Post Bacc Calculus I at Berkeley Extension

[PlaceMeToBe]

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Does anyone have any experience if this course is acceptable? I'm always weary about 'take anytime' courses but UCBx does not offer an in-person or live online course format. I've emailed admissions and they do not plan to alter the format in upcoming semesters. The course is listed under their curriculum for the post bacc but I would hate to take something that isn't regarded well.

It should also be noted that UCBx does not distinguish between classes taken online or in-person on their official transcripts (directly from their admissions). Would med schools know that this was a take anytime format?

Pre Med Post Bacc Curriculum: Pre Med Post Bacc Curriculum
Course: UCBx Calc I

 

[chilly_md]

UC Extension courses have traditionally been widely accepted

 

[WildWing]

For Calculus in particular, make sure the medical schools you are target actually require it and not just Statistics. You may be able to avoid Calculus and/or the Physics that requires it, and take the easier algebra based one instead.

 

[2026PreMed]

UC Extension courses have traditionally been widely accepted

Even though some of the courses are online ? Ive heard from many people that the online extention postbaccs sour your application in the eyes of adcoms

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Even though some of the courses are online ? Ive heard from many people that the online extention postbaccs sour your application in the eyes of adcoms

Drop some names. Which people?

 

[2026PreMed]

Drop some names. Which people?

My premed advisor (obviously I cannot put his name on a public forum), 4 premeds in my research lab (again cant leak these names for OPSEC reasons), my roomate who just became an RN (again it would be wrong of me to leak his name)

On this forum specifically:
Goro (the one with the black cat pfp)
drgweeds
drgoldenboy
ciestar.

However please keep in mind that I am not applying to T20s. Mainly MD schools that value reinvention and DO schools

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks (I didn't really want to doxx real people 🙂 ).

Again, things are a bit different since the pandemic and many "reputable" universities run online courses, including the extension schools. As long as the program is accredited and run by a very reputable institution... you should be okay.

I just posted in the Pre-Pharmacy forum a recent peer-reviewed paper that pointed out the importance of the quality of the institution for pharmacy admissions and success. Important point was that those taught at institutions with at least 50% full-time teaching faculty and had a strong GPA were more likely to be successful in pharmacy school. (And a few of us in higher ed groaned, "duh!")

 

[chilly_md]

Even though some of the courses are online ? Ive heard from many people that the online extention postbaccs sour your application in the eyes of adcoms

Yes, the people you heard that from in real life are not really those I would put much stock in, and each college's advisor can vary widely in how much they know.

As for the forums, aside from Goro, those users posted that several years back. Goro has not said that either about UC extension. It is ideal if you can attend a local state college but otherwise, you will still have many schools available to you if you do well with UC Extension or UNE. This is different than University of Phoenix.

 

[2026PreMed]

What is your opinion on a one year DIY postbacc with UC Extention then a 1 year in person SMP or Postbacc subsequent

 

[2026PreMed]

Thanks (I didn't really want to doxx real people 🙂 ).

Again, things are a bit different since the pandemic and many "reputable" universities run online courses, including the extension schools. As long as the program is accredited and run by a very reputable institution... you should be okay.

I just posted in the Pre-Pharmacy forum a recent peer-reviewed paper that pointed out the importance of the quality of the institution for pharmacy admissions and success. Important point was that those taught at institutions with at least 50% full-time teaching faculty and had a strong GPA were more likely to be successful in pharmacy school. (And a few of us in higher ed groaned, "duh!")

Yeah even as someone who doesnt work in higher ed that seems obvious. Do you mind if I ask a super specific quesiton about postbaccs ? Not problem if you cant answer it pretty much nobody ive askeed this question to can give me an answer

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yeah even as someone who doesnt work in higher ed that seems obvious. Do you mind if I ask a super specific quesiton about postbaccs ? Not problem if you cant answer it pretty much nobody ive askeed this question to can give me an answer

We put together the How to guide, so what questions do you have above and beyond that material?