My Situation: suggestions please

[Xcited392]

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I'm currently a non-science major junior at BU and given the nature of my program, I can only take about one science course per semester. So in my 4 years here, I will only have finished my basic pre-reqs. My BCPM gpa is around 2.5 (Overall gpa is 3.2). Obviously, I'm not looking to apply to med school in anytime soon.

Should I stay a 5th year and only take advanced science classes (in addition to some summer courses this upcoming summer and the summer before the 5th year) to bring my science gpa up? Or just graduate on time (2009) and enter an extension/non-degree program at a school (for ex: BU). If I choose to do the latter, I know I can do the "informal post-bacc" work anywhere, but is it advantageous to stay at my current school (which does offer an SMP) or go somewhere else and apply to an SMP? I'm sure just because I'm at BU doesn't mean I have a better chance to get into the SMP, but because I'm at BU, they'll be familiar with the UG school. Honestly, I'm getting sick of BU's grade deflation; however, I'm not using it as an excuse.

Some factors:

course selection--fifth year or extension, the classes shouldn't be different; however, at BU's extension program (evening classes), there is an option where I can take classes at the Graduate Medical Sciences dep't (medical virology, immunology, anat/phys--these classes go toward the undergrad certificate in biotech, but I'm not doing that particular program) although some of there are UG courses on those topics available if I choose to stay a fifth year

moving--is it really worth it to move to, say, NYC? And enroll in a non-degree program at Columbia? I mean, I am hoping to apply to BU MAMS, so it could be inconvenient to move away and comeback to Boston, if I get in.

recommendation letter--I have known a particular professor for all these years (4 semester of different courses, and 2 sem of independent study). I told her about my situation and she has offered to keep me in the independent study program (which is only availabe to degree students) This could mean a really good LOR in the future, since she obviously cares about me, so should I not risk this?

 

[Isoprop]

i always recommend post-bacc instead of postponing graduation unless

(a) financial aid is going to be a problem, or
(b) the post-bacc program makes it difficult to register for classes (sometimes extension or non-degree students have last pick and classes fill up fast)
(c) some other extenuating circustance.

the reason why post-bacc is helpful is because the amcas does a year-by-year analysis of your gpa. if you stay an extra year, all those grades will count in your "senior" year gpa. but if you graduate and take classes, those grades count towarsd your "post-bacc" gpa. if you do well, it'll show a better trend.

where you do your post-bacc does not matter so much. as long as you take BCPM classes AND DO WELL. the classes you mentioned available at BU sound like good courses but make sure you can handle them. don't just jump into 4 intense science classes all at once. doing well is more important than how many classes you take.

as far as the professor/recommendation letter issue, if you decide to change schools, you can always ask her for an LOR before you leave. just have her send it to interfolio, and then send it to med schools once you apply.

 

[Xcited392]

i always recommend post-bacc instead of postponing graduation unless

(a) financial aid is going to be a problem, or
(b) the post-bacc program makes it difficult to register for classes (sometimes extension or non-degree students have last pick and classes fill up fast)
(c) some other extenuating circustance.

the reason why post-bacc is helpful is because the amcas does a year-by-year analysis of your gpa. if you stay an extra year, all those grades will count in your "senior" year gpa. but if you graduate and take classes, those grades count towarsd your "post-bacc" gpa. if you do well, it'll show a better trend.

where you do your post-bacc does not matter so much. as long as you take BCPM classes AND DO WELL. the classes you mentioned available at BU sound like good courses but make sure you can handle them. don't just jump into 4 intense science classes all at once. doing well is more important than how many classes you take.

as far as the professor/recommendation letter issue, if you decide to change schools, you can always ask her for an LOR before you leave. just have her send it to interfolio, and then send it to med schools once you apply.

Thanks for your suggestions. Another factor to consider: premedical committees. I know I want to apply to SMPs. If I do really well, I might decide to apply to medical schools instead. Regardless, some SMPs and Med schools want committee letters. The pre-med committee here only provides services for degree-students. Will this be problematic?

Also, what about staying for only a semester, instead of a fifth year? Then after graduating that semester, take courses post-bacc (spring sem and onward).

 

[Isoprop]

Thanks for your suggestions. Another factor to consider: premedical committees. I know I want to apply to SMPs. If I do really well, I might decide to apply to medical schools instead. Regardless, some SMPs and Med schools want committee letters. The pre-med committee here only provides services for degree-students. Will this be problematic?

if you decide to graduate on time, get your lors from your professors to your committee before you graduate, and get that committee letter. you can use the same letter for SMPs and med school. however, during your post-bacc year, you can obtain letters from more recent professors and send that along with yoru committee letter. i'm not entirely sure on this so you may want to search the post-bacc forum or the non-trad forum.

Also, what about staying for only a semester, instead of a fifth year? Then after graduating that semester, take courses post-bacc (spring sem and onward).

this is also okay.

 

[Xcited392]

i
the reason why post-bacc is helpful is because the amcas does a year-by-year analysis of your gpa. if you stay an extra year, all those grades will count in your "senior" year gpa. but if you graduate and take classes, those grades count towarsd your "post-bacc" gpa. if you do well, it'll show a better trend.

So by classifying the classes as post-bac, the trend will be better to see, as opposed to a "spike" in the gpa with the 2 "senior" gpas?

if you decide to graduate on time, get your lors from your professors to your committee before you graduate, and get that committee letter. you can use the same letter for SMPs and med school. however, during your post-bacc year, you can obtain letters from more recent professors and send that along with yoru committee letter. i'm not entirely sure on this so you may want to search the post-bacc forum or the non-trad forum.

The problem I see is that my stats wouldn't be that great if I asked the committee for a letter next year; thus, the letter could be insignificant. You're right, the professor letters should be fine to get.

I'm actually thinking about doing Harvard's HCP. It has a more variety in upper-level science courses. Although, I'm not sure how I'd do there. On the other hand, my current orgo professor (Rubio) used to teach orgo at HES, so maybe he's a sign of what it's like?

Also, how do Med schools view biotechnology courses. The courses I listed above are through BU's biotech program and I'm not sure about that area's reputation.

Much appreciation

 

[Isoprop]

So by classifying the classes as post-bac, the trend will be better to see, as opposed to a "spike" in the gpa with the 2 "senior" gpas?

Yes.

The problem I see is that my stats wouldn't be that great if I asked the committee for a letter next year; thus, the letter could be insignificant. You're right, the professor letters should be fine to get.

I'm actually thinking about doing Harvard's HCP. It has a more variety in upper-level science courses. Although, I'm not sure how I'd do there. On the other hand, my current orgo professor (Rubio) used to teach orgo at HES, so maybe he's a sign of what it's like?

Also, how do Med schools view biotechnology courses. The courses I listed above are through BU's biotech program and I'm not sure about that area's reputation.

I'm actually pretty unfamiliar with committee letters but i thought a composite letter is supposed to "combine" three LORs from your school. Does it also include stats? Even if it does, adcoms will be able to see this as clear as day on your app.

As far as harvard, I'm unsure about the classes also. There's a harvard thread here somewhere. My advice: go where you less stressed. Good choice at classes and low cost (including living costs like rent and food) should be a priority. I've heard harvard was pretty cheap (not sure), and you're accustommed to living in the boston area so i don't forsee a problem going to this school.

Finally, I'm also not quite sure about biotechnology courses. Perhaps if you can give me a course title/description. My worry is that engineering courses even with a heavy biology or chemistry component, sometimes do not count as "BCPM." I'd recommend reading the instruction manual/guide to the AMCAS. It describes exactly how to classify BCPM courses. Reputation does not matter as much. Take classes you enjoy, but it would behoove you to take BCPM courses to raise your BCPM gpa.

good luck.

 

[Xcited392]

I'm actually pretty unfamiliar with committee letters but i thought a composite letter is supposed to "combine" three LORs from your school. Does it also include stats? Even if it does, adcoms will be able to see this as clear as day on your app.

Well, at my school, to get a committee letter, you have to fill out this long packet about everything: grades, ECs, scores, and essay questions, along with teacher evaluations.

Whatever, there are some schools out there that let you use teacher recs in lieu of the committee letter.

As far as harvard, I'm unsure about the classes also. There's a harvard thread here somewhere. My advice: go where you less stressed. Good choice at classes and low cost (including living costs like rent and food) should be a priority. I've heard harvard was pretty cheap (not sure), and you're accustommed to living in the boston area so i don't forsee a problem going to this school.

Yeah, living shouldn't be a problem. I've researched the threads here and the courses at HES sound tough. I'll have to think about it

Finally, I'm also not quite sure about biotechnology courses. Perhaps if you can give me a course title/description. My worry is that engineering courses even with a heavy biology or chemistry component, sometimes do not count as "BCPM." I'd recommend reading the instruction manual/guide to the AMCAS. It describes exactly how to classify BCPM courses. Reputation does not matter as much. Take classes you enjoy, but it would behoove you to take BCPM courses to raise your BCPM gpa.

The majority of the biotech courses focus more on the biology and applications in the lab. But, I do think there are a good amount of courses offered to count as BCPM, so I'll just avoid taking technical courses.

The courses are here: http://www.bu.edu/met/academic_courses/undergraduate_courses/biomedical/index.html

The Undergrad college offers similar courses through the Bio Dep't, but I'm guessing the biotech classes will be less competitive because there won't be many science majors?

Thanks for your helpful insight.

I guess, for now, I'll just keep working hard and see how my gpa ends up by next year and I'll take it from there.

 

[Isoprop]

the biotechnology I and II should count under bcpm. but there are courses in there that don't count like medical terminology, Current Good Manufacturing Practice, and bioinformatics (this is borderline, almost a CS course).

officially, the amcas says to categorize courses based on content. unofficially, the amcas goes by course title (and not the department) to determine BCPM.

 

[Xcited392]

So, my school has recently decided to put the course no. and Dep't prefix on our transcripts. This could be a problem getting course classifications verified. The biotech class I mentioned above are offered through the Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) department and are offered towards undergraduate certificate/degree programs at the extension school. I know that grad classes that can go toward undergrad degrees are counted in the BCPM, so, I shouldn't be worried. However, from other people's stories, I'm worried that the course classifications will be mixed up.

I would like to take these classes as post-bacc but what if the application services think that since these "undergrad" classes are offered at the Graduate school (and "GMS" is printed on my transcript), they'll not accept these courses in my undergrad BCPM?

I guess this question should be asked in the pre-allo, but I figured it'd be okay here.

Thanks.

 

[Xcited392]

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