Online course through UC Berkeley

[RHeff]

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UC Berkeley's online extension program has a really interesting course I want to take - the Biology of Cancer (http://extension.berkeley.edu/catalog/course147.html). If you search it on here you'll find positive feedback about the course and the prof. But I have a few questions...

I'd be doing this for credit, so I CAN figure this into my cGPA and bcpm...right?

Also, when my transcripts are reviewed by schools, do you think they would discount the course given that I took it through an online extension? Like most things, seems to be a diversity of opinions here on whether it's a good or bad idea.

(On a side note, my home school where I'm doing my science coursework has a similar course but it constantly fills up early, and as a nonmatric, I register at the end of a very long line of undergrads....)

 

[mspeedwagon]

You are going to get a lot of different opinions, but here is my take:
Do you already have a solid GPA? Do you have a good MCAT score? Are you looking for something to do in your spare time. Then volunteer more/shadow more.

Online courses are still looked down upon (for better or worse). I personally like the idea of online courses, but that's another matter. You can learn cancer biology for free (there are a lot of lectures from Dana-Farber/Stanford and the like that are free online). Look up open source courses. Donating 800 bucks to UC Berkeley Extension is a waste of time.

I don't know where you are located, but there has got to be something more beneficial to your application.

There is an EXCEPTION: If you are already admitted to med school and have money to burn, go for it.

 

[RHeff]

I'm curious enough that I want to learn more about it - but it's not something I want to do right now if I'm not going to earn a grade for it. I looked at some of the open source opportunities through MIT and the like, but again, I'd want the grade and, if I do well, it could be a helpful boost to my sGPA.

 

[ShoTyme]

I'm taking The Biology of Cancer next semester online. If you have the ability to take the class in person, that's always preferable. If not, well, you do what you gotta do right? Good luck with your decision.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I took this class at my local university. Many 4.0's were needlessly ruined that semester. It was a very interesting class and I am glad I took it in retrospect but do your research, especially if you are doing GPA repair (like me). I took a huge unnecessary risk that semester.

 

[DrMidlife]

Read Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Emperor of all Maladies before the class, if you can. It will help you understand what all the fuss is about.

Taking a class like this because you're interested doesn't have to be anything other than taking a class because you're interested. It's an EC that comes with a transcript. Get an A though.

Best of luck to you.

 

[ShoTyme]

Read Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Emperor of all Maladies before the class, if you can. It will help you understand what all the fuss is about.

Taking a class like this because you're interested doesn't have to be anything other than taking a class because you're interested. It's an EC that comes with a transcript. Get an A though.

Best of luck to you.

I will pick the book up tomorrow if I can. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I couldn't agree with the below more. Hence, my point was instead of an 800 bucks EC, why not do something to strengthen your application.

If you've exhausted everything you can do to make yourself a better applicant then go for it.

Taking a class like this because you're interested doesn't have to be anything other than taking a class because you're interested. It's an EC that comes with a transcript. Get an A though.