at a crossroads....need advice

[LupaCupcake]

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I need some advice from people that understand this situation, ie other premeds.

My bachelor degree is done in a few days. Those of you that remember my story know that I don't have all of the science prereqs done because they were not all offered face to face at my current location. We are leaving the military and moving to NC in about 4 weeks. We chose NC because my mother lives in NC and it seems like a nice area to lay down some roots.

We will be in reasonable driving distance from Greensboro and University of North Carolina at that location does have a post-bacc premed program, but that program is not eligible for federal aid. Any other schools in the area we will be living (clemmons, nc) do offer the science classes, but can't get school loans for ala carte classes that are not being applied towards a degree. Not to mention the out of state tuition in NC is outrageous. I understand they do that to offset the low tuition for in-state, but it made me go 😱. Example, a 3 credit course at UNC is six hundred and something whereas out of state tuition makes it $2200. No way we could pay it out of pocket. I have 1 year left of eligibility on my post 9/11 GI BILL, but it will not pay for me taking ala carte classes. It only pays for approved degree programs, certification programs etc. I can't use it to pay for classes I feel like taking whilly nilly plus GI BILL does not cover anything out of state tuition wise, it will only pay what the in state charges would be.

I am sitting here thinking how am I going to pay for the science classes? I don't have high enough credit to qualify for massive bank loans. I was really banking that the premed program at UNC in Greensboro would qualify for financial aid because many formal programs do, but for some reason the premed program they offer does not.

Another option that presented itself is my discharge from the military years ago was honorable so I could go back in if I wanted. Since I now have a bachelor degree I could go in as an officer instead of enlisted. The military helps pay for school, but that would require them stationing me somewhere where the science classes were available and they were given at night. Even once those were completed I could not apply to medical school until my time was done. Another option is the army pays 100% of tuition to any health related degree program whether it is a doctorates in psych, a masters in social work, medical school etc. and once the school is done then you enter service as an officer in that specific field and serve an amount of time equivalent to how many years they paid for school. One has to get accepted into a program before they can even apply for that with the military so that would require me doing the science courses then getting accepted to medical school. Once again I think to myself, how do I pay for these science classes now?

I know many of you are like me in that you had to take some type of post-bacc classes whether in a formal or non-formal format. I know many of you balance family alongside education so you have to be careful with how much debt you are accumulating because it affects more than just yourself. What is your advice on this situation?

 

[charlieb]

Hmmm...

I also got out of the military after I had my degree and ended up opting to go to school for pos-bacc classes. I'm using my post 9-11 GI Bill to pay for the classes, but I had to do some work arounds. I know for the post bacc, they're typically certificate programs rather than actual degrees. The VA wouldn't pay for a certificate program. All I needed to take (and am currently enrolled in) were Physics, O Chem, Gen Chem (each with the labs). My work around was to enroll in the school under with a random degree program in order to take the classes I needed "officially".

To do this, I was required to enroll as a transfer student (even though I already have a degree). I had to send my transcripts to the school and apply still. Even though I obtained my bachelor's degree through Tuition Assistance while I was still in the military, the post 9-11 GI Bill allowed me to pursue a second B.S. degree (it's kind of like the first one doesn't exist). I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Biology and now I'm enrolled for a B.S. in Biology-Human Health Sciences. If you opt to go this route, the key would be to apply to a degree program that's typical for most of the undergrad students seeking medical school (such as a Biology-Human Health Sciences major) or something along those lines. This would ensure the science classes you need are on the degree plan as well (thus being covered by the VA). Another thing you want to double check is that you have the pre-reqs to take the science classes needed. For example, I ended up choosing Calc-Based Physics for this year and thank goodness I had taken Calculus my first of year of college because that was a pre-requisite. I think credits transferring might be your only stumbling block. But also remember that you can pursue a degree program at a community college that offers those science classes and labs as well.

I hope it all works out for you 🙂 Shoot me a message if you want more details.

 

[LupaCupcake]

thanks

it is an idea

 

[hesitantmed]

Double check with the school. You are getting stationed there leaving the military? If that is the case (correct me if I am wrong) you have "orders" there a lot of public schools will give you instate tuition. I know Virginia public schools give instate to military members and their spouses. I did that at Old Dominion and all I had to provide was proof of marriage and proof of transfer to the state.

I hope this could be done in your case.

What about reserves instead of going back active? Gives you control of where you live although I think the school TA is a little different.

 

[LupaCupcake]

We have orders leaving the military, but we are not forced to live in NC. We chose NC due to family. If we were stationed in NC then we qualify for in state , but we are not being stationed in NC. Some states are different, but in NC reservists don't get in state tuition unless they are on active duty at that time.

 

[hesitantmed]

That sucks. You would think they would offer more benefits for veterans.

You thought about biting the bullet and getting a loan for this and then doing military medicine so no loans for Med school? My father-in-law is a flight surgeon in the air force and that's what he did.

 

[Amk90]

Several states have recently been giving in-state tuition to veterans. I'm not sure if NC is one of them, but you can most likely get it if you talk to the right people.

Quick google search turned up this article and a bunch more - http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/09/02/1197387 Seems like that guy got in state tuition at Fayetteville State University in NC as a veteran that wasnt a resident.

Take a look...You might be able to get in state tuition at other places but probably will have to fight a bit for it.

 

[Amk90]

edit: double post sorry

 

[Jas1360]

What was considered your last state of residence?

I think there has to be a way to get in-state in your circumstance. I would see if any of those schools have a department for Veterans. Those people would be your best bet for figuring out how that school works and figuring out how to get in-state.

Anyone serving overseas, in my opinion, ought to be able to move back to the states and pick anywhere they want to live, and qualify for in-state as soon as they return. Rather than having to wait a year to establish residency.

 

[Jas1360]

Also, check into the community colleges, depending on which medical school you want to go to. They are less expensive but they also have programs that you could be enrolled in, in order to take those pre-reqs, and can get your GI bill.

 

[LingoLaine]

but can't get school loans for ala carte classes that are not being applied towards a degree.

Apply as a degree candidate. A lot of schools offer "2nd Bachelor's programs". Just because you're in a degree program doesn't mean you actually have to complete the degree.

 

[cspringer]

Apply as a degree candidate. A lot of schools offer "2nd Bachelor's programs". Just because you're in a degree program doesn't mean you actually have to complete the degree.

This.

Once I declared a major, I qualified for loans.

 

[theseeker4]

Apply as a degree candidate. A lot of schools offer "2nd Bachelor's programs". Just because you're in a degree program doesn't mean you actually have to complete the degree.

This seems the bet thing to do to get started right now. The other option is waiting to establish residency before starting your classes, which I am sure you would rather not do.

 

[LupaCupcake]

I reviewed e documentation for NC and I can fight for it, but ultimately it is the schools decision. We will have a lease in our name, I'll register to vote, I'm gonna get a job so imshowing employment in area, our daughter wil be in school, my mom lives their but she has only been inNC for 5 months. I'll change drivers license and car reg ASAP...I will fight for it cause I need in state. My previous state was Ohio, but I don't even know if Ohio considers me a state resident now. I guess I am state-less. Although I will file a congressional letter if I have to.....not sure if that will help

Ido not want to Attend a communi college it I might have to depending on price. It is kind of ridiculous that Iwould save money with a private school that is considered rather expensive in comparison to other schools in the area. I'm scared if I did CC for cost purposes that it would really hurt my chances ofmed school. My bachelor degree GPA is 3.8 so at least they would see that at a normal 4 year university I do fine.

I'm writing this on iPad and it keeps messing things up like taking the y off of community college...no idea why,so don't mind the typos above
I suppose I have to enroll as going for a second bachelors...what else can Ido?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Apply as a degree candidate. A lot of schools offer "2nd Bachelor's programs". Just because you're in a degree program doesn't mean you actually have to complete the degree.

I know this has already been quoted but this is a good idea. Another thing you can do is go for a master's degree and drag your feet on completing it, then just take all your pre-med classes.

 

[theseeker4]

I reviewed e documentation for NC and I can fight for it, but ultimately it is the schools decision. We will have a lease in our name, I'll register to vote, I'm gonna get a job so imshowing employment in area, our daughter wil be in school, my mom lives their but she has only been inNC for 5 months. I'll change drivers license and car reg ASAP...I will fight for it cause I need in state. My previous state was Ohio, but I don't even know if Ohio considers me a state resident now. I guess I am state-less. Although I will file a congressional letter if I have to.....not sure if that will help

Ido not want to Attend a communi college it I might have to depending on price. It is kind of ridiculous that Iwould save money with a private school that is considered rather expensive in comparison to other schools in the area. I'm scared if I did CC for cost purposes that it would really hurt my chances ofmed school. My bachelor degree GPA is 3.8 so at least they would see that at a normal 4 year university I do fine.

I'm writing this on iPad and it keeps messing things up like taking the y off of community college...no idea why,so don't mind the typos above
I suppose I have to enroll as going for a second bachelors...what else can Ido?

Lots of people have done pre reqs at CCs and been accepted, and some relied on CC work to repair a poor GPA. Since you do not have GPA repair to worry about, talk to the medical schools you are most interested in about the acceptability of CC classes. That is much better than taking on a ton of debt before med school starts.