GPA Calculation Question/ Online Courses

[advair250]

Hi all,

 

I know UBC takes cGPA, pre-req gpa and last 60 credits into consideration(of last 2 years).

 

However, what about people whom are on co-op, and their last 2 years of degree are the only 1 term a year?

 

i.e my last 60 credits would be split up like this :

 

Year 3: 30 Credits

Year 4: 15 Credits

Year 5: 15 Credits

 

Of course, i'm taking more than 30 and 15 respectively, just for example sake. As well co-op counts as credits to.

 

Also, as far as pre-reqs are concerned, it would be okay to take a year of ochem and year of biochem via distance education correct? I was thinking of just doing them while on co-op terms at my own pace, as well since it is not possible to take it during my degree at any time.

 

Would that be better, than say coming back as an unclassified and doing them at UBC? The only downside to this is, would it not look bad if you were taking such a light load as an unclassified.

 

Thanks

[AndreaM]

Your last 60 credits can be over more than two years, so you don't have to worry that your co-op years don't have 30 credits in them. Your co-op terms aren't counted into the 60 credits because you don't get a grade for co-op. Taking your pre-reqs during co-op could be good or bad. If you are a good independent learner and can stick to a schedule, then it should work out well. If you've never taken distance courses before I would suggest doing one at a time. Because they usually aren't paced you can finish one in less than a month if you need to and then move onto the next one, or you can take the full 6 months if you need it.

[advair250]

Thanks alot Andrea, I really appreciate your response! It's always nice to see people who have made it and still visit the forums to help others out.

 

While on the topic of co-op, I am really excited to do it. However a few of my friends who are very keen on med school are telling me not to and saying its a waste of time. I personally think it is gonna be an awesome way to make my current degree more valuable, since i'm realistic and realize that there is a strong likelyhood that I wont get into med school. Besides adding another year, well that is no big deal at all considering alot of people don't get in on the first try anyways.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on co-op?

[Starling]

However a few of my friends who are very keen on med school are telling me not to and saying its a waste of time. I personally think it is gonna be an awesome way to make my current degree more valuable, since i'm realistic and realize that there is a strong likelyhood that I wont get into med school. Besides adding another year, well that is no big deal at all considering alot of people don't get in on the first try anyways.

 

I think you're right. Co-op can make a big difference in terms of your ability to get a decent job when you graduate. Plus, co-op jobs are good to have on your med application and are a good place to get good references!

 

The downside, of course, is the extra year. Keep in mind too that the "credits" you get for co-op aren't real credits.

[advair250]

Thanks Starling, yeah I know that the co-op credits don't really count, I'm glad i'm not off about doing co-op.

 

I think i've pretty much made this thread revolved around my own questions, but hopefully other on lookers will find the questions/answers useful too.

 

Another question:

 

1) If you get a 85% gpa, does that really equate to a 25 on the AQ ?

 

 

And can you correct me if i'm wrong, but after interview, is it weighted 25 AQ, 25 NAQ, and 50 Interview? Where does the MCAT play into this

 

I think i'll do a search on this.

[AndreaM]

I really enjoyed doing co-op and I think it really did help me with getting a job after university.

 

To answer your other questions, UBC doesn't give any information about post interview weighting, so your guess is as good as anyone's. An 85% GPA is speculated to give 25 on the AQ based on what rejected applicants have received in their feedback, but this is once again a topic that UBC does not give out information on. The MCAT is factored into your AQ score post interview, but how it is used is also unclear.

[Apixaban85]

Thanks Starling, yeah I know that the co-op credits don't really count, I'm glad i'm not off about doing co-op.

 

I think i've pretty much made this thread revolved around my own questions, but hopefully other on lookers will find the questions/answers useful too.

 

Another question:

 

1) If you get a 85% gpa, does that really equate to a 25 on the AQ ?

 

 

And can you correct me if i'm wrong, but after interview, is it weighted 25 AQ, 25 NAQ, and 50 Interview? Where does the MCAT play into this

 

I think i'll do a search on this.

 

I thought the MCAT is just a hard cutoff for this year. Hmm that's interesting about the 25 AQ = 85%

[kylamonkey]

 

Also, as far as pre-reqs are concerned, it would be okay to take a year of ochem and year of biochem via distance education correct? I was thinking of just doing them while on co-op terms at my own pace, as well since it is not possible to take it during my degree at any time.

 

I'm not sure if there is a distance-ed option at this point for BioChem. Organic is doable through Athabasca.

 

UBC used to allow a certain combination of courses through distance to satisfy their bioc, but I think they have disallowed it.

 

I did BIOC as a condensed, 6-week summer course at UBC. That's certainly another way to get it while not giving up an entire term.

[claire_tea]

I'm not sure if there is a distance-ed option at this point for BioChem. Organic is doable through Athabasca.

 

UBC used to allow a certain combination of courses through distance to satisfy their bioc, but I think they have disallowed it.

 

I did BIOC as a condensed, 6-week summer course at UBC. That's certainly another way to get it while not giving up an entire term.

 

How did you find the condensed course? I am seriously considering fulfilling the Biochem requirement this way.

[AndreaM]

I'm not sure if there is a distance-ed option at this point for BioChem. Organic is doable through Athabasca.

 

UBC used to allow a certain combination of courses through distance to satisfy their bioc, but I think they have disallowed it.

 

I did BIOC as a condensed, 6-week summer course at UBC. That's certainly another way to get it while not giving up an entire term.

 

According to their current table of acceptable biochem courses you can take them through either TRU or Athabasca, but Athabasca is not recommended for students who don't already have a university science background (http://www.med.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/Acceptable_Biochemistry_Courses_-_Canadian_Universities16588.pdf)

[advair250]

I was wondering as well if I should do the summer session offering of BIOC 300 the summer after I graduate.

 

My logic for doing it while on my co-op term, is that it would show I can handle working full-time and knocking off a few courses while I'm at it.

 

Since most people seem to say the general idea is a numbers game when it comes to pre-reqs, i'm thinking it's probably best to just do it in a situation that would give me the highest mark and learning outcome. Thoughts?

[kylamonkey]

How did you find the condensed course? I am seriously considering fulfilling the Biochem requirement this way.

 

I liked it. I was able to stay with my parents in NorthVan for free. It was only 6 weeks, so easy to "move" for just a short time.

 

The number grades are beneficial for UVic students too. We get penalized with the UVic grading system.

 

It;s nice to become familiar with the campus, it will make you a little more comfortable on interview day.

 

UVic used to have a BIOC 200 that you could take BEFORE taking BIOC 300, but I think it has changed. It was good for me because I walked into the course with some prior knowledge.

[daedreamer]

I also have a few questions about GPA calculation:

 

1.

what if your last 60 falling like this: 4th year 30 credits, 3rd year 38 credits? How does UBC decide which of your 3rd year classes count towards the last 60? Do they take the top grades? The lowest? I know spring semester would probably all be taken, but what about fall semester grades?

 

2.

What about using AP as a pre-req? Do they also convert AP grades and factor them into pre-req GPA calculation?

 

3.

Are A+s, (4.33, 90%+) converted to 4.00s/85% during their calculation like the AMCAS does?

[advair250]

what daedreamer said ^

[Kingdarm]

2: As far as I know AP only counts for credits and not marks.

 

3: I think for UBC, they remain %s. They convert other things back to %.

[advair250]

Is it better to take distance ed courses for electives through UBC or other places( tru-ol) ?

 

It shouldn't make a difference right?

[daedreamer]

I also have a few questions about GPA calculation:

 

1.

what if your last 60 falling like this: 4th year 30 credits, 3rd year 38 credits? How does UBC decide which of your 3rd year classes count towards the last 60? Do they take the top grades? The lowest? I know spring semester would probably all be taken, but what about fall semester grades?

 

2.

What about using AP as a pre-req? Do they also convert AP grades and factor them into pre-req GPA calculation?

 

3.

Are A+s, (4.33, 90%+) converted to 4.00s/85% during their calculation like the AMCAS does?

 

For anyone else interested in what admissions had to say about my questions:

 

1. They will take the highest grades in the semester if the 60 credits falls in the middles of a semester.

 

2. Like mentioned previously, AP/IB courses are not in the pre-req calculation.

 

3. They told me that they can't disclose this information...

[claire_tea]

For anyone else interested in what admissions had to say about my questions:

 

1. They will take the highest grades in the semester if the 60 credits falls in the middles of a semester.

 

Thanks for posting this, I had been curious as well.