which way to go

[reignfire12]

hello all. im in a bit of a situation and looking for guidance on a shot in the dark opportunity. left undergrad in 2020 with 63 hours. I was pre med at the time. had some low grads but networked like crazy met so many admissions personnel from different schools. i thought my dream of trying to get into medical school was over but i had an admissions counselor at XYZ school randomly email me asking me to check in where i was as applying because they haven't seen my name come across any screens lately. i wrote back and explained how i left but i still want to be a doctor.. life just happened. We had a zoom meeting and just due to the fact we had history from recruitment fairs and summer programs, i was told to look at any way possible to achieve an online degree ASAP. from there they would push my app for their post bac program that starts in august with an guaranteed interview to medical school pending i keep a high GPA in the post bac program. just like that my dream is in arms reach and i have a chance to prove myself. I'm turning to this community to help me decide which route to go. luckily before leaving my last institution, i completed all but 2 pre reqs for medical school. (it is not a factor for post bac, remaining courses and mcat have to be completed before maltriclulation in summer 2023.) i am also a military veteran so i should be able to get some transfer credits there with whatever school. any recommendations on where to start? In summary, I'm told all i need is a bachelors, doesn't matter what its in, just have to met this schools requirement with having one and said person will pull my application for the postbac  and get me enrolled for this august. i appreciate you guys in advance. FYI posted this in a reddit sub and it led me here

[bjcheung77]

Your best option is to get a BLS with any minor at UMPI, the main reason is the GPA boosting each and every course you get from them, a minimum of 10 courses.  That's the main recommendation, I would not go with COSC, Excelsior, or TESU at this time as they allow max transfer, but it won't improve your GPA.  Please provide more details within this template: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

Basically - If you don't mind telling us the school in question, please provide that detail as well, or at least PM me the info.  I am guessing it's not one of the Caribbean med schools, I wrote 3 threads in regards to them... first one in this Link and the last post has the link to the other two threads: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...crets-Shhh

[reignfire12]

Your best option is to get a BLS with any minor at UMPI, the main reason is the GPA boosting each and every course you get from them, a minimum of 10 courses.  That's the main recommendation, I would not go with COSC, Excelsior, or TESU at this time as they allow max transfer, but it won't improve your GPA.  Please provide more details within this template: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

Basically - If you don't mind telling us the school in question, please provide that detail as well, or at least PM me the info.  I am guessing it's not one of the Caribbean med schools, I wrote 3 threads in regards to them... first one in this Link and the last post has the link to the other two threads: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...crets-Shhh

ok i will update this thread in a few with all credits via the correct template.

[Ideas]

Yeah do a bunch of your missing credits through Sophia, Study,com, etc and enroll at UMPI.

[rachel83az]

I agree with bjcheung77 that a BLS from UMPI is probably your best option at this point. You could conceivably graduate within the next 4-6 months with them. Do you need any prerequisite science courses for medical school or have you already taken biology, etc.?

Please do list all of the credits that you've already taken, but I'm probably going to suggest NOT taking anything from Sophia, SDC, etc. as we usually tell people to do. Because, for your situation, you need the grades to show that you're ready for medical school. The only exception to this would maybe be taking Spanish from InstantCert, assuming you don't already have a foreign language credit.

Another consideration: you said you already have 63 credits. This may be sufficient to meet the requirements for the FREE Pierpont BOG AAS https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC If you graduated with the AAS before you finished at UMPI, you could switch your degree program from BLS (Bachelor of Liberal Studies) to BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science). Personally, I think the BAS sounds better, but you shouldn't delay graduation just to get one. Without knowing exactly what credits you have right now, I would suggest the following:

1.) Apply at Pierpont and send in your transcripts ASAP.
2.) Do InstantCert Spanish, if necessary. Or, if you happen to know a different foreign language, take an ACTFL exam.
3.) As soon as Pierpont application is processed, apply for August graduation.
4.) Apply to UMPI by June 20th. Classes start July 5th. Let them know that you wish to switch to the BAS as soon as you have confirmation of degree conferral from Pierpont.
5.) Send AAS transcripts to UMPI as soon as you get your Pierpont diploma.
6.) 6-8 months after beginning at UMPI, you should have finished ~60 credits there and can graduate with your BAS.

[LevelUP]

I'm assuming by high GPA we're talking about at least a 3.5 GPA and preferably summa cum laude which is a GPA of 3.9 to 4.0 GPA.

Purdue Global, UMPI, and especially SNHU are known for giving a high GPA.

Here is some feedback from students and professors on SNHU
At SNHU, rubrics are ridiculously weighted in the student's favor in many instances.

For example, if an assignment is 30 points, the grading options are 30, 28, 25, or 0.

It would be rare for any professor to score a 0, and if they did, you could redo the assignment and turn it in again.

Professors are trained to give students 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances. If you know how to work the system, getting a GPA of 3.9+ is easy.

25% of students graduate with a GPA of 3.9 or better and 50% with a GPA of 3.5 or better. What about the other 50%? Well, they probably don't redo assignments, turn in assignments late, or not at all. Basic errors.

Also, check out my thread here:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...in-College

My straight-A methods are primarily about leveraging the system and using simple hacks to get straight A's. That way, you can have a fun college experience without spending all your time worrying or studying.

[rachel83az]

The biggest problem with SNHU is that it is, unfortunately, quite expensive for someone who just needs "any" degree. Every 30 credits is ~$10k and you need at least 30 credits taken there to get a degree.

It's also a traditional program, so it's going to be slow. AT LEAST a year for the 30 credits, more if you want to maximize your GPA and take more graded credits to show you're ready for medical school. UMPI is much faster and (at least judging by the results in this forum), it's almost impossible to get anything less than a 3.5 GPA.

[LevelUP]

The biggest problem with SNHU is that it is, unfortunately, quite expensive for someone who just needs "any" degree. Every 30 credits is ~$10k and you need at least 30 credits taken there to get a degree.

In this case, we're talking about a med student. They don't count money under $10k. That is petty money used for fuel for the fireplace. lol

This student will likely have total tuition of over $100,000, and a few thousand here and there won't make any difference.

Some students on DF get a full Pell Grant which makes SNHU tuition only around $3000.

[cerich67]

The only possible way to get a degree by August that I can think of is if you can apply and start at WGU for 1st June and get a fair bit if transfer credits applied, then spend June and July doing it virtually full time to do all classes needed. Once you finish all classes, apply for grad and WGU will send you what they call a virtual degree you can use for the program you want to get in.

Look at what undergrad degrees they offer then what courses needed and you will get an idea of what may transfer. You can look and Google what Sophia transfer to WGU as well and if meets degree you want try and find out (WGU student groups) how long the wgu class takes , how difficult and then compare with what you hear regards Sophia. Me, if in your shoes would bull in China shop with just WGU unless there was one that I really felt Sophia would be easier (stats or algebra maybe, not eng comp 1 or 2 for sure).

That is the only way I can see that isn't a fortune.

It would be work but very rewarding . A quick google shows some have done a BSBA there in one 6 month term, with some transfer credits it "may" be possible if you can be a machine and live school and are capable

[ss20ts]

I'm assuming by high GPA we're talking about at least a 3.5 GPA and preferably summa cum laude which is a GPA of 3.9 to 4.0 GPA.

Purdue Global, UMPI, and especially SNHU are known for giving a high GPA.

Here is some feedback from students and professors on SNHU
At SNHU, rubrics are ridiculously weighted in the student's favor in many instances.

For example, if an assignment is 30 points, the grading options are 30, 28, 25, or 0.

It would be rare for any professor to score a 0, and if they did, you could redo the assignment and turn it in again.

Professors are trained to give students 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances. If you know how to work the system, getting a GPA of 3.9+ is easy.

25% of students graduate with a GPA of 3.9 or better and 50% with a GPA of 3.5 or better. What about the other 50%? Well, they probably don't redo assignments, turn in assignments late, or not at all. Basic errors.

Also, check out my thread here:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...in-College

My straight-A methods are primarily about leveraging the system and using simple hacks to get straight A's. That way, you can have a fun college experience without spending all your time worrying or studying.

UMPI doesn't work that way. One of the reasons for the high GPA at UMPI is that we only have to complete 10 classes at UMPI and we are required to earn at least a B in each class to pass them. If your grade is lower than a B you fail the course. Some classes are more difficult than others. Some Final Assessments are a beast and others are a walk in the park. At UMPI you don't get numerous chances like you mentioned. The Final Assessments with an exam you can take the exam twice if you don't earn a B the first time. If you don't earn a B on the retake then. you fail the course. Every class with a paper/project for the Final Assessment you have the opportunity to submit a rough draft for feedback. Typically you'd make the changes noted in the feedback and then submit the final version. There's no other opportunity to submit work to be redone at UMPI. 

Purdue Global only gives A's and B's in the ExcelTrack. I can't speak to the rest of their program. If you don't earn a B then you fail the course and have to repeat it. The ExcelTrack is all papers and projects. Yes people fail them. The capstone was really challenging for many students in the session with my husband that just wrapped up. He doesn't think everyone passed.

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The only possible way to get a degree by August that I can think of is if you can apply and start at WGU for 1st June and get a fair bit if transfer credits  applied, then spend June and July doing it virtually full time to do all classes needed. Once you finish all classes, apply for grad and WGU will send you what they call a virtual degree you can use for the program you want to get in.

Look at what undergrad degrees they offer then what courses needed and you will get an idea of what may transfer. You can look and Google what Sophia transfer to WGU as well and if meets degree you want try and find out (WGU student groups) how long the wgu class takes , how difficult and then compare with what you hear regards Sophia. Me, if in your shoes would bull in China shop with just WGU unless there was one that I really felt Sophia would be easier (stats or algebra  maybe, not eng comp 1 or 2 for sure).

That is the only way I can see that isn't a fortune.

It would be work but very rewarding . A quick google shows some have done a BSBA there in one 6 month term, with some transfer credits it "may" be possible if you can be a machine and live school and are capable

It's too late to start WGU on June 1st. July 1st would the soonest one could begin. The application and orientation must be completed before the 15th of the preceding month to start on the 1st at WGU.