Seeking advice for the next step...

[AlvinaC]

Hello,

Thank you, first of all to anyone choosing to reply to my post and taking out the time to guide me in the right direction... My undergrad GPA is quite low, embarrassingly low in fact, and I have done my research on whether to do a formal post-bacc or SMP or a DIY post-bacc. I have come to the conclusion that I need to take many many credits to boost my GPA and a second bachelor's degree is what I need (I don't plan on finishing and will ditch the program once I have boosted up my GPA enough). Another reason for choosing a second bachelors degree is because I want to be a degree-seeking student for FAFSA reasons or else I will just do a DIY post-bacc. I have all the science pre-req (very low science gpa too) except for biochem, so the extra classes whether a second bachelor's or DIY, is simply to boost the gpa. Now my first question is: do I need to choose a science major for this second degree or should I choose just any degree and take loads of science classes? Because I don't plan on finishing the degree anyway, so does it really matter? My second question is: since I have all my pre-req science classes done and some elective science classes as well (bad grades in most of them), in my new degree do I retake the same courses for a better grade?

I had a few more questions which I can't remember right now 🙁 But please anyone who knows from experience or has knowledge regarding my situation, kindly let me know...

Thank you,
Alvina.

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[paradoxic_toxic]

I have come to the conclusion that I need to take many many credits to boost my GPA and a second bachelor's degree is what I need (I don't plan on finishing and will ditch the program once I have boosted up my GPA enough).

Dont do this. This shows lack of commitment and will be a glaring red flag on your application. Let's say you do get an acceptance--your acceptance will most likely be contingent upon finishing the degree anyway.

If you have most of the science pre-reqs and you're looking to boost your GPA, then a DIY post-bacc is much more sensible. I understand that money is a major concern but if your heart is dead set on pursuing medicine, then the cost of post-bacc classes is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of attendance for SMP/med schools.

in my new degree do I retake the same courses for a better grade?

Do not re-take unless its a C-

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

For now:

1. Do a DIY post-bacc or formal post-bacc (and finish it)
2. Improve your cGPA/sGPA past 3.0
3. Take the MCAT and obtain a score > 500

Far off in the future:

• Consider the possibility of enrolling in an SMP if you're applying to MD
• Consider the possibility of applying to DO schools

 

[AlvinaC]

Dont do this. This shows lack of commitment and will be a glaring red flag on your application. Let's say you do get an acceptance--your acceptance will most likely be contingent upon finishing the degree anyway.

If you have most of the science pre-reqs and you're looking to boost your GPA, then a DIY post-bacc is much more sensible. I understand that money is a major concern but if your heart is dead set on pursuing medicine, then the cost of post-bacc classes is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of attendance for SMP/med schools.



Do not re-take unless its a C-

Hi,
Thank you so much for replying to my post. I already have a bachelor's degree and all my pre-reqs (except for biochem) done. Even in that case is it a red flag if I don't finish my second bachelor's? Because my transcript will show that I already have a degree.

Thank you again for your suggestion. Perhaps I should just do a DIY post-bacc.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Hi,
Thank you so much for replying to my post. I already have a bachelor's degree and all my pre-reqs (except for biochem) done. Even in that case is it a red flag if I don't finish my second bachelor's? Because my transcript will show that I already have a degree.

Thank you again for your suggestion. Perhaps I should just do a DIY post-bacc.

You're welcome!

Yes, dropping your second bachelor's degree will raise questions about your commitment as a medical student, even if you have a degree already. You've mentioned that you had a poor academic performance the first time around. Now is not the time to take half measures.. you must show adcoms that you can handle the rigors of medical school.

In your eyes, you would be dropping your second degree because you believe your grades are sufficient. In the eyes of an adcom officer, he/she will believe you settle for the absolute minimum.

DIY post-bacc is the better option in your case.

Suggested read:

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

So you want to be a doctor, but your GPA is terrible. Is that the end? Rule #1: Take a deep breath, and stop fussing. The sky is not falling. But you are going to need to reinvent yourself. This will take both time and money. And always remember that you’re in a marathon now, not a sprint...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[AlvinaC]

You're welcome!

Yes, dropping your second bachelor's degree will raise questions about your commitment as a medical student, even if you have a degree already. You've mentioned that you had a poor academic performance the first time around. Now is not the time to take half measures.. you must show adcoms that you can handle the rigors of medical school.

In your eyes, you would be dropping your second degree because you believe your grades are sufficient. In the eyes of an adcom officer, he/she will believe you settle for the absolute minimum.

DIY post-bacc is the better option in your case.

Suggested read:

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

So you want to be a doctor, but your GPA is terrible. Is that the end? Rule #1: Take a deep breath, and stop fussing. The sky is not falling. But you are going to need to reinvent yourself. This will take both time and money. And always remember that you’re in a marathon now, not a sprint...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Thank you so much for explaining further. I am really grateful for your time and reply. I will do the DIY post-bacc, since what you explained make sense.

 

[Suess]

OP, I have seen many other users on this site recommend enrolling as a second degree-seeking student while not planning to finish the second bachelors and nobody bats an eye. That advice is generally the norm because of FAFSA considerations (like you mentioned) and also for registration purposes.

It seems like you guys think a DIY post-bacc and taking classes toward a second bachelors are mutually exclusive. This is not the case. In fact, from my understanding, becoming a second degree-seeking student is the ideal way to complete a DIY post-bacc at a four-year university. I doubt that your medical school acceptance would be contingent upon finishing a second bachelors. Provided that you have shown that you can handle medical school through coursework and GPA improvement (and a good MCAT), you should be good. So take biochem, retake pre-reqs in which you have a C- or lower, and focus on upper-level sciences.

Of course, if the number of classes you need to take for GPA repair earns you a second degree, then obviously you should officially obtain it.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Imo a second degree would only be helpful if OP didn't have the prereqs completed. A DIY post-bacc would offer flexibility and a chance to back out if things don't go as planned. Why risk getting another red flag by dropping out of a 2nd bachelor's degree halfway?

 

[Suess]

I guess what I don't understand is how you recommend OP does a DIY post-bacc without becoming a second degree-seeking student?

I also don't think that dropping the second degree will be seen as lacking commitment. The AdComs know that they're just taking courses for GPA repair, so if they can successfully repair it, why keep spending time/money on extra courses?

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

I wouldn't want OP to take a formal post-bacc as s/he already has the med school prereqs (excluding biochemistry). Formal post-baccs are geared for career switchers.

Beginning a second bachelor's degree and quitting halfway would be seen as poor judgement. It doesn't matter what OP's intentions were for starting it--it would just raise more questions about the OP's ability to finish a commitment.

OP's goal was to "take many many credits to boost [her] GPA" and stop afterwards. This is exactly what a DIY post-bac is for. OP is seeking reinvention which has 2 objectives: 1) raise the cGPA/sGPA far above 3.0 through sustained academic performance and 2) prove to adcoms that s/he can handle the rigors of medical school. Not only does OP need to complete course work as a full-time student, the course work must also be similar to what is offered in a typical medical school, i.e, immunology, microbiology, etc.

A formal post-bac wouldn't offer the same flexibility as a DIY post-bac. OP can skip taking any intro or mid-level classes and go straight for the upper-level sciences, take as many classes as desired as a non-degree student, and 'drop' out without raising questions.

I hope this explains my advice.

 

[Fidelio17]

Wow. Um... lots of interesting opinions/alternative facts floating around here.

I started a second bachelors with no intention of finishing it in order to take pre-requisites via a DIY post bacc. I had to register as a degree seeking student in order to be eligible for loans & be able to register early enough to actually get into the classes I needed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that approach (as most of the relevant posts on other threads will state, which you'd likely find via the search function). It worked, because I'm currently a medical student.

My situation was a little different because I'm a career changer, didn't need a gpa boost, & had no pre-reqs.

For OP, I highly suggest you read the thread from Goro linked above. But not finishing a second bachelors won't make you seem uncommitted. Basically, that's the only way to do a diy post bacc.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Basically, that's the only way to do a diy post bacc.

Not really. I know a few friends taking upper level sciences as non-degree students to fix their GPA.

 

[ciestar]

A school doesn’t even to know you were seeking a second bachelors at the time... idk why this is being floated around as a bad idea.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

A school doesn’t even to know you were seeking a second bachelors at the time... idk why this is being floated around as a bad idea.

Wouldn't the second degree show up on the transcript/primary?

 

[ciestar]

Wouldn't the second degree show up on the transcript/primary?

Yeah that came to mind after I made my post.

Either way, I dont see it being held against someone.

 

[AlvinaC]

Thanks to all of you for giving your suggestions and advice. I truly appreciate you taking out the time to do so. So I just found out from few other people that there's no grant available for second degree seekers. In that case, the real and only advantage of a second bachelor's degree is that I will get to choose classes in a timely manner and won't be the last to pick out classes as a non-degree seeker/DIY post-bacc student. If I do choose to do a second bachelor degree, do I need to choose a science major or any major will do as long as I take lots of science classes?

I spoke at University of Central Florida and they said that if I want to pursue a second bachelor's degree, I will be considered a transfer student (my primary UG College was Florida Atlantic University) and many of my credits will transfer over. Anyone have any thought on that or know anything about it?

Again thanks to everyone for your valuable input.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Thanks to all of you for giving your suggestions and advice. I truly appreciate you taking out the time to do so. So I just found out from few other people that there's no grant available for second degree seekers. In that case, the real and only advantage of a second bachelor's degree is that I will get to choose classes in a timely manner and won't be the last to pick out classes as a non-degree seeker/DIY post-bacc student. If I do choose to do a second bachelor degree, do I need to choose a science major or any major will do as long as I take lots of science classes?

I spoke at University of Central Florida and they said that if I want to pursue a second bachelor's degree, I will be considered a transfer student (my primary UG College was Florida Atlantic University) and many of my credits will transfer over. Anyone have any thought on that or know anything about it?

Again thanks to everyone for your valuable input.

The SDN consensus is that major doesn't matter, only that you do well in it. Just take as many science classes as you can.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Guys, as a person who has done this herself, you all need to know that a DIY postbac *is* typically a second degree. I didn't finish my "second degree" and it has not held me back in any capacity (I have 7 MD interviews so far in this cycle).

I had to enroll as a degree seeking student in order to access financial aid and priority registration. It would have been so difficult and expensive to do a DIY postbac as a non-matriculated (i.e., non second degree-seeking) student. By the way, my "second degree" major shows up on my transcript, but nowhere does it highlight that my second degree was unfinished.

OP, nobody has questioned my commitment with my "unfinished" second degree. Go with what's cheapest and most convenient to raise your GPA and let me know if I can answer any questions for you!

 

[chicandtoughness]

Also did the same thing. I enrolled in a 2nd bachelor's degree in order to do my DIY post-bacc because 1) non degree students don't get to register until a month after degree students, and that's no bueno for getting classes, 2) financial aiddddd, 3) no one ****ing cares. Everyone knows that this is the easiest path to getting a post-bacc so med school adcoms will not bat an eye.

Wouldn't the second degree show up on the transcript/primary?

I switched my status from 2nd degree to non-degree the last semester and it doesn't show up. This is most likely very school dependent though.

 

[AlvinaC]

Guys, as a person who has done this herself, you all need to know that a DIY postbac *is* typically a second degree. I didn't finish my "second degree" and it has not held me back in any capacity (I have 7 MD interviews so far in this cycle).

I had to enroll as a degree seeking student in order to access financial aid and priority registration. It would have been so difficult and expensive to do a DIY postbac as a non-matriculated (i.e., non second degree-seeking) student. By the way, my "second degree" major shows up on my transcript, but nowhere does it highlight that my second degree was unfinished.

OP, nobody has questioned my commitment with my "unfinished" second degree. Go with what's cheapest and most convenient to raise your GPA and let me know if I can answer any questions for you!

Thank you ever so much for your advice. I really appreciate you taking out the time to explain and talk about your own experience.