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Ok, so here is my situation. I want to pursue medical school. A few years back I graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M. I completed the degree in 3 years, 3.075 cumulative / 3.35 major GPA. I rushed through school way too fast, I was arrogant and more concerned with finishing than grades. Some idiot in my head actually thought grades didn't matter. I was a good student though, had a dozen recommendations for grad school. Professionally I am doing well, making six figures, but I'm bored and really really want to shift gears and move towards bioengineering and medicine. My current plan is to pursue a second BS in Biochemistry and then on to a MD/PhD program from there. Even if my GPA weren't an issue I'd still pursue a second BS because I need the coursework and knowledge in life sciences which I lack.
I have already been accepted back in Texas A&M as a postbac student for Biochemistry. I am also considering UT-Austin.
Ok, so here's the bottom line. I am concerned about whether I should go back to Texas A&M or instead go with UT-Austin. If I go back to TAMU I will keep my existing cumulative GPA. After completing the minimum requirements for the second BS, even with a perfect 4.0 on all future coursework, my cumulative GPA will only be raised to a 3.44. If I stick around for an extra year beyond the requirements and take a bunch of uncessary classes I can bump that to a 3.52, which seems pointless.
On the other hand, if I go to another school (like UT-Austin), I will start with a clean GPA... or will I??
What is it that the medical schools consider? Do they recalculate your GPA based on ALL your undergraduate coursework at ALL institutions?
Actually, a large number of hours for my EE degree were transferred from a community college. If those are factored in my overall undegraduate GPA goes up considerably to a 3.34. The second BS would take that to well over a 3.5 with just the min requirements. My science-based coursework would end up around a 3.8/3.9
On some other threads I have read a little about the AMCAS and that the GPA is broken up by undergrad, postbac, and graduate coursework. In my case what does this mean? Would the coursework for the second BS be considered "postbac" and calculated and listed separately from the existing coursework which would appear as "undergrad"?
Some schools also don't use the AMCAS. A lot of schools in TX use the TMDSAS. Does anybody know if they treat grades differently?
I would appreciate y'all's insight. Bottom line, do you think it would be better to pursue the second BS at a different school or does it not matter?
From the academic perspective, academic in the sense of quality of education, I would prefer A&M over UT. In my opinion their life sciences dept is better, their biomedical engineering dept is better, and they have an actual medical school as well. Overall I think I would have access to a better array of classes and undergrad research opportunities than at UT. Plus I bleed maroon 🙂 But I'm concerned about the GPA. If I can get a clean slate with UT that seems a better path.
Also, what is the opinion of graduate school? I have read varying opinions but nonetheless would like to pose the question again as my case is not the same as most others from what I can tell. After a year of postbac in Biochemistry I would have enough fundamentals to then be a good candidate for a MS in Biomedical Engineering or even an MS in EE with a focus on Systems Biology. For example see http://www.ee.columbia.edu/pages/research/systems_biology/. (Columbia actually offers this via distance as well.) Similar courses exist at TAMU as well, but I'm using Columbia as an example because they have the "systems biology" track laid out more plainly for discussion purposes. So, in theory, I could pursue the second BS and an MS at the same time. Because of the nature of the BS coursework, things have to be taken in a certain order, etc., some semesters will be very light. I figure it would take me an extra year beyond the second BS to get an MS as well. The question is though, would this help with medical school or would it not matter at all? What if my intent is a MD/PhD program?
Anyway, sorry for the long post, I appreciate anybody's informed thoughts.
I have already been accepted back in Texas A&M as a postbac student for Biochemistry. I am also considering UT-Austin.
Ok, so here's the bottom line. I am concerned about whether I should go back to Texas A&M or instead go with UT-Austin. If I go back to TAMU I will keep my existing cumulative GPA. After completing the minimum requirements for the second BS, even with a perfect 4.0 on all future coursework, my cumulative GPA will only be raised to a 3.44. If I stick around for an extra year beyond the requirements and take a bunch of uncessary classes I can bump that to a 3.52, which seems pointless.
On the other hand, if I go to another school (like UT-Austin), I will start with a clean GPA... or will I??
What is it that the medical schools consider? Do they recalculate your GPA based on ALL your undergraduate coursework at ALL institutions?
Actually, a large number of hours for my EE degree were transferred from a community college. If those are factored in my overall undegraduate GPA goes up considerably to a 3.34. The second BS would take that to well over a 3.5 with just the min requirements. My science-based coursework would end up around a 3.8/3.9
On some other threads I have read a little about the AMCAS and that the GPA is broken up by undergrad, postbac, and graduate coursework. In my case what does this mean? Would the coursework for the second BS be considered "postbac" and calculated and listed separately from the existing coursework which would appear as "undergrad"?
Some schools also don't use the AMCAS. A lot of schools in TX use the TMDSAS. Does anybody know if they treat grades differently?
I would appreciate y'all's insight. Bottom line, do you think it would be better to pursue the second BS at a different school or does it not matter?
From the academic perspective, academic in the sense of quality of education, I would prefer A&M over UT. In my opinion their life sciences dept is better, their biomedical engineering dept is better, and they have an actual medical school as well. Overall I think I would have access to a better array of classes and undergrad research opportunities than at UT. Plus I bleed maroon 🙂 But I'm concerned about the GPA. If I can get a clean slate with UT that seems a better path.
Also, what is the opinion of graduate school? I have read varying opinions but nonetheless would like to pose the question again as my case is not the same as most others from what I can tell. After a year of postbac in Biochemistry I would have enough fundamentals to then be a good candidate for a MS in Biomedical Engineering or even an MS in EE with a focus on Systems Biology. For example see http://www.ee.columbia.edu/pages/research/systems_biology/. (Columbia actually offers this via distance as well.) Similar courses exist at TAMU as well, but I'm using Columbia as an example because they have the "systems biology" track laid out more plainly for discussion purposes. So, in theory, I could pursue the second BS and an MS at the same time. Because of the nature of the BS coursework, things have to be taken in a certain order, etc., some semesters will be very light. I figure it would take me an extra year beyond the second BS to get an MS as well. The question is though, would this help with medical school or would it not matter at all? What if my intent is a MD/PhD program?
Anyway, sorry for the long post, I appreciate anybody's informed thoughts.