Do you have to finish?

[dreamaloud]

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Ok, I have a strange question.

If you start a second BS or BA program, do you have to finish it? Do most med schools say you have to finish it prior to matriculation? There are many benefits to becoming degree seeking, one being that you can register earlier for classes. Has anyone done this?

Thanks in advance fo any help.

 

[John Deere Gree]

there are some schools that let you do three years of undergrad then you can go to med school for your fourth year undergrad/first year med. Such programs usually have tie ins with the undergrad school.

 

[junebuguf]

I dont know what the answer is but I'm very interested in finding out. I'm enrolling in a second degree program this Fall and will have to take around 45-50 credits to complete it. Since I'm not applying till next year, I can definetely complete it before I matriculate but there are some general education requirements like Philosophy and another English class I have to take that look like they're going to be torture. I'm sure this is a policy that varies from school to school, but I know that not finishing the second Bachelors is not going to bode well at any school during interviews.

For me, financial aid was the biggest (actually, sole) reason for choosing a second BS.

 

[sidewalkman]

Not a strange question at all. I'm going to present what I think is a logical answer, but the truth is I have no idea.

I've thought of every possible scenerio why you wouldn't finish. The only thing I can think of is that you have really difficult prereqs for the degree, and you avoid the issue by just not taking them before matriculating into med school. This begs the question: why don't people who are admitted to med school before their second semester of senior year just drop out of school and save $$? The reason is that they put down that they would finish their degree, and do so. I would say, just avoid any negatives with adcoms and finish it.

 

[dreamaloud]

Let me clarify my original question: I already have an undergrad and grad degree, but i'm changing fields. It is almost impossible to register for upper level classes at some institutions because they are full before the non-degree folks get a chance to register at all. It would be easier to get into them if I was degree seeking. I understand that it is different for the regular traditional students, who have to finish their senior year, but I didn't know if it was different for us post-bac students......any thoughts?

 

[MIT2MD]

Let me clarify my original question: I already have an undergrad and grad degree, but i'm changing fields. It is almost impossible to register for upper level classes at some institutions because they are full before the non-degree folks get a chance to register at all. It would be easier to get into them if I was degree seeking. I understand that it is different for the regular traditional students, who have to finish their senior year, but I didn't know if it was different for us post-bac students......any thoughts?

I too have that same question and have already started the process of your answer. I don't know what you took in undergrad but what you can do is just go to the college/university that you are seeking your degree in and apply for the second degree. Mention to the admissions councilor that you are doing this in order to fulfill your pre-reqs for medical school.

Like yourself, I have my undergrad degree and my masters of Information Technology, and now I want to ?capture my dream? and change careers (go figure). I was thinking of taking non-matriculate classes and just completing the required classes but for the same price I could become matriculate and just aim for a degree (this time in Biosciences). The advisor said that I should take this route and fulfill all my necessary requirements. This way I will complete the course and have a second degree. *MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO AN ADVISOR* This is where I think I will be fortunate because I will be working closely with the chairman of the biology department and he will arrange my schedule to satisfy my pre-med reqs and my bioscience reqs. One more thing *YOU ARE APPLYING AS A TRANSFER* Now as a transfer you could avoid all your English and math classes and concentrate on your sciences, also you are entering as a junior.
Check with the schools that you are applying to and speak to the admissions councilor.

I hope this helps. 😀

 

[MIT2MD]

Oh and one more thing with doing the second degree route or anything other than a post-bacc school then you don't have the advantage of any linkage. (if that is improtant to you?)

 

[sidewalkman]

Like yourself, I have my undergrad degree and my masters of Information Technology, and now I want to ?capture my dream? and change careers (go figure). I was thinking of taking non-matriculate classes and just completing the required classes but for the same price I could become matriculate and just aim for a degree (this time in Biosciences).

MIT2MD, what have medical school reps said to you about going back and getting an undergrad degree after already having a graduate degree? Just curious. 🙂

MIT2MD is dead-on with his advice. The closer in touch you stay with advisors at your school, the easier your path will be.

 

[Amy B]

Let me clarify my original question: I already have an undergrad and grad degree, but i'm changing fields. It is almost impossible to register for upper level classes at some institutions because they are full before the non-degree folks get a chance to register at all. It would be easier to get into them if I was degree seeking. I understand that it is different for the regular traditional students, who have to finish their senior year, but I didn't know if it was different for us post-bac students......any thoughts?

While I fully understand the difficulty in getting into the classes you want, I would NOT suggest that you sign up for a second major. Schools may expect you to finish. I am not sure though since you already have a degree. I wouldn't risk it. Call the schools and ask them. But keep in mind schools don't like people not finishing programs that they start.

 

[MIT2MD]

While I fully understand the difficulty in getting into the classes you want, I would NOT suggest that you sign up for a second major. Schools may expect you to finish. I am not sure though since you already have a degree. I wouldn't risk it. Call the schools and ask them. But keep in mind schools don't like people not finishing programs that they start.

This is definitely risky for me. I was hesitant to go for another degree considering that schools like it better if you did finish your degree. In my case I have explained to the admissions councilor that I am attending to fulfill my pre-reqs. The suggestion that was made was to attempt the degree and work closely with the chairman of biology. This way I will have fist picks at my registration and I will have a harder concentration for the MCATs. I will just go in as a transfer with all the credits that I have and pretty much be a junior when I start but all the classes I will be taking will be my electives/pre-reqs. Unfortuantely I will need all the pre-reqs 🙁 that will just hold me back a little. This is what I need:

One year of general physics, including laboratory.
One year of general chemistry, including laboratory.
One year of organic chemistry, including laboratory.
One year of biology, including laboratory, (if you could find a bio with and emphasis on molecular and cellular biology it is highly recommended).

If you have completed these pre-reqs then you are all set for the MCATs. Over all schools (adcoms) are looking at your MCAT scores and your BCMP GPA to start eliminating who will be qualified for their particular school. Then they look at experience, your personality, and your entensions. I believe this is the order that adcoms look at. Whether if you would take my word for it or not I got this informtion from an adcom in Mt. Sinai.

 

[MIT2MD]

MIT2MD, what have medical school reps said to you about going back and getting an undergrad degree after already having a graduate degree? Just curious. 🙂

MIT2MD is dead-on with his advice. The closer in touch you stay with advisors at your school, the easier your path will be.

Hey Sidewalkman,

The medical school reps didn't say to get another degree but considering my situation I will need my sciences (all of them). Unfortunately at this time I would be struggling to get from my work to the post-bacc in the city (ie: columbia or nyu) so I have to choose something local yet sufficient for the adcoms to deem acceptable. I could feel for those who are in my position at least now I am mature enough to say I know what to do with my life/career. 😳

Call, email, send a letter, or visit the school to hear what kind of advice that you will need in order to make that next step.

Just as I said to the posting with Amy B, I am basiclly going to go through all my sciences for preparation with the MCATs. That is one test you MUST ROCK!!!! I can't stress that enough and I had an ear-full from so many students and representatives of different colleges/universities. The ones that I have spoke to were UCSF, UCSD, NYU, Columbia, Mt. Sinai, SUNY Stonybrook, UNC.... it has been a lot of talking.

Hope this helps ..............

 

[IUgrad]

Hi, everyone,

Hope this isn?t too redundant 😳 , but I think you should try to find a degree that closely coincides with the medical prerequisites, if one exists at your school, so you can altogether avoid having to drop the degree.

My main reason for going back to school is to take the prerequisites for medicine (obviously 😉 ). However, like junebuguf, I needed to become a degree-seeking student mainly to get financial aid and be able to take out loans that I couldn't otherwise.

Like some of you who are going back for a second undergrad degree, I am pursuing what will be my third (I also have a dual BA/BS in two fields unrelated to medicine/science), a BA in chemistry, and I chose that degree after some investigating because I found, at my school anyway, most of the prerequisite courses are also the core requirements for the BA in chem. I will only need 2 more classes (both chem), beyond the prereqs, for the BA. My coursework from my other degrees fulfilled all of the general education requirements, which would probably be true for you, too.

Also, definitely talk to the premed adviser at your school - he would know a lot about the different majors/degrees and would probably be able to give you the best advice.

Good luck!