Financial angst + don't know what to believe after reading MSAR 2025 -- CC vs State vs Both for DIY premed

[hypospray]

I may have answered my own question in the end, but I think this is an important post and would appreciate feedback:

Well folks, I got into the 4-year state school I applied to for Fall 2024, but admissions classified me an OOS student. My estimated tuition costs have DOUBLED, and I cannot afford to go as such. Despite the school participating in WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) Program, I have been de-prioritized from being offered reduced tuition only because I already have a bachelor's degree. I am trying to appeal this now.

Community College Coursework Information (NEW - May 9, 2024) was newly posted on the AAMC's MSAR Reports page, and all the schools I'm interested in fully accept community college credits for premed coursework. Most of them have social justice baked into their mission statements, so this should come as no earth-shattering surprise... but a few are top tier schools.

I have strongly heeded everyone's advice on sticking with 4-year state school courses as I am a consummate reinvention case and need to focus on, "just seeing if I can [swing the MD route]" -- I am a nontraditional career changer with a liberal arts degree who is also in need of GPA repair. Despite my origins on paper, it is my priority to sculpt my upward trend efforts and narrative towards these top tier schools because they are the ones that invest and excel at transgender competent medicine and research. I feel this is critically important looking ten years into the future....

I made sure to carefully reconcile that MSAR list cited above with the Premedical Coursework Chart (UPDATED - June 28, 2024), and honestly feeling a bit of whiplash. I'm about to chase my tail scrutinizing how I should proceed unless I check in with SDN again.

• Do I take every medical school's newly minted official statements on community college credits at face value and save myself $50k-60k of debt completing my ~2 years of DIY coursework (there are 2-3 CCs in commuting distance to me), or read between the lines and stick to the straight-and-narrow 4-year state school ethos?
• Should I simply wait to see if the 4-year state school I was accepted into will accept my petition for the reduced tuition and upon being given the green light, go all in? The financial aid package I was awarded would cover everything only IF they granted me WUE status for reduced tuition.
• Or maybe I assemble a mix as many others have; reserve all upper division courses for the 4-year state school, and save money knocking out all lower division courses at a CC?

I live in a geographically challenging area where the closest 4-year **in-state** school is a solid 2 hours away, so here I am, trying to make it work with this OOS 4-year that's less than an hour away. To anyone who may be asking, I can't move from where I am. I have to work with what I've got.

Thanks so much for the additional insight. Phew.

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[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I'm also trans with a 3.25 GPA liberal arts degree. Did all my premed coursework at a CC and UNE Online. Starting MD next month.

Most MD schools atp only care if you're obviously dodging hard classes at a 4 year to do them at an "easier" CC. I personally found the CC coursework to be hard but the professors cared about teaching way more than my experience at state flagship schools for BS and MS and so I performed much better. They will prepare you just fine.

If you can get the financial aid sorted out, the 4 year will give you better opportunities to find research and probably volunteering/clinical as well. If not, just do really well at the CC and you'll be fine. Good luck friend.

 

[hypospray]

I'm also trans with a 3.25 GPA liberal arts degree. Did all my premed coursework at a CC and UNE Online. Starting MD next month.

Most MD schools atp only care if you're obviously dodging hard classes at a 4 year to do them at an "easier" CC. I personally found the CC coursework to be hard but the professors cared about teaching way more than my experience at state flagship schools for BS and MS and so I performed much better. They will prepare you just fine.

If you can get the financial aid sorted out, the 4 year will give you better opportunities to find research and probably volunteering/clinical as well. If not, just do really well at the CC and you'll be fine. Good luck friend.

This is the way, isn't it?

In my sudden stress-fit over money, my brain completely bonked on the research opportunities bit. Yes! That is one of the main reasons I'm excited to attend this school. I really don't want to forego everything on offer, but I can't break the bank -before- medical school. I received my financial aid package award letter several days ago, and it covered less than half the cost of tuition as an OOS student.

Astronomical loans for an MD program are an all but necesary evil, but not for pre-med.

I just need to breathe, but scramble since Fall '24 classes are flying off the shelves at all institutions I'd potentially be drawing upon. Thanks for the reminder and clarity, friend.

 

[chilly_md]

If you took very few science courses in undergrad, you can get the pre-reqs done at a CC and take some upper-division ones online through UNE or UC Extension.

 

[hypospray]

If you took very few science courses in undergrad, you can get the pre-reqs done at a CC and take some upper-division ones online through UNE or UC Extension.

Yup. I don't have a sGPA to speak of, so this is my golden opportunity to demonstrate competency and an upward trend. If the 4-year I was accepted to can't offer me the reduced tuition, I'll start with CC and go from there.

 

[wao2221]

I'm also trans with a 3.25 GPA liberal arts degree. Did all my premed coursework at a CC and UNE Online. Starting MD next month.

Most MD schools atp only care if you're obviously dodging hard classes at a 4 year to do them at an "easier" CC. I personally found the CC coursework to be hard but the professors cared about teaching way more than my experience at state flagship schools for BS and MS and so I performed much better. They will prepare you just fine.

If you can get the financial aid sorted out, the 4 year will give you better opportunities to find research and probably volunteering/clinical as well. If not, just do really well at the CC and you'll be fine. Good luck friend.

I've done essentially the same thing as your with my pre-reqs. Mind if I DM you and ask you a few questions?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I've done essentially the same thing as your with my pre-reqs. Mind if I DM you and ask you a few questions?

Sure, I'll respond in the morning

 

[chicandtoughness]

Nontrad, current MS2 at an MD school. Did almost all my prereqs at community college due to costs.