What's best for a low GPA?

[pink1017]

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I will be graduating in May with a b.s. in biology. AADSAS calculated my gpa as BCP 2.06, sGPA 2.34, non-science 3.71, and cGPA 2.67. I know these numbers are terrible, which is why I'm looking at post-bacs. My question is whether it's best to enroll in a post-bac program that counts towards undergraduate credit or graduate credit? I've been accepted to and am having trouble deciding between Dominican University (undergraduate credit), George Mason ABS certificate program, and Cal-State East Bay (which are both for graduate credit). Please help!!!

 

[GorgeousBorges]

I will be graduating in May with a b.s. in biology. AADSAS calculated my gpa as BCP 2.06, sGPA 2.34, non-science 3.71, and cGPA 2.67. I know these numbers are terrible, which is why I'm looking at post-bacs. My question is whether it's best to enroll in a post-bac program that counts towards undergraduate credit or graduate credit? I've been accepted to and am having trouble deciding between Dominican University (undergraduate credit), George Mason ABS certificate program, and Cal-State East Bay (which are both for graduate credit). Please help!!!

If you want to bring your undergraduate GPA up (and you do, certainly), you need to do coursework for undergraduate credit.

 

[deleted248403]

It is best to read the stickies and the giant low gpa thread....

And then ask questions if you still have any

 

[akinetopsia]

Best bet is figure out why your GPA was so low in the first place. It's most likely one or more of the following reasons:

A) Poor study habits
B) Lack of motivation
C) Family obligations
D) Poor time management
E) Self delusion
F) Laziness

I wouldn't start any GPA repair, be it a structured post-bac, an informal post-bac, a second bachelor's, etc., until you've figured out what caused the low GPAs in the first place.

And read the stickies.

 

[pink1017]

Thanks everyone! I have read all of the stickies but I just feel like there's a lot of different opinions on whether to take graduate or undergraduate classes for a post-bac, which is why I wanted to ask about my particular situation.

 

[deleted248403]

Thanks everyone! I have read all of the stickies but I just feel like there's a lot of different opinions on whether to take graduate or undergraduate classes for a post-bac, which is why I wanted to ask about my particular situation.

With your GPA - there isnt a lot of debate or differing opinions. Its been brought up time and time and time again, with the same advice offered. I failed to see how unique your situation is that it hasnt been previously addressed

 

[RegisBioMedMS]

Ok, I'll give the concise answer, but you aren't going to like it any better, I'm afraid.

You need undergraduate classes until you are much closer to a 3.0 and then you can think about grad courses. Expect this process to take several years. If you get all As, you need about 1 full time semester per .15 point GPA increase. So getting you to a 2.9 (which would make you somewhat competitive for graduate programs) would take 6 semesters.

Then I would suggest taking at least two semesters of intensive graduate work, along with a good MCAT score and other things, to finally arrive at the lower range of the DO pool.

If you are adding this up, that is a lot of time and money, and you haven't even started med school yet... it isn't impossible. I have seen some pretty amazing comebacks, but if you were my advisee, I would higly encourage you to explore other career options.

 

[pink1017]

Ok, I'll give the concise answer, but you aren't going to like it any better, I'm afraid.

You need undergraduate classes until you are much closer to a 3.0 and then you can think about grad courses. Expect this process to take several years. If you get all As, you need about 1 full time semester per .15 point GPA increase. So getting you to a 2.9 (which would make you somewhat competitive for graduate programs) would take 6 semesters.

Then I would suggest taking at least two semesters of intensive graduate work, along with a good MCAT score and other things, to finally arrive at the lower range of the DO pool.

If you are adding this up, that is a lot of time and money, and you haven't even started med school yet... it isn't impossible. I have seen some pretty amazing comebacks, but if you were my advisee, I would higly encourage you to explore other career options.

Thank you for the honest and helpful answer! I'm actually pre-dent which probably doesn't make a difference. I guess I was just confused about undergraduate vs graduate classes because I was already accepted to a few graduate programs, which makes me wonder why they would accept me if I'm unqualified. I have also read before that some schools prefer to see good grades in graduate classes because they're harder rather than more undergrad classes, but I also always thought I needed more undergrad which is why I figured I'd ask for advice.

 

[RegisBioMedMS]

True that pre-dent isn't that different, but don't forget that dental schools are very focused on your continuing dental related hands-on experiences, so you will need to balance those in with your coursework. Talk with the dental schools and see what they recommend as far as graduate school credits. Not all are helpful in your GPA equation. When talking graduate work above, I meant an intensive SMP or a record enhancer post-bacc designed for med/dental entrance, most of which require about a 3.0 gpa or above for you to be competitive in their admissions.

 

[deleted248403]

I guess I was just confused about undergraduate vs graduate classes because I was already accepted to a few graduate programs, which makes me wonder why they would accept me if I'm unqualified

$$$$$

 

[futdoc251989]

I will be graduating in May with a b.s. in biology. AADSAS calculated my gpa as BCP 2.06, sGPA 2.34, non-science 3.71, and cGPA 2.67. I know these numbers are terrible, which is why I'm looking at post-bacs. My question is whether it's best to enroll in a post-bac program that counts towards undergraduate credit or graduate credit? I've been accepted to and am having trouble deciding between Dominican University (undergraduate credit), George Mason ABS certificate program, and Cal-State East Bay (which are both for graduate credit). Please help!!!

Did you apply to any other programs other than the ones you listed?

 

[pink1017]

Did you apply to any other programs other than the ones you listed?

Yes, I was also accepted to the masters program at Barry University and I'm still waiting to hear back from the Charles Drew post bac and the formal post bac at SFSU.

 

[futdoc251989]

Yes, I was also accepted to the masters program at Barry University and I'm still waiting to hear back from UMDNJ, the Charles Drew post bac and the formal post bac at SFSU.

I was just accepted to Barry yesterday. I'm waiting to hear back from Midwestern and plan on applying to UMDNJ tomorrow. When did you apply to UMDNJ?

 

[pink1017]

I was just accepted to Barry yesterday. I'm waiting to hear back from Midwestern and plan on applying to UMDNJ tomorrow. When did you apply to UMDNJ?

Congrats! I applied a while ago actually I think it was around November. They sent me a letter saying they didn't start reviewing applications until January but I haven't heard anything since.

 

[futdoc251989]

@Pink. Which program are you leaning towards at the moment?

 

[pink1017]

Since I need to work on my undergrad g.p.a., I like the SFSU program the best and then probably Dominican next.

 

[futdoc251989]

Since I need to work on my undergrad g.p.a., I like the SFSU program the best and then probably Dominican next.

I was thinking of doing Dominican since I got accepted there as well, but the cost is really high. Plus you can't get as much financial aid as a grad program.