Post-bacc class selection: Health Sciences blatant padding?

[kelminak]

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Hello,

So I've been working on this GPA-repair post-bacc, and I'm running out of meaningful classes to retake. Quick summary of me:

GPA: ~2.87
MCAT: 28 (7/12/9)
ECs: Hopefully 500 volunteer hours at local hospital.

I came from a 1.8 GPA and after this semester I should be at or slightly above a 3.0. I'm giving myself another year of classes to make myself more competitive, but I've basically run out of biology courses to take. This upcoming semester I've chosen to take the following so far:

CHEM 350 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry - 3 credits
PHYS 307 - Introduction to Biophysics - 3 credits

Beyond that, I'm having a hard time finding classes that are remotely relevant or wouldn't require me to take calculus II (this class is a notorious nighmare at my school). What I do have the availability to take, however, is virtually any class from the health sciences department. I know that these classes are considered part of my sGPA which would be great, but I'm worried if I take too many of them, it would be too obvious I'm trying to make my GPA better without taking enough rigorous science courses. Will I shoot myself in the foot for taking a couple of these each semester? They look insanely easy (all online, do the work required, get an A), but guaranteed As to ramp up my GPA right before applying would be really beneficial.

All opinions absolutely welcome, thank you for your time!

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

You don't need calc for DO programs and they don't count to your sciGPA anyway ... or atleast I thought so.

try to go to a nearby CC or 4-year and take like MICRO or A&P. You should be fine.

 

[kelminak]

MICRO or A&P.

Already done...seriously Bio is not an option, but all of these retakes only got me up to a 3.0 since I came from such a low GPA to start with and I'm at my retake limit. I know DO schools look at sGPA and I just want to know if taking a bunch of health science classes to make my GPA higher are going to make me look bad.

 

[ortnakas]

Chemistry? Biochemistry? Biostats?

 

[kelminak]

Chemistry? Biochemistry? Biostats?

I'm taking the biochem described above, but any other chemistry beyond Ochem makes me want to die. My university unfortunately doesn't offer an undergrad biostats class. 🙁

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Go to the AACOMAS list of science classes and start taking those. Do evolution, nutrition, geology, etc.

Who cares. You already have a good MCAT score for DO. Nobody will question you taking easy courses like these. Get that GPA up now.

 

[sephora89]

Why not just retake classes?

 

[kelminak]

Why not just retake classes?

I'm running out of meaningful classes to retake.

I came from a 1.8 GPA and after this semester I should be at or slightly above a 3.0.

I've retaken a ****load of classes. My GPA was garbage after a LOT of credits, so it's taken quite a long time. Most people told me to just give up.

@Goro Would you look down on someone for taking some 300+ Health Science courses when they're clearly doing GPA repair? Things like "HLTHST 304 - Public Health", "HLTHST 410 - Health and Aging ", etc?

 

[popopopop]

^Yeah, a public health class sounds interesting. I know I'm quite ignorant on that topic.

 

[ortnakas]

I don't really see an issue with taking some fluff classes in public health or exercise science. Although those classes are not rigorous, they can be applied to the field of medicine. I am pretty sure there are a lot of doctors that have little if any knowledge of nutrition/exercise (just saying). Some of the info in these type of classes are intriguing, useful, and can be applied to one's life.

Agreed. These are science and legitimately related to medicine-- I don't think you'll have a problem. It would be different if you were trying to justify "Animals 101" as hardcore science, or taking fluff like Underwater Basketweaving.

It sounds like you're taking multiple years of coursework-- maybe look and see if there's some sort of degree or certificate you can get out of it. You're taking enough credits that might be an option.

 

[darkeon]

dunno how long ago you took the MCAT nor how many years of coursework you've been taking but just make sure your score doesn't expire by time of apps.
you can always just say that the classes sound interesting to you, which is true to some extent or otherwise you wouldn't be taking them if you are already just touching the 3.0 mark.

 

[holdthemayo]

I've retaken a ****load of classes. My GPA was garbage after a LOT of credits, so it's taken quite a long time. Most people told me to just give up.

Wouldn't it still be the quickest/most effective GPA boost to retake whatever courses your lowest grades are in? At this point it sounds like you have so many credits that taking new courses will do very little to improve your GPA whereas retaking a semester worth of your lowest grades should provide a pretty big boost for DO schools. Excelling in science coursework is important, but it sounds like you have already done that. Now get that GPA up!

Congrats on your hard work so far.

 

[sephora89]

I've retaken a ****load of classes. My GPA was garbage after a LOT of credits, so it's taken quite a long time. Most people told me to just give up.

@Goro Would you look down on someone for taking some 300+ Health Science courses when they're clearly doing GPA repair? Things like "HLTHST 304 - Public Health", "HLTHST 410 - Health and Aging ", etc?

I'm not sure I follow. You're familiar with the grade replacement policy for DO schools, right? Retaking classes will raise your GPA a lot faster than taking new classes will.

To answer your main question, I don't think schools will care if you take a few health science courses as long as you have demonstrated competency in the pre-reqs and other upper level science courses.

 

[sephora89]

@sephora89

The OP clearly stated that he/she has retaken/replaced all his low grades with A's. He is trying to raise his gpa past the 3.0 threshold...

…and he should continue to do that until his GPA is over 3.0. That would be way faster than continuing to take new classes.

 

[edgerock24]

…and he should continue to do that until his GPA is over 3.0. That would be way faster than continuing to take new classes.

This.
Retake as many classes as you can that can raise your GPA. These classes don't even have to solely be sciences ones either.

 

[kelminak]

…and he should continue to do that until his GPA is over 3.0. That would be way faster than continuing to take new classes.

Maybe I forgot to add this piece of information: I haven't flawlessly replaced everything with As, but I've retaken a lot of courses and my university now has a limit on how many classes you can retake, which I've hit. I was the "Cs means degrees" kid that realized that wasn't going to get me anywhere. I have no ability to further retake classes, but I'm just barely at the threshold and want to get over it a little higher to make sure I'm competitive. I have to decide what courses that are new I should take. I figured biochem and biophysics were both good choices, but other than that I don't have a lot of choices because I can't take many more classes without Calc II being a pre-req and I don't want to risk my GPA with that class. Does that help explain the situation better?

 

[sephora89]

Maybe I forgot to add this piece of information: I haven't flawlessly replaced everything with As, but I've retaken a lot of courses and my university now has a limit on how many classes you can retake, which I've hit. I was the "Cs means degrees" kid that realized that wasn't going to get me anywhere. I have no ability to further retake classes, but I'm just barely at the threshold and want to get over it a little higher to make sure I'm competitive. I have to decide what courses that are new I should take. I figured biochem and biophysics were both good choices, but other than that I don't have a lot of choices because I can't take many more classes without Calc II being a pre-req and I don't want to risk my GPA with that class. Does that help explain the situation better?

You don't have to only retake classes at your undergrad. You can take them anywhere. Just make sure the classes you retake at another institution are the same or higher number of credits as the original class you took. Would this be possible for you?

 

[holdthemayo]

You don't have to only retake classes at your undergrad. You can take them anywhere. Just make sure the classes you retake at another institution are the same or higher number of credits as the original class you took. Would this be possible for you?

+1 for this.

A few extra science classes will have a minimal impact on GPA compared to retaking a semester worth of C's.

 

[BiologyMajor86]

Had a friend that aced Organic Chemistry and Physics at a CC, then realized some MD and DDS schools didn't accept these credits, so she retook those classes at a 4 year college and aced it again with an A since the material was already fresh in her mind. She was already a 3.9 student, so the extra A's didn't really help. It does serve as a nice buffer if there's trouble down the road with a class you can't avoid. Another friend of mine was coming back from a tough freshman and sophomore year, but genuinely enjoyed math, so he looked for math-heavy science classes marked as a BCP course such as Intermediate Math Methods (marked as Physics), Physical Chemistry, Biostatistics (in the Biology department), and Mathematical Methods in Biology (a Biology course). This is not recommended for everyone because more or less your typical student is allergic to math. I saw another thread where a student took Organic Chemistry at two different schools, but was labeled differently on their transcript - one was Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, the other was called Molecular Chemistry 1 and 2. You can take Physics 1 and 2 for health-science majors, then take Physics 1 and 2 for math majors at a different school. There are ways around your issues, but it just requires extra time and money. They were not asked about these issues at the medical school interview, so you shouldn't worry too much about adding fluff to your course load.

 

[Goro]

I've seen people who repeat entire UG drgree8, so no, I 'd be OK with your record IF I saw a rising trend of academic excellence.

The one thing that would hurt you is the perception of a professional student or a "degree collector. "

I've retaken a ****load of classes. My GPA was garbage after a LOT of credits, so it's taken quite a long time. Most people told me to just give up.

@Goro Would you look down on someone for taking some 300+ Health Science courses when they're clearly doing GPA repair? Things like "HLTHST 304 - Public Health", "HLTHST 410 - Health and Aging ", etc?

 

[kelminak]

I've seen people who repeat entire UG drgree8, so no, I 'd be OK with your record IF I saw a rising trend of academic excellence.

The one thing that would hurt you is the perception of a professional student or a "degree collector. "

Thank you for your advice. I understand the perception is there, but I'm hoping the drastic GPA trend will show I've been here for so long for a good reason and I want one good shot at applying before my MCAT expires.

Thanks to everyone else for your help as well.