Raising Low GPA

[collid77]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm sorry if these are simple questions, but even after e-mailing with advisers I'm still having trouble knowing what to do.

So I've graduated from college but I want to take some time off before applying to optometry schools since a)I want to get more experience (shadowing, interning, etc) and b)I want to re-take & take pre-requisite classes.

My undergrad GPA is low and not at all competitive. I'm mainly concerned with raising my GPA since I know that's the main thing that will hinder me. I'm in California and from looking at most schools they require that you take your classes at certain colleges (as in NOT community colleges. But correct me if I'm wrong!). I'm planning on taking these classes at San Jose State University since it's the closest one to me.

So this is where I'm confused. I emailed them about my situation and they asked if I knew what major I wanted for my graduate degree and to contact the specific adviser about it. But is that what I should be doing? I always thought if I'm taking classes to raise my undergrad GPA then it shouldn't be for a graduate degree.

Before that I was planning on looking into post-bacc programs but my GPA is too low for most of them. So I was wondering if any of you guys could give me tips and advice on what to do in this situation. I'd really appreciate it!

 

[eyesee123]

If you want to re-take and take pre-reqs you can do that at community college, particularly if you live near SJSU. Only a handful of schools will not accept community college pre-req classes, or no more than 50% of the classes taken at community college (i.e. NECO).

SCCO and UC Berkeley have absolutely NO problem with you taking these classes at community colleges. Some people do believe that community colleges are not as hard as taking it at a 4 year university. There are +/-'s. I know several people who went to SCCO, Berkeley, SUNY, and Salus, and other schools that accepted all their pre-reqs taken at community colleges. Of course you need to do well in these classes, do well on the OAT, and have excellent shadowing and extra-curriculars on your application.

If you have a low gpa, it will be hard to do a post-bac or get into a graduate program anyway like you said.

And if you go to SJSU you will have to take your classes through Open University which is WAY expensive, you pay more than a regular student. And they just announced on the news that CSU is increasing tuition another 12% for Fall semester, this is after it was already increased by 10%...that's 22% increase from last Fall semester! Plus, as an open university student you have last priority adding a class. You have to show up the first day of class and try to add it. Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, Freshmen, THEN non SJSU students (open university students) get to add...in that priority order. It will be very hard to actually get into a class at SJSU with the budget cuts and the fact they are turning away undergrads. I know people who are undergrads at SJSU and they can't even get 12 units because they can't get into the classes they need...so it's taking them longer to graduate. All the pre-req classes are impacted classes because they are required for a lot of different majors. Your best option is De Anza, Foothill, SJCC, West Valley, etc. You have a ton of options to choose from. De Anza is considered the best though.

Good luck!

 

[collid77]

Thanks eyesee123. That was really informative. I actually just got an email back from an optometry school I asked and they said they accepted community college classes. I guess I was mistaken when I read somewhere that they didn't?

And thanks for the tip about SJSU! I didn't know that at all. I think my best bet is De Anza then. Though I do have a closer community college called Ohlone. Have you heard of it? In all honesty I would prefer to take my classes there.