Lesigh2 Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Looking for some advice on doing extra courses. It was my 1st cycle last year and I did not receive an interview but was "close". My NAQ was ~33 but my average is ~82%. I have at least 165 credits in the mix but UBC does drop your worst year. Just wondering if anyone has insight on whether doing an additional 30 credits is a good idea or at least some online courses as I do work full time. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Yes a good idea. Just make sure you do well. Even if it doesn't objectively bring your GPA up all that much. More courses at 4.0 subjectively can look good at file review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwnerOfTheTARDIS Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Looking for some advice on doing extra courses. It was my 1st cycle last year and I did not receive an interview but was "close". My NAQ was ~33 but my average is ~82%. I have at least 165 credits in the mix but UBC does drop your worst year. Just wondering if anyone has insight on whether doing an additional 30 credits is a good idea or at least some online courses as I do work full time. Thanks! What I found helpful was making an excel spreadsheet with all the courses I've already taken with the letter grades converted to UBC percentage and added together to determine my overall GPA average. Then I added in courses I was thinking of taking with conservative estimates of the grades I thought I would achieve. Then you can figure out how many more courses you would need to do to improve your GPA enough to make it worthwhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Thanks guys. Oh I already did that haha. If I got 92-95% in 30 credits I can bring my average up to 84-84.5% which is quite a bit. It certainly would've been enough to land me an interview. I am only really thinking of doing psychology courses as that would've been a my other choice of major. I can't really take a year off work so I don't know what would be reasonable for course load over the coming year. GPA would be 3.56 --> 3.6x Just not sure if my NAQ will go up or down this year...I've heard that as long as your work experience is quality experience, it is just as good for NAQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Also any recommendations on athabasca vs TRU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwnerOfTheTARDIS Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Thanks guys. Oh I already did that haha. If I got 92-95% in 30 credits I can bring my average up to 84-84.5% which is quite a bit. It certainly would've been enough to land me an interview. I am only really thinking of doing psychology courses as that would've been a my other choice of major. I can't really take a year off work so I don't know what would be reasonable for course load over the coming year. GPA would be 3.56 --> 3.6x Just not sure if my NAQ will go up or down this year...I've heard that as long as your work experience is quality experience, it is just as good for NAQ. Purely my opinion, but I think that if you can afford it, bringing your GPA percentage from 82% up to ~84% is worth it. Apparently this was the formula for AQ evaluation for the 2016-2017 cycle: 1.57907*(GPA) - 111.0834 = AQ score so an 82% would give you AQ = 18.4 and an 84% would give you AQ = 21.6 That 3 point jump can make a huge difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Yeah that's what I'm thinking too! Any thoughts on what a reasonable # of courses to take during ft work is? As well, any recommendations on courses and TRU vs athabasca? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 AU courses are great. Fair, well organized and very attainable to get a high grade. Be aware of how non-ubc courses convert to % so that you dont miss the mark. I think the max a converted grade can get you is a 92 if the school doesn't have A+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 It appears AU reports as percentage but I will have to check TRU. Any experience with TRU? Also curious (if you know), does AU/TRU report past class averages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 TRU grading policy (as of 2014) https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Grading_and_Ranking_Policy_Version_Oct_201433260.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Ah, so letter grades it looks like. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Athabasca grading policy (in effect post 2003;not sure if modified since). It seems they report grades by letter. http://ous.athabascau.ca/policy/registry/undergraduategradingpolicy2002.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 Where did you see that AU reports by %? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 AU is by letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 OK , so both TRU and AU do. I haven't looked much into AU programs but I am watching this thread as I have similar questions as OP. Very new to online courses... kicking myself a bit as I wish I would have done some better searching a couple years back - I would have taken some of these! But, hindsight is 20/20!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 I thought I read they report both on the website. Are you leaning toward TRU or AU, clever? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 They assign a letter based on %-age performance in the course it seems.. At the moment I have planned my upcoming Sept - Apr around two short TRU-OL programs but haven't checked AU yet. Maybe they have more interesting programs I'm not sure. I'm looking at taking one/two TRU-OL course this summer to meet a pre-req for another program (just in case) as well. Are you going to take random classes or a program? I've never done this online, it's quite different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 They assign a letter based on %-age performance in the course it seems.. At the moment I have planned my upcoming Sept - Apr around two short TRU-OL programs but haven't checked AU yet. Maybe they have more interesting programs I'm not sure. I'm looking at taking one/two TRU-OL course this summer to meet a pre-req for another program (just in case) as well. Are you going to take random classes or a program? I've never done this online, it's quite different. Ah ok. So basically if you get an A+ it would be equivalent to a 95% at UBC. I am planning on taking psychology courses primarily as I already have a degree. Are you working full time while taking these courses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchpress Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 They assign a letter based on %-age performance in the course it seems.. At the moment I have planned my upcoming Sept - Apr around two short TRU-OL programs but haven't checked AU yet. Maybe they have more interesting programs I'm not sure. I'm looking at taking one/two TRU-OL course this summer to meet a pre-req for another program (just in case) as well. Are you going to take random classes or a program? I've never done this online, it's quite different. I took a couple TRU-OL Chem courses, so I can confirm -- they assign a letter grade based on percentage, but only give letter grades and GPA on the transcript. So it can be to your advantage if you get at the bottom end of a letter scale -- e.g. a 90% (A+) at TRU transfers to a 95% at UBC. I thought both TRU courses were manageable, but one had a much more effective and helpful instructor than the other. Generally I found them to be easier exam / assignment wise than in-person science courses that I've taken at other BC universities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clever_smart_boy_like_me Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 @lesigh I will hopefully have my job still come fall (the joys of contracting). And I will be able to work while doing ft classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 I see. Sounds like your hours are variable. Anyone know if it is reasonable to take 3 OL courses over 4 months while working FT ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchpress Posted May 16, 2017 Report Share Posted May 16, 2017 I see. Sounds like your hours are variable. Anyone know if it is reasonable to take 3 OL courses over 4 months while working FT ?It seems a bit ambitious, but it depends on on how much time you can dedicate and on the difficulty of the class. My experience with TRU-OL is that it worked out to roughly the same amount of time / effort as in-person classes. Maybe a little less if you find you can absorb things faster reading on your own than you do via lecture, or if they're things you think you'll find easy. But maybe more if you aren't used to self-directed learning. So if you're doing 9 credits via distance ed, I would say it's not unreasonable to expect that it could take about as much time and effort as 9 credits in-person. Something you could do is work out how many hours you've typically needed to spend on a typical 3-credit, 4-month course per week to get a grade you were happy with. And then see if you have enough time in your schedule to do that x three? I've done 6 credits in-person while working full time, and it was doable but tough - I had to study most evenings and at least one day every weekend. I don't think I could have done 9 credits and had any semblance of a life at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2017 It seems a bit ambitious, but it depends on on how much time you can dedicate and on the difficulty of the class. My experience with TRU-OL is that it worked out to roughly the same amount of time / effort as in-person classes. Maybe a little less if you find you can absorb things faster reading on your own than you do via lecture, or if they're things you think you'll find easy. But maybe more if you aren't used to self-directed learning. So if you're doing 9 credits via distance ed, I would say it's not unreasonable to expect that it could take about as much time and effort as 9 credits in-person. Something you could do is work out how many hours you've typically needed to spend on a typical 3-credit, 4-month course per week to get a grade you were happy with. And then see if you have enough time in your schedule to do that x three? I've done 6 credits in-person while working full time, and it was doable but tough - I had to study most evenings and at least one day every weekend. I don't think I could have done 9 credits and had any semblance of a life at all. Hmm sounds like 2 may be more reasonable. Although I was thinking of taking some easy courses like medical terminology. Do you know if all the TRU OL courses count toward the UBC GPA calculation per chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchpress Posted May 16, 2017 Report Share Posted May 16, 2017 Hmm sounds like 2 may be more reasonable. Although I was thinking of taking some easy courses like medical terminology. Do you know if all the TRU OL courses count toward the UBC GPA calculation per chance?I'm not sure about all the courses. Anything that's 'university transferable' counts for the GPA calculation -- so things that are university level and could be included as credits toward a 4-year degree, including as electives, would count. But I know some types of courses don't count; for example, many of the types of more practical skills courses that are often included in diploma and certificate programs. I would start by checking the courses you're interested in against the BC transfer guide: http://www.bctransferguide.ca Anything that transfers as general university credits, even if not as a specific course, should count towards your GPA. And if you can't figure out if a particular course is university transferable from that site, you can always email UBC med admissions to confirm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesigh2 Posted May 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2017 I'm not sure about all the courses. Anything that's 'university transferable' counts for the GPA calculation -- so things that are university level and could be included as credits toward a 4-year degree, including as electives, would count. But I know some types of courses don't count; for example, many of the types of more practical skills courses that are often included in diploma and certificate programs. I would start by checking the courses you're interested in against the BC transfer guide: http://www.bctransferguide.ca Anything that transfers as general university credits, even if not as a specific course, should count towards your GPA. And if you can't figure out if a particular course is university transferable from that site, you can always email UBC med admissions to confirm. Yeah, I have checked the BC transfer guide and some of the ones say they transfer to UBCO but not UBCV. Not sure if that makes a difference? (I have no experience with other institutions and transfer credits) In any case, I will email UBC and hopefully they will get back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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