There is a community college nearby where I can do them, but they require a ton of calculus and other prereqs that make the total credits I need like 50 or something. I'm more or less just trying to find an affordable online college that offers the bio 1,2, with lab, chem 1,2, with lab, organic chem 1,2, with lab and (maybe) physics 1,2, with lab. I'm well aware that online education in this manner is usually difficult, but I'm already knee deep in the MCAT stuff so I know what I'm getting into.
Does anyone know of an affordable online college to do the med school prereqs?
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How do you get to do actual labs with online courses? Also, you'll need at least basic calc to be able to handle and understand the physics courses. If not calc, you'll need a good understanding of algebra, geometry, and trig, anyway.
I know that they are available online with the labs, but the cost is often $1,000+ per course.
I have Algebra 1 with precalc and Stats finished. I don't think I'll struggle with the mathematics. Everything in the Kaplan books is also pretty basic. I suspect it's different and based on the college's specific curriculum due to accreditation and whatnot.
I have Algebra 1 with precalc and Stats finished. I don't think I'll struggle with the mathematics. Everything in the Kaplan books is also pretty basic. I suspect it's different and based on the college's specific curriculum due to accreditation and whatnot.
If you're not doing a formal post-bacc, you can probably ask the department to waive some of the calc requirements and allow you to register in specific single courses. Also, many med schools don't give credit for online classes. $1000 per course isn't bad, considering tuition in many privacy schools is $50 grand a year, divided by 8 courses/year, so about $6250 per course.
I know that many don't but I only plan on applying to ones that do allow them. You can only apply to a certain number of schools either way, so I'll just apply to the ones that allow online courses with a resounding "yes."
The one that costs $1,000 and lets you take med school prereqs "a la carte" is Doane University, and they require payment up front, e.g. no student loans or grants allowed.
The one that costs $1,000 and lets you take med school prereqs "a la carte" is Doane University, and they require payment up front, e.g. no student loans or grants allowed.
Why do all that work only to limit your choices to the 20-25% of schools that accept online work? That seems like you're shooting yourself in the foot.
Especially since online courses aren't all that much cheaper than a community college or public university, and you're losing the ability to make connections with other people.
Especially since online courses aren't all that much cheaper than a community college or public university, and you're losing the ability to make connections with other people.
But if I can only submit an application to a certain number of MD schools, then it doesn't seem like it matters much. The number you can submit to is like ten or something, isn't it? So even with 20% of the choices there, that's still far below the number of med schools in the country. It's mostly because I'm 32 and know a lot of the material due to independent study (The Kaplan books contain 99% of the MCAT material), so getting the grade is just about all I need to progress. I mean I certainly could take an extra year to jump through the hoops, but I don't really want to be done with residency at 45.
If you know the material so well and don't care where you go to school, have you considered trying for the entrance exams to foreign medical programs in English and just starting med school in a year or two? I'm not talking Caribbean as much as European.
As far as limiting yourself to only schools that take online courses, have you thought that this increases their pool of applicants and thus makes the competition worse?
As far as limiting yourself to only schools that take online courses, have you thought that this increases their pool of applicants and thus makes the competition worse?
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I’m going to be super real with you. Whatever list you form, throw away 50%. That’s about how many schools will even LOOK at your app with 100% online prerequisites. If your goal is to be a doctor, this pathway aint it
You can apply to as many schools as you want, 16-17 is the average people apply to. I have *heard* some people applying to 80, but I can't confirm. Just because they accept online prereqs doesn't mean they only accept people that did everything online. Most schools will still prefer applicants that took in person classes. Also, trying to get a quality LOR from an online class is near impossible.
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What premed classes specifically require "a ton of calculus"? I took physics at a community college without taking the math prerequisites. All I had to do was request a waiver. Also, look at schools that offer night classes for working students. I'm taking organic II at a university that offers it at 6:00 PM.
Taking in-person classes leaves you with more options when you apply. If you're worried about the math, note that I took business calculus 5 years before trig based physics and did just fine.
Taking in-person classes leaves you with more options when you apply. If you're worried about the math, note that I took business calculus 5 years before trig based physics and did just fine.
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Also, if you can calculus, take the intro physics with calculus (physics for engineering/phys majors), not the non-calc baby class. It's actually a lot easier if you know the derivations of the equations instead of having to rote-memorize everything, though it's seen as the harder/more intense class.
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Please make sure you check with the specific schools your are planning to apply to if they accept online pre reqs. There are schools that specifically do not want any online pre reqs.
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honestly, this sounds like a recipe for a disaster.
also, - how are you "knee deep" in MCAT if you havent done any prerequisites? have you taken all these classes before?
also, - how are you "knee deep" in MCAT if you havent done any prerequisites? have you taken all these classes before?
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Where did you get the idea that you are limited to a certain number of applications. There is no limit.
It says on the AMCAS website that you can only apply to a certain number of schools in their system. I suppose you're saying that you don't have to use that system to apply.
So would it be better to do the prerequisites at a community college? I would think an online university would be preferable to a local community college, but I really don't know. Honestly, I've never really needed lectures. I usually just use the textbooks to understand the material. Doesn't matter if it's biology or accounting.
To the second question: I just know a lot of it from reading all the Kaplan books two or three times. Granted, the psychology and CAARS sections don't even appear on these tests. I got a 60th percentile on the AAMCAS practice tests before I even studied for it, so I can imagine that two or three months of dedicated studying 20-30 hours a week would probably put me in the 90th percentile.
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Yes, you DO need a professor . And YES- community college IS way better than online . Way better . Also - find someone to talk to , and make a plan .
You need to go through organic and biochemistry, and some of organic topics relate to the lab , you need that experience .
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Look , you need to find a premed advisor to talk to . You sound very confused now , like you have NO idea what you are doing . You obviously don’t know how AMCAS works , trying to take online prerequisites , trying to study off Kaplan books as your only source , going through biochem And organic alone with Kaplan boom and thinking that that’s enough ,- all of these are mistakes that would’ve been avoided if you talked to an advisor .
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No, you must use AMCAS and you pay per school. But there is no limit. You are misinterpreting the instructions on the website.
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Most schools accept community college classes, few accept online classes. I've looked into this because I briefly considered taking an online class but decided it would be a waste of money.
I read something from Kaplan stating the average is 16 schools per student, but people who have lower stats often apply to 20-30 or more.
Even if you somehow don't need the premed classes to do well on the MCAT, you definitely need them to get into medical school. Also, if you need letters of recommendation (you'll need 2 - 5 depending on the school), this is how you get them; taking in-person science classes.
I read something from Kaplan stating the average is 16 schools per student, but people who have lower stats often apply to 20-30 or more.
Even if you somehow don't need the premed classes to do well on the MCAT, you definitely need them to get into medical school. Also, if you need letters of recommendation (you'll need 2 - 5 depending on the school), this is how you get them; taking in-person science classes.
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You can find physics courses that do not require calculus.
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I don't think there will be a difference for MCAT purposes.
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Yes, you are correct, but a compromise is often necessary in order to be most efficient. That is why algebra/trig based physics courses were developed.
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I applied to 25 schools through AMCAS. Theoretically you can apply to every single school on AMCAS (which is all USMD lol) if you wanted to.
Limiting yourself like this isn’t smart. Do the in-person stuff.
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@nic7jq As a moderator on here, I want you to get the best advice possible. It seems like there are some gaps in your understanding of this process. Can you give us a little more info on your educational background so we can steer you in the right direction?Do you already have a bachelor's degree in something?
Are you sure calc is required for all of those prereqs? That would be very atypical for a community college.
As noted, AMCAS does not set a limit to how many MD schools you can apply to. It used to be you'd pay for the application fee and that would include like 10 schools and you'd pay extra for any beyond that. Looking at the website now, it seems you get 1 school included with the initial fee and then are charged for each additional school after that.
Are you sure calc is required for all of those prereqs? That would be very atypical for a community college.
As noted, AMCAS does not set a limit to how many MD schools you can apply to. It used to be you'd pay for the application fee and that would include like 10 schools and you'd pay extra for any beyond that. Looking at the website now, it seems you get 1 school included with the initial fee and then are charged for each additional school after that.
