Second Bachelor's/Post-Bac: UMD or FAU?

[Puppleupagus]

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A little background:
I'm a 24-year-old Maryland resident. I already graduated from UMD College Park in 2012 with a B.S. in Kinesiology. My GPA was very sub-par (3.1 overall). I have great work experience under my belt (4 years as a PT tech, 3 years of scribing in an ER and for a rheumatologist, 6 months working as a surgical assistant for a dermatologist). My student loan debt is a little over $15,000 and I'm making payments every month.

In college I got an F in Gen Chem I that I retook a second time and got a C-, then a third time and got a B. I got an F in Physics I that I retook and got a B. Also an F in College Trig that I retook and got a B. Two of those F's were at community college (not sure if that's better or worse). I've gotten all B's in my Bio courses. Grade trend has been pretty sporadic. Basically I was a huge slacker, but almost 2 years after graduating I am ready to go back to school to pursue PA.

I have not yet taken Gen Chem II, Orgo I, Orgo II, Physics II, Biochem of any sort, Genetics, medical terminology (just to name some courses that are always or sometimes required for admission to PA school).

I have been accepted to FAU as a second bachelor's student and just submitted my application for re-enrollment to UMD. Where should I go? Obviously UMD is a "better school" and in-state tuition would be dirt cheap. On the other hand, the bit of research I've done on FAU suggests their courses may be "easier", which is appealing to me because I need straight A's. I'm ready to work hard to earn the grades I want, but I'm not above giving myself a little advantage. Plus...I'm sick of the cold! Both schools have good pre-health advising.

Does anyone have insight into the science courses at FAU? Any advice at all for my current situation? Thank you!!

 

[AliciaAccepted]

I would recommend considering the pro's and con's of each option. Divide up a piece of paper and list them out. When you are finished, I would ask you to describe how you feel about each option and to list those feelings on the paper, too. Take all of this information into consideration when making your decision. Some questions to consider:

1. Where can you afford to complete more coursework?
2. Where will you have the most support?
3. Which school offers the classes that you are most excited to take?

I have seen students who have had F's on their transcripts matriculate successfully into medical school and other professional health programs, as long as they retake the classes for higher grades, as you have, and take additional coursework to establish strong increasing trends in their GPA's. To create a consistent increasing trend, analyze what you have done in the past that has and has not worked for you. Establish a study strategy based on this information and your strengths.

Take your time and use good judgment. I'm sure you'll make the right decision based on your situation. Good luck!

 

[Puppleupagus]

I would recommend considering the pro's and con's of each option. Divide up a piece of paper and list them out. When you are finished, I would ask you to describe how you feel about each option and to list those feelings on the paper, too. Take all of this information into consideration when making your decision. Some questions to consider:

1. Where can you afford to complete more coursework?
2. Where will you have the most support?
3. Which school offers the classes that you are most excited to take?

I have seen students who have had F's on their transcripts matriculate successfully into medical school and other professional health programs, as long as they retake the classes for higher grades, as you have, and take additional coursework to establish strong increasing trends in their GPA's. To create a consistent increasing trend, analyze what you have done in the past that has and has not worked for you. Establish a study strategy based on this information and your strengths.

Take your time and use good judgment. I'm sure you'll make the right decision based on your situation. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply! Great advice. I actually did start making a list of pros and cons last night, but it seemed like a lot of repetitive topics (crappy weather in MD, awesome weather in FL; cheap tuition in MD, expensive tuition in FL; support of friends and family in MD, not in FL; new experiences in FL, not in MD, etc). I feel like I was biased when writing out the list...I would love to go to FAU, but the more practical option is UMD. I wish I knew more about FAU to make a better decision based on academics.

 

[iceman55]

No to FAU. if your gonna move so far, only do it for med school or PA. Do not move half way down the country to do a post bacc. Stay at UMD-college park and prove that you can succeed in some upper division science courses at a big university.

IMO, it just doesn't make any sense to move so far just for a post-bacc. Plus, you have your whole support system in MD and am guessing you already have your living situation as well. So the only thing you have to focus on is academics, as it should be when doing a post bacc. oh and it's cheaper, save that money for med school or PA School.

Oh, and the winters in maryland, especially around college park/DC area are mild at worst, it doesnt even get that cold nor snow much.

And I don't know you feel about humidity, but I hate it and there is plenty of it down in florida.

 

[Apollo1]

FAU is a public university, so you're tuition would be rated as out-of-state until you established residency (in Florida I think it takes 1 year of living in the same domicile). In the grand scheme of things, it's good to hedge your bets if you don't get into PA school down the road. You're already established in Maryland, still have a job (I assume) and you're post-secondary debt isn't astronomical at this point. Unless you have access to the course material from FAU for the courses you have "heard" are easy, view your source(s) skeptically. If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with UMD-College Park. Get those A's in your pre-reqs, no matter the difficulty.