Will this affect my chances? Bad, good, or not-at-all?

[tavokeri9]

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So, can I take classes as a non-degree seeking student to raise my GPA? Would medical schools consider this a red flag, and wonder why I just didn't delay graduation to the normal time period - after spring? I plan to apply in June 2016.

 

[Petrichor1]

absolutely you can. I have taken courses at a nearby school and I miss learning from lecture-based instruction 🙁. I tend to think that if even adcoms view it negatively, I don't think I would care because the activity is fun and I get to fulfill my dream of learning as much as I can of the things around me. Graduating just a semester early is really not a big deal especially with what you plan to do during that time. Your GPA is magnifico 🙂

 

[hayden29]

I think Petrichor1 made an excellent point in regards to learning as much as possible. There is nothing wrong with your GPA and taking classes will not hurt you but I wouldn't take them solely to improve your excellent GPA. Now, if you really want to learn as much as possible (which I feel most people interested in medicine do) then go for it!

 

[piii]

I know this is different, but some adcoms think that people retaking a 30 MCAT, a good score, is just arrogant.

Now, I'm not an adcom. But if I saw your good 3.76 GPA and then I saw a bunch of random classes I would question why you took them and if you were just trying to pad your stats. If you took them because you are passionate about learning, then that is cool, but it won't really boost your chances in the application cycle. Otherwise I think it would be pretty much neutral and getting your GPA up into the 3.8 range would marginally help you.

I would instead focus all your energy and time towards getting a great MCAT score. That seems much more worth your hard work and will make a meaningful difference.

 

[GrapesofRath]

By itself I'd doubt it really is a red flag but a 3.8/3.76 is not going to keep you out of any medical school alone. There are better ways to use time than to raise a 3.8 GPA as a post-grad.