VCU Post-bac GPA

[MissingTooth]

I'm currently enrolled in the VCU post-bac cert program. I was wondering whether or not this GPA is included in your graduate or undergrad gpa. I've been reading the forums and I see the most post-bacs are incorporated into your undergrad GPA because they are undergrad courses but the VCU post-bac program are classes in the graduate school with graduate students and are at the 500 level. Does this mean that they are considered graduate coursework in the aadsas application?

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[atoothdoc]

I believe so, confirm it with your classmates and administration.

Are you Virginia resident ? How hard it is to get into that program ? I want to go there too but I am from NYC

 

[atoothdoc]

Do you get a Master's degree ?

 

[MissingTooth]

The program isn't too hard to get into. I think if you have at least a 3.0 gpa and decent MCAT or DAT scores like 27+ on MCAT or 17+ on DAT then you're a good candidate for the program.

You get a master's degree if you stay another year, its optional. That's why i'm wondering if it counts as graduate school since I'm not planning on staying the extra year. We take classes like physiology, histology, and biochemistry with Master and Ph.D students.

And yes i'm a Virginia resident

 

[notin]

The program isn't too hard to get into. I think if you have at least a 3.0 gpa and decent MCAT or DAT scores like 27+ on MCAT or 17+ on DAT then you're a good candidate for the program.

You get a master's degree if you stay another year, its optional. That's why i'm wondering if it counts as graduate school since I'm not planning on staying the extra year. We take classes like physiology, histology, and biochemistry with Master and Ph.D students.

And yes i'm a Virginia resident

it counts as graduate credits. you're starting this fall?

 

[MissingTooth]

I'm in the certificate program at VCU right now, I'll be applying to this upcoming cycle for dental school.

 

[dentalWorks]

Here is the program description...
I've highlighted a few points about it... It seems like the classes are undergrad level. Is there a list of all the courses the program offers?

Program description The post-baccalaureate health sciences certificate is designed for students who have received a baccalaureate degree and wish to pursue their undergraduate pre-health sciences requirements at VCU. The program is designed for those students who have few or none of the prerequisites they need to enter doctoral level programs in physical therapy, pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, osteopathic medicine, optometry, or veterinary sciences.

This program challenges students to complete more intense science and math course work than the prerequisites and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. The certificate program assists students to become more competitive for admissions into graduate level programs in the health sciences, but it does not guarantee them admissions into any program.

The certificate program will not be of help to someone who has already taken science and non-science courses and wants to improve his/her credentials because of low grades.

Those completing the certificate are expected to achieve competency in introductory and more advanced level science courses and will gain health care experience. Students can learn about healthcare program admissions requirements and strengthen their credentials through advising, student-run club activities and seminars.

Depending on the types of courses a student completes before entering, the certificate can take between one and three years to complete with full- or part-time study. Students are advised on how to progress based on prior math and science coursework, work and family constraints and other factors that could affect the time frame to completion.

 

[dentalWorks]

found it... here is a list of all the science courses you can take (they require 25 credits)... Many are 100,200,300, and some 400 and 500 level. Sounds like an undergrad post-bacc curriculum

http://www.vcu.edu/uc/prehealth/documents/Post-BaccalaureateHealthSciencesCertificateWorksheet.pdf

 

[MissingTooth]

found it... here is a list of all the science courses you can take (they require 25 credits)... Many are 100,200,300, and some 400 and 500 level. Sounds like an undergrad post-bacc curriculum

http://www.vcu.edu/uc/prehealth/documents/Post-BaccalaureateHealthSciencesCertificateWorksheet.pdf

I'm sorry I misspoke and probably confused everyone. The program i'm in is the premed health certificate program. It has an entirely different course load than the undergrad post-bacc program. The program I'm in has this curricullum. It's just that everyone here calls it the vcu post bacc program or the cert program.

I've just been really confused because I keep reading that post-bac programs don't count towards your graduate GPA. After reading further I think there are two types of post-bac programs out there. One for people who just want to take undergrad courses and ones where people go and get there masters. It was just really confusing for me because I was in between, I'm taking classes that are harder than undergrad but i'm not quite getting a masters.

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm sorry I misspoke and probably confused everyone. The program i'm in is the premed health certificate program. It has an entirely different course load than the undergrad post-bacc program. The program I'm in has this curricullum. It's just that everyone here calls it the vcu post bacc program or the cert program.

I've just been really confused because I keep reading that post-bac programs don't count towards your graduate GPA. After reading further I think there are two types of post-bac programs out there. One for people who just want to take undergrad courses and ones where people go and get there masters. It was just really confusing for me because I was in between, I'm taking classes that are harder than undergrad but i'm not quite getting a masters.

oh my bad... I was totally off.
This is a masters program.. its all graduate courses.

Yes to bolded above. Basically, your doing a masters. 27 credits of some sweet upper division biologies.

 

[notin]

I'm sorry I misspoke and probably confused everyone. The program i'm in is the premed health certificate program. It has an entirely different course load than the undergrad post-bacc program. The program I'm in has this curricullum. It's just that everyone here calls it the vcu post bacc program or the cert program.

I've just been really confused because I keep reading that post-bac programs don't count towards your graduate GPA. After reading further I think there are two types of post-bac programs out there. One for people who just want to take undergrad courses and ones where people go and get there masters. It was just really confusing for me because I was in between, I'm taking classes that are harder than undergrad but i'm not quite getting a masters.

VCU is confusing because it does offer that pre-health undergraduate post-bac program to just get your requirements done, i guess some other schools might offer this, but when most people say post-bac, they really just mean they're taking undergraduate classes as they please. To me this is confusing/a misuse of the term, and you should only say you're doing "a post-bac" when you're taking a structured graduate program.

The program you're in definitely counts as graduate credits, it is a separate GPA on aadsas and won't raise your undergraduate GPA. I hope you've done well in it, it has pretty good sway at the dental school imo. I did the certificate for 1 year, and was a d.5 last year and a d1 now. I found a lot of people who did the certificate got the d.5, but some got accepted straight in so nothing's a certainty. Dr. Healy advised me to continue and get the master's, as it's always better to be in school than out in their eyes, but you know your circumstances better than me. If you have any more questions or anything feel free to ask or pm me.

 

[MissingTooth]

I'm not planning on staying for the masters here at VCU. Although I did speak with Dr. Healy and he said the same thing to me. He told me to stay in academia so I'm planning on going back home and taking classes at George Mason University. I wanted to save some money by living with my parents and taking courses at GMU while having a part time or full time job. Do you think this is a bad idea??? Here are my stats and plans thus far:

Undergrad GPA:3.3
Undergrad sGPA:3.4
Graduate GPA: expecting a 3.81 in the CERT program
DATs: Taking it during summer but I'm confident I can get at least a 21AA on the DATs.
Future Courses at GMU: Zoology and Embryology during Fall I'm not sure what courses i'm going to take during the spring but I'm leaning towards some business courses.
Also I have around 150 undergrad credits so my Graduate GPA won't raise my overall GPA too much.

I'm just concerned that if I don't get the masters, then VCU will outright reject me.

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm not planning on staying for the masters here at VCU. Although I did speak with Dr. Healy and he said the same thing to me. He told me to stay in academia so I'm planning on going back home and taking classes at George Mason University. I wanted to save some money by living with my parents and taking courses at GMU while having a part time or full time job. Do you think this is a bad idea??? Here are my stats and plans thus far:

Undergrad GPA:3.3
Undergrad sGPA:3.4
Graduate GPA: expecting a 3.81 in the CERT program
DATs: Taking it during summer but I'm confident I can get at least a 21AA on the DATs.
Future Courses at GMU: Zoology and Embryology during Fall I'm not sure what courses i'm going to take during the spring but I'm leaning towards some business courses.
Also I have around 150 undergrad credits so my Graduate GPA won't raise my overall GPA too much.

I'm just concerned that if I don't get the masters, then VCU will outright reject me.

I don't wanna 2nd guess what your doing... but why did you go into a masters program? Your undergrad stats aren't bad at all, matter of fact, that 3.4 sGPA is nice. IMO, all you needed was a DAT and an early application to 10-15 schools.

But anyways, your kicking some serious tail in masters 👍 Good job

 

[MissingTooth]

Thanks DentalWorks. Well the short version is I went to the vcu cert program intending to apply to med school to become a surgeon, I never really thought about attending dental school. A lot of my friends are dental students and one of them actually took me to shadow a dentist one weekend just to check it out. After that I fell in love with dentistry.

 

[notin]

Thanks DentalWorks. Well the short version is I went to the vcu cert program intending to apply to med school to become a surgeon, I never really thought about attending dental school. A lot of my friends are dental students and one of them actually took me to shadow a dentist one weekend just to check it out. After that I fell in love with dentistry.

since your undergrad grades aren't too bad and your certificate gpa is strong, i doubt you'd get turned down just for not completing the master's. perhaps risking getting the d.5 instead of straight acceptance i guess. with a good mcat you're probably a pretty good candidate at vcu medical also.

i took some classes at gmu. i think medical microbiology, immunology + lab, anatomy, and recreation and leisure. i liked all of them.

 

[MissingTooth]

since your undergrad grades aren't too bad and your certificate gpa is strong, i doubt you'd get turned down just for not completing the master's. perhaps risking getting the d.5 instead of straight acceptance i guess. with a good mcat you're probably a pretty good candidate at vcu medical also.

i took some classes at gmu. i think medical microbiology, immunology + lab, anatomy, and recreation and leisure. i liked all of them.

Did you take anatomy lab at GMU by any chance? I wanted to know if they used a wet lab or a virtual lab. I've taken anatomy already but at my undergrad school (Virginia Tech) they used a computer-based lab so I did not take it. What is recreation and leisure? Also did you not do the master's either or did you get accepted into D.5 right after the cert program?

With the VCU cert program you're guaranteed an interview to the med school if you obtain a 3.5GPA and have decent MCATs. Unfortunately the dental school doesn't offer this. I'm still opting for Dentistry instead of Medicine though, since Dentistry is a job where you are guaranteed to use your hands as opposed to Medicine where you have to still compete to obtain a residency that uses your hands like surgery. I also like how dentistry has the option of doing a residency instead of the requirement.

 

[notin]

Did you take anatomy lab at GMU by any chance? I wanted to know if they used a wet lab or a virtual lab. I've taken anatomy already but at my undergrad school (Virginia Tech) they used a computer-based lab so I did not take it. What is recreation and leisure? Also did you not do the master's either or did you get accepted into D.5 right after the cert program?

With the VCU cert program you're guaranteed an interview to the med school if you obtain a 3.5GPA and have decent MCATs. Unfortunately the dental school doesn't offer this. I'm still opting for Dentistry instead of Medicine though, since Dentistry is a job where you are guaranteed to use your hands as opposed to Medicine where you have to still compete to obtain a residency that uses your hands like surgery. I also like how dentistry has the option of doing a residency instead of the requirement.

I took the 2nd semester of anatomy, in spring. it was one 4 credit class that had a class and lab component, and it was a wet lab. This was 5 years ago though so i can't say it hasn't changed. recreation and leisure was just a filler class i took to have a full schedule and there were no other biology classes i needed - unnecessary but if you want an easy extra class there it is.

I applied the same time you will, the summer after completing the certificate. I took the certificate in 07-08, I took the next year off to work/relax/DAT/apply/etc, and started the D.5 the fall of 09.