Jump to content
Premed 101 Forums

2nd undergrad degree - program and school?


Recommended Posts

Hi, I'm a newbie here who finally decided to give her all to becoming a doctor. I just graduated from U of T with HBSc in nutritional sciences and human bio, with a cGPA of 3.64 (screwed by a number of horrible 2nd year elective courses and a disastrous summer course; otherwise, 3.85 and 3.9 in the final two years..but still not good for western because they weren't done in full course load). Some research experience (4th year project and summer NSERC), but no publications; sub-par extracurriculars (mainly church activities, tutoring, etc...nothing that makes me stand out despite the incompetitive GPA)

 

I very well acknowledge the insufficiency of my GPA as well as the meaninglessness of going into masters if my sole purpose is to increase my chances for med school. I did some vigorous research through this forum, and thank goodness I did that, I realized that I still have a valid option that's likely to get me to where I want to be: second undergrad degree.

 

The idea horrified me at first, but soon I realized I had enough justifications. Thankfully my family and boyfriend are being supportive of the idea, and they truly believe that I will be able to make it through if I really give my 100% at it (partly because 3.69 was still attainable very easily for me even though I would skip lectures most of the time, cram everything a night before the exam, surf on Internet for +5 hrs/day, hang out with my boyfriend all the time, etc etc......DAMN it, why couldn't I have straightened myself up a few years earlier?!?!...:mad: ) Besides, I would be able to take this second opportunity not only to boost my GPA but also to strengthen my non-academic qualities and possibly be able to land a few quality reference letters.

 

That's my background story.

 

Now, the real question is what to do for my second undergrad degree and where. I have considered 2 options;

 

1. Economics @ U of T

I already took ECO100 and MAT135 with A's so I am done with the 1st year prerequisites to go into economics specialist/major. Do I like ecnomics? I don't know, but I did enjoy the first year economics and the concepts made sense to me naturally. It's just that I'm not so sure about the upper year courses, as they include some statistics-based courses which I am sure I would neither be good at nor enjoy (actually the biggest factor in downgrading my cGPA was a stat prerequisite course taken during a summer). Going to U of T would be a nice thing since I am familiar with the system...and more honestly I would need to take in every piece of self-esteem-boosting factors available out there during the second undergrad...the prestige of U of T still means something to me.

 

2. Psychology @ Ryerson or York

I took PSY100, thoroughly enjoyed it, finished with A+. Since my brain's been oriented science-wise for the past years, it would be safer to go with science. It would be nice if I could do psychology at U of T, but their policy dictates that I cannot do two BSc's due to overlap in course content (but as there are only 1.5 FCE's that overlap with my first degree, I would have to talk to the academic counsellor. Who knows - if I petition through, I might be able to get in). For now, my two options are Ryerson and York, but I read that Western requires that if I did HBSc in my first degree, I can't do anything less than that (ie. just bachelor without honors). I'm not sure if that's true or not, but just to be sure, I want to aim for Honors degree....which makes Ryerson an inadequate candidate as they only allow BA for psychology.

 

On the other hand, I know absolutely nothing about York University (their general level of difficulty, workload, quality of profs, etc)...

 

 

It would be for the best if I could do psychology at another division of UT such as UTM or UTSC, but I got to talk to the academic advisor first.

 

 

 

If anyone has an insight or suggestion that may help me, please do share with me. In addition, I'm sorry if I bored you to near-death by rambling on and on...but I'm just very excited that I have discovered this opportunity (is this normal? :D )

 

 

Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OH, I just realized that I could still do psychology at U of T and be conferred H. BA as long as I do another major in humanities (most likely economics for me)...! This sounds most attractive to me, as I really want to do psychology even for my personal interest, and I want to do it at U of T.

 

ANY comments welcome!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey! Welcome!

 

I'd go with the UofT honours Psych if thats what excites you most.

 

I considered economics when I started looking at second undergrad options and for the same reason that you hinted at, I turned it down. I want to know exactly what I'm getting myself into I find psych is pretty straightforward and A+'able, particularly after doing an honours biology.

 

Perhaps rmorelan can comment on the upper level economics classes since I believe he majored in it.

 

I don't think you mentioned what your 1st degree was in, but if its biology-related then I'd add that there are tons of psych courses that overlap with bio though at a much easier level. Courses that deal with sensation, perception, hormones, cognitive neuroscience, etc. are very much science based, though I tend to find them much less intensive than their bio/chem counterparts. After getting A's in science courses with labs, you should be OK in psychology.

 

The honours thing with Western is true, unfortunately. I found that out the hard way AFTER enrolling and declining all my other offers for undergrad and int'l med schools... but ya I've been through 4 academic counsellors and they all say the same thing - you can't downgrade degrees.

 

I'm getting around that though by doing a double major - basically 1 year of health science classes and 1 year of psych classes (with some summer work) and I get an honours double major in Psych and Health Sci.

 

Anyways since you're interested in both topics I'd say go for the one that you think you can get the highest grades in. Keep us posted and good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a newbie myself (signed up yesterday). I'm enrolled at York doing Kine as 2nd degree. Compared to my first degree which was in Med. Sci at Western I'd like to say this is breeze. I know a lot of schools don't see too favourably on second try but least I could do is try. So check out Kine program here and fire away any questions you might have.

Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I majored in nutritional sciences and human biology, so the biological part of psych is a breeze for me. As for economics, I've talked to some of my friends who either majored/took courses, and they all said positive things about the chances of getting good GPA. So I'm now set that that's where I'm heading next September! Lot of paperwork to be done for the admission I guess, but should be worth it!

 

Thanks nosuperman!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a newbie myself (signed up yesterday). I'm enrolled at York doing Kine as 2nd degree. Compared to my first degree which was in Med. Sci at Western I'd like to say this is breeze. I know a lot of schools don't see too favourably on second try but least I could do is try. So check out Kine program here and fire away any questions you might have.

Cheers!

 

Thanks! I know someone who's doing kine at York too...but based on what i heard briefly from him about the program, the phys ed part of kine doesn't really interest me...:o I believe schools like Western don't look at the first degree but only look at the second degree. For UofT etc, the GPA is cumulative, so depending on your first degree GPA, you still got chances! Cheers to you too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi pendulum29,

 

I want to let you know I was in a very similar situation a while back. I did an undergrad at UT with a mediocre GPA. I applied for a second undergrad to boost my gpa and to do more extracurriculars, research etc. I choose between a bio program at York or at Ryerson. I ended up choosing Ryerson and I am in my 3rd/4th year (with transfer credits) this year.

 

I hope your decision works out, and know you have support of others here. I totally understand your feelings of "needing self-esteem" boosters for doing a second degree. I like how you particularly mentioned the name" UT" still means a lot too you! I had to really push myself to get over that fact and choose a school that I could maximize my chances of getting better GPA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all,

 

I am wondering what kind of 2nd school & degree would be a good idea if I am living in the GTA area. I wasn't thinking of going back to school anytime soon when I was studying so didn't bother and end up with a wonderful CGPA of 2.7. :(

 

Keeping in mind that I need to do all my science requirements in uni and didn't have physics, algebra or bio from HS.

 

What do you think my chances of succeeding, should I even try?

 

yes I know I need to basically ace everything from now on including the MCAT, in addition to stacking on volunteer and extra curricular activities.

 

Thanks for all of your help in advance.

 

b

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess you want to look at a degree from Ryerson or York, presumably full time, and you want to take the time now to familiarize yourself with h.s. math at least. However, if you want to begin by dipping your foot in the water, take high school msth and physics and see how you do, say, at night, and make an assessment from there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...