Which Post-Bacc Classes Should I Take?

[Jumb0]

I was just admitted to my two-year second baccalaureate degree program, which I am pursuing in order to boost my GPA. I have two questions:


1. I have a "C-" in Gen. Chem 1 and a "C" in Intro. Bio 2 on my undergrad transcript. Should I re-take these courses as part of my second baccalaureate degree or just take new, upper level coursework? I understand it won't make a difference in terms of cGPA calculation for allopathic schools...but what would look better?

2. The major I have chosen (biotechnology) has one non-BCPM and nine BCPM courses for its requirements...Would it have been better to choose a major that will have me do all BCPM courses? The reason I didn't pick Biology, which is all BCPM, is that I already have a biology degree and I wanted to vary my ugrad degrees a bit.

Thanks !

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[mehc012]

I was just admitted to my two-year second baccalaureate degree program, which I am pursuing in order to boost my GPA. I have two questions:


1. I have a "C-" in Gen. Chem 1 and a "C" in Intro. Bio 2 on my undergrad transcript. Should I re-take these courses as part of my second baccalaureate degree or just take new, upper level coursework? I understand it won't make a difference in terms of cGPA calculation for allopathic schools...but what would look better?

2. The major I have chosen (biotechnology) has one non-BCPM and nine BCPM courses for its requirements...Would it have been better to choose a major that will have me do all BCPM courses? The reason I didn't pick Biology, which is all BCPM, is that I already have a biology degree and I wanted to vary my ugrad degrees a bit.

Thanks !

Are you planning to apply DO, or just MD?
If you are applying DO at all, it is most effective to retake any courses with a C or lower.
Do you think you understand Chem and Intro Bio well enough to rock the MCAT? Remember, with a low GPA, the MCAT is even more important.

If you are applying MD only and are confident that you can self-teach those topics for the MCAT, stick to new upper levels. I mean, tell me which YOU think looks better: getting an 'A' in an introductory course on your second pass through the material, or getting an 'A' on an upper level course your first time through?

 

[Jumb0]

Are you planning to apply DO, or just MD?
If you are applying DO at all, it is most effective to retake any courses with a C or lower.
Do you think you understand Chem and Intro Bio well enough to rock the MCAT? Remember, with a low GPA, the MCAT is even more important.

If you are applying MD only and are confident that you can self-teach those topics for the MCAT, stick to new upper levels. I mean, tell me which YOU think looks better: getting an 'A' in an introductory course on your second pass through the material, or getting an 'A' on an upper level course your first time through?

Yeah, I agree that it would look better to get A's on new upper level courses. The thing is I have not yet decided whether or not I will apply to DO. I will have to think that one over myself...

How about my second question? Do you think I should pick the major that is composed entirely of BCPM courses or a new major that is 90% BCPM courses? I already have a Biology-Psychology degree, so I figure doing a straight Bio degree would be too similar...Yeah, it would give me a little more boost on my BCPM gpa, but I don't know how I would feel about having two degrees that are that similar.

The Biotechnology degree will give me more variety, and it still contains nine BCPM courses....

 

[mehc012]

Yeah, I agree that it would look better to get A's on new upper level courses. The thing is I have not yet decided whether or not I will apply to DO. I will have to think that one over myself...

How about my second question? Do you think I should pick the major that is composed entirely of BCPM courses or a new major that is 90% BCPM courses? I already have a Biology-Psychology degree, so I figure doing a straight Bio degree would be too similar...Yeah, it would give me a little more boost on my BCPM gpa, but I don't know how I would feel about having two degrees that are that similar.

The Biotechnology degree will give me more variety, and it still contains nine BCPM courses....

I don't think major choice matters. I certainly wouldn't do the same one a second time. Personally, even Biotech seems a little close in my mind. Try something new...there's no reason you can't still take plenty of BCPM courses!