Fast Track Pre-reqs?

[caerrn]

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I'm wondering if anyone knows of programs to quickly move through the pre-med science requirements. A little about my situation: I'm 33 and live in a very rural area (Northern California) with a limited community college that doesn't offer a lot of sciences. I've been a ER RN for 12 years, have an ASN degree and am currently enrolling in an online BSN completion program. But I will need to complete my sciences. I took Bio I/II, A&P I/II and Microbio. back in the 90s. I have a 4.0 GPA with those classes. Is there an expiration time on pre-req's? Will I need to repeat them? Or can I just study those areas for the MCAT?

I'm willing to move just about anywhere. I would just like to optomize the time I have. Any other advice you can think of would be greatly appreciated.😀

Thanks!
CAERRN

 

[akinetopsia]

Usually the sticking point for most people is that both a year of inorganic chemistry and a year of organic chemistry are required, and typically inorganic/general chemistry is a prerequisite to take organic chemistry at most places.

Some formal post-bacs can get you through the prereqs in as little as a year, those seem to me to be more of a "fast track" and informally you go at your own pace.

For example, I am doing an informal post-bac, and technically I could have been done over the course of a year if my schedule looked like this:

Fall 08:
Cell Bio
Physics
Gen chem

Spring 09:
Animal Bio
Physics II
Gen Chem II

Summer:
Organic I first session
Organic II second session

That's about the fastest you can do it on your own, or at least in most situations. I can't comment on your situation as far as your location, if you're willing to move you may have more options, but you will have to consider if you will have to quit working, do you have enough saved up to afford a formal (or informal) postbac, and so on.

I'm sure other people will have some better advice to give for your location & situation but that's my take. Good luck!

 

[DrMidlife]

I may just be repeating what the previous poster said, apologies if so.

Nursing prereqs are not the same as med school prereqs. Med schools require a year each, with labs, of gen chem, organic chem, physics and biology. The nursing prereqs are great to have in your background as you take on this more rigorous coursework.

Whatever you do next, your cumulative overall undergrad GPA is the most important number on a med school app, followed closely by MCAT score.

Let me suggest that whatever you're doing to finish your BSN, it's not helping get you into med school. Online coursework is stigmatized. Med school admissions committees will question why you used up a "seat" in a nursing program when those seats are in dire shortage.

I recommend planning out a university degree, full time, not necessarily nursing. Move to where the schools are. Think about Chico or San Jose, or Santa Cruz, or Mills, or wherever you can be happy and not distracted and can keep getting a 4.0. Pick a major that you can be passionate about: medieval harpsichord or French literature or immunology, doesn't matter. Keep working part time as a nurse to help pay the bills, but assume you'll be taking on some debt to get your degree done. Compared with the debt you'll take on for med school, it's not that big a deal.

Best of luck to you.

 

[caerrn]

Thanks for the advice, DrMidLife and akinetopsia.

 

[selfhealer]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of programs to quickly move through the pre-med science requirements. A little about my situation: I'm 33 and live in a very rural area (Northern California) with a limited community college that doesn't offer a lot of sciences. I've been a ER RN for 12 years, have an ASN degree and am currently enrolling in an online BSN completion program. But I will need to complete my sciences. I took Bio I/II, A&P I/II and Microbio. back in the 90s. I have a 4.0 GPA with those classes. Is there an expiration time on pre-req's? Will I need to repeat them? Or can I just study those areas for the MCAT?

I'm willing to move just about anywhere. I would just like to optomize the time I have. Any other advice you can think of would be greatly appreciated.😀

Thanks!
CAERRN

Hey there
A few things to consider:
Many med schools either frown upon, or simply do not accept, pre-recs taken at a community college. Im not sure if you are planning to take your sciences there, but you mentioned a community college in your post, so I thought I'd throw that out there.

Im a bit confused as to what exactly, you are taking "online", but take the comment I made about med schools not liking/accepting pre-recs from community colleges...and triple it. I really dont think any reputable med schools will accept pre-recs from online schools, if you are indeed planning this route.

You mentioned that you are willing to move almost anywhere. My suggestion is if you are serious about this path, and there is only a community college in your area, consider moving to a more urban/suburban area which will provide you access to a 4 year college. Good luck-SH

 

[teacherman84]

Many med schools either frown upon, or simply do not accept, pre-recs taken at a community college. Im not sure if you are planning to take your sciences there, but you mentioned a community college in your post, so I thought I'd throw that out there.

Not true for all...I have spoken with ADCOMs at allopathic schools that have said that they will accept and dont look down on CC courses when the student can back up their A's in these classes with a good performance on the MCAT. Maybe top tier schools have a more snobby take about these courses but I am just relaying what I was told.

If youre willing to move I would suggest getting out of California for a number of reasons, the biggest probably being that their state schools are harder to get into than some private schools, even for those in-state (again, second hand information). Nancy Pelosi would be my second reason for leaving...but thats just the right wing radical in me.

 

[Yudid]

Some colleges offer intense science courses. My college offer gen chem and o-chem intense during summer. U might look for those kind of programs...