Community College for Post Bacc?

[SaltySailor]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello all,

I'm 30 years old and currently work as an officer in the military. I graduated from a top 20 school with a degree in English. My GPA is horrible: 2.89 (I know, this keeps me up at night...). I'll be leaving the military this year and want to pursue a post-bacc education towards gaining acceptance to an American medical school, (MD or DO, not interested in foreign schools). Because my GPA is so bad, I was only accepted to The University of Chicago's graduate student at large program (I haven't received any feedback on this program in terms of using it as a post-bacc for med school). This is not a formal program, but a do it yourself post-bacc.

Using my own rough calculations, if I take 2 years of pre-med course work at UofC, it will cost me roughly $25,000. The good news is, because I'm a veteran, I have the post-9/11 GI Bill that can be used towards medical school, (I can't use it at UofC because I'm taking classes without earning a degree). Depending on the school, medical school would be either partially or entirely paid for with the help of the GI Bill.

Obviously, I don't want to incur a $25,000 debt, so I was thinking of moving back in with my parents and taking classes at their local community college in southern California. I really don't want to do this, mainly because I'd be in class with students MUCH younger than me, and moving back in with your parents when you're 30 is really humiliating, however, if I could take the same classes at a community college as I could at UofC, than I could possibly avoid the $25,000 debt.

I suppose this raises the question of the purpose of a formal post-bacc program in the first place. If one can take the same classes at a CC, why bother with an expensive formal program at a respected institution? I realize some programs have linkage agreements with medical school, so that aspect does play a part in the decision making process.

Anyway, is the community college option a viable alternative to taking classes? Sorry for the wall of text/long post. This is a significant transition in my life and I honestly have nobody to ask besides the good people on this forum.

Thanks!!

 

[coachroach12]

Do you have a link to what classes you can take at the U of Chicago program that you were accepted at? How much of your pre-medical coursework have you completed already? Do you have any scientific research experience? What about other clinical experience? Have you taken the MCAT yet?

My gut instinct tells me that coursework done at a 4 year school would be more highly regarded by medical school admissions committees compared to coursework done at a community college, but I don't know what kind of pre-med coursework you've already completed and what you'd be able to take at the U of Chicago.

 

[DrMidlife]

From a 2.89 in English:
1. community college work ADDS doubt about your academic capabilities (same w/online)
2. you're going into coursework that's MUCH more difficult...med school prereqs are the graveyard of dreams
3. you need a whole lot MORE UNDERGRAD coursework than just the prereqs, because in your 1st 4 years you didn't produce what med schools want to see (multi-year full time very strong undergrad performance)
4. you need more UNDERGRAD not grad work so the UofC thing doesn't help. grad GPA & undergrad GPA aren't combined

So you need to be looking at something like a 2nd bachelors. You might want to consider Texas for a fresh start. Be smart about whether you want to use your GI bill for your premed work or for med school. $25k is chump change in this story. Going from being an officer to living with your parents doesn't add up btw.

There is an ENORMOUS body of work on SDN from those who have made it from where you are. How to find it? Search on "low GPA" in postbac, nontrad and reapp. Your competition DEVOURS this info late into the night early in the morning all day long and wants your med school seat.

You're about 3 years of full time work from applying USMD, 2+ for DO. No guarantees.

Best of luck to you.

 

[SaltySailor]

Thanks for the reply all,

The link for the program at UofC is found here: https://grahamschool.uchicago.edu/credit/graduate-student-at-large/index

The program is not a graduate program, it simply allows you to take classes at any level throughout the school. I agree with what DrMidLife said, I need undergrad course work and not graduate level classes. The program at UofC allows me to do just that.

I haven't completed any pre-medical coursework yet. I don't have any research experience or volunteer experience, and no I haven't taken the MCAT. I was hoping to do all of these things at a place like UofC.

DrMidLife: Very few schools in the US offer a second bachelors degree. Can you recommend any programs that do? I tried to applying for USC's second bachelors degree program, but the admissions office said they don't take applicants any longer for a second bachelors and that they recommend applying for a masters degree. I was really frustrated to hear that because I was leaning towards that program.

I was hoping to take around 8 or 9 classes at UofC (all premed, more if needed), volunteer, possibly do some research at the university, take the MCAT a year before, and apply for med school. Is there anything wrong with my plan?

Again, I really appreciate the help!

 

[DrMidlife]

you have to be responsible for how coursework is categorized on a transcript. if you're taking undergrad as a grad student that's not straightforward.

you're giving up WAY too easy on 2nd bachelors. there are like 100 more schools in socal that want your tuition $.

be conscious of the exact constraints you're accepting. and why. and whether they are proportional in the long term.

 

[SaltySailor]

DrMidlife, I don't understand your last sentence. Can you be more specific? Thanks again for the help.

 

[DrMidlife]

constraints. location, money, time. etc.

proportion. $25k vs. $250k decisions. months vs years. etc.

grownup stuff.

 

[IvyLeagueGunnin0920]

Hello all,

I'm 30 years old and currently work as an officer in the military. I graduated from a top 20 school with a degree in English. My GPA is horrible: 2.89 (I know, this keeps me up at night...). I'll be leaving the military this year and want to pursue a post-bacc education towards gaining acceptance to an American medical school, (MD or DO, not interested in foreign schools). Because my GPA is so bad, I was only accepted to The University of Chicago's graduate student at large program (I haven't received any feedback on this program in terms of using it as a post-bacc for med school). This is not a formal program, but a do it yourself post-bacc.

Using my own rough calculations, if I take 2 years of pre-med course work at UofC, it will cost me roughly $25,000. The good news is, because I'm a veteran, I have the post-9/11 GI Bill that can be used towards medical school, (I can't use it at UofC because I'm taking classes without earning a degree). Depending on the school, medical school would be either partially or entirely paid for with the help of the GI Bill.

Obviously, I don't want to incur a $25,000 debt, so I was thinking of moving back in with my parents and taking classes at their local community college in southern California. I really don't want to do this, mainly because I'd be in class with students MUCH younger than me, and moving back in with your parents when you're 30 is really humiliating, however, if I could take the same classes at a community college as I could at UofC, than I could possibly avoid the $25,000 debt.

I suppose this raises the question of the purpose of a formal post-bacc program in the first place. If one can take the same classes at a CC, why bother with an expensive formal program at a respected institution? I realize some programs have linkage agreements with medical school, so that aspect does play a part in the decision making process.

Anyway, is the community college option a viable alternative to taking classes? Sorry for the wall of text/long post. This is a significant transition in my life and I honestly have nobody to ask besides the good people on this forum.

Thanks!!

Why not go for HPSP? At 30 years old it is a good deal to be getting free tuition, expenses and a monthly stipend. Being debt free as well and a chance to serve the USA again as a doctor. By the way, are you still on contract with the military? Are you planning on getting a conditional release to do med school?

 

[y123]

Many schools offer second bachelor's degrees.