non-degree or post bac?

[cattykitty]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I just graduated from Caltech this year as a bio major. I have been thinking about vet schools for some time now, but I have relatively low cumulative and science GPA. Since I still need few more prerequisite courses, I'm planning to take them at some community colleges, also to boost up my GPA a little.

Since I had few C's in the required courses, is it better just to get a post-bac degree and take everything over again? Is it true that if I do well in the post-bac program, then the vet schools won't weigh my poor college grades as much? Also, how much does post bac program usually cost? Other than boosting up GPA, is there any other ways that can get me through the first round of application process? Sometimes, I feel like I don't stand a chance of getting into vet schools.

I know that's a lot of quesions, but greatly appreciate suggestions and comments of any sort. Thanks. 🙂

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[AuburnPreVet]

Just enroll as non-degree-seeking and take upper-level science courses for a year.... and sell yourself where you can (varied experience, interview, etc).

GLuck.

 

[kate_g]

Since I had few C's in the required courses, is it better just to get a post-bac degree and take everything over again?

There's really no such thing. Or at least, you might be thinking of a couple very different things.

1. You can apply to and enroll in an undergraduate degree program at a university, and end up with a second bachelor's degree. A lot of schools won't let you do this (e.g. I know for a fact that Caltech doesn't). It would be expensive, take a long time, and you'd have to take all the various "breadth requirements" again rather than focusing on raising your science GPA.

2. You can apply to and enroll in a formal post-baccalaureate program. Generally these don't lead to any kind of degree. The point is to take students who are "disadvantaged," have bad GPAs, or have none of the prerequisite courses (depending on the program) and get them ready for medical school in one or two years. The majority are geared toward medical school. Some vet schools require courses in animal science, or nutrition, or statistics, or other things that you might not yet have and that wouldn't be covered by one of these programs.

3. There are "Special Masters Programs" that do give you a master's degree in something - though I've no idea what - for doing a bunch of upper-level science courses. I don't get the impression it's a degree that would ever be useful for anything other than getting into school. Probably one of the pre-med forums would be a good place to go for info on this and #2 above.

4. You can enroll (usually without much if any application process) in a college or university as a "continuing education" or "non-degree" student and just take whatever courses you want/need. Not all universities have a program like this, and some (e.g. UC Berkeley) restrict you to a fairly small list of available classes, so you want to check all the details before enrolling. This is the least expensive and most flexible option, and I think it's how most people around here have made up any missing prereqs and/or boosted GPA. This is still post-bacc coursework (because you've already got a bachelor's degree), there's just no formal program you have to follow.

 

[nyanko]

1. You can apply to and enroll in an undergraduate degree program at a university, and end up with a second bachelor's degree. A lot of schools won't let you do this (e.g. I know for a fact that Caltech doesn't). It would be expensive, take a long time, and you'd have to take all the various "breadth requirements" again rather than focusing on raising your science GPA.

This isn't necessarily true of all schools. I got my first bachelor's degree in May 2004 in Computer Science, took a year off and started on a second BS in Molecular Biology and Microbiology at UCF in August 2005 and will be graduating in August 2007 even with taking some extra credits of honors research and going part time for a year. Some schools do not make you take the general education stuff again if you already have a bachelor's degree.

Now the stipulation on that is that it can't be in the same major or one very similar. So for the OP's situation it is definitely not the best option.

As far as the OP goes, I don't think you will be able to escape the 2.7 science GPA by taking the courses over again. Even if you do take them again they will be averaged into the GPA calculated by the vet schools.

Oh and also as far as enrollment as a non-degree seeking student. Be wary because most places you will not be eligible for financial aid as an nds student. I originally came in with the intention of just finishing up the prereqs and not getting a degree, but I enrolled as second degree seeking anyway so that I could get financial aid - but it didn't matter because genetics done roped me in good 😉

 

[cattykitty]

first of all, thx to everyone's comments. Yeah, I was calculating my GPA, and I literally need to take another 100 units and get all A's in order to pull my GPA up to 3.3. I might as well complete a second bachelor degree in animal science.

But if I do well on GRE, will it compensate for my low GPA? I will definitely take more courses to boost up my GPA, but should I start applying this year or should I wait till I'm prepared?

 

[thereservoirdog]

Is your GPA low because you didn't know you wanted to be a vet until recently? Or maybe you were in a different major, like engineering or something. If you started out college as a biology major then that science GPA is going to be difficult to deal with.

If I were in your situation I would focus on the GRE. Just do really good on it and you'll have a chance

 

[cattykitty]

Is your GPA low because you didn't know you wanted to be a vet until recently? Or maybe you were in a different major, like engineering or something.

I knew I like animals, but didn't decide to be a vet until later in college. hmm... not as an excuse or anything, Caltech courses were much harder than I imagined. So I struggled a lot during the first two years, but I did improve during my junior and senior year. Given the reputation of Caltech and improvement in my later years of college, do you think the admission committee will take that into consideration?

Yeah, I agree that my science GPA is too weak. Time to chew on GRE prep books.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

I literally need to take another 100 units and get all A's in order to pull my GPA up to 3.3.

Try to avoid looking at it that way. Each school has a (magic) formula they use to look at these things -- some factor recent "trend" gpa more heavily than others. You can make a statement with a great GRE score as well.

Really make sure the rest of your app is well above average (as far as experience etc; don't underestimate the non-academic factors in the admissions process.)

 

[ZoeyBay]

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[cattykitty]

So that is just my experience. It worked for me (took 2 years), as I got into my school of choice on my first try. I just had to work my butt off volunteering/taking classes/getting experience to make up for my lack of it all. Good luck!

I'm glad to hear someone in a similar situation got into vet school on the first try. Good for you. 👍