Can I take labs post bacc?

[Occams Chainsaw]

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I'm graduating this May from U of Arizona and moving to California for a gap year before applying in the 2013-2014 cycle. Since my initial plan was to stick with U of A's med school (Which didn't require second semester physics or o-chem labs), I didn't take those through my normal undergrad. Now I've reconsidered where I want to go, and that means having to take those labs. I'm registered for both, on top of 3 upper division physiology courses and physics II, but want to take a lighter load as I have both labs back to back.

Question is, would I be able to take one of the labs post-bacc wherever I move say at a community college or one of the UC schools? Am I pretty much guaranteed acceptance with a bachelor's to take a single lab credit?

 

[red doctober]

I'm graduating this May from U of Arizona and moving to California for a gap year before applying in the 2013-2014 cycle. Since my initial plan was to stick with U of A's med school (Which didn't require second semester physics or o-chem labs), I didn't take those through my normal undergrad. Now I've reconsidered where I want to go, and that means having to take those labs. I'm registered for both, on top of 3 upper division physiology courses and physics II, but want to take a lighter load as I have both labs back to back.

Question is, would I be able to take one of the labs post-bacc wherever I move say at a community college or one of the UC schools? Am I pretty much guaranteed acceptance with a bachelor's to take a single lab credit?

Not really sure what you're asking. If your school offers the labs, you can certainly take them. If you don't meet the requirements of a med school and fail to do so by the start of that school's year, your acceptance may be rescinded. I suppose it's noteworthy to mention that most med schools require only one semester of ochem lab and a year of physics lab. Finally, I don't really know what you mean by the last question, but no one is guaranteed acceptance anywhere.

 

[Occams Chainsaw]

Not really sure what you're asking. If your school offers the labs, you can certainly take them. If you don't meet the requirements of a med school and fail to do so by the start of that school's year, your acceptance may be rescinded. I suppose it's noteworthy to mention that most med schools require only one semester of ochem lab and a year of physics lab. Finally, I don't really know what you mean by the last question, but no one is guaranteed acceptance anywhere.

My question was regarding if there is any limitations on taking a lab once I've already graduated. I don't really know the process of taking more classes at a university once I've graduated. Since I'm moving, it would be at a different university entirely, and I want to be sure that I'll have an opportunity to take a lab somewhere. I know it's not a guarantee (Duh?), but someone who graduated with a bachelor's of science with a 3.5, will it be hard taking a single lab credit for some reason? My primary concern is being stuck not being able to get the lab credit I need prior to med school if I choose to put it off.

 

[red doctober]

Shouldn't be a problem. Just email different schools in your area that offer the lab courses you're lacking. You'd probably have to just apply as a special student.

 

[kami333]

You can generally enroll fairly easily as a transient/non-degree seeking student (it's what people do doing the summer when they take courses at a different school), a lot of times you don't even need to send in a transcript. The UCs might be the exception though, I know they severely limit 2nd bachelors enrollment due to budget issues so I don't know what kind of impact that has on transient enrollments.

One thing you should keep in mind is that you might have a hard time registering for the lab since you may have no priority, make sure you contact the school/department head/lab instructor early if that's the case and hopefully they can put you on a waiting list.