Non-traditional premedical students, many of whom are working full-time in other careers, often ask if the same advice that is given to traditional students about prerequisite courses and MCAT scores applies to them as well. Bera would consider the low tuition and convenient schedule and recommend the nontraditional student choose the community college if the added comfort level will contribute to stronger academic performance in prerequisite classes and on the MCAT. Colwell, whose admissions consulting practice is focused on advising non-traditional applicants, has counseled many students who are considering taking medical school prerequisite classes at community college. The process, Colwell says, is the same for all applicants to both allopathic and osteopathic schools, and she encourages non-traditional students to jump through as many of the traditional premed hoops as possible. She advises all premedical students, whether traditional or non-traditional, to take their prerequisites at the most rigorous four-year institution that time and money will allow, and to do well on the MCAT in order to have the best chance of admission.
It is clear that among the advising sources noted above there is no clear agreement on the assessment of community college science prerequisites in medical school admissions. Having preparation in the basic sciences that leads to an applicants best possible performance on the MCAT is essential to gaining admission to medical school. At this point premedical students have to analyze their own situations and make their own choices. Much as we might wish it otherwise, even the experts are divided in their advice.
