Finishing Med School Requirements While On Active Duty

[zgordon96]

Hello all,

Currently have 4 years in the Navy (non-medical) with 3 years left on my contract. I am working on a degree in computer science but decided the medical field was where I wanted to be. I am currently taking classes online at UMGC (formerly UMUC) due to the classes being 100% online and having very military-friendly class schedules. However, it seems as if they don't offer most of the pre-req courses most med schools require.

Can anybody lurking on these forums point me in the direction of any online schools that would satisfy all the pre-reqs that most schools require (USU for example)? Thanks!

P.s. with my military training I have all of my electives and a few gen-ed requirements knocked out, so i think 3 years is more than enough time to knock out the second half of the degree and pre-reqs prior to my EAOS if I really hammer it out.

Do medical schools look down on those that solely complete their degree online? Would it increase my chances just to wait until I EAOS and finish up college in an actual physical domain? Does it not matter as much as getting a strong GPA and MCAT score? Sorry for the essay of questions. Very new to this community, just trying to bang it all out now so I can get on the right track.

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[vom-]

I think don’t think you would be able to find a medical school that would accept you taking all your science courses online. You may be able to get away with non-science courses

I was thinking of taking English 2 online until I read USUHS wants students to take all their prerequisites in a classroom setting.

https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/medschool/pdf/2017_admissions_requirments.pdf

 

[zgordon96]

I think don’t think you would be able to find a medical school that would accept you taking all your science courses online. You may be able to get away with non-science courses

I was thinking of taking English 2 online until I read USUHS wants students to take all their prerequisites in a classroom setting.

https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/medschool/pdf/2017_admissions_requirments.pdf

Oh man, I completely overlooked that. Thanks for the reference! Looks like I'll just finish off my degree while I'm still in the military, then just use my GI bill to knock out the pre-reqs 3 years from now when I'm out and back home in Ohio.. There aren't any colleges within a drivable distance from me and my work schedule is pretty funky so doing something in-person isn't going to work.

Seems like a waste of the next few years, but oh well. Nobody said it was going to be easy!

 

[militaryPHYS]

@Matthew9Thirtyfive can help. Believe the online restriction has changed. He can also discuss EMDP2 program

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I believe USUHS is now accepting online prereqs for the non-science courses. I will double check on that though as I am not 100% sure.

That said, I would recommend you do the prereqs in person anyway. Most MD schools will not accept online prereqs, so by doing them online you greatly limit your school list.

Having the rest of your degree online won’t hurt you, especially since you got it while active duty. That was exactly what I did, and I got plenty of interviews and multiple acceptances.

As for EMDP2, if you are keen on continuing your military service in mil med, it is a fantastic program. It is a postbacc where you do all your Med school prereqs, take the MCAT, and do a grad year while applying. All while on active duty but in student status (so basically paid to be a student at a civilian university). It made us very competitive to apply, kept us on active duty while doing our postbacc, and really prepped us for at least the first module at USUHS (and probably beyond—we’re about to start msk so I’ll let you know, but our A&P course in year two of EMDP2 was very extensive). If you want to know more about it, let me know and I can answer any questions you have.

 

[95ragtop]

An online degree is fine as long as you meet the prereqs in a face to face setting. I got into med school with an online degree. I did all the major course work first online over 2 years, then PCS-ed to a non deployable unit for a few years, and knockout out the prereqs as night classes. You know where you want to be, just create a plan that gets you there.

 

[PressPforPi]

I asked my ISR about if there were any ANG units that were non-deployable that I could join since I didn't really want to completely leave the military. He flat out accused me of being a conscientious objector.

 

[Blaqxron]

I believe USUHS is now accepting online prereqs for the non-science courses. I will double check on that though as I am not 100% sure.

That said, I would recommend you do the prereqs in person anyway. Most MD schools will not accept online prereqs, so by doing them online you greatly limit your school list.

Having the rest of your degree online won’t hurt you, especially since you got it while active duty. That was exactly what I did, and I got plenty of interviews and multiple acceptances.

As for EMDP2, if you are keen on continuing your military service in mil med, it is a fantastic program. It is a postbacc where you do all your Med school prereqs, take the MCAT, and do a grad year while applying. All while on active duty but in student status (so basically paid to be a student at a civilian university). It made us very competitive to apply, kept us on active duty while doing our postbacc, and really prepped us for at least the first module at USUHS (and probably beyond—we’re about to start msk so I’ll let you know, but our A&P course in year two of EMDP2 was very extensive). If you want to know more about it, let me know and I can answer any questions you have.

Hey bro, I’m currently AD Airforce and I’m interested in doing the EMDP2 . I’m currently attending a community college in San Antonio at Lackland AFB. I’ll have like 60 credits by the end of this fall. Which college did you get your online degree from? I’m thinking of knocking out all of my med school prereqs at this community college and then transferring to a online college . But if I do that, then I’ll have over 90 credits and idk if some colleges will take that amount of credits from a CC. So should I just transfer to a online bachelors and knock that out and worry about taking the prereqs at EMDP2? Also how can I be competitive for the program? It doesn’t seem to be as popular as the NECP or IPAP. But I see they only accept a few slots a year. Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Hey bro, I’m currently AD Airforce and I’m interested in doing the EMDP2 . I’m currently attending a community college in San Antonio at Lackland AFB. I’ll have like 60 credits by the end of this fall.

Lots of questions. I'll just break them up because it's easier.

Which college did you get your online degree from?

Southern New Hampshire University. They are super military friendly.

I’m thinking of knocking out all of my med school prereqs at this community college and then transferring to a online college . But if I do that, then I’ll have over 90 credits and idk if some colleges will take that amount of credits from a CC. So should I just transfer to a online bachelors and knock that out and worry about taking the prereqs at EMDP2?

If you're interested in doing EMDP2, you don't need any of the prereqs done. It might help if you have a couple already done that you did well in just to show that you can, but it's not necessary at all, and you'll have to retake them in EMDP2 anyway.

If you wanted to apply on your own, you'd have to knock the prereqs out at a brick and mortar on your own. It's much easier to do it through EMDP2 if you can get selected.

Also how can I be competitive for the program? It doesn’t seem to be as popular as the NECP or IPAP. But I see they only accept a few slots a year. Sorry for all the questions.

Grades, SAT or ACT, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The letters you get from your interviewers are huge. I'm in the Navy though, so the AF priority might be a little different. I doubt it though.

 

[Blaqxron]

Lots of questions. I'll just break them up because it's easier.



Southern New Hampshire University. They are super military friendly.



If you're interested in doing EMDP2, you don't need any of the prereqs done. It might help if you have a couple already done that you did well in just to show that you can, but it's not necessary at all, and you'll have to retake them in EMDP2 anyway.

If you wanted to apply on your own, you'd have to knock the prereqs out at a brick and mortar on your own. It's much easier to do it through EMDP2 if you can get selected.



Grades, SAT or ACT, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The letters you get from your interviewers are huge. I'm in the Navy though, so the AF priority might be a little different. I doubt it though.

Thanks so much.! I really appreciate it man