- I took my pre-reqs at a community college. Is that really gonna make such a big difference at the application process? My gpa is 4.0.
It might be a disadvantage if ALL of your classes come from a community college, however, this is debatable. Be aware that medical schools state that they require at least 90 hours of credit in order to matriculate, although the truth is that most require you to have a Bachelor's degree (prior to matriculation, not application).
Also, pre-reqs are different for pharm and med school, so check to see that you have both covered. Most medical schools require:
8 hours of biology w/labs
8 hours of physics w/labs
8 hours of inorganic chemistry w/labs
8 hours of organic chemistry w/labs
6 hours of english/writing classes
6 hours of math (cal 1 + cal2 or statistics)
That is pretty general, check specific school's website for their specific requirements, which are more likely than not the same as above, but some schools may require Cal2 or biochemistry.
- I am an international student, but me and my fiancee are getting married this summer. He is a citizen. I won't get a permanent green card right away, but I will get a temporary one.. Can I still apply for 08?
Thank you to anybody who knows the answers.
You can apply without the green card, but I think that unless you have already been approved and have the card or your passport stamped with the I-84 stamp (I think that is what it is...might be the wrong number...and this is NOT the same as your temporary permit...this is something you do once you get your approval letter in the mail), you will still be considered an international student and will therefore be at a great disadvantage.
It is very difficult for international students to get in, and if all of your coursework is from a CC it will make it harder for you. I would recommend waiting until you have your PR approval in order to apply to medical school, it will make a lot of things easier for you.
In the meantime, if you are serious about medical school, you can use that time to get clinical experience (which is pretty much a huge requirement) and extra curricular/volunteering experiences or job experiences that might boost your application.
You can also use that time to take any classes/pre-reqs you might be missing, and take them at a university if possible. It also gives you time to study for your MCAT so you may do better in it.