Dilemma regarding pre-reqs

[seira85]

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Hey everyone,

I am very confused and am hoping to get some input.

As part of my job benefits I get tutition exemption benefits at Columbia. The catch is that I am only able to take up to 7 credits per semester. I would love to take advantage of this opportunity & begin re-taking pre-reqs but I would only end up taking 1 class per semester (considering pre-reqs are worth 4-6 credits) and it would take a lot longer to finish. Taking more than one class would require me to pay $ and the classes there are way too expensive.

I'm contemplating taking the pre-reqs at another school (Hunter) during the evenings. The schedule is a lot more flexible and it would allow me to take at least 2 and perhaps, depending on how well I can handle things, bump it up to 3 classes.

I know that it's important to do well and to not take on too much at once, but I also know that many schools frown upon taking one class per semester.

I am hesitant to pay $$ for Columbia classes because I've read conflicting things about their program and although Hunter is way cheaper (I think 1 yr @ Hunter = the price of 6 credits at Columbia!), I just would hate to take out yet another loan or pay out of pocket.

Any input would be great.

P.S. I realized I didn't put any info about my background. Basically I royally screwed up during undergrad and am attempting to repair the damage as much as possible. I graduated 2.5 yrs ago, and in the meantime have been working on the extra curricular stuff (2 yrs of full-time work as a Health Educator and Patient Advocate through AmeriCorps, shadowing, and now currently doing clinical research). I've had a lot of time to think and make sure this is what I want to do & I finally feel ready and mature enough to buckle down academically speaking.

 

[lawyerdoc2b]

I took one class a semester Fall, Spring and Summer for the last three years as a post bachelor student as I am a nontradional student changing careers from lawyer to doctor. It didn't hurt me one bit. I was accepted last week.

It is most important that you replace those poor grades with re-takes in the scieces and complete any science course that you have yet to take. I would not be too concerned about a perception that one class is not rigorous enough if you explain that you worked full time and volunteered and you back up your abilities with a good MCAT score.

 

[futureboy]

I took one class a semester Fall, Spring and Summer for the last three years as a post bachelor student as I am a nontradional student changing careers from lawyer to doctor. It didn't hurt me one bit. I was accepted last week.

Congratulations on your acceptance. It gives hope to attorneys like me who want to be doctors.

 

[seira85]

Thanks for your input.

Congrats on the acceptance!

 

[Fairest]

I was in a similar situation last year. I think either approach -- slow and steady or several classes at once -- would work for medical schools; the deciding factor for me was the amount of time I was willing to wait before putting in an application. I personally chose to take time off work and do a full student semester at Hunter, which got me the most credits for my dollar, in spite of preventing me from working full-time. If that's not an option for you, one possible solution to the $/time compromise might be to take one free course at Columbia and one paid course at Hunter per semester.

I had a great experience at Hunter. A few comments:

If you enroll, consider enrolling as a second undergraduate degree candidate rather than as a post-bac student. Undergraduates get to choose classes before post-bacs during registration period, which is important in a school as big as Hunter, and medical schools seem unconcerned with the abandoned second degree. Either way, you may have trouble getting into your preferred classes the first semester, since there's a lot of competition for spots (though evening classes are generally not as bad), and newly enrolled students of either type choose spots last.

I've taken science classes at both Columbia and Hunter, and Hunter's were markedly easier to get A's in (the work volume was lower, and professors were very clear about expectations). A's are really important at this stage, so it's something you might want to think about. Caveat: I've heard Hunter's introductory Biology sequence is hyper-competitive. Of course, Mowshowitz' class at Columbia is pretty intense, too. I've heard she writes questions for the MCAT.

Many Hunter intro science courses don't curve, but go by raw grades. FYI. An A+ is 98% and above.

I hope this helps a bit. Good luck with your decision! Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about the post-bac experience at Hunter. I'm rooting for you. 🙂

 

[VdoubleE]

Hello im new here just joining the confo trying to get some understanding. So i will keep coming back and learning and try to not play so many free games 😍

 

[J ROD]

I would take as many classes for free as I could per semester at Columbia. Look for 3hr classes. Get two for free!!

Then, I would take the rest at Hunter.....

Whatever you do get A's!!!

 

[seira85]

Fairest, I would love to hear about your experience at Hunter and will be PMing you. I have read & heard about a lot of people who have taken courses at both schools and have great things to say about Hunter.

JDUB, for some reason, I was under the impression that taking your pre-reqs (as a non-trad at least) at one school was preferable.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to take all the basic pre-reqs at Hunter and take a few upper levels (which I definitely will need) at Columbia? I've looked at the Course Directory and there are a bunch that are 3 credits so it's totally doable.

Thanks for your input guys. Very helpful stuff.