Padding a GPA...wrong?

[Virgil]

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I'm currently signed up for "Stars and Galaxies," a 3 credit class which is touted to be an easy A. It will be calculated in my BCPM as it is considered a science class by AMCAS. I just retook OCHEM 1 and got an A- (after getting a C- for the first time)--I have a low science GPA compared to my overall and need to raise both.

My question is this: Will this be "frowned upon" and hurt me in some way, especially since it looks like I'm "padding my GPA" as I'm in upper division science courses and don't need to take this class? Do you think I will be asked why I took this class in an interview?

 

[Dr. Josh]

I'm currently signed up for "Stars and Galaxies," a 3 credit class which is touted to be an easy A. It will be calculated in my BCPM as it is considered a science class by AMCAS. I just retook OCHEM 1 and got an A- (after getting a C- for the first time)--I have a low science GPA compared to my overall and need to raise both.

My question is this: Will this be "frowned upon" and hurt me in some way, especially since it looks like I'm "padding my GPA" as I'm in upper division science courses and don't need to take this class? Do you think I will be asked why I took this class in an interview?

well you're really interested in the course, aren't you? don't you love looking at the stars and learning about how they were formed and how much energy they have? don't you look forward to taking this knowledge and buying a telescope to star gaze as a source of relaxation during med school? It's also a good line with girls: "you wanna star gaze with me?"

 

[Virgil]

well you're really interested in the course, aren't you? don't you love looking at the stars and learning about how they were formed and how much energy they have? don't you look forward to taking this knowledge and buying a telescope to star gaze as a source of relaxation during med school? It's also a good line with girls: "you wanna star gaze with me?"

Well, of course. I've never had any aptitude in that area and would like to become a more "rounded" person (with a higher GPA, incidentally), but not if doing so will hurt my chances of getting into medical school in any way.

 

[mikkey]

The answer is absolutely not frowned on, as they don't focus on what courses you actually took. They probably don't care, as it is not a prerequisite, but be careful about what you think counts as science. Go to the massive document on the Amcas website that tells you everything you need to know, and they list the courses that you can count for science. I have a terrestrial planets course that is in no way considered science by Amcas. Just check to make sure, but this course will still count towards your general GPA.
If you can't find the document, PM me.
And good luck!

 

[Virgil]

Also, another reason I would like to take this class is because I'm taking a pretty tough load already (Biochemistry, Genetics (and lab), Physics (and lab), and research). At my school at least, Genetics and Physics are very difficult. My goal is to take as many science classes as possible and get A's in all of them before I apply in the summer of 2009.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

I think it depends on what course code your "Stars and Galaxies" class has. If it's a freshman/sophomore (100/200) level class and you're enrolled in upper(400/500)-level sciences at the same time, it might look out of place on your semester course list. If you can definitely make an A in it, why not... it shows that you're well-rounded.

 

[mikkey]

Dude, I hate to break it to you, but everybody does this. How do you think people get 3.9 GPAs? My first year, I only took classes that I was interested in, without consideration for difficulty. I got a 3.4 GPA. When I added 1 to 2 more easy courses, my GPA went to 3.8.
I actually asked insider sources who do admissions and they don't give a crap what courses you have taken (except the prerecs) as long as you have the grades.
Carry on astrology.

 

[Virgil]

The answer is absolutely not frowned on, as they don't focus on what courses you actually took. They probably don't care, as it is not a prerequisite, but be careful about what you think counts as science. Go to the massive document on the Amcas website that tells you everything you need to know, and they list the courses that you can count for science. I have a terrestrial planets course that is in no way considered science by Amcas. Just check to make sure, but this course will still count towards your general GPA.
If you can't find the document, PM me.
And good luck!

Thank you for the reply.

This was taken from page 48 of the AMCAS 2008 Instructional Manual:

"Physics (PHYS) - BCPM
• Astronomy
• Physics"

Why wasn't "terrestrial planets" considered as astronomy, and thus a BCPM course?

Dude, I hate to break it to you, but everybody does this.

You hate to break it to me?

 

[mikkey]

terrestrial planets is considered earth and planetary sciences, so it doesn't fit with astronomy.
I put it under Natural and Physical sciences. Does that count as Science? I would say yes, but I have a lot more logic than AMcas...

 

[coralfangs]

lol
i did the same during my senior year
took a course called "life on other worlds", it was a 200lvl
not because i wanted to pad my gpa but because it fit my schedule perfectly giving me a 2 dayoffs a week so that i can go to my lab from 9-5 for 2 days
what's bad is that i ended up getting a B+ after calling my TA a bitch (i checked my final exam, and the part she was responsible for was like a massacre, first she gave me a 27/30 for the essay, then she crossed that and gave me a 24/30, then finally 20/30)

i hope the adcom won't mind though

 

[Virgil]

lol
i did the same during my senior year
took a course called "life on other worlds", it was a 200lvl
not because i wanted to pad my gpa but because it fit my schedule perfectly giving me a 2 dayoffs a week so that i can go to my lab from 9-5 for 2 days
what's bad is that i ended up getting a B+ after calling my TA a bitch (i checked my final exam, and the part she was responsible for was like a massacre, first she gave me a 27/30 for the essay, then she crossed that and gave me a 24/30, then finally 20/30)

i hope the adcom won't mind though

Niice one. Was it worth it?

 

[87138]

My freshman year I took a class called "Stars, Galaxies and Beyond." It was offered through the Physics department, but it most certainly was not a "physics" type class. I would never think of it as a "science" class, and yet it was counted in my BCPM on AMCAS.

 

[glamqueen]

Please, I'm signed up for Psychology of Adjustment right now. It's a total pad class. Honestly, I'm bordering between a 3.58 and a 3.6, so I'd take a class called..."The Art of Coloring within Lines" if it was offered...I'm playing the game, and I seriously don't care anymore.

 

[postbacker]

Not all science classes count towards BCPM...

 

[maestro1625]

you can never be sure of that easy A. My lowest grade in college was in a joke of a class called "gender and sport" taught in the phys ed department by the school baseball coach. to this day I'm still convinced that I know more about the subject than even he does.

 

[GoldShadow]

I just retook OCHEM 1 and got an A- (after getting a C- for the first time

How will this appear on your transcript, and how is it calculated into your GPA? Is it an average of the two grades, does your transcript indicate the class was retaken?

And if so, how is this calculated into the AMCAS GPA, and how does it look to an admission committee?

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with taking this class. No one's going to care if it's an easy class, and if they question you about it on interviews just say something like "As much as I love medical science, I found the subject matter of this course very interesting" Makes you look diverse and someone who learns for fun.

The flipside thoug, is to seek out fancy higher level classes which are considered "easy"/have great professors. I took a class once about the human genome project and it had a nice fancy title that showed up on my transcript. However, the class was very manageable and if I had taken it earlier, it was small enough class where you get to know the professor good enough to get a recommendation out of him. Ask around your school to ferret classes like this out.

 

[Virgil]

How will this appear on your transcript, and how is it calculated into your GPA? Is it an average of the two grades, does your transcript indicate the class was retaken?

And if so, how is this calculated into the AMCAS GPA, and how does it look to an admission committee?

My transcript shows both grades. For my school GPA, the C- is replaced with the A-, but as you probably know, this is not the case with AMCAS as both grades will be factored into my AMCAS GPA. However, I believe that there is a spot where you note any classes you've retaken. To an admissions committee, I can only imagine that they would think positive things about the retake; besides, a C- is not acceptable at most medical schools for a prerequisite course. Thoughts?

 

[Virgil]

OK, well how about retaking a General Biology class I got a C in? I passed, so I don't have to retake, but I admit that I did not learn much. I'm thinking about possibly retaking it right before the MCAT. It should help me for the MCAT as well as raise my GPA. Would retaking a class you passed (albeit barely) be viewed negatively?

 

[artaxerxes]

OK, well how about retaking a General Biology class I got a C in? I passed, so I don't have to retake, but I admit that I did not learn much. I'm thinking about possibly retaking it right before the MCAT. It should help me for the MCAT as well as raise my GPA. Would retaking a class you passed (albeit barely) be viewed negatively?

retaking stuff is frowned upon, and they will see the first grade. I'm surprised your school lets you retake that with a C-.

 

[Virgil]

retaking stuff is frowned upon, and they will see the first grade. I'm surprised your school lets you retake that with a C-.

Why are you surprised? Many medical schools do not accept anything below a C for prerequisite classes (including a C-), so you're telling me that if you get a C- in a prereq course at your school you're screwed for medical school?

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm currently signed up for "Stars and Galaxies," a 3 credit class which is touted to be an easy A. It will be calculated in my BCPM as it is considered a science class by AMCAS. I just retook OCHEM 1 and got an A- (after getting a C- for the first time)--I have a low science GPA compared to my overall and need to raise both.

My question is this: Will this be "frowned upon" and hurt me in some way, especially since it looks like I'm "padding my GPA" as I'm in upper division science courses and don't need to take this class? Do you think I will be asked why I took this class in an interview?

I agree with the prior poster who indicated that adcoms don't really evaluate whether a course is hard or easy, so in general and A on the transcript is worth an A, regardless. I would caution that you pick courses where the title of the course is not too transparent a gut. Eg. you are better off if the transcript lists "Basic Geology 101" instead of "Rocks for Jocks". As such, I personally might be a bit concerned as to whether "Stars and Galaxies" sounds too transparently like a gut?

As for retakes, if you did poorly in a prereq (below a C) I think you do generally need to retake. Both grades appear on the AMCAS calculation, so you end up with a double weighted average of the two.

 

[Husky85]

OK, well how about retaking a General Biology class I got a C in? I passed, so I don't have to retake, but I admit that I did not learn much. I'm thinking about possibly retaking it right before the MCAT. It should help me for the MCAT as well as raise my GPA. Would retaking a class you passed (albeit barely) be viewed negatively?

In this situation it depends. If you have gone on to take upper level bios, it might be viewed negatively if you come back and retake general bio. This is because this situation makes it blatantly clear that you are just doing it to boost your grade and not to prove you understand the material or to gain a greater understanding of the material. THIS you might be asked about in an interview (something along the lines of "why did you retake general bio, when you've already clearly shown competence in upper level bio coursework?")

If you've only taken general bio thus far though and want to retake it to boost your gpa, I see nothing wrong with that...in fact I think it might be a good idea if you're not happy with your current gpa.

 

[andymac08]

ADCOMs definitely DO look at all of your coursework. While GPA is the most important, if you have a 3.6 and have only taken the basic general science requirements, you will not be looked as favorably upon as someone who has a 3.6 and has taken more advanced science (Biochem, Neuro, Histo, Endocrinology, Physical Chem, Quant Analysis, etc.)

 

[glamqueen]

I'm not sure I agree with the last poster. If that was the truth, then there would be a complicated system of ranking per how many science classes one took. I don't think that exists. As for me, I'm earning a second undergrad in Micro, so I will have a ton of uppers, but I may not have the same uppers as someone else. How would they rank this then? I don't think this is true - I think they verify that you took the req classes, and then move on. Not to mention, this would screw some engineering and/or humanities majors who can't fit it taking as many science classes as a science major. It just simply doesn't work out on paper, and if it did work like this - no one would ever feel good about majoring in anything but a science, because they wouldn't be competitive with a biology major.

 

[sanchopanza]

I think that, when in doubt, you've gotta show that you're a fearless person academically speaking. That WILL be important on your application. After all, you're applying for a school that will train you for a job that is just about as intellectually stimulating and challenging than any profession out there.

You can't cut corners when you're a doctor, so why do it now? I'm a firm believer in risk-taking as an undergrad. Knowing what it's like to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and lay in on the line is what you'll need to become a good--a great--physician. Admissions committees will recognize this attribute in your essays, your academic portfolio, and your interview. It's attractive because want people who are going to make the most out of their institution, not just try to "get by."

-Sancho

 

[mirakate]

I think that, when in doubt, you've gotta show that you're a fearless person academically speaking. That WILL be important on your application. After all, you're applying for a school that will train you for a job that is just about as intellectually stimulating and challenging than any profession out there.

You can't cut corners when you're a doctor, so why do it now? I'm a firm believer in risk-taking as an undergrad. Knowing what it's like to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and lay in on the line is what you'll need to become a good--a great--physician. Admissions committees will recognize this attribute in your essays, your academic portfolio, and your interview. It's attractive because want people who are going to make the most out of their institution, not just try to "get by."

-Sancho

You are some kind of shiny.

 

[glamqueen]

That's a nice, politically-correct statement to make, but when you are a non-trad who had no idea they were going to be going to med school the first time round, and you are like me- very close to getting to that magic 3.6 number - you don't feel bad about taking a few "pad" classes in addition to Organic Chem and your other upper div science classes. Everybody has their own story. We needn't all take the most difficult class every time, especially for cases like myself and probably the OP where you need to get that GPA up.

 

[mirakate]

That's a nice, politically-correct statement to make, but when you are a non-trad who had no idea they were going to be going to med school the first time round, and you are like me- very close to getting to that magic 3.6 number - you don't feel bad about taking a few "pad" classes in addition to Organic Chem and your other upper div science classes. Everybody has their own story. We needn't all take the most difficult class every time, especially for cases like myself and probably the OP where you need to get that GPA up.

I think it's more Geo for Majors > Regular Non-Sci-Major's Geo > Rocks for Jocks.

So, no you don't have to take GfM, but don't do RfJ either. Not that I'm one to talk, I'm majoring in astrophysics and premed... And I'm not really trad, either. 😀

 

[coralfangs]

Niice one. Was it worth it?

hell ya, just to look at her face turned so red in front of the class