UCLA and AACOMAS discrepancy

[physcigirl27]

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[Juice9]

I graduated from UCLA this year with a B.S. in Biology. I have a C- in chem 14B that I'm retaking but I've taken all the classes in the sequence and passed. Yesterday, the admissions director from LMU-DCOM emailed me to tell me that I'm .6 units short in the "inorganic chem" category and that I have to make up those units or I can't matriculate anywhere...I'm really confused about what to do. I've never heard about that being a problem from my friends that graduated from UCLA before me. It seems unfair for me to have to take another chem class now in a rush. I told him that UCLA's entire chem sequence is odd in that its broken up really weird / is a blend of both orgo/inorg and he said he'd talk with admissions committee and see what they say...

I'm abroad traveling and I've been MAJORLY freaking out trying to figure out wha to do. :/

any ideas?

Is the admissions director at LMU-DCOM aware that you are retaking that chem course. If not, all they're going to see is a C- which is not a passing grade for a pre-req.

 

[DrWily]

I graduated from UCLA this year with a B.S. in Biology. I have a C- in chem 14B that I'm retaking but I've taken all the classes in the sequence and passed. Yesterday, the admissions director from LMU-DCOM emailed me to tell me that I'm .6 units short in the "inorganic chem" category and that I have to make up those units or I can't matriculate anywhere...I'm really confused about what to do. I've never heard about that being a problem from my friends that graduated from UCLA before me. It seems unfair for me to have to take another chem class now in a rush. I told him that UCLA's entire chem sequence is odd in that its broken up really weird / is a blend of both orgo/inorg and he said he'd talk with admissions committee and see what they say...

I'm abroad traveling and I've been MAJORLY freaking out trying to figure out wha to do. :/

any ideas?

Chem 14B: What is the course title? Inorganic Chem is basically general chemistry.

 

[jinobi]

14A-B + BL will satisfy your GChem/Inorganic Chemistry requirements, as long as they know you're taking that C- in 14B.

 

[physcigirl27]

14A-B + BL will satisfy your GChem/Inorganic Chemistry requirements, as long as they know you're taking that C- in 14B.

Yeah the admin director knows that I'm retaking and he said that the .6 deficiency is there AFTER the retake. I just checked my AACOMAS app and it says the same thing...I just calculated the credit hours and even after the retake, I'm short units...which doesn't make sense.

Chem 14B is thermo/kinetics/energy...

Did UCLA people have to email the DO schools and explain this to them or did the DO schools just figure it out and fix it themselves?

 

[DrWily]

Yeah the admin director knows that I'm retaking and he said that the .6 deficiency is there AFTER the retake. I just checked my AACOMAS app and it says the same thing...I just calculated the credit hours and even after the retake, I'm short units...which doesn't make sense.

Chem 14B is thermo/kinetics/energy...

Did UCLA people have to email the DO schools and explain this to them or did the DO schools just figure it out and fix it themselves?

Well, looks like you're in trouble. Have to cut the travelling short and come home to get that pre-req taken care of if you want to matriculate. If the admin director contacted you, then I imagine there's no room to fudge around trying to get them to waive it.

 

[jinobi]

Just checked my AACOMAS from way long ago.

You'll need to contact each school and explain your circumstance. I happened to have an extra Inorganic Chemistry class that filled in that 0.6 unit gap. The way UCLA assigns units for BL/CL is crap - you get 1 more unit for CL than you do for BL, which explains why you can fully meet your Orgo chem requirements with the same amount of classes that you had for Inorganic Chem (14C, 14D, 14CL).

My OMS1 friend at Western had that same problem, but explaining it to Western helped cleared things up for him there.

 

[poopyhead]

Berkeley had a funky chemistry sequence as well. Just contact the adcoms and notify them of UCLA's chemistry setup. If they still don't understand it, have UCLA send the adcoms an official letter stating the school's "unique chemistry sequence," which should satisfy all the chemistry requirements.

 

[LovelyMed]

You've probably taken biochemistry (153A) for your major, right? I also took the 14 series and came across the same problem at several schools. All of them waived the missing inorganic chemistry credits with my biochem course. No sweat 🙂 Most schools are understanding when it comes to UCLA's funky Chem 14 series, so just talk to them about it and things should work out.

 

[physcigirl27]

Just checked my AACOMAS from way long ago.

You'll need to contact each school and explain your circumstance. I happened to have an extra Inorganic Chemistry class that filled in that 0.6 unit gap. The way UCLA assigns units for BL/CL is crap - you get 1 more unit for CL than you do for BL, which explains why you can fully meet your Orgo chem requirements with the same amount of classes that you had for Inorganic Chem (14C, 14D, 14CL).

My OMS1 friend at Western had that same problem, but explaining it to Western helped cleared things up for him there.

I just spoke with Western and they won't budge for some reason. She said that I have to find a way to make up the units...wth...

 

[DocGodfather]

Did you have any issues with the Bio sequence you took at UCLA? I'm going to to take Life Sciences 1-3, and possibly 4 (Genetics) next year. Also, have you interviewed at Western or LMU to explain the funky chem sequence UCLA has?

 

[TriagePreMed]

OP, sounds like you don't want to understand that Medical School requirements don't necessarily have to be UCLA's requirements. You should have foreseen the unit deficiency. It is your fault, and since the schools won't budge, I suggest you take the class. Shorten your travel if necessary.

 

[physcigirl27]

OP, sounds like you don't want to understand that Medical School requirements don't necessarily have to be UCLA's requirements. You should have foreseen the unit deficiency. It is your fault, and since the schools won't budge, I suggest you take the class. Shorten your travel if necessary.

It's not that I don't want to understand, it's the fact that this means that EVERY ucla graduate has had the same problem applying to ANY DO school (because I got the same response from all the other programs too) and had to take another chem class--something that I know is untrue. I'm just confused as to how my friends gained admission into western considering we all had the same major, and they didn't take any extra chem class.

 

[physcigirl27]

Did you have any issues with the Bio sequence you took at UCLA? I'm going to to take Life Sciences 1-3, and possibly 4 (Genetics) next year. Also, have you interviewed at Western or LMU to explain the funky chem sequence UCLA has?

Actually, yeah. Apparently the LS series doesn't count for bio because it doesn't have laboratory components. Thank God I was a phy sci major and I had labs for those classes or I'd be screwed.

 

[DocGodfather]

Actually, yeah. Apparently the LS series doesn't count for bio because it doesn't have laboratory components. Thank God I was a phy sci major and I had labs for those classes or I'd be screwed.

Really? Life Sciences 1 (Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity) has a lab component, and there's a lab offered with Life Sciences 3 (Intro. to Molecular Biology) now "Introduction to Laboratory and Scientific Methodology" Life Sciences 23L. I believe this lab is combo for 2 & 3 since it's a 2-unit course.

 

[physcigirl27]

Really? Life Sciences 1 (Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity) has a lab component, and there's a lab offered with Life Sciences 3 (Intro. to Molecular Biology) now "Introduction to Laboratory and Scientific Methodology" Life Sciences 23L. I believe this lab is combo for 2 & 3 since it's a 2-unit course.

ahh I see, LS 2 was the only one that had a lab component when I took it. I took LS 1 at UCI so no clue about that.

 

[DocGodfather]

ahh I see, LS 2 was the only one that had a lab component when I took it. I took LS 1 at UCI so no clue about that.

Oh well, I'll just send emails to some schools to check. I might even take Genetics there as well to build up my science course load. I wasn't aware Western had an SMP program. Do they have a GPA/MCAT requirement?

 

[physcigirl27]

Oh well, I'll just send emails to some schools to check. I might even take Genetics there as well to build up my science course load. I wasn't aware Western had an SMP program. Do they have a GPA/MCAT requirement?

i think its fairly new. I'm not sure because they've been soooo bad with responding to anything I've asked them. but google western MSMS program. 🙂

 

[physcigirl27]

Not every UCLA graduate that foresaw this issue. They either got an exemption or took the extra class/lab they had to, and since these types of threads are rare, it sounds like YOUR problem, not anyone else's. Worst part is that you're expecting schools change to accommodate to the almighty UCLA. News flash: being from UCLA doesn't make you special. Welcome to the real world.

I'm gonna pretend like you weren't being a jerk with that entire comment.

I never said I was asking for special treatment. Some people mentioned earlier in the thread that they had discussed it with schools and I posted saying that Western hadn't to try to see if someone had constructive advice about how they went about discussing this with schools.

And every UCLA grad did have the problem of being short on units if they took the chem sequence required for undergrad, maybe they didn't post about the problem because they were a little smarter than me and just went ahead and contacted adcoms on their own. But oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize SDN was the end all, be all of the world. If there haven't been 7000 threads already on the same topic, that MUST mean that it never happens.

I don't even know why you keep coming back to this thread to continue to tell me that it's MY problem. I don't expect anyone to email the schools themselves and vouch for me. And I certainly am not begging YOU for advice.

You sound like you have a chip on your shoulder about something...don't take out whatever anger/bitterness you have on me.

 

[jinobi]

And if you know people that have matriculated at Western without this problem, maybe you can seek their help or ask to speak to someone else from Western.

If you don't like my comments, feel free to ignore them.

Well, she was asking for help from Western people all this time until you barged in with your raging against the all-almighty UCLA (where did THAT come from?). Calm down, brother.

Really? Life Sciences 1 (Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity) has a lab component, and there's a lab offered with Life Sciences 3 (Intro. to Molecular Biology) now "Introduction to Laboratory and Scientific Methodology" Life Sciences 23L. I believe this lab is combo for 2 & 3 since it's a 2-unit course.

LS1, LS2, and LS3 all had lab components for me. That'll satisfy the lab requirements for Western.

The deficit in UCLA's GChem requirement does suck. You only need your pre-reqs done by time of matriculation right? Just take another GChem class in community college - it's what I did to make up for that .6 unit.

 

[poopyhead]

UCLA is a highly ranked school: #25 in the nation and #2 in public schools. I'm pretty sure every DO school knows UCLA and will trust their "funky" chem sequence. OP, if your sequence is supposed to fulfill the chem requirement for medical school, I would advise you to contact your counselors at UCLA and have them send an official letter to Western stating as such. GL 👍

 

[DrWily]

It's really less about UCLA and more about LMU-DCOM. Some schools are super strict with their pre-requisites, and some aren't. So really, while UCLA may be screwing you with their funky system, LMU-DCOM is screwing you too.

p.s. Wait are we talking about LMU-DCOM or Western or both? So confused.

 

[Loudster]

UCLA is a highly ranked school: #25 in the nation and #2 in public schools. I'm pretty sure every DO school knows UCLA and will trust their "funky" chem sequence. OP, if your sequence is supposed to fulfill the chem requirement for medical school, I would advise you to contact your counselors at UCLA and have them send an official letter to Western stating as such. GL 👍

This is what I doubt. Yes, most everybody has heard of UCLA. However, med schools have their own requirements and they in no way shape or form are required (or even inclined in my experience) to bend them because your undergrad does things differently, even if you went to UCLA. If they allowed you in without fulfilling all of their pre-req requirements (all of the credits), then I would find that very surprising. I'm honestly not sure how you can expect them to give you special treatment because of the school you chose for your undergrad. As far as knowing beforehand how many credits you would need in the first place, that's something that you could have and should have looked up about 2 years ago and then contacted schools you're interested in if you had further questions.

Put yourself in a med school adcom's shoes. A student comes to you from a good school without having (in your eyes at least) completed all their pre-reqs. How would you view them? Would you give them preferential treatment when you have literally thousands upon thousands of other applicants who did complete your requirements?

Personally, this looks like a way in which UCLA has done you a disservice. They haven't given you appropriate credit for doing the same thing that people at other universities are doing. In that sense, people from even some unheard of community college in alaska seemingly are at an advantage compared to you. I'd be really upset with UCLA.

 

[poopyhead]

Put yourself in a med school adcom's shoes. A student comes to you from a good school without having (in your eyes at least) completed all their pre-reqs. How would you view them? Would you give them preferential treatment when you have literally thousands upon thousands of other applicants who did complete your requirements?

First off, I just want to emphasize that I did not attend UCLA, but was speaking from experience with school-specific weird chem sequences being accepted by DO schools. IF UCLA's chem sequence is suppose to fulfill medical school pre-reqs, then all I suggested was for the OP to have UCLA notify the DO schools with such information. This would be much easier then having to take an extra course.

The reason why I mention UCLA's rankings is because DO schools are more likely to trust a chem sequence from UCLA then some no-name college to properly fulfill pre-reqs.

FYI, at least some medical schools do give "preferential treatment" to applicants coming from top tier undergrads in the form of unofficial GPA or "acceptance points" boosts, depending on the undergrad's ranking.

 

[physcigirl27]

This is what I doubt. Yes, most everybody has heard of UCLA. However, med schools have their own requirements and they in no way shape or form are required (or even inclined in my experience) to bend them because your undergrad does things differently, even if you went to UCLA. If they allowed you in without fulfilling all of their pre-req requirements (all of the credits), then I would find that very surprising. I'm honestly not sure how you can expect them to give you special treatment because of the school you chose for your undergrad. As far as knowing beforehand how many credits you would need in the first place, that's something that you could have and should have looked up about 2 years ago and then contacted schools you're interested in if you had further questions.

Put yourself in a med school adcom's shoes. A student comes to you from a good school without having (in your eyes at least) completed all their pre-reqs. How would you view them? Would you give them preferential treatment when you have literally thousands upon thousands of other applicants who did complete your requirements?

Personally, this looks like a way in which UCLA has done you a disservice. They haven't given you appropriate credit for doing the same thing that people at other universities are doing. In that sense, people from even some unheard of community college in alaska seemingly are at an advantage compared to you. I'd be really upset with UCLA.

First off, I just want to emphasize that I did not attend UCLA, but was speaking from experience with school-specific weird chem sequences being accepted by DO schools. IF UCLA's chem sequence is suppose to fulfill medical school pre-reqs, then all I suggested was for the OP to have UCLA notify the DO schools with such information. This would be much easier then having to take an extra course.

The reason why I mention UCLA's rankings is because DO schools are more likely to trust a chem sequence from UCLA then some no-name college to properly fulfill pre-reqs.

FYI, at least some medical schools do give "preferential treatment" to applicants coming from top tier undergrads in the form of unofficial GPA or "acceptance points" boosts, depending on the undergrad's ranking.

g

I agree. I in no way blame the DO schools at all. And the "princess" attitude wasn't supposed to be there, I don't expect them to give me preferential treatment but since I realized that UCLA DID do me a disservice, that it wouldn't hurt to find out wth I should to so I don't have to waste $$$ (finances are a little tight right now) if I didn't have to in order to take a 5 unit class to fulfill a .6 unit deficit when in fact I have taken the REQUIRED total amount of classes.

In fact, everyone's been REALLY polite about it and understanding and they said it happens to everyone from UCLA that doesn't end up taking extra chem classes. At this point everyone's said that they'll apply biochem to my organic chem sequence and the hybrid lab for 14CL will be applied to my inorganic requirement. But just to cover my butt, I'm taking another class in case.

Thanks everyone for all this help. And hopefully this info will help someone in the future

 

[physcigirl27]

It's really less about UCLA and more about LMU-DCOM. Some schools are super strict with their pre-requisites, and some aren't. So really, while UCLA may be screwing you with their funky system, LMU-DCOM is screwing you too.

p.s. Wait are we talking about LMU-DCOM or Western or both? So confused.

lol actually DO school when I posted that actually. But I emailed everyone and as of this morning, the problem is solved.

UCLA is a highly ranked school: #25 in the nation and #2 in public schools. I'm pretty sure every DO school knows UCLA and will trust their "funky" chem sequence. OP, if your sequence is supposed to fulfill the chem requirement for medical school, I would advise you to contact your counselors at UCLA and have them send an official letter to Western stating as such. GL 👍

yes this is true in the sense that every school I've spoken to whether it be some new DO school or some well established school has had UCLA applicants, so everyone just asked their admissions director/dean and gave me the appropriate response.

Actually, what I took issue with is the little princess attitude of saying that it's "unfair" for you to have to take an additional class, but I can understand it's frustrating that your school doesn't offer a traditional series. However, being on top of your prerequisites is your job.

And if you know people that have matriculated at Western without this problem, maybe you can seek their help or ask to speak to someone else from Western.

If you don't like my comments, feel free to ignore them.

I don't know where you got the princess attitude from, considering I was hating on my school rather than trying to tell everyone "I'm from UCLA OBEY ME NOW".

 

[physcigirl27]

Well, she was asking for help from Western people all this time until you barged in with your raging against the all-almighty UCLA (where did THAT come from?). Calm down, brother.



LS1, LS2, and LS3 all had lab components for me. That'll satisfy the lab requirements for Western.

The deficit in UCLA's GChem requirement does suck. You only need your pre-reqs done by time of matriculation right? Just take another GChem class in community college - it's what I did to make up for that .6 unit.

I don't know where the "all-mighty UCLA" rant came from either...random.

When did you graduate/take LS series? They've been changing the classes around a LOT but I wonder if I'll still be able to have them satisfy my requirement then (I took the respective classes at UCI...I dont remember there being a lab component though... )

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't know where you got the princess attitude from, considering I was hating on my school rather than trying to tell everyone "I'm from UCLA OBEY ME NOW".

Okay. Well, I guess over the internet it's easy to misunderstand. My apologies if I misunderstood. I hope you get your situation sorted out. Good luck.

 

[physcigirl27]

agreed. thanks and gluck to you, too!

 

[DrWily]

So... are you going into medical school or are you going into a post-bacc SMP linked to a medical school?

Your threads are confusing.

 

[jinobi]

Think probably both: grades too low, not much response from this cycle, applying SMP before April deadlines.

 

[physcigirl27]

So... are you going into medical school or are you going into a post-bacc SMP linked to a medical school?

Your threads are confusing.

all my threads are about SMPs. I was debating applying to med schools but after getting feedback I thought it would be best to wait and do an SMP to make up for my lackluster gpa. sorry for the confusion!

I guess I wasn't clear in the OP. I meants the SMP admissions people emailed me telling me that, but they said I would have the same issue when I applied for the actual medical school so I needed to rectify the problem. hope that clears things up