Associates or Bachelors

[2bMD]

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I already have an associates degree (not related to medical or pre-med), and I am back in school now taking my first pre-med. requirements in Bio. and Chem. My question is would it be ok to take pre-med, req.'s from a community college and get a second associates degree, and then apply to medical school, or do you have to have a bachelor's degree?

I already have 85 credits, but none are in the pre-med sciences. I am also 34 yrs. old, so I am hoping the 90 credits rule that I have seen with most schools would be sufficient since after the pre-reqs I will have well over 90.

Whatcha think?

 

[gschl1234]

Originally posted by 2bMD
I already have an associates degree (not related to medical or pre-med), and I am back in school now taking my first pre-med. requirements in Bio. and Chem. My question is would it be ok to take pre-med, req.'s from a community college and get a second associates degree, and then apply to medical school, or do you have to have a bachelor's degree?
Whatcha think?

Most of the schools where I applied specifically state (as I recall) in their secondary that you must have a bachelor's degree by the time of metriculation (in addition to having taken the pre-reqs which they list). I met this guy who is currently in a 6 year med program strait from high school and tried to transfer out to a regular 4 year med school after his first year. They (his state school) turned him down even though he had a 32MCAT, 120+ credit hours because he did not have a bachelor's degree. He said they told him he should not have bothered applying.

 

[DD214_DOC]

All med schools require a bachelor's.

Two associates != Bachelor's.

End of thread.

 

[fullefect1]

"All med schools require a bachelor's. "


I must be going crazy. I remember reading several school sites stating that only 90 credits need to be completed. Maybe that was for applying?

But hey JKDMed that unOfficial SDN FAQ link is pretty funny. props on that page.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Not all medical schools require bachelors. Many allow 3rd year college students to matriculate and will give them a bachelors in medical science after a year or two of med school.

 

[2bMD]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Not all medical schools require bachelors. Many allow 3rd year college students to matriculate and will give them a bachelors in medical science after a year or two of med school.

That is what I thought too. I am not sure that my theory would work, but I thought I would ask.

Of course after this semester I may have to forget this anyway. I have had 4.0, but I just failed my first Bio. exam, and I studied. This is not a good start.

 

[robotdancing]

you often have to be an exceptional candidate to gain admittance w/o a bachelor's degree (or bachelor's pending)... and, of course, some schools require a ba/s right out

 

[efex101]

As a non-trad you do want to present yourself in the best light possible hence your best bet is to strive for a B.S. or B.A. Although some medical schools do accept individuals with 90 cr hrs most applicants will have a B.S/B.A by the time they matriculate if accepted, so why put yourself at a disadvantage no matter how slight (BTW most non-trads applying have one and sometimes advanced degrees)? regardless of what you read here on SDN your best bet is to call a couple of schools you are interested in and ask them directly.

 

[HollyJ]

I agree with efex -- as a nontrad, you're already climbing uphill. Don't give the adcoms a reason to dismiss you without giving you a fair shake. Get the BA.

 

[ms. a]

I agree, a BA or BS will be very beneficial. However, one of my brothers-in-law went to Duke Med without a bachelors. I'm not sure what would have made him stand out as exceptional (I'm not saying there isn't anything, it's just not anything obvious to me), I'm just saying it's certainly possible. I believe that actually few med schools actually require a bachelors, but I would check with the ones you're interested in first.

 

[Tezzie]

I agree 100% with what efex says.

Try to find a nearby college and transfer. Or try to find a college that will accept most of your credit hours. You will need a BA/BS and you will need to show that you can do well outside of a CC.

Make sure you stay ahead of the game in everything else (LORs, ECs, etc).

Good luck!

 

[JohnHolmes]

Originally posted by 2bMD
I already have an associates degree (not related to medical or pre-med), and I am back in school now taking my first pre-med. requirements in Bio. and Chem. My question is would it be ok to take pre-med, req.'s from a community college and get a second associates degree, and then apply to medical school, or do you have to have a bachelor's degree?

I already have 85 credits, but none are in the pre-med sciences. I am also 34 yrs. old, so I am hoping the 90 credits rule that I have seen with most schools would be sufficient since after the pre-reqs I will have well over 90.

Whatcha think?

This shouldn't even be a contest.

Two associates, all premed classes at a CC and no bachelors is a recipe for a big fat REJECTION envelope from every med school you apply to. I'd be shocked if you got one interview, let alone one secondary that wasn't automatically generated. Alternatively, you may be able to get into a med school in the Uzbekistan.

Do yourself a favor and go to a 4 year institution, transfer your degree and get your bachelors. You will be in med school in no time and thank yourself over in spades for the wise decision.

Coops

 

[2bMD]

I think you all are right, but I thought I would ask.

I really don't understand the philosophy behind US med. schools. If there is a shortage of doctors, and resident programs go unfilled by US students and end up being filled by foreign med. students then why do schools not admit more students here. Makes no sense to me.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by 2bMD
I think you all are right, but I thought I would ask.

I really don't understand the philosophy behind US med. schools. If there is a shortage of doctors, and resident programs go unfilled by US students and end up being filled by foreign med. students then why do schools not admit more students here. Makes no sense to me.

thats cause some us med students dont want to go into the residencies that go unfilled. i think most med students after putting in all that work into getting that MD or DO, dont want to do something they dont want when it comes to residencies.

Letting more people in wouldnt solve that problem. Just creates more competition for the already competitive fields.