Anyone else have to backpedal?

[iceco]

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My 4 year university only offered ONE 5-credit hour course in Gen Bio w/lab. I graduate four years ago, and am now trying to prepare to apply in either 2011 or 2012. Technically, I don't have a year of gen bio, as most schools require. Can I get away with this, or do I need to find an evening class at a community college and get it over with? Or will that be frowned upon considering I went to a university? I don't know. It seems so remedial now. Thoughts?

 

[thes_hunter]

From what I understand of your post, you are saying that you will have all your prerequisites done next spring (2011), expect for 1 more semester in General Biology (with lab). And that the school you went to (or are going to now) does not offer the class you need within the time frame you need to take it in, Correct?

If so, take it at a community college and get it over with so you can take the MCAT this spring, without waiting through another application cycle. You may be asked about taking the class at a community college, but say you did it because it was the only way to make it work with your time table because of scheduling conflicts at your host school. What really matters is how well you understand the material. Which you will have to dig deeply into no matter where you take the course.

My experience is that University courses basically force you into a deeper level of understanding over a community college, but that is also not necessarily true. However, you are in control of how much you will take out of any class, and even if the community college class is too general, it is possible to take the initiative and learn what you need to for the MCAT.

Good luck, and let me know if this helps answer your question.

 

[EdLongshanks]

My 4 year university only offered ONE 5-credit hour course in Gen Bio w/lab. I graduate four years ago, and am now trying to prepare to apply in either 2011 or 2012. Technically, I don't have a year of gen bio, as most schools require. Can I get away with this, or do I need to find an evening class at a community college and get it over with? Or will that be frowned upon considering I went to a university? I don't know. It seems so remedial now. Thoughts?

My Gen Bio requirement was met with a 4 hour course named "BIO I" and a 4 hour course named "Zoology". Every school has accepted this without a problem.

 

[jl lin]

However, you are in control of how much you will take out of any class, and even if the community college class is too general, it is possible to take the initiative and learn what you need to for the MCAT.

Good luck, and let me know if this helps answer your question.

Seriously, these are some of the wisest words ever posted on SDN--at least since I have been here.

👍👍👍👍👍

 

[iceco]

In an effort to keep my original post short, I left out some key info. I have a degree in Microbiology. I've taken cell bio, genetics, intro to fungi, basic micro, med micro...the list continues. I've been out of undergrad for four years (and have been working full-time since) and a class or two in an upper level science course would serve me well at this point. I was just unsure whether I needed a class that was titled "General Biology II" or not. If what I have will work, I'll just press forward. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

 

[thes_hunter]

With you BS in micro, you probably have Gen Bio covered.

If you haven't done so yet, you can probably get in touch with your old school's adviser program, and they may be able to help translate your old classes into pre-req equivalents.

 

[EdLongshanks]

My 4 year university only offered ONE 5-credit hour course in Gen Bio w/lab. I graduate four years ago, and am now trying to prepare to apply in either 2011 or 2012. Technically, I don't have a year of gen bio, as most schools require. Can I get away with this, or do I need to find an evening class at a community college and get it over with? Or will that be frowned upon considering I went to a university? I don't know. It seems so remedial now. Thoughts?

BTW, you don't have to finish every pre-req before you apply, only before you matriculate. Which means, you could simply apply with your classes as is, wait until you are accepted, and then ask the admissions office to waive the requirement. If they aren't willing to do this, then take the pre-req in the spring before matriculation.