Classes to take??

[April]

Hello,
I am 26, have a BS in Computer Science/Computer Information Systems, starting to work on my pre-med stuffs, and have few questions:
1. Most schools I checked-out (UCLA, UCI, UCSD, USC; mostly SoCal schools) required 1.5 years Bio, what kind of classes do they like?
2. Since I work full-time, I'll be taking those classes in community college. does it matter?
3. Does it matter if I don't have research experience? From the threads I had been reading, most of you have some research experience.
4. LORs; does it matter if 1 of them comes from your boss (not related to med field)?

Yes, I am thinking ahead. maybe too much? hope my chance is decent in those schools cause I really don't want to move.

thanks in advance for the answers!

 

[jot]

1) i would take just the normal pre-med requirements (bio, gen chem, etc...) and if you have time or the money take biochem or something like that (isn't necessary). but more importantly, i don't know how much of the humanities was in your undergrad degree, but i would take whatever you can in them

2) many people have attested to being able to take courses at a community college and be very successsful - but as a cautionary note, they aren't regarded as highly - but you may be fine as it is. they are probably more leniant as long as you do well on the mcats and you already have a bachelors

3) though many people have research, it is not a requirement, and should only be pursued if you have any interest in doing it - it can be hellish if you don't enjoy it

4) its probably great to have a "real world" rec, as long as you can get recommendations from profs etc... (don't know how community college profs are considered - but many of them adjunctly teach at other places, so i dunno).


these are a start - other people can correect/elaborate
-jot

 

[April]

sorry, I meant to write what kind of bio classes do the schools like to see?

thanks!

 

[lola]

you usually only need 1 year of bio with lab, although most schools will want to see more. you can fulfill this by taking a year of intro bio with lab. if that's not available, they generally like to see classes like cell bio, genetics, molecular biology and physiology.

going to community college may affect you a little bit. it really depends on the rest of your app. if you went to a well respected undergrad institution, i think it's less likely to hurt you than if you went to a school that's unknown or not well respected for its academics.

you should definitely get one from your boss since you've been out of school for a while.

 

[BlueAvocado]

Hi April,

I am in a same boat with you, and here is what I am doing. Maybe this will help. I am working on my pre-med starting this fall and I have a B.S. in Business Administration without any science classes. I have decided and made up my mind to take some classes which are required from community college and the rest from a CSUS or UC Davis. I have asked many people which include Admission Officers and other students which are pursuing a medical education. Most of them had the same story to say and that was; as long as you have a few classes from upper level universities like UC and CSU then you should be ok. I guess this is their way of determening if you can handle the more difficult curriculum, which supposedly you should get from Upper level schools. Anyways I was going to take General Chemistry, Physics, and General Biology from a community colege the rest which includes Organic Chemistry, Calc., Microbology, Genetics I will take at upper level schools. I figure this will take me about 3 years to complete. I also work during the day time and taking classes at night but when it is time to take em at the UC's I may have to become a full time student. Easier for people who are married like my self. but anyways I hope that helps, email me if you have any more questions, maybe we can help each other out. [email protected]