Senior Year Applying Questions

[CalBear456]

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Hello All,

A little background information on me, I am currently an incoming senior at UCLA( LOL to the username) and we're on the quarter system. I will be applying this upcoming cycle and am planning on submitting my primaries in the 1st week of June. As a result I won't be including my spring quarter grades in my application because we will likely receive our grades in the last week of June or in July. So I have a few questions:

1. Say I am taking 4 classes in my spring quarter and by June 1st week I receive grades for 2 of the 4 classes can I input these into my s=primary and leave the other two classes grades blank? Will this confuse any adcoms? Will I have to explain this?

2. I am also doing honors college at my school- not meaning latin honors. So I am graduating with college honors. Where is a good place for me to include this and will this look nicely when applying?

3. Will it be okay if I take community college classes( which are usually semester schools) in addition to my spring quarter classes at UCLA? The reason being many CC's are semester schools and so they will receive their grades by the end of May and so I can input these grades in my primary in time, as opposed to my UCLA Classes.

I am likely going to end up between a 3.79 and a 3.81 overall gpa and a 3.70-3.72 science gpa.

@gonnif @Goro @Catalystik @LizzyM @WedgeDawg @gyngyn

 

[Catalystik]

A little background information on me, I am currently an incoming senior at UCLA( LOL to the username) and we're on the quarter system. I will be applying this upcoming cycle and am planning on submitting my primaries in the 1st week of June. As a result I won't be including my spring quarter grades in my application because we will likely receive our grades in the last week of June or in July. So I have a few questions:

1. Say I am taking 4 classes in my spring quarter and by June 1st week I receive grades for 2 of the 4 classes can I input these into my s=primary and leave the other two classes grades blank? Will this confuse any adcoms? Will I have to explain this?

2. I am also doing honors college at my school- not meaning latin honors. So I am graduating with college honors. Where is a good place for me to include this and will this look nicely when applying?

3. Will it be okay if I take community college classes( which are usually semester schools) in addition to my spring quarter classes at UCLA? The reason being many CC's are semester schools and so they will receive their grades by the end of May and so I can input these grades in my primary in time, as opposed to my UCLA Classes.

I am likely going to end up between a 3.79 and a 3.81 overall gpa and a 3.70-3.72 science gpa.

@gonnif @Goro @Catalystik @LizzyM @WedgeDawg @gyngyn

1) You can enter ongoing classes as "Future." This is commonly done, so it won't confuse anyone. You will want to get a copy of your official transcript when the time comes and list the grades exactly as they appear there.

2) Until you have graduated, you have not earned the "Honors" designation, so you won't mention it on your application. Adcomms won't care anyway. They just care about your GPA. Your final transcript submitted to the school you choose to attend will have the Honors designation mentioned.

3) AMCAS has instructions on how to convert your quarter system grades to the semester system that is their standard. It's fine to mix two types of grading systems.

 

[Toutie]

Are you sure you can take CC classes at the same time as UCLA classes? I know summer is okay, but I thought UCLA frowned on dual enrollment during the year. Double check on that before you do it.

 

[CalBear456]

1) You can enter ongoing classes as "Future." This is commonly done, so it won't confuse anyone. You will want to get a copy of your official transcript when the time comes and list the grades exactly as they appear there.

2) Until you have graduated, you have not earned the "Honors" designation, so you won't mention it on your application. Adcomms won't care anyway. They just care about your GPA. Your final transcript submitted to the school you choose to attend will have the Honors designation mentioned.

3) AMCAS has instructions on how to convert your quarter system grades to the semester system that is their standard. It's fine to mix two types of grading systems.

I think submitting my primary by mid to late July, will hinder early verification and postpone my whole timeline. Do you also believe that I should just list my spring quarter of my senior year as future and just look to submit by june 1st week or so? Once again the reason being i'm at a quarter school, and we will get our grades by early-mid july! Thank you

 

[CalBear456]

Are you sure you can take CC classes at the same time as UCLA classes? I know summer is okay, but I thought UCLA frowned on dual enrollment during the year. Double check on that before you do it.

No definitely they won't allow it; but I won't be using the cc classes for requirements but rather just to have a few grades in place of my spring quarter. As you know man, we will receive our spring grades at the latest by mid july; and I don't feel comfortable waiting that long to submit my primary. So, if i take 1 or 2 CC classes-as they're usually on the semester system, I'll receive grades by may ending which will allow me to input them into my primary and submit by 1st week of june

 

[Catalystik]

Do you also believe that I should just list my spring quarter of my senior year as future and just look to submit by june 1st week or so? Once again the reason being i'm at a quarter school, and we will get our grades by early-mid july!

What prerequisite classes might you be taking during that spring quarter, if any? Are any of them repeats due to previous low grade or withdrawal? If the answer is, "None, or one" then I suggest that submitting in early June rather than late July would be desirable, provided your Registrar's Office will be willing to send out an official transcript without waiting for the end of the academic year. You might call and check on their policy in that regard.

I won't be using the cc classes for requirements but rather just to have a few grades in place of my spring quarter.

What classes would you anticipate taking at the CC? Keep in mind that many apply at the end of junior year with an entire year of classes yet to come. I don't feel you need to take CC classes just to have a place holder for senior spring grades.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I think submitting my primary by mid to late July, will hinder early verification and postpone my whole timeline. Do you also believe that I should just list my spring quarter of my senior year as future and just look to submit by june 1st week or so? Once again the reason being i'm at a quarter school, and we will get our grades by early-mid july! Thank you

Submitting in July does not put you at any significant disadvantage. It is an SDN myth that you need to be submitted June 1 and transmitted on the first day to be competitive.

 

[Toutie]

No definitely they won't allow it; but I won't be using the cc classes for requirements but rather just to have a few grades in place of my spring quarter. As you know man, we will receive our spring grades at the latest by mid july; and I don't feel comfortable waiting that long to submit my primary. So, if i take 1 or 2 CC classes-as they're usually on the semester system, I'll receive grades by may ending which will allow me to input them into my primary and submit by 1st week of june

Honestly, I would just wait for your spring grades to come in before you submit. You do NOT absolutely have to have your app in one June 1. Tons of applicants are on the quarter system (not just UCLA) and are not hurt by not having their app in on day 1. Mid July is STILL early! Would the last quarter even make that much of an impact on your GPA?

Also, you don't think that taking some CC classes in addition to 4 classes at UCLA might have a negative impact on your UCLA grades. Don't try to stretch yourself too thin. You would probably be better served to use those hours you are planning for some CC classes to do continue to build ECs. Seriously how much impact do you expect a couple CC courses to even have on your GPA? I just don't see the logic in it at all.

Overall your GPA is great. Unless you blow your grades in your last year, it is more than good enough. Much of how successful your cycle will be will depend on your MCAT and your ECs. Have you taken the MCAT yet? If not, when do you plan to? Are your ECs strong? These are the thing that you should be focusing on, not taking a couple CC classes to pad your GPA.

 

[CalBear456]

What prerequisite classes might you be taking during that spring quarter, if any? Are any of them repeats due to previous low grade or withdrawal? If the answer is, "None, or one" then I suggest that submitting in early June rather than late July would be desirable, provided your Registrar's Office will be willing to send out an official transcript without waiting for the end of the academic year. You might call and check on their policy in that regard.

What classes would you anticipate taking at the CC? Keep in mind that many apply at the end of junior year with an entire year of classes yet to come. I don't feel you need to take CC classes just to have a place holder for senior spring grades.

What prerequisite classes might you be taking during that spring quarter, if any? Are any of them repeats due to previous low grade or withdrawal? If the answer is, "None, or one" then I suggest that submitting in early June rather than late July would be desirable, provided your Registrar's Office will be willing to send out an official transcript without waiting for the end of the academic year. You might call and check on their policy in that regard.

What classes would you anticipate taking at the CC? Keep in mind that many apply at the end of junior year with an entire year of classes yet to come. I don't feel you need to take CC classes just to have a place holder for senior spring grades.

So in my spring quarter of senior year, I won't be taking any prerequisite classes and none of the class I will be taking will be repeats due to low grades or withdrawal.

Also, on another note I did withdraw from one upper division biology class last year, do you recommend I retake it and complete it for a grade? Furthermore, the lowest grade I received in any upper division class is a B- in Biochemistry 1 and my plan was to take another higher level biochemistry class to prove my academic capacity- would you also recommend this action? My overall gpa before my spring quarter will likely fall between a 3.79 and a 3.81 w/ my science gpa between a 3.70-3.72; my mcat is 515 also btw.

The only reason I want to take CC classes ( Likely GE courses) during the spring quarter of senior year is because if I end with a 3.79 overall gpa before that quarter I can use 1 or 2 classes from the semester system CC (who will release grades by May ending and so can be submitted in my primary in early June) to hopefully boost it up to a 3.80 or higher. Obviously there isn't a difference between a 3.79 and a 3.80 but maybe just looking at the number it can induce a slight psychological difference? That is the only reason, I am not trying to take the easy way out or anything I just want to apply with a 3.80 or higher and the CC route is the only way I can get grades in time that quarter.

 

[CalBear456]

Honestly, I would just wait for your spring grades to come in before you submit. You do NOT absolutely have to have your app in one June 1. Tons of applicants are on the quarter system (not just UCLA) and are not hurt by not having their app in on day 1. Mid July is STILL early! Would the last quarter even make that much of an impact on your GPA?

Also, you don't think that taking some CC classes in addition to 4 classes at UCLA might have a negative impact on your UCLA grades. Don't try to stretch yourself too thin. You would probably be better served to use those hours you are planning for some CC classes to do continue to build ECs. Seriously how much impact do you expect a couple CC courses to even have on your GPA? I just don't see the logic in it at all.

Overall your GPA is great. Unless you blow your grades in your last year, it is more than good enough. Much of how successful your cycle will be will depend on your MCAT and your ECs. Have you taken the MCAT yet? If not, when do you plan to? Are your ECs strong? These are the thing that you should be focusing on, not taking a couple CC classes to pad your GPA.

The only reason I want to take CC classes ( Likely GE courses) during the spring quarter of senior year is because if I end with a 3.79 overall gpa before that quarter I can use 1 or 2 classes from the semester system CC (who will release grades by May ending and so can be submitted in my primary in early June) to hopefully boost it up to a 3.80 or higher. Obviously there isn't a difference between a 3.79 and a 3.80 but maybe just looking at the number it can induce a slight psychological difference? That is the only reason, I am not trying to take the easy way out or anything I just want to apply with a 3.80 or higher and the CC route is the only way I can get grades in time that quarter.

Honestly man, my spring quarter of senior year will be so chill haha. I am only required to take 1 science upper div and I will have fulfilled everything. That's the reason I can afford to take 1 or 2 cc ge classes. Overall I have a 515 MCAT, and I think I have solid extracurriculars. Hey on another note, did you take part in the honors college at UCLA?

 

[CalBear456]

Your timeline is dictated by your grade released not your desire to do something else. Dont you think the California med schools know how the UGs work? Your idea to take CC classes is ludicrious and will make you look like someone simply trying to pad their grades which exactly what it is. Presumably you have an MCAT score by January so you can target schools, research them indepth, get their old secondary, prewrite them, all before you even get to AMCAS.

I see your point Gonnif, and appreciate your response. I scored a 515 on my MCAT and will work on what you recommend- prewriting secondaries during that time too. I also have two questions if you don't mind:

- I did withdraw from one upper division biology class my junior year, do you recommend I retake it and complete it for a grade? Besides this, I only ever got 1 other W in a GE course my freshman year which i retook and got an A. I hope 2 W's will be alright considering I got one my 1st year and the second one my junior year.

Furthermore, the lowest grade I received in any upper division class is a B- in Biochemistry 1 and my plan was to take another higher level biochemistry class to prove my academic capacity- would you also recommend this action? My overall gpa before my spring quarter will likely fall between a 3.79 and a 3.81 w/ my science gpa between a 3.70-3.72.

 

[Catalystik]

So in my spring quarter of senior year, I won't be taking any prerequisite classes and none of the class I will be taking will be repeats due to low grades or withdrawal.

1) I did withdraw from one upper division biology class last year, do you recommend I retake it and complete it for a grade?
2) Furthermore, the lowest grade I received in any upper division class is a B- in Biochemistry 1 and my plan was to take another higher level biochemistry class to prove my academic capacity- would you also recommend this action?

My overall gpa before my spring quarter will likely fall between a 3.79 and a 3.81 w/ my science gpa between a 3.70-3.72; my mcat is 515 also btw.

The only reason I want to take CC classes ( Likely GE courses) during the spring quarter of senior year is because if I end with a 3.79 overall gpa before that quarter I can use 1 or 2 classes from the semester system CC (who will release grades by May ending and so can be submitted in my primary in early June) to hopefully boost it up to a 3.80 or higher.

3) Obviously there isn't a difference between a 3.79 and a 3.80 but maybe just looking at the number it can induce a slight psychological difference? That is the only reason, I am not trying to take the easy way out or anything I just want to apply with a 3.80 or higher and the CC route is the only way I can get grades in time that quarter.

1) What was the upper-division Bio class you withdrew from? Why did you drop it?

2) No. You run the risk of a non-A grade due to tougher course material.

3) You have to weigh the perceived (minute) positive GPA improvement against the potential negative perception of taking easy CC classes, as well as the possibility that you won't earn the As you plan on.

 

[Toutie]

The only reason I want to take CC classes ( Likely GE courses) during the spring quarter of senior year is because if I end with a 3.79 overall gpa before that quarter I can use 1 or 2 classes from the semester system CC (who will release grades by May ending and so can be submitted in my primary in early June) to hopefully boost it up to a 3.80 or higher. Obviously there isn't a difference between a 3.79 and a 3.80 but maybe just looking at the number it can induce a slight psychological difference? That is the only reason, I am not trying to take the easy way out or anything I just want to apply with a 3.80 or higher and the CC route is the only way I can get grades in time that quarter.

Honestly man, my spring quarter of senior year will be so chill haha. I am only required to take 1 science upper div and I will have fulfilled everything. That's the reason I can afford to take 1 or 2 cc ge classes. Overall I have a 515 MCAT, and I think I have solid extracurriculars. Hey on another note, did you take part in the honors college at UCLA?

I have to agree with the others that taking those classes at a CC will risk adcoms seeing exactly what you are doing...trying to pad your GPA. That little bit of padding will not make a noticeable difference in your GPA, but your attempt at padding might be noticable.

If you have a 3.79 and a 515 and good EC's then you are good to go. 3.80 will NOT make your app look any better.

I was not in the honors college at UCLA, I was at UCLA a million years ago. 😀 But I do not believe it will make much difference (if any) on your application.

And lastly...how many schools have you gone to? 2 years at a CC then to UCSD and then UCLA? Why the move from SD to LA?

 

[CalBear456]

1) What was the upper-division Bio class you withdrew from? Why did you drop it?

2) No. You run the risk of a non-A grade due to tougher course material.

3) You have to weigh the perceived (minute) positive GPA improvement against the potential negative perception of taking easy CC classes, as well as the possibility that you won't earn the As you plan on.

1. The name of the class was, "Pre-Historic California." I dropped it because I made a mistake in studying properly for the class and so I wasn't able to do well on my 1st midterm. I had transferred from a semester school to a quarter system school, only the term before( fall quarter) and so I was still adjusting. However, I immediately learned from this and the next quarter( spring quarter) I took 3 sciences and a Ge and got all A's and an A-. It was a very unfortunate rookie mistake, that I still beat myself over 🙁. I hope it's understandable in the view of an adcom if it's a one time situation. My overall gpa is still a 3.8 at the moment w/ a 3.71 science gpa. BUT, if you recommend that I retake the same class- I have no problem in doing so.

2. yes I understand. The main reason I feel I got a B- in biochem 1 is because I took it the first quarter after I transferred to UCLA and my new Pi was making me work 25 hours a week in her lab- and It was a very rough transition for me, and I really tried to do the best that I could. So, I was just thinking that if I take another higher level Biochemistry class as an elective maybe I can aim to do better and even get an A to show that my earlier grade was just a fluke; especially now that I am able to handle a rigorous course load as demonstrated with my latest quarter.

3. Also, if it helps i know I said I transferred from a semester school( my gpa there was a 3.81/ 3.73 science gpa). My gpa at UCLA is a 3.77/ 3.69 science gpa; which can still go up because I have at least fall, winter quarter to bring up (prior to submitting my primary).

 

[Catalystik]

1. The name of the class was, "Pre-Historic California." I dropped it because I made a mistake in studying properly for the class and so I wasn't able to do well on my 1st midterm. I had transferred from a semester school to a quarter system school, only the term before( fall quarter) and so I was still adjusting. However, I immediately learned from this and the next quarter( spring quarter) I took 3 sciences and a Ge and got all A's and an A-. It was a very unfortunate rookie mistake, that I still beat myself over 🙁. I hope it's understandable in the view of an adcom if it's a one time situation. My overall gpa is still a 3.8 at the moment w/ a 3.71 science gpa. BUT, if you recommend that I retake the same class- I have no problem in doing so.

2. yes I understand. The main reason I feel I got a B- in biochem 1 is because I took it the first quarter after I transferred to UCLA and my new Pi was making me work 25 hours a week in her lab- and It was a very rough transition for me, and I really tried to do the best that I could. So, I was just thinking that if I take another higher level Biochemistry class as an elective maybe I can aim to do better and even get an A to show that my earlier grade was just a fluke; especially now that I am able to handle a rigorous course load as demonstrated with my latest quarter.

3. Also, if it helps i know I said I transferred from a semester school( my gpa there was a 3.81/ 3.73 science gpa). My gpa at UCLA is a 3.77/ 3.69 science gpa; which can still go up because I have at least fall, winter quarter to bring up (prior to submitting my primary).

1) No need to retake that one, or to spend one more minute of stress on worrying about the impression dropping that GE might leave.

2) Best to check with other students who took that class and be sure the grades are curved and the professor good at teaching concepts, so you don't get blind-sided. Side comment: considering the stress on your just-transferred self having to work 25 hours per week in a lab, you did great.

3) I agree that any adcomm would have a hard time making the case that you can't handle rigorous coursework.

 

[CalBear456]

1) No need to retake that one, or to spend one more minute of stress on worrying about the impression dropping that GE might leave.

2) Best to check with other students who took that class and be sure the grades are curved and the professor good at teaching concepts, so you don't get blind-sided. Side comment: considering the stress on your just-transferred self having to work 25 hours per week in a lab, you did great.

3) I agree that any adcomm would have a hard time making the case that you can't handle rigorous coursework.

Thank you so much for your advice and answers; you're very kind! One of my worst experiences in college was with that PI who made me work 25 hours a week and gave me a B- in the research for credit course. I remember when going in for the interview she told me," You came at an opportune time, we're so close to a publication... just do 10 hours a week and take the easy A in the independent research class." Even though I ended up doing 25 hours a week without any support from her or any grad students she gave me a B-. Her reasoning was that in my lab we grade you on what you findings and discoveries not your work ethic/ effort; she even went so far to say that she was considering giving me a C+ but was generous. I had a hard time understanding this because how can I control the findings, not all experiments any research performs is guaranteed to lead to new discoveries. She also kicked me out of the lab after I urged her to reconsider why she was doing that to me. But, I didn't want to argue with her further b/c I was scared she would degrade me.

 

[Catalystik]

One of my worst experiences in college was with that PI who made me work 25 hours a week and gave me a B- in the research for credit course. I remember when going in for the interview she told me," You came at an opportune time, we're so close to a publication... just do 10 hours a week and take the easy A in the independent research class." Even though I ended up doing 25 hours a week without any support from her or any grad students she gave me a B-. Her reasoning was that in my lab we grade you on what you findings and discoveries not your work ethic/ effort; she even went so far to say that she was considering giving me a C+ but was generous. I had a hard time understanding this because how can I control the findings, not all experiments any research performs is guaranteed to lead to new discoveries. She also kicked me out of the lab after I urged her to reconsider why she was doing that to me. But, I didn't want to argue with her further b/c I was scared she would degrade me.

Then you know what I meant by "getting blindsided". I hope there was a site like Rate My Professor where you could share that story. An academic researcher should not dismiss the priority of education in favor of lab productivity.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Then you know what I meant by "getting blindsided". I hope there was a site like Rate My Professor where you could share that story. An academic researcher should not dismiss the priority of education in favor of lab productivity.

This was actually not a UCLA faculty member; but rather a separate researcher of our Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Hopefully, most other premeds don’t have the experience that I did 🙁 If I am asked about the grade at an interview, is my explanation of the situation viable? I hope I am not sounding like I’m making any excuses.


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[Catalystik]

This was actually not a UCLA faculty member; but rather a separate researcher of our Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Hopefully, most other premeds don’t have the experience that I did 🙁 If I am asked about the grade at an interview, is my explanation of the situation viable? I hope I am not sounding like I’m making any excuses.

I doubt you'll be asked, but if so, the explanation is reasonable and I'd include in it something about lessons learned from the experience.