Are prereqs negotiable at all?

[Ariel-Li]

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Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has experience in negotiating prereq requirements for admission.

I will have all prereqs fulfilled by Spring 2021 except for microbiology lab. I've taken microbiology lecture, but lab is specifically required by UMN, Ohio and Purdue among the schools I applied this cycle. I already received interview invites from all 3 schools, but I really don't plan to take the lab at all. Due to Covid, even if I take the lab in the local university, it will be online only in Spring semester (yes I double checked). I have 1500h+ experience in a biomedical lab, with a publication in microbiology field. Is there any chance I can negotiate with the schools for this specific situation? If so, shall I do it now before the interview, or wait to see if there will be an offer? If there's no chance at all I'd rather decline the interviews and leave the opportunities for other applicants.

 

[WonderingStudent]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has experience in negotiating prereq requirements for admission.

I will have all prereqs fulfilled by Spring 2021 except for microbiology lab. I've taken microbiology lecture, but lab is specifically required by UMN, Ohio and Purdue among the schools I applied this cycle. I already received interview invites from all 3 schools, but I really don't plan to take the lab at all. Due to Covid, even if I take the lab in the local university, it will be online only in Spring semester (yes I double checked). I have 1500h+ experience in a biomedical lab, with a publication in microbiology field. Is there any chance I can negotiate with the schools for this specific situation? If so, shall I do it now before the interview, or wait to see if there will be an offer? If there's no chance at all I'd rather decline the interviews and leave the opportunities for other applicants.

I have successfully spoken to schools about utilizing other courses for Public Speaking requirements but don’t have experience with substituting science prereqs. One school asked me to send in a syllabus showing that for at least one course we had a significant portion of our grade that was determined by presenting a project to the class.

It depends on the vet school if they would accept it. I would lean toward speaking to admissions and ensuring it would be possible. I’m not sure if it would be linked with your application that you asked the question to admissions.

 

[KiddCo]

I have a close friend who like myself is a serious non-trad (he is ~35). He was in business (CEO/CFO level) and went back to school to fulfill probably around 3/4 of required pre-reqs before applying into the Master of Biomedical Sciences program (which is where I met him). He graduated with a 4.0 and then got a 517 on his MCAT.

We were both accepted into the MD school that hosted our masters program.

I should probably also mention that this persons father founded a specialty in the MD school's parent health system.

So take that for what its worth, but yes it is possible. But n=1 and his circumstances were certainly not average.

 

[max_wildlife]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has experience in negotiating prereq requirements for admission.

I will have all prereqs fulfilled by Spring 2021 except for microbiology lab. I've taken microbiology lecture, but lab is specifically required by UMN, Ohio and Purdue among the schools I applied this cycle. I already received interview invites from all 3 schools, but I really don't plan to take the lab at all. Due to Covid, even if I take the lab in the local university, it will be online only in Spring semester (yes I double checked). I have 1500h+ experience in a biomedical lab, with a publication in microbiology field. Is there any chance I can negotiate with the schools for this specific situation? If so, shall I do it now before the interview, or wait to see if there will be an offer? If there's no chance at all I'd rather decline the interviews and leave the opportunities for other applicants.

ah, i think it's a case-by-case thing. i've had some luck replacing bio 1 & 2 with anatomy and physiology 1 & 2, but it's depended. some schools 'half' compromise - they take my crummy bio 1 grade but will take my better A&P 2 grade to boost it a bit.

but i get your concerns - i'm taking an online introductory 4-credit micro course this winter break that my advisor really pushed me to take, but i'm not even sure ohio will accept it. the 'lab' is those Mastering Microbiology virtual activities and i'm skeptical. i have a little more flexibility in the spring so if i have to take it over again or take an in-person lab, i will -- but i'm personally waiting until after the interview to ask this. i'm worried about it being linked to my account, and my advisor hasn't answered me at all. it's such an odd position to be in.

 

[battie]

In my experience, there have to be particularly extenuating circumstances to substitute a prerequisite coarse, and I personally don't know anyone who got out of a prerequisite coarse entirely. COVID most likely would not constitute an extenuating circumstance.

There is zero problem asking the school the possibility of a substitute. It won't reflect poorly. It won't cause a problem. You just have to have a class that can be a logical substitute.

I would not ask to eliminate the prerequisite altogether because the answer will be no. Why should you get out of taking the prerequisite when others, including people with masters and PhDs, have taken these classes to get into school?

 

[Ariel-Li]

In my experience, there have to be particularly extenuating circumstances to substitute a prerequisite coarse, and I personally don't know anyone who got out of a prerequisite coarse entirely. COVID most likely would not constitute an extenuating circumstance.

There is zero problem asking the school the possibility of a substitute. It won't reflect poorly. It won't cause a problem. You just have to have a class that can be a logical substitute.

I would not ask to eliminate the prerequisite altogether because the answer will be no. Why should you get out of taking the prerequisite when others, including people with masters and PhDs, have taken these classes to get into school?

I totally hear you! I just don't think investing more than $1000 on an online "lab" is worth it when there are other options (fingers crossed). Completely personal decision really.

 

[battie]

I totally hear you! I just don't think investing more than $1000 on an online "lab" is worth it when there are other options (fingers crossed). Completely personal decision really.

Yeah, zero harm in trying if you have something you can substitute it for, for sure!! Save the money cause that 1,000 can be a month or two of rent during vet school.

 

[EngrSC]

I applied last cycle and asked UMN if they would waive the math requirement because I’d taken many higher level math courses than calculus and worked as an engineer for 10 years. They told me they wouldn’t make an exception and I had to take a math class because my former coursework had expired. UMN specifically told me that they don’t substitute work experience for prereqs. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t changed their policy or other schools won’t be willing.

 

[supershorty]

I applied last cycle and asked UMN if they would waive the math requirement because I’d taken many higher level math courses than calculus and worked as an engineer for 10 years. They told me they wouldn’t make an exception and I had to take a math class because my former coursework had expired. UMN specifically told me that they don’t substitute work experience for prereqs. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t changed their policy or other schools won’t be willing.

We don't have a calculus requirement 🤔

I'm not doubting what you were told, just puzzled.

 

[EngrSC]

We don't have a calculus requirement 🤔

I'm not doubting what you were told, just puzzled.

I could’ve worded it better. I meant the math requirement in general 🙂

 

[EB73674]

There is definitely no harm in asking, especially since it’s such a topical application of what you would learn in a micro lab course. But don’t be surprised if they say no - the way it was posited to me by an advisor, “why would they allow you to do it when they have hundreds of other applicants who already have it done?” I would keep registered for it & email them ASAP to ask if they would allow it to be substituted. It sucks when it’s spending a bunch of money on a course that you don’t really feel will be worth it or useful (hello my full summer of English classes & my public speaking course!), but if it’s a pre-req, it’s typically pretty non-negotiable.

 

[supershorty]

There are some exceptions out there, I vaguely recall that my verbal score on the GRE counted toward an English requirement at Cornell because my score was high enough or something along those lines. I think that was spelled out on their site though, and I don’t know if that’s still the case, it was 4 years ago.

 

[britzen]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has experience in negotiating prereq requirements for admission.

I will have all prereqs fulfilled by Spring 2021 except for microbiology lab. I've taken microbiology lecture, but lab is specifically required by UMN, Ohio and Purdue among the schools I applied this cycle. I already received interview invites from all 3 schools, but I really don't plan to take the lab at all. Due to Covid, even if I take the lab in the local university, it will be online only in Spring semester (yes I double checked). I have 1500h+ experience in a biomedical lab, with a publication in microbiology field. Is there any chance I can negotiate with the schools for this specific situation? If so, shall I do it now before the interview, or wait to see if there will be an offer? If there's no chance at all I'd rather decline the interviews and leave the opportunities for other applicants.

Are you already accepted somewhere else? If taking a $1000 course that's not very useful is the difference between potentially going to one of those schools vs. having to apply again next year because you risked not getting in somewhere else, I think I'd suck it up. But if you already have an acceptance to a school you're happy with skip it unless one of those schools would be significantly cheaper than wherever you were accepted

 

[britzen]

I applied last cycle and asked UMN if they would waive the math requirement because I’d taken many higher level math courses than calculus and worked as an engineer for 10 years. They told me they wouldn’t make an exception and I had to take a math class because my former coursework had expired. UMN specifically told me that they don’t substitute work experience for prereqs. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t changed their policy or other schools won’t be willing.

Their admissions planning guide specifically says you can petition the time limit on prereqs if you had a job that used those skills frequently (which I assume you did because.... engineering and all). What jerks.

 

[EngrSC]

Their admissions planning guide specifically says you can petition the time limit on prereqs if you had a job that used those skills frequently (which I assume you did because.... engineering and all). What jerks.

Interesting! That wasn’t an option when I applied 🤔

 

[limabeanbaby]

hi!! Ohio should definitely do this for you they did it for me!! my whole undergrad thesis was in the lab on parasitology so they were completely fine with waiving microbiology lab. my school also didn't have microbiology lab available to take anyways. Minnesota said no on waiving microbiology lab and they also said that I would need to take genetics because I never took a course with "Genetics" in the title (even though my degree is in evolutionary biology..... ). meanwhile every other school immediately substituted my degree for the need for a course entitled "genetics"

 

[Ariel-Li]

Minnesota said no on waiving microbiology lab and they also said that I would need to take genetics because I never took a course with "Genetics" in the title (even though my degree is in evolutionary biology..... ).

That's hilarious🤣 So, did you choose Ohio?

 

[max_wildlife]

hi!! Ohio should definitely do this for you they did it for me!! my whole undergrad thesis was in the lab on parasitology so they were completely fine with waiving microbiology lab. my school also didn't have microbiology lab available to take anyways. Minnesota said no on waiving microbiology lab and they also said that I would need to take genetics because I never took a course with "Genetics" in the title (even though my degree is in evolutionary biology..... ). meanwhile every other school immediately substituted my degree for the need for a course entitled "genetics"

hey, so for ohio, did you confirm this through the pre-req evaluation form or did you just touch base with email they provide for prospective candidates? I'm trying to figure out if the introductory micro course I'm in will count. I ran my transcript approval form last spring prior to applying, and the website says i can't submit it twice. do you think it's okay to email them at this point or would you wait til after the interview?

 

[Ariel-Li]

Update for future applicants who might have similar questions I did: all three schools ended up waiving the lab requirement for me. So it's definitely possible if you have a good reason!