you aren't cut out for the math needed for these classes it'll be a rough ride.

There's a common theme you'll hear amongst ADCOMs on this site and that I've heard amongst others that it takes 3-4 semesters of strong work to really convince someone you've changed as a student and can handle medical school. The momentum you built from that first semester is gone to a decent extent from a mediocre showing this past semester. So in some ways you are back at square zero. So on top of it not being sensible to try to cram everything into this year it's also true that doing well over a longer period of time is going to be more beneficial to you to really prove you have changed.

There's no rush in this process, nor should there be. You kind of lost the chance to take the "traditional" route to some extent the way you performed your first two years. Strongly consider staying an extra semester or two(no one is going to care it took you five years to graduate as many speculate is a red flag---it isn't). Have perspective. It could easily be the difference between you being competitive for med schools and having to look at Plan B.

 

[amapples]

Here are my thoughts. You probably won't like them.

You took on a heavy load with coursework and ECs the last term of your junior year and ended with a C in Embryology. Rather than course-correcting and backing off, you plan to take even heavier loads your senior year and "hope to do your best in them". I don't see this ending well. You are in too much of a hurry. You dug a deep GPA hole over your first two years of college and you are thinking you can fix it in a short time. Since a high GPA in your classes is essential to resuscitate your GPA if you plan to aim for MD schools primarily, consider dropping some of your planned courseload and adding an extra term or two to your college experience, while you further develop your ECs. More overall undergrad college credits, taken over a longer time, with a surer chance of earning As, are far more likely to get your GPA where it needs to be in order to become competitive. Why not figure out what your GPA could be with an extra year of college credits calculated into it.

Thank you for the honest advice @Catalystik

A year or two extra would do wonders for my GPA (3.65/3.5s) but my scholarship only allows me to stay for 4 years so I really do have to finish up within this next year.

I'll consider your advice but I think I'm simply going to try my best to maintain a 4.0 or as close to it as possible and apply next summer. If things don't work out, I'll consider doing an SMP while I'm applying or the following year.