Dabba Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Hello all. I'm wondering if I should take a single 3 credit bio course in the fall with a friend. Its really a question of if I'm going to get in this year, and is this really going to help me enough to justify the cost? First: My application. Caspa is offline right now, but I have a high 3.1x gpa in both overall and science. I got 5 credits worth of Fs and 3 credits of a D ten years ago, so they would be a little higher. Graduating overall was 3.33 I think, with science being a little higher. (After academic renewal, so since coming back). I have good letters, good statement, 8k hours of hce as a 911 emt for nyc and long island, and my GRE is 309 without the writing included. I applied to 21 schools across the nation, but of course that low gpa has me worried I won't get an interview. This is my second time applying by the way. The problem is, I work full time, and just got a new and well paying job. The course I'm looking to take is well known for being tough, however I am confident I could smash it, especially since my friend is in the class. So, easy A for a tough bio class. However, there's no guarentee i'd get in due to the waitlist, though being a tough bio class, tons of people typically drop. However, the problem is my new job (I'm not sure hoe they'd take me needing Tuesdays and Thursdays off), the fact it's only three credits and the fact its going to cost me 1200 dollars. I really dont have the ability to continue taking classes full time or even more than one or maybe two at a time. Is three credits really going to help considering I have ~5-6 years of full time credits? Or is it not worth my time and money and potentially my new job? I'm very hopefully I'll find a home this year, but I don't want to try applying next year without changing any of my application. The question is will this be changing it enough to be worth the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Why do you want to take this class? Is it a prereq or is it just to try to raise your GPA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabba Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 Really just to raise my gpa. And it's a tough class. Probably won't be a better time to take it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Do you have a spreadsheet with all of your grades? I always recommend everyone to make one for themselves. That way, you can input a new class into it with different grades to see what will happen to your GPA. You have a lot of credits already, meaning it's difficult to move your GPA much at this point. It seems like everything about this class is working against you other than the fact that your friend is taking it as well. I suggest you try to figure out what your new GPA would be if you got an A, what if you got a B, and what if you got a C. You will probably find that your GPA won't move much, if at all, depending on what grade you get. I think it'll still look good to take an upper level bio class but can you find something else that works better? Maybe online (if it has no lab)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabba Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 Do you have a spreadsheet with all of your grades? I always recommend everyone to make one for themselves. That way, you can input a new class into it with different grades to see what will happen to your GPA. You have a lot of credits already, meaning it's difficult to move your GPA much at this point. It seems like everything about this class is working against you other than the fact that your friend is taking it as well. I suggest you try to figure out what your new GPA would be if you got an A, what if you got a B, and what if you got a C. You will probably find that your GPA won't move much, if at all, depending on what grade you get. I think it'll still look good to take an upper level bio class but can you find something else that works better? Maybe online (if it has no lab)? Hmm. I didn't think of online classes. That might be my only option. I'm going to be retaking a requirement that's going to expire in the spring, so maybe ill stack on my classes then. I cant picture taking a science online but its worth a shot in my current situation! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 For online classes, I would consult with your prospective PA schools, especially if you want to take a prereq online. A lot don't care but some do. Some will state their preference on their website. If not, email them. On the other hand, I saw my official transcript at the school where I took 1 online course, it doesn't even state that it's online so the PA schools wouldn't know! But some transcripts do list it. As far as science classes online, yeah idk about that either. I wouldn't like it but plenty of people do it and if that's your best option, it might be fine. Online labs, however, seem weird to me and lots of PA schools wouldn't accept them. But there are plenty of upper division science classes you can take that don't need labs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabba Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 I just want to boost my gpa. However I can't go to school full time so doing a few online courses might allow me to take the most while working. I will look into my schools first. Other than that I'm lost. Ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I get it! I'll be done with my pre-reqs after this fall but I still want to take some classes in the spring to 1. Hopefully boost my GPA a tiny bit. 2. Learn some more. 3. Defer my student loans!! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious_Ignoramus Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Is this a repeat course or are you advancing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabba Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Advancing. I need to retake chem1 this spring because mine is ten years old. Just did orgo though :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious_Ignoramus Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I would take it. Also, agree with orgo... :( x 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabba Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 I actually enjoyed orgo a lot more than inorganic chem. Any suggestions for online schools? I don't think my schools offer much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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