Employment

[genvieve]

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Hello all...

I posted on here about a year ago, but had to put things on the backburner for a while to get married, move, change jobs, etc.

I would like to apply to DO schools, but I need to overcome a poor GPA. I was advised last time I posted on here to take more UD science classes and also to re-take any pre-reqs that I received below a "C" .

I am ready to go back to school now, but I am finding it really difficult to find classes available in the evenings that I need. I work full-time as a research coordinator for two electrophysiologists. I am learning so much and the experience is great, but I feel like it will take forever to take the classes I need by going part-time and I cannot even find that many to take anyway. I am 34 and need to get going on the classes. We also need my income so not working is not an option, at least not right now, and the only thing it seems available work-wise in the evenings is waiting tables (only experience at this was when I was 18 and it/I was a nightmare) or working as a patient tech in the hospital. I am afraid we cannot afford the pay decrease as well that these jobs would result in.

There are a few classes at a community college, but I worry about taking them there as I really need to prove myself. I did well in community college right out of high school, then my GPA took a nose dive when I transferred to a mammoth 4 year university. So I would really like to show I can handle 4 year university courses.

Thoughts, suggestions or just anyone with the same situation?

Thanks! I love reading all the posts...very inspiring and helpful.

 

[AlkaIL]

It doesn't seem like you can do it all: keep great job and study at university. What I suggest is you take some classes at the University at night when they are offered and some at a community college. Work with your schedule and then you can always explain in your personal statement that you took classes at the university and community college to fit your schedule so that you could continue to work. The reasons that you may have done well in community college is more personalized attention and smaller classes, then when you went to a big university it all blew up because there was so much more there to handle.
(Whatever you do, please don't wait tables if you hate it. As a bartender and consumer, there is nothing worse that can ruin a meal or shift, then a waitress who hates the thought of being there!)

Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

[genvieve]

Thanks, you are right...cannot do it all. Just thought I would put it out there for any tips that anyone might know who has done the same thing.

I did poorly at the university for personal reasons...things kind of went haywire and I did not know how to deal with it properly. I actually did fine there for the first semester.

And I agree completely with you on the waitress issue. That is why I do not want to do it. But then I WAS 18, a little shy and scatterbrained. I only did it for about 6 months and I have two scars to prove it...one from burning myself , the other from falling on a wet kitchen floor. 🙂

Thanks for your input.

 

[thoffen]

Warning: this post may be a bit cliche.

You can't have your cake and eat it too. You've determined that something's gotta give, so you'll have to sacrifice something or your dreams will just be flash in a pan. But, when there is a will there is a way. You can do this.

 

[genvieve]

Ah, so true. I appreciate the encouragement and straight forward advice. I just think my employment would be a plus as far as getting into medical school, that is one of the main reasons I do not want to leave. But as you said.....no cake and eating it too. Rats!

 

[thoffen]

How flexible are they on hours and future career plans? My work has been surprisingly supportive. They'd rather not see me go, so they are willing to work with me.

 

[genvieve]

I don't know. I just started here in June and so I am a little timid to go there just yet. However, I am the only coordinator for them so if they have an implant that they want to be in a research study, I have to be there to enroll the pt, be in the implant, etc. I might try broaching the subject with them sooner rather than later.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Doing your pre-reqs at night while working full-time is not for the faint of heart, but I did it - and you can, too. Since I was over 40 when I decided to go to medical school, the physical challenges of going to school at night and working during the day was probably the biggest challenge. My hospital employer did know what I was doing - which was good, because there were days when I was late in the morning because I had been in the lab until 10 pm the previous night - and I still had to leave at 4:30 to make another class. I did tread on their good graces and it wouldn't have worked if they weren't supportive. You're at a new job but you may still find your healthcare employers to be supportive if you can still do your job - nearly everyone in healthcare wants to better his education! I don't recommend trying to hide it - something will end-up giving you away and it will create bad feelings.

As far as community college - well, as has been said, if it's your only option, you don't have much choice. I'm sure that in Dallas you can find all of your classes at night someplace - it was a little tricky in Tulsa - I had to go to a state university to pick up a couple of upper-division life science courses at night after I finished basic pre-reqs at night at community college. I was accepted - although I wanted to go to an allopathic school, which becomes a little bit of a trick to pull-off after age 40! I didn't have to defend a poor academic record from my undergraduate/graduate years - although a poor undergraduate record is very common with us non-trads. Do well in your pre-reqs and you should get osteopathic interviews where you can tell them the whole story - I believe it is true that osteopathic schools are often more accepting of us non-trads with good life experience.

Good luck!!

 

[Beau Geste]

I haven't read any of the posts except for the initial post. I work pretty much full-time as a speech-language pathologist and am lucky enough to be able to schedule my clients around my classes. It's not easy to handle the work that goes along with therapy (reports to write outside of therapy and doing my own billing) along with work required for classes, but since medicine is my dream I just do it. I rest on Sunday, unless I have an exam. Usually I study at night and do my reports/billing on Sat. If I have overflow I finish up on Sunday but usually Sunday is a day for lazy review and catching up on my favorite TV shows. Or get my hair cut. Or go grocery shopping.

I have taken most of my pre-reqs at a CC and a couple at a 4-year uni, but mostly the CC fits to my schedule better. However, I have a graduate degree and don't really need to show I can "handle" upper-level classes - I just need to get them done.

Anyway, it's my point and my example is that it's possible to work and go to school, you just have to prioritize things of you really want this.

 

[momgracea]

I don't know. I just started here in June and so I am a little timid to go there just yet. However, I am the only coordinator for them so if they have an implant that they want to be in a research study, I have to be there to enroll the pt, be in the implant, etc. I might try broaching the subject with them sooner rather than later.

Hi there... I am in the DFW area and have completed my pre-reqs combining classes at UTA and Dallas Community College, while working 30-40 hrs a week. It took some juggling, but can be done if your employer agrees to be a little flexible with your hours. For instance, both Bio I/II are offered in the eve at UTA. Physics I/II can be done totally on-line (or you can just attend lab) at Northlake College. UTA also has a Physics class that runs at 8:00-8:50 AM MWF if you have the ability to go into work a little late. O-Chem is a little more difficult, but someone told me that it is offered Saturdays at one of the community colleges. (I took it TTH 11-12:20, on "lunch" at UTA, with the lab on TH eve.) So, if you are a nut case like me and can drive back and forth and still get your work done, you'll manage. It just takes determination and a hell of a lot of effort! Good luck!😀

 

[Flopotomist]

I have seen this issue several times, and I always have the same question. If you can't manage financially to take a year off and live off of loans to finish pre-reqs now... what is your plan once you get into medical school?

 

[lilnoelle]

I have seen this issue several times, and I always have the same question. If you can't manage financially to take a year off and live off of loans to finish pre-reqs now... what is your plan once you get into medical school?

I think I can answer this. While one is still taking prereqs there are no guarantees and so holding on to the job and taking out less loans are appealing. Once in med school, you are a journey with a certain end that will probably be rewarding financially, so its a lot easier to just take out the loans.

 

[IUgrad]

I think I can answer this. While one is still taking prereqs there are no guarantees and so holding on to the job and taking out less loans are appealing. Once in med school, you are a journey with a certain end that will probably be rewarding financially, so its a lot easier to just take out the loans.

I agree. It is expected that you will not to work medical school, while many people work while taking undergrad classes, since the course load is not as great.

Also, there seem to be more/better options for loans in professional/grad school than in undergrad. While a senior can only have $10,500 a year in Stafford loans, a med student can take out $18,500 a year. I know that this might be balanced by the increase in tuition, but I still think that better loan options are available for med students.

 

[Beau Geste]

I think I can answer this. While one is still taking prereqs there are no guarantees and so holding on to the job and taking out less loans are appealing. Once in med school, you are a journey with a certain end that will probably be rewarding financially, so its a lot easier to just take out the loans.

You bet. Couldn't have said it better.

Also, if you can handle working and studying, why put that debt on yourself in the first place? So what if it's considered "good debt"? It's still debt that will eventually accrue interest and take hard-earned money out of my pocket, despite whatever salary I make.

But if it works for others, go for it. For me it's illogical.

 

[genvieve]

sorry...duplicate post.

 

[genvieve]

Hi there... I am in the DFW area and have completed my pre-reqs combining classes at UTA and Dallas Community College, while working 30-40 hrs a week. It took some juggling, but can be done if your employer agrees to be a little flexible with your hours. For instance, both Bio I/II are offered in the eve at UTA. Physics I/II can be done totally on-line (or you can just attend lab) at Northlake College. UTA also has a Physics class that runs at 8:00-8:50 AM MWF if you have the ability to go into work a little late. O-Chem is a little more difficult, but someone told me that it is offered Saturdays at one of the community colleges. (I took it TTH 11-12:20, on "lunch" at UTA, with the lab on TH eve.) So, if you are a nut case like me and can drive back and forth and still get your work done, you'll manage. It just takes determination and a hell of a lot of effort! Good luck!😀

Thanks very much for this info. I just worried about taking on-line classes and cc classes b/c I feel like I need to show I can handle 4 year university course work, but it seems to be my only option and I can only do what I can do. I will try to find things in the evening for this semester and then maybe next semester, I will have been here a year and feel it would be better to approach a flexible schedule then.

I am not worried about it being difficult to work and go to school. I have done this my whole school career. My last semester of school, I took 12 hours, worked full-time (but had evening hours 3pm -11pm and went to school during the day...but it was a low-paying college type job and now being a non-trad = more bills, etc), had a part-time weekend job and trained for a marathon and I ended up doing pretty well. Granted, I had no life. But I just wanted to express it is more the problem of patching together the needed courses around a full-time, day-time hours work schedule that I was having trouble with. But you guys prove it can be done with a little fine tuning of your schedules. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas...much appreciated!

 

[GreyBlueEyes]

Thanks very much for this info. I just worried about taking on-line classes and cc classes b/c I feel like I need to show I can handle 4 year university course work, but it seems to be my only option and I can only do what I can do. I will try to find things in the evening for this semester and then maybe next semester, I will have been here a year and feel it would be better to approach a flexible schedule then.

i don't think you should worry about this so much, especially if you're applying to osteopathic schools. it might be a factor with allopathic, but osteopathic schools seem more reasonable and less nit-picky. i think they'd be impressed by your resourcefulness in fitting in classes any way you can while working full time, especially if you excel.

and it's a bunch of hogwash that community college classes are easier. i've attended both, and the community colleges were more difficult. the classes are smaller so the teachers have more time for grading exams. for instance, i took chemistry at GA Tech and all the exams were multiple choice. i took biology at a community college and the exams were all short answer/essay...no chance at getting away with not knowing the material well.

maybe lower level courses are more difficult at a community college because that's where all their focus us. universities have more focus on upper level courses and the lower level courses aren't always as challenging. i'm just musing, i don't know 😉 but it also depends on the school, of course!

anyway, sorry for the rambling. my point is, if you feel it's a benefit to keep your job for the experience you're getting, don't be afraid to take the community college courses. i think an osteopathic school is going to appreciate the dedication and maturity it takes to work full time while taking classes anywhere.

 

[genvieve]

Thanks GBE...I need to hear that! It will certainly make it much easier ( scheduling-wise) to take these courses at a cc, not to mention less expensive. I work downtown right by a cc. I agree that cc courses are not necessarily easier. I learned so much more at the cc I attended compared to UT Austin b/c the class size was about 30 compared to 300ish for some classes.

To Momgracea...I found the physics course on-line at Northlake...this is great! Did you take yours on-line? If so, how did you find it( good,/bad)...I have never taken a course on-line and am a bit skittish? I also saw the physics course at UTA which is a short drive from downtown and a possibility, but I think I would rather do the on-line thing for now.

I am this close to saying I love you guys. 🙂 It just feels good to have so much support, encouragement and solid advice. I have not yet taken the leap to tell others beyond my new hubby I am about to embark on this so it feels great to actually talk about the logistics. It makes it much more real.

 

[Beau Geste]

genevieve -

good luck with your studies and I'm glad we were all here to help. Just a little FYI - keep posting in the non-trad forum.

The pre-allo forum has some good info to read from time-to-time but they are mostly so young, and the best adivce I've received is from this forum here. And don't neglect the MCAT forum when it comes time for you to take that test. Specifically the thread where people who have scored 30+ give insight into how they did it.

Keep posting - don't be a stranger!

 

[genvieve]

I will absolutely will keep posting as questions come up, etc. I read the posts all the time both here and on the pre-DO forum. I really have never even looked at the allo forum b/c I knew it was just not where I would find anwsers relevant to my situation.

Thanks for the well-wishing, much appreciated.

A bientot.....

 

[marygland]

Keep going to that community college! The attention and coursework in my opinion is just as tough if not tougher. I just transfered to a four year (Cleveland State University) that feeds alot of students to Case Western Reserve Medical (btw is a big deal around here). These classes are nothing compared to my previous cc. Beware when you do go to the big U! You are on your own unless you find some friends, so find them quick. Even if you only take one class at a time, study partners help reinforce what you know.

 

[genvieve]

And don't neglect the MCAT forum when it comes time for you to take that test. Specifically the thread where people who have scored 30+ give insight into how they did it.



Megboo...I have been searching the MCAT forum for the above thread and have not located it yet. What is the exact title of the thread or how long ago was it, please? Thx!

 

[Mac11]

It will certainly make it much easier ( scheduling-wise) to take these courses at a cc

easy, yes. allo schools look for that. DO schools may not, but i would consider that a bit of a risk. it would suck horribly to find out the schools dont consider cc credits. fyi

 

[GreyBlueEyes]

even if you take some courses at CC, you'll still need to return to a 4-year school to complete your degree, right? frankly, i think as long as you do well on the MCAT, the schools (particularly DO) aren't going to question where you took some of the courses, as long as they're accredited schools.

besides which, we do what we can. i've taken some of my classes at CC and i had absolutely no choice in the matter. i was limited to where my husband was stationed and had to use what was available. i'm just lucky that we've now transferred to a base near a 4-year school so i can complete my BS and that we'll be transferring to a base with a med school nearby just ater i finish my BS. it's not fun pinning all my hopes on one school (and an allo at that), but like i said...we do what we can.

 

[Beau Geste]

Megboo...I have been searching the MCAT forum for the above thread and have not located it yet. What is the exact title of the thread or how long ago was it, please? Thx!

You can find it in one of the stickies at the top of the forumm or you can click here.

 

[arcin]

So here is my two cents...Any school that won't accept CC credits isn't a school you would want to attend anyway. As far as doing what you can, I would look into financial aid for the various schools you are considering attending you may be able to make up the income you are losing by grants, scholarships, student loans. Especially if you have a family often times that is considered in Financial Aid. It may allow you to attend school on a closer to full time status. Just a few thoughts.

 

[genvieve]

even if you take some courses at CC, you'll still need to return to a 4-year school to complete your degree, right? .

Actually, yes I do have to take one 2 hour freshman bio lab which the only equivalent UT Austin will except is at UTD. I already took the freshman bio lab at a cc before transferring to UT but they will not accept it as equivalent to their freshman bio lab. But of course, the hours of the course for the classroom part of the lab are day hours so at some point I will have to discuss flexible hours at work in order to take it.

Otherwise, I am just going to patch together what I can wherever I can(cc, UTA, UTD, UNT..maybe even SMU even though it is quite $) for the rest of my retakes and for some additional UD science classes. I will figure it out and I have put my fears of CC's to rest.

And thanks Megboo for the link above.