Requirement for US undergrad degree

[AnnaNYC]

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I'm in a bit of a unique situation and could really use some help figuring out my best course of action. I realize that I should probably email individual schools for confirmation of my plans, but I'd like to have a better idea of things first.

I am 28. I am a US citizen who went to a US high school but then got a foreign non-science bachelor's degree. I did reasonably well in the program (top 20%) but they have a very different curve. That top 20% corresponded with a 2.7 GPA.

It was an atypical background when I wanted to come back to the US for law school and my GPA was very uncompetitive by US standards. I should have had almost no chance of admission to any of the T14 based on my numbers. But I did well on the LSAT, adcoms looked past it, and I got into an excellent law school where I did again, top 20 percentish (this time more like a 3.5). I started working at a well-regarded law firm upon graduation.


I have been working as a corporate attorney for the past 2 years. I have no undergrad science, math or English courses. In high school, I did score 5s on 7 APs including Bio, Calc BC, English Language, English Literature. I also got 4 in Physics and a 3 in Chem. I started taking community college classes last semester and got an A in Physics 101 with lab.

Now what? Do I really need an entire BS degree? Do APs count toward my pre-reqs? Will my abysmal foreign undergrad GPA ruin my chances of admission by becoming part of my UGPA (seems unfair to not count it as undergrad but then count the grades anyway.) I've been admitted to Columbia's 2 year prep program, but it's so expensive and I only just finished paying off most of my law school loans. I'd really prefer to do it piecemeal while working if I can. I'm not even sure a post bacc will be enough if I'm going to need a full degree...

Just ugh. I guess I'd appreciate general advice. But I'd be especially interested in comments from anyone who's had a slightly unconventional application cycle and had to ask adcomms to bend the rules. I think if the undergrad US degree requirement is something that can be bent (like in law school apps), I might have a good chance. But I also need to know if this is a discretionless standard that med schools have to automatically apply.

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!

 

[Scottish Chap]

I'm in a bit of a unique situation and could really use some help figuring out my best course of action. I realize that I should probably email individual schools for confirmation of my plans, but I'd like to have a better idea of things first.

I am 28. I am a US citizen with a foreign non-science bachelor's degree. I did reasonably well in the program (top 20%) but they have a very different curve. That top 20% corresponded with a 2.7 GPA.

It was an atypical situation for US law schools, but I did well on the LSAT, they looked past it, and I got into an excellent law school where I did again, top 20 percentish (this time more like a 3.5)


I have been working as a corporate attorney at a lawfirm for 2 years. I have no undergrad science, math or English courses though, in high school, I did score 5s on 7 APs including Bio, Calc BC, English Language, English Literature, and a 4 in Physics. I started taking community college classes last semester and got an A in Physics 101 with lab.

Now what? Do I really need an entire BS degree? Do APs count toward my pre-reqs? Will my abysmal foreign undergrad GPA become part of my UGPA (seems unfair to not count it as undergrad but then count the grades anyway.) I've been admitted to Columbia's 2 year prep program, but it's so expensive and I only just finished paying off most of my law school loans. I'd really prefer to do it piecemeal while working if I can. I'm not even sure a post bacc will be enough if I'm going to need a full degree...

Just ugh. I guess I'd appreciate general advice. But I'd be especially interested in comments from anyone who's had a slightly unconventional application cycle and had to ask adcomms to bend the rules. I think if the undergrad US degree requirement is something that can be bent (like in law school apps), I might have a good chance. But I also need to know if this is a discretionless standard that med schools have to automatically apply.

Thanks in advance and happy new year!

This is a reasonable question, and it's one that comes up a lot (foreign undergraduate degree and applying to U.S. med schools). Maybe do a search. I don't have it in me to type everything from prior posts again or find them.

I had a foreign undergrad degree and it was a problem. It was not insurmountable, however. The majority of U.S. schools want a degree form the U.S. or Canada (Mayo and Stanford being exceptions I encountered where the former would only accept a U.S. degree and the latter was willing to accept a British degree).

Since the grades from your first degree won't hep you that much, I think your best option would be to to do a post-bac (informally or formally) that will allow you to complete all of the U.S. prerequisite courses (around 60 credits). Most U.S. schools would want this from you anyway if your first degree was not science or if it was earned outside of North America, and it would be a great way for you to ensure a strong MCAT score.

The Law School GPA won't hurt and it will be noticed but it will not be allowed as partial fulfillment of credits for entering a U.S. medical school (if they were science credits, that would be a different story).

Word of warning if you decide to enter a very competitive formal post-bac program (like Columbia or Hopkins). The students are gunners and hungry for the best grades. Think about whether you want to take that chance. There are other respectable (cheaper, and more relaxing) post-bacc courses out there like Hunter College in Manhattan.

Good luck!

 

[AnnaNYC]

Thanks so much for the reply. But I'm not sure I understood your advice. You're recommending a post-bacc, which is what I was anticipating needing (formal or informal). But my understanding is that this wouldn't give me a US second degree, which you also mention I'll need. Was the post-bacc enough in your case?

Thanks again!

 

[Scottish Chap]

Thanks so much for the reply. But I'm not sure I understood your advice. You're recommending a post-bacc, which is what I was anticipating needing (formal or informal). But my understanding is that this wouldn't give me a US second degree, which you also mention I'll need. Was the post-bacc enough in your case?

Thanks again!

if you have a degree (from anywhere), many U.S. school will accept your application if you complete 60 science credits in the U.S. It does not really have to be via a formal post-bacc, though some people need that kind of structure and formality to do well. Those credits usually should be pre-req's. Contact the medical schools you want to apply to now--they will tell you exactly what they want. You will find subtle variations from school to school (some will ask for 60 credits, some will want 90...like the school I went to....and some will want an entire degree out of you).

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Requirements vary from school to school. Here in Texas, 90 undergraduate credits (including pre-requisite coursework) from a regionally accredited US college/university are required. Graduate coursework does not count.

 

[DrMidlife]

You don't need another degree. Search ScottishChap's post history for in depth analysis of the situation.