My advisor just scared me off...

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

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Hey everyone,

I graduated from university a few years ago, but decided that I wanted to go to medical school instead. I was going to go back and just complete my pre requisites, but decided on getting a second bachelors because it would only take one year longer with transfer credits and help my GPA.

I just met with my advisor and he kind of knocked down my plan.. I have Bio and Physics semester 1..... Bio II, Physics II and Anatomy my second semester... Chem I and II over the summer.. Anatomy II and OChem Semester 3 etc etc... Each semester is no more than 16 hours with electives and major required classes.

He made it seem like I wouldn't be able to handle this course load.. Isn't the point to be able to handle a rigorous load now, so that you don't fall apart when you get to medical school? Is 12 hours of sciences really a death sentence?? It didn't even cross my mind..

 

[7331poas]

Hey everyone,

I graduated from university a few years ago, but decided that I wanted to go to medical school instead. I was going to go back and just complete my pre requisites, but decided on getting a second bachelors because it would only take one year longer with transfer credits and help my GPA.

I just met with my advisor and he kind of knocked down my plan.. I have Bio and Physics semester 1..... Bio II, Physics II and Anatomy my second semester... Chem I and II over the summer.. Anatomy II and OChem Semester 3 etc etc... Each semester is no more than 16 hours with electives and major required classes.

He made it seem like I wouldn't be able to handle this course load.. Isn't the point to be able to handle a rigorous load now, so that you don't fall apart when you get to medical school? Is 12 hours of sciences really a death sentence?? It didn't even cross my mind..

12 hours of science isn't a lot. He may be saying it's more because you have been out of school a while and may not be able to adjust.

 

[medic86]

Eh.

Advisors always recommend the conservative option. Hell, when I was in undergrad, my faculty advisor balked at the courseload of some of my semesters. It's doable - and has been done.

 

[osckey]

It's doable although that summer of chemistry followed by ochem looks like it's going to be rough.

 

[mimelim]

Hey everyone,

I graduated from university a few years ago, but decided that I wanted to go to medical school instead. I was going to go back and just complete my pre requisites, but decided on getting a second bachelors because it would only take one year longer with transfer credits and help my GPA.

I just met with my advisor and he kind of knocked down my plan.. I have Bio and Physics semester 1..... Bio II, Physics II and Anatomy my second semester... Chem I and II over the summer.. Anatomy II and OChem Semester 3 etc etc... Each semester is no more than 16 hours with electives and major required classes.

He made it seem like I wouldn't be able to handle this course load.. Isn't the point to be able to handle a rigorous load now, so that you don't fall apart when you get to medical school? Is 12 hours of sciences really a death sentence?? It didn't even cross my mind..

Many students do 12 credits of science in a semester. Some do it every semester for the duration of their undergrad. That having been said, realize that just because people do it, doesn't mean that you should. If the objective is medical school, your GPA matters. Is it the end all be all? No. But, a bad semester or two can be disastrous. Only you know your study capabilities while juggling everything else that you want to do and your other commitments. But, I would expect your average pre-med with reasonable study habits to be able to handle that schedule.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Summer classes can be challenging, particularly if they're at an accelerated pace. But other than that, this schedule doesn't seem bad to me at all. Just be smart about your study habits and be willing to make changes to this schedule, if you find that your grades are suffering. It's not worth it to rush and hurt your GPA. But if you can get A's with this schedule, then go for it.

 

[eteshoe]

I don't get it - are you no longer pursuing med school due to his words? Be disciplined and your plan is doable

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

It's doable although that summer of chemistry followed by ochem looks like it's going to be rough.

Why is that?? Just a lot of Chemistry??

Many students do 12 credits of science in a semester. Some do it every semester for the duration of their undergrad. That having been said, realize that just because people do it, doesn't mean that you should. If the objective is medical school, your GPA matters. Is it the end all be all? No. But, a bad semester or two can be disastrous. Only you know your study capabilities while juggling everything else that you want to do and your other commitments. But, I would expect your average pre-med with reasonable study habits to be able to handle that schedule.

The reason for wanting to complete this in three years as opposed to four, is that I don't want to be applying to medical school when I'm 30, and starting when I'm 31. I want the extra credits to boost my GPA, but I don't want to do it if it's going to take four years.

I don't get it - are you no longer pursuing med school due to his words? Be disciplined and your plan is doable

No... never said that....

 

[osckey]

Why is that?? Just a lot of Chemistry??

Yes. 6 weeks Chem 1 then 6 weeks Chem 2 followed by orgo 1 and orgo 2. You're going to hate chemistry for a while after that.

 

[eteshoe]

Why is that?? Just a lot of Chemistry??



The reason for wanting to complete this in three years as opposed to four, is that I don't want to be applying to medical school when I'm 30, and starting when I'm 31. I want the extra credits to boost my GPA, but I don't want to do it if it's going to take four years.



No... never said that....

1. Gen chem and ochem require a slightly different approach to succeed in both and you'd be feeling a bit burned out after the summer sequence. It's doable but ochem can be tough and will require real discipline to excel in it.

2. Ask yourself - what's the difference between 3 and 4 yrs in the grand scheme of things? You will be a non-trad regardless - might as well not over do it and fall short of your goal

3. Good

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

Is your goal to get into medical school or to get into medical school quickly?

As someone who has worked extensively with older nontrads I have a few thoughts.

1) a second bachelors will not be particularly helpful or impressive to an adcom. The transferred credits will only count in the original UG GPA. Your second bachelors will be all counted in single postbacc GPA (anything after 1st degree is postbacc). You may want to consider simply doing the required postbacc amount of courses.

Thank you for the response... I'm confused... as I was informed, and have read in various places, these will ALL count towards my cGPA on AMCAS...Is this not the case? Getting a second degree with 108 credit hours does not combine with my 123 credit hours I've already received?

 

[Dr. Death]

I've taken 17 science credits in a semester 3 times. You are more mature than the average college student. I'm sure you have the discipline to succeed.

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

All grades will count but how the adcoms will see them is below. Your original UG will be broken up by year but anything after that will be a single line. Yes, there will be a cumulative GPA (CUG) but it wont show year by year for your second bachelors. Your really do not need the second degree, It does almost nothing to add to your competitiveness



View attachment 201779

I see... So I have a 3.3 cGPA currently, and my science GPA doesn't exist... If I get the second bachelors and do well, it would bring my cGPA up to a 3.5/3.6 (all classes combined). But what you're saying is this doesn't matter?? And I'm better off just doing my pre requisites and leaving my cGPA as is??

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

No, your misunderstanding. Your original UG degree will be shown chopped up year by year and science/non-science as in chart above. It wont be seen as a cGPA here. Your PB will be lumped into a single line. Then both will be added in total cGPA (science and nonscience.) Your PB will lift your GPA.

Okay makes sense... Do you feel like it is not worth it to complete a second degree then, even if it could raise my GPA?

 

[tantacles]

Okay makes sense... Do you feel like it is not worth it to complete a second degree then, even if it could raise my GPA?

It depends. How much more money will it cost you to do a full degree than to do a post-bacc? The post-bacc will also raise your GPA.

 

[Law2Doc]

Okay makes sense... Do you feel like it is not worth it to complete a second degree then, even if it could raise my GPA?

Don't do a second degree. Just take the prereqs. If you still need to raise your GPA take things you will do well in regardless of whether they lead to another degree. I'd probably lose the anatomy unless you are applying to a med school that requires it.

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

3 or 4 semesters of solid work may speak enough to your academic ability. As a nontrad, the overall cGPA as a single number should not be the most critical factor when looking at applying to medical school

Thank you for the response... What classes would you recommend I take while I am completing my prerequisites then? I was going for the second degree because I really like exercise physiology and it adds to my story of why I want to become a doctor. I thought it would be beneficial because if I did well it would help my not so competitive GPA.. I really am worried about having a low cGPA, and a second bachelors would only cost me about 18k. I have all of that saved up already...

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

Don't do a second degree. Just take the prereqs. If you still need to raise your GPA take things you will do well in regardless of whether they lead to another degree. I'd probably lose the anatomy unless you are applying to a med school that requires it.

Why would you lose anatomy? It was a requirement for the major I was interested in, which is why I'm taking it. I will need more than just pre requisites to raise my GPA to a competitive one. I have a 3.3 and with the second degree I would have a 3.6. What classes would you take? I would find it a waste of money to just take random classes that wouldn't lead to a degree.. I really like exercise physiology and it contributes to my story of why I can't to go to medical school, which is why I chose it.

 

[Law2Doc]

...I would find it a waste of money to just take random classes that wouldn't lead to a degree...

Again, med school doesn't give a crap about a second degree. All you need is the prereqs and a good GPA. If you are focused on getting this second undergrad degree your eye isn't really on the prize. Taking random prereqs classes is not wasteful, spending effort getting a second degree you don't need is. There are likely courses that are better suited to pad a science GPA, IMHO, if that's really what you need.

 

[hopefuldoctor93]

@gonnif it doesn't matter if you finish both degrees at the same time though right?

 

[frosted_flake]

Ditch the second bachelors degree, it will do nothing for you. Take the pre-requisites, focus on those and apply when ready. You aren't old or applying late by any stretch, but you also don't have time to be tootin' around getting a second (worthless) UG degree.

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

Again, med school doesn't give a crap about a second degree. All you need is the prereqs and a good GPA. If you are focused on getting this second undergrad degree your eye isn't really on the prize. Taking random prereqs classes is not wasteful, spending effort getting a second degree you don't need is. There are likely courses that are better suited to pad a science GPA, IMHO, if that's really what you need.

if both degrees are awarded at the same time it will not matter.

Ditch the second bachelors degree, it will do nothing for you. Take the pre-requisites, focus on those and apply when ready. You aren't old or applying late by any stretch, but you also don't have time to be tootin' around getting a second (worthless) UG degree.

I think the point is that I DO NOT have a good cGPA. I have a 3.3. Simply taking the pre requisites will not change my cGPA. It isn't enough credit hours to make a dent. The only reason I am getting a second bachelors is because it would provide enough credit hours to get me at least to a 3.5 and in the range of 3.6 if I do well. It is not at all about the degree. It's about the credit hours.. If it takes one extra year after pre requisites and can boost my grade that much, I thought it would be worth It. Again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the degree, but if I'm taking a bunch of GPA padding classes, I may as well get a degree out of it. I am afraid of applying to med school with a 3.3 cGPA and a 4.0 sGPA (in the best case scenario). I can't imagine how that's going to be good enough. I need at least 90 credits to even get my GPA in the upper 3.5 range, so I'm trying to understand from you all why it would not be beneficial to try and improve my cGPA. I need A LOT of credits to do it, since I am starting with 123 completed already. Just trying to understand the logic behind what you all are thinking.. I'm open to not getting a second degree, of course, but I need some way to fix my GPA..

 

[7331poas]

I think the point is that I DO NOT have a good cGPA. I have a 3.3. Simply taking the pre requisites will not change my cGPA. It isn't enough credit hours to make a dent. The only reason I am getting a second bachelors is because it would provide enough credit hours to get me at least to a 3.5 and in the range of 3.6 if I do well. It is not at all about the degree. It's about the credit hours.. If it takes one extra year after pre requisites and can boost my grade that much, I thought it would be worth It. Again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the degree, but if I'm taking a bunch of GPA padding classes, I may as well get a degree out of it. I am afraid of applying to med school with a 3.3 cGPA and a 4.0 sGPA (in the best case scenario). I can't imagine how that's going to be good enough. I need at least 90 credits to even get my GPA in the upper 3.5 range, so I'm trying to understand from you all why it would not be beneficial to try and improve my cGPA. I need A LOT of credits to do it, since I am starting with 123 completed already. Just trying to understand the logic behind what you all are thinking.. I'm open to not getting a second degree, of course, but I need some way to fix my GPA..

Schools will look at your most recent credits and take that into account. If you were to string together 30-45 credits of straight As or close to it, that will be much more efficient use of your time than doing a 2nd bachelors.

Do a good post bacc with great grades, and focus on killing the MCAT.

 

[medic86]

I think the point is that I DO NOT have a good cGPA. I have a 3.3. Simply taking the pre requisites will not change my cGPA. It isn't enough credit hours to make a dent. The only reason I am getting a second bachelors is because it would provide enough credit hours to get me at least to a 3.5 and in the range of 3.6 if I do well. It is not at all about the degree. It's about the credit hours.. If it takes one extra year after pre requisites and can boost my grade that much, I thought it would be worth It. Again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the degree, but if I'm taking a bunch of GPA padding classes, I may as well get a degree out of it. I am afraid of applying to med school with a 3.3 cGPA and a 4.0 sGPA (in the best case scenario). I can't imagine how that's going to be good enough. I need at least 90 credits to even get my GPA in the upper 3.5 range, so I'm trying to understand from you all why it would not be beneficial to try and improve my cGPA. I need A LOT of credits to do it, since I am starting with 123 completed already. Just trying to understand the logic behind what you all are thinking.. I'm open to not getting a second degree, of course, but I need some way to fix my GPA..

If you perform well in just taking your prerequisites (like you say, 3.3 cGPA, 4.0 sGPA), you only need to do well on the MCAT - you'll very likely make it in somewhere.

If you don't do so well, you do a 1 year SMP.

Of course, this isn't counting all the other stuff you should do - like clinical and non-clinical volunteering.

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

Actually that is a much more "efficient" strategy. A DIY postbacc/MCAT with possible SMP before reapp

First, thank you so much for your help.. I don't have anyone to help advise me through this, so I'm going in pretty blind..
So even though it essentially will cost me the same to do 40 credits as opposed to 108 credits (it sounds weird I know) ~20K, it is better to just go for completing the pre requisites and upper level course work.. Put bets that my upward trend cGPA would be good enough to get me in somewhere and then worry about dropping 70k on a SMP in the future if necessary? I don't want to worry about just getting in somewhere.. I want to be a solid candidate. I have strong extra curriculars, and will have solid shadowing experience/volunteer experience, as well as a pretty unique leadership position that I created.

Also, which upper level course work would you recommend? I really like anatomy and physiology. I actually love everything that has to do with physiology and training and exercise science... that's why I was really excited about the major. I am mostly excited about the classes it offered.

Thank you SO much again. This is all super helpful and really I can't thank everyone enough.

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

Exercise physiology may not be considered a "science" by AMCAS for purposes of BCPM GPA . It may be classified at Health Science
see https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181694/data/amcas_course_classification_guide.pdf

Yes, I was definitely aware of that. I don't need a boost to my sGPA. I need a boost to my cGPA. I'm starting with a 4.0 sGPA and a 3.3 cGPA. I just like exercise science.. I want to major in it because I really like it, and it fits with my interest in injury prevention research ( I was a collegiate and pre elite athlete that suffered numerous and career ending injuries. This added to my passion for wanting to be a doctor, along with a very serious illness). The sGPA would come from a year of Bio, a year of Chem, two semesters of Orgo, Biochem, Physiology, Anatomy, Genetics, and Biostatistics. Everything else is for helping my weak cGPA.

I'm really trying to understand both sides of this.. Not trying to be difficult.

 

[cyanide12345678]

16 credits is too much LOL LOL LOL...15-18 is usually the norm. I know a person who did 24 hrs each semester which included hard core 400 level engineering courses and yet she managed a 3.9 while working 20+ hrs a week and being president of Aiche -_- So no....16 isn't too much lol.

 

[caffeinemia]

What exactly is a credit? I went to a college without a credit system.

All comes down to a matter of discipline.

What's different a few years down the line when you're going to be busting ass studying for USMLE 8-10 hours a day?

 

[Medicalschoolmarathon]

What I think most posters are trying to say, raising your cGPA is not nearly as important. And your science courses will raise your cGPA as well.

Makes total sense.