Accepted, but still need O-chem, nontraditional- advice needed

[clutch21]

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Hey guys I was recently accepted into a texas med school. Now that I'm in, I still have to take O-chem (all of it) before Aug 12th. The problem is that I am a nursing major, which is very inflexible. Next semester I have a very weird schedule that leaves virtually no room for any other classes.

I was looking into online courses and I stumbled upon university of new england. They offer both orgo I &II online. Has anyone had any experience with this? If I take orgo I online, its flexible enough that I can take one in the spring and one in the summer.

Another option is transferring to a school that offers both orgos in the summer and ends before the 12th of august. However it is risky because if those classes fill up (since I'll be a new student) I'll be screwed (really screwed).

Does anyone have any ideas, advice, or input on my situation? At this point, if those online courses are legit, it seems to be the best option for me.

Thanks!

 

[Lucky Louie]

Whatever you decide, be sure to check with the medical school to be sure they approve it.

 

[Irish Football]

Have you thought about trying to defer for a year so you would have more time to figure out a way to take Orgo not online? Don't have any advice for the online thing, sorry.

 

[darkjedi]

I don't believe you need to transfer colleges in order to take 2 classes at your local state university or community college. Typically online credits are not really accepted as they usually don't have real lab credits.

You should be able to finish up both semesters in the span of a summer and matriculate with both Orgo semesters under your belt.

 

[Plue00]

Most summer school classes end around August 5-10, so you could definitely do it there. I'm going to take orgo over the summer and I think it starts as soon as spring semester is over and lasts up until like August 6th or so.

 

[MilMD01]

Do it at a local community college. Take them both simultaneously get C's, and start med school.
That's how I completed Physics l & ll

 

[dsoz]

Can you drop the nursing major. In favor of something that is a little more flexible? That is, can you still graduate on time and do something different? If you are going for medical school, why have a nursing degree?

I am NOT trying to devaluate the nursing degree in any way, just asking the question. It is your decision. Whatever you do you should check with the medical school to make sure that they are good with it.

Will it hurt you to have low grades in your o chem class? I know that there are a lot of people that don't pass it their first time through. If you put it off until the summer, you may in counter difficulty if you run into problems with understanding the material, or you have a jerk for a professor.

dsoz

 

[clutch21]

The local community colleges (Im in austin, tx) are not an option for me because they don't offer the 5 week orgo's over the summer so I would not be able to take both of them. UT Austin offers orgo over the summer but classes are done the 20th so that won't work. The only option is transferring to UT Arlington (where UTSW is at anyways) and taking them there over the summer. The only thing, like I said, is if I can't get the 2 ochems because they fill up, then I would be absolutely screwed.

Interestingly enough, those online course at UNE do have lab and lecture components. I searched SDN for any related threads and about 2 years ago someone posted that they took the same online orgo courses and they worked out fine... so I don't know.

I'm not too worried about not being able to grasp the material in a short amount of time. I already self taught some ochem from the MCAT and did well on that portion.

Irish Football- just out of curiosity, how common is it for med schools to let you defer? I have never heard of it.

 

[clutch21]

Can you drop the nursing major. In favor of something that is a little more flexible? That is, can you still graduate on time and do something different? If you are going for medical school, why have a nursing degree?

I am NOT trying to devaluate the nursing degree in any way, just asking the question. It is your decision. Whatever you do you should check with the medical school to make sure that they are good with it.

Will it hurt you to have low grades in your o chem class? I know that there are a lot of people that don't pass it their first time through. If you put it off until the summer, you may in counter difficulty if you run into problems with understanding the material, or you have a jerk for a professor.

dsoz

Don't you have to have a degree when you graduate? I mean I can't just not graduate without a degree right?

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Just ASK THE SCHOOL. They're the ones who accepted you without O-Chem so these questions are more than appropriate. Ask if you can take the courses online, if not what would be an acceptable way to take the course, if they have any suggestions and if you would be able to defer to take O-chem (although that seems kind of extreme).

They aren't going to rescind your acceptance just because you need to ask some questions.

 

[clutch21]

Just ASK THE SCHOOL. They're the ones who accepted you without O-Chem so these questions are more than appropriate. Ask if you can take the courses online, if not what would be an acceptable way to take the course, if they have any suggestions and if you would be able to defer to take O-chem (although that seems kind of extreme).

They aren't going to rescind your acceptance just because you need to ask some questions.

+1. Good idea. I have already emailed the school regarding this matter. Also, Irish Football, I have found on their website that they do grant one year deferrals. Thanks!

 

[deleted503644]

Hey Clutch. I would check out ACC again to take Orgo I in the spring. They have some good night classes that are pretty flexible, the labs are only once a week, and you can often make them up a different time, and all the exams can be taken any time during a week-long block at the testing center.

I am currently taking some pre-reqs including orgo I there (accepted @ UTSW next year too!) and even if the course that you want is filled now you can probably get into it as I have noticed generally half each class drops during the first two weeks.

 

[WildEMDoc]

UNE-COM offers the organic sequence online

http://www.une.edu/com/online/organic/

But I would definitely make sure that if you choose to do it, whatever school you are accepted to will take it. Because it is super expensive

 

[clutch21]

Hey Clutch. I would check out ACC again to take Orgo I in the spring. They have some good night classes that are pretty flexible, the labs are only once a week, and you can often make them up a different time, and all the exams can be taken any time during a week-long block at the testing center.

I am currently taking some pre-reqs including orgo I there (before starting UTSW next year too!) and even if the course that you want is filled now you can probably get into it as I have noticed generally half each class drops during the first two weeks.

Thanks for the input. Yeah I am actually registered for acc orgo I next semester but pretty sure im going to drop it. The problem is that next semester my schedule is wildly inflexible. I have two clinicals that are from 8-4pm one day, and 2-11pm on another. Besides that I have about 5 hours of lecture on every day that I don't have clinical. Even then, this schedule only lasts for 2/3 of the semester. Then after that I go to capstone preceptorship in which I work as a nurse, 40-50 hr/wk. Also my capstone is not necessarily going to be in Austin.

I actually found a viable plan B. Those online courses I was mentioning are legit and I already had UTSW approve them. You can sign up anytime so I can start the classes next week and hopefully knock out a large portion before the spring semester. I think thats what I might do. I'll see you at UTSW though 🙂 Congrats!

 

[clutch21]

UNE-COM offers the organic sequence online

http://www.une.edu/com/online/organic/

But I would definitely make sure that if you choose to do it, whatever school you are accepted to will take it. Because it is super expensive

The price for orgo 1 is $1500, including books. I mean thats a lot but it's about what I would pay at my 4 year university. So not too high relatively. Have you heard anything about this course in terms how hard it is to self teach? I self taught for MCAT but im sure this course is going to go into much more detail..

 

[WildEMDoc]

The price for orgo 1 is $1500, including books. I mean thats a lot but it's about what I would pay at my 4 year university. So not too high relatively. Have you heard anything about this course in terms how hard it is to self teach? I self taught for MCAT but im sure this course is going to go into much more detail..

I cannot comment on how hard it is or anything like that. But I have heard nothing but good things about UNECOM's online stuff (mostly about biochem though).

As far as self teaching I'm not sure, I could never imagine self teaching myself organic, but since you did it for the MCAT then you will probably be just fine I would think.