Does my plan make sense?

[aduk]

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I just finished my B.A. in Psychology with a 3.0 gpa. I took 2/4 bio classes (life science 1: C Life science 2: C) my freshman year (year 2005-2006) and finished general chem (chem 14A: B- Chem 14B: B). I need to take 2 organic chem classes and 2 chem labs to finish the chem prereqs. Out of the 3 physics courses, I finished 1 (physics 6A in 2007: B-). Since I have decided that I really want to go to medical school, I am doing my science classes at UCLA extension and starting from scratch. I am not sure if it makes sense to repeat everything but I cannot continue the bio/chem/physics series since I do not remember anything. Did anyone else do the same thing and how did that work out for you?

 

[Richardh]

i am not sure if you can take once again bio, chem, and so on when you have passed or achieved a high grade in those classes. if you want to improve your gpa then theres the option of doing post-bac or special masters program http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=346106

but if you do want review bio/chem/physics, i think you will have the opportunity to do so when you're studying of the mcat exam. by taking a prepratory course such as princeton review or kaplan, you will relearn the materials once again with the course books and review books under your instructor (although not in excessive detail like your undergrad but great enough to study and prepare for the mcat) 🙂

 

[cabinbuilder]

i am not sure if you can take once again bio, chem, and so on when you have passed or achieved a high grade in those classes. if you want to improve your gpa then theres the option of doing post-bac or special masters program http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=346106

but if you do want review bio/chem/physics, i think you will have the opportunity to do so when you're studying of the mcat exam. by taking a prepratory course such as princeton review or kaplan, you will relearn the materials once again with the course books and review books under your instructor (although not in excessive detail like your undergrad but great enough to study and prepare for the mcat) 🙂

So 3 years after I got my bachelors I did my own post bacc program. In one year I took chem 105, 106 with lab, biochem, organic I/II, organic Lab, Physics I/II with lab. I had A's in my biology and math so didn't need to take over. That's what I needed. Got a 3.8 for the year. Applied to medical school accepted on the third round 7 yrs after my bachelor's degree. I never asked what I could take since I was a post grad. Just signed up for what I wanted and went to class. Good luck

 

[aduk]

Thank you so much for the SMP link. This seems like a good idea but I noticed the prereqs for these programs are similar to med school prereqs and as an undergrad, I did not complete all the required courses. I am trying to finish my requirements through UCLA extension and it is considered somewhat of an informal postbac program. Not only will I have the chance to finish the requirments but also fix my low GPA. Hopefully I can excel in these courses and gain clinical experience through volunteering and shadowing on the side.

Cabinbuilder, your path gives me hope 🙂 I thought it was necessary to retake classes if they were completed 5 years prior to applying to medical school. Is this not the case?

 

[cabinbuilder]

Thank you so much for the SMP link. This seems like a good idea but I noticed the prereqs for these programs are similar to med school prereqs and as an undergrad, I did not complete all the required courses. I am trying to finish my requirements through UCLA extension and it is considered somewhat of an informal postbac program. Not only will I have the chance to finish the requirments but also fix my low GPA. Hopefully I can excel in these courses and gain clinical experience through volunteering and shadowing on the side.

Cabinbuilder, your path gives me hope 🙂 I thought it was necessary to retake classes if they were completed 5 years prior to applying to medical school. Is this not the case?

Sorry, relooking at my prior post I got my timeline confused. I was accepted to medical school 7 years after my bachelors. I did my post bacc 3 yrs after my bachelor's but my bio, stats, calc classes were still 5 yrs old+.

I only retook the classes that I had C's and D's in my bio, calc, stats courses were all 5 yrs old or older and I didn't bother with that. I think the fact that I took a full load and worked full time and still did well made a huge difference. The point is that I could handle a large load and get high grades. No one ever asked me about the old bio classes, etc that I already had an A in despite the time lapse.

 

[aduk]

Thank you so much 🙂

 

[Luv2Cut]

Good point.

Your earlier work is not as important as your most recent. "What have you done for me lately," is important when applying to med school.

I went to a state school in the mid 80s and majored in CS/EE. I didn't have stellar grades and made a "D" in chemistry my first semester. I ended up leaving school after 3 years. When I decided to return after 7 years out of school, I attended a CC for a year and aced all my classes including chemistry. I then transferred to a prestigious, private university in my state and did well for two years and graduated with a BS Biology, minor Chemistry.

My most recent work overshadowed my sucky grades from the mid 80s.
There is another lesson in this: Do it RIGHT the first time! But that is another thread...

 

[TriagePreMed]

Don't re-take anything you got a good grade on. If you're worried about the stuff you forgot, pick up a book or sign up at your community college as an audit student.

 

[aduk]

Thank you all for taking the time to look at my situation and give your great input