Back to School Again

[Florida Cracker]

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Hey Everybody,
Just found the site and it's been great to read some of your stories.

I'm in the process of starting my pre-reqs for med school after being out of school for all of a semester. I got my B.A. in History from the University of Tampa and then my M.A. in History from the University of South Florida.

My plan was to graduate and work as a firefighter for a little while to save up money or further schooling, but with all of the economic strife that local governments are going through, it's been hard finding anyone that is even hiring right now. So I've registered at the community college here to start working on all the science and math that I avoided my first run through college.

I got a 3.79 in my undergrad degree, but only took liberal arts sciences. I was always good at science in school, but all the trouble I had in high school math dashed my dreams of becoming a doctor. My brother has recently made the decision to go for med school, and after looking at the required courses, I realized that I'm a much better student now than I was at 16 and that med school is attainable.

I should be starting out with Calc and Chem in the summer.

I've heard that med schools like people with degrees in social sciences. Is that accurate?

I look forward to meeting everyone!

 

[DrMidlife]

So I've registered at the community college here to start working on all the science and math that I avoided my first run through college.

Depending on what med schools you're interested in, you could be killing your dream by doing prereqs at a community college. You're putting yourself at risk by taking on a transcript that can be arbitrarily viewed as not rigorous, depending on who reviews your app (could be some old Ivy League fart, could be a former CC professor, who knows). You need to demonstrate that you're a great candidate to succeed under a 25-credit all-hard-science load for 2 years straight and then some. It's not about whether a CC will set you up for that success (it probably will); it's about whether a CC will give you the edge when med school admissions committees start throwing candidates overboard post-interview. See the endless, voluminous CC vs. 4yr discussions in this and other forums.

I got a 3.79 in my undergrad degree, but only took liberal arts sciences. I was always good at science in school, but all the trouble I had in high school math dashed my dreams of becoming a doctor. My brother has recently made the decision to go for med school, and after looking at the required courses, I realized that I'm a much better student now than I was at 16 and that med school is attainable.

Nobody cares about what you did in high school now. That 3.79 is pure gold. Keep that number that high through the prereqs, and you can get in anywhere. Go for it.

I should be starting out with Calc and Chem in the summer.

Don't start with calc if you haven't done math since you did poorly in it in high school - pick something more intro. Set yourself up to succeed and preserve that gorgeous GPA. It's fine to warm up with math at a CC, but then move to a 4yr school. Also consider a structured postbac program - see this forum for more info.

I've heard that med schools like people with degrees in social sciences. Is that accurate?

Med schools don't care what you major in. They care about your numbers, your extra curriculars, your recommendations, and your ability to present yourself as a mature professional. That said, a history degree is certainly more interesting than YABM (yet another bio major).

Best of luck to you.

 

[Florida Cracker]

Depending on what med schools you're interested in, you could be killing your dream by doing prereqs at a community college. You're putting yourself at risk by taking on a transcript that can be arbitrarily viewed as not rigorous, depending on who reviews your app (could be some old Ivy League fart, could be a former CC professor, who knows). You need to demonstrate that you're a great candidate to succeed under a 25-credit all-hard-science load for 2 years straight and then some. It's not about whether a CC will set you up for that success (it probably will); it's about whether a CC will give you the edge when med school admissions committees start throwing candidates overboard post-interview. See the endless, voluminous CC vs. 4yr discussions in this and other forums.

I have been wondering about that. I live in the Phoenix area and have the community college literally right across the street from my apartment, with Arizona State about 5 minutes away. The Pre-Health adviser at ASU told me that I should go to the CC for a couple semesters, until I get residency in this state (I'm from Florida) and then switch to ASU. But by the sound of it, taking more than intro classes at a CC actually hurts your chances.

The only real reason that I would attend the CC would be to save some money. But I guess since I will be getting loans no matter what, and will be for med school as well, it might be worth it to go with the more expensive state school. Out of state tuition sucks, though!

I've been debating whether or not to take brief calc at the CC or to take college algebra again. But I took the algebra when I was in undergrad and it was incredibly easy. I got my hands on a calc text book and have been looking over it.

 

[hector219]

I have been wondering about that. I live in the Phoenix area and have the community college literally right across the street from my apartment, with Arizona State about 5 minutes away.

I'd go for the CC. I know the campuses vary, but you have a good CC in Phoenix. I'm an EMT doing CC in Dallas for my pre-reqs and I'm glad I made that choice. I won't start applying until the summer, but I'm clearly as well, if not better, prepared for the MCAT/med school workload as any of the 4-year undergrads I know.

It may make a difference that I have a degree from a 4-year already. If you were just starting out, then that move might not be advised. Of course, I can't say for sure about any of this till I apply and am accepted next year.

The most important thing to remember is that you decide what you make of it. If your class is easy, you must over-study, because you need to know all the information.

 

[Florida Cracker]

I'd go for the CC. I know the campuses vary, but you have a good CC in Phoenix. I'm an EMT doing CC in Dallas for my pre-reqs and I'm glad I made that choice. I won't start applying until the summer, but I'm clearly as well, if not better, prepared for the MCAT/med school workload as any of the 4-year undergrads I know.

It may make a difference that I have a degree from a 4-year already. If you were just starting out, then that move might not be advised. Of course, I can't say for sure about any of this till I apply and am accepted next year.

The most important thing to remember is that you decide what you make of it. If your class is easy, you must over-study, because you need to know all the information.

I went over there yesterday and will probably take Pre-calc and Chem 1 over the summer. That way I can get back into the swing of the sciences.

Now I've noticed that many med schools don't list calc as a pre-req. Is it pretty important to take for the other sciences, though? It's been a while since I've done chem, and I've never looked at Physics.

 

[hector219]

Now I've noticed that many med schools don't list calc as a pre-req. Is it pretty important to take for the other sciences, though? It's been a while since I've done chem, and I've never looked at Physics.

I'm surprised, I've never seen a school that doesn't require Calc. Its not necessary for the classes, unless you take a calc-based physics, which is unnecessary. They will throw out some calculus terms in your classes though. The best advice is to take it because avoidance looks bad and it will open you up to far more schools.

 

[bigpharmD]

I'm surprised, I've never seen a school that doesn't require Calc. Its not necessary for the classes, unless you take a calc-based physics, which is unnecessary. They will throw out some calculus terms in your classes though. The best advice is to take it because avoidance looks bad and it will open you up to far more schools.

there are a lot of schools that dont require it, they just require college level math...some recommend it

 

[atomi]

Depending on what med schools you're interested in, you could be killing your dream by doing prereqs at a community college. You're putting yourself at risk by taking on a transcript that can be arbitrarily viewed as not rigorous, depending on who reviews your app (could be some old Ivy League fart, could be a former CC professor, who knows). You need to demonstrate that you're a great candidate to succeed under a 25-credit all-hard-science load for 2 years straight and then some. It's not about whether a CC will set you up for that success (it probably will); it's about whether a CC will give you the edge when med school admissions committees start throwing candidates overboard post-interview. See the endless, voluminous CC vs. 4yr discussions in this and other forums.

This is completely false. I did nearly all of my pre-reqs at a community college and received acceptances to 'top' schools. If you perform well on the MCAT and have a good GPA, nobody is going to care where you took your pre-reqs.

If your goal is to get into Yale and only Yale, then you probably shouldn't be at a community college. If your goal is to get into an MD program, you will be fine, especially at state-sponsored MD programs, of which there are plenty in FL.

 

[atomi]

The most important thing to remember is that you decide what you make of it. If your class is easy, you must over-study, because you need to know all the information.

Again, false. My bio class at the CC was a complete waste of time. I studied for the MCAT with a review book exclusively and aced the bio section. If I had over-studied my bio class for MCAT preparation, I would have done very poor on it. You don't need to take the bio class at all to do well on the MCAT. The review book is more than enough.

 

[Florida Cracker]

Again, false. My bio class at the CC was a complete waste of time. I studied for the MCAT with a review book exclusively and aced the bio section. If I had over-studied my bio class for MCAT preparation, I would have done very poor on it. You don't need to take the bio class at all to do well on the MCAT. The review book is more than enough.

But you still have to have the credits for bio on your transcript, right?