Adrianna Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've taken the time to get on CASPA, create my hypothetical application - hypothetical as I'm lacking a few prereq's before I finish. One thing I notice is that engineering is slated as "other science". Yet what exactly counts as engineering? I have a B.S in Engineering so depending on the definition of what counts towards the science gpa I may have as few as say, 40 science semester hours....or over 100 :sweat: Straight from CASPA: Biology/Zoology Inorganic Chemistry Biochemistry Organic Chemistry Other Science Physics Now other science includes engineering. So here's a prime example: Thermodynamics Statics Dynamics Mechanics of Materials Fluid Mechanics Would these fall under the 'other science' moniker and hence be factored into my science gpa? It could be argued these are physics classes as they are still general enough, but that's more a matter of semantics. How about very specific engineering classes? Say like: Manufacturing Engineering Industrial Automation Quality Control Propulsion Systems Flight Mechanics I'm asking all this as it is clear that shifting one's science GPA upwards is challenging when you already have 40 credit hours in that realm already, but even more so when you have 100+! I've contacted CASPA with my username/id and have gotten no response on this. I've waited several days already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul2834 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I went through a similar dilemma with my computer engineering courses. I would say to categorize them using your best judgment and then the people at CASPA will shift the courses around if they feel a certain class should belong in a different category. If you read the CASPA FAQ, this is something they'll do for you without penalty, but definitely put in your due diligence to minimize the shifting they'll have to do on their end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 There is a list from the FAQ that should give you an idea of if its a science, non science or a math class. Please read below (copied from the CASPA website) CASPA COURSE SUBJECTS FOR THE 2012–2013 CYCLE: source https://portal.caspaonline.org/applicants2013/faq/coursesubject.htm Biochemistry Biochemistry Biological Chemistry Biomolecules Metabolism Physical Biochemistry Physiological Chemistry Biology/Zoology Animal Science Anatomy Bacteriology Biology Biomedical Science (BIMS) Botany Cellular Biology Cellular Physiology Earth Science Ecology Endocrinology Entomology Evolution Genetics Hematology Histology Immunology Microbiology Micro-Organisms Molecular Biology Natural Science Neurology Neuroscience Parasitology Pathology Pathophysiology Physiology Virology Zoology English/Literature Composition Creative Writing English ESL (English as a Second Language) Journalism Literature Medical Terminology Poetry Reading Rhetoric Inorganic Chemistry General Chemistry Medical Chemistry Pharmaceutical Chemistry Physical Chemistry Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Readings in Chemistry Research in Chemistry Special Topics in Chemistry Structures & Bonds Math Algebra Behavioral Statistics Biostatistics Biometry Calculus Chemical Math Computer Science Math Statistics Non-Science Accounting Acting Agriculture Archeology Architecture Art Art History Business Communications Cultural Geography Dance Drama Education Ethics Economics Fire Aid/Firefighting Foreign Language Forestry Geography Government Health Science Administration History Horticulture Human Geography Humanities Law Library Science Logic Management Marketing Massage Military Science Music Orientation Personal Health/Hygiene Philosophy Photography Physical Education Political Science Public Speaking Religion Social Ethics Theater Theology Western Civilization Women's Studies Organic Chemistry Bio-Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Readings in Organic Chemistry Special Topics in Organic Chemistry Other Science Astronomy Acupuncture Athletic Training (not PE courses) Audiology Biobehavioral Health (BBH) Bioethics Biomedical Engineering (BME) Biotechnology Chinese Internal Medicine Chiropractic Civil Engineering Cytology Cytotechnology Dentistry Dietetics Electrical Engineering Electronics Emergency Med-Tech (EMT/EMS) Engineering Epidemiology Environmental Science Exercise Physiology Exercise Science First Aid/CPR Forensic Science Geology Gerontology Gynecology Health Science Herbology Kinesiology Marine Sciences Medical Ethics Medical Technology Meteorology Nursing Nutrition Oceanography Occupational Therapy Optometry Oriental Medicine Paramedic Pharmacology Phlebotomy Physical Anthropology Physical Geography Physical Science Physical Therapy Physician Assistant Public Health Radiology Respiratory Therapy Speech and Hearing Science (SPHS) Sports Medicine Surgery Tech Teaching Science Toxicology Veterinary Physics Electricity & Light Magnetism Mechanical Heat Physics Thermodynamics Social/Behavioral Science Anthropology Biological Psychology Community Health Counseling Criminal Justice Educational Psychology Ethnic Studies (African, Asian, Native American, etc) Family Studies Human Development Human Sexuality Psychobiology Physiological Ethics Psychology Social Science Social Work Sociology Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alster Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've had to think about the same thing having majored biomedical engineering before realizing I want to be a PA instead of an engineer... I've been figuring that any of my classes under an engineering subject head (EGR ###, BME ###, etc.) count as "other sciences" as specified by CASPA's list (the one that Timon posted). I haven't specifically spoken to a CASPA representative about these classes yet, so if you get a response to your question, it'd be great if you posted it here or let us know what it said! When I first found that list and realized all my engineering classes would count as well, I had a bit of a freak out. I didn't do as well as I could have/should have, especially at the beginning of undergrad, but at least I figured it out somewhat early on and was able to come up with a game plan! Hopefully you can figure out a good plan as well! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrianna Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Yeap, Engineering is an other science and that was the original premise of my question. Nearly every class I took in my last 2 years and a good 3/4 of those during my first two years, fall in the science or other-science category. By CASPA's definition I've got, oh, about 100 credit hours of science classes. That makes the potential for any sort of "GPA-advancement" plan very small indeed. It means getting A's in every class for say, 45 credit hours, will lift my GPA less than 0.4 points. Not to mention 45 credit hours (including books) will cost > $6k that will come right from my pocket in cash. It's not a fun situation. Alexandra, from my discussions with several PA schools, they look at your incoming science GPA as calculated by CASPA. If it doesn't make the initial GPA cut, then your app goes right in the trash. So if the cut-off is 3.0 and you come in with a 2.95 science GPA, 20,000 hours of HCE, 17 LOR's from the PA gods themselves, and your name is mother teresa, then they still don't bother. Now I did say "several PA schools" so I hardly think this is some exhaustive sample but I suspect it is true in most, if not all, places. I've had a few younger people ask me about the PA profession - since they knew I was trying to get into it - and what to major in during their undergrad. The formula I've seen while shadowing PA's and talking to local PA students is.....get an undergrad in marketing, international business, basketweaving, etc....achieve super high GPA and with such an easy curriculum then get a PT job in HC during school/summers, take the 6-8 prereq classes needed for your desired PA school, and more than likely, get in quickly :;-D: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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