Get my Prerequisites

[davidgareau]

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Hello, my wife and I are thinking about going to Med School if I understand correctly the bare minimum requirements are:

Chem
Org. Chem
Biology
Physics

Is that correct?
I have a B.A. in Computer Science, my wife has a B.A. in English and Spanish.
How much of each of these is usually required? A year or a semester? How long does it take to complete these pre-requisites + lab + mcats?
I once met a girl that was in a program designed for those that had a non-science degree that strictly got them the med school pre-requisites and MCAT prep, but I can't find her or any programs that sound like this online, do you guys know of any?
I am an EMT-B and was thinking of doing a Paramedic course before going to Med School, would this satisfy any of the prereqs? How about an RN program? Or would they just be pro-longing the process of getting the ultimate goal (getting into Med School)

thanks
david

 

[blee]

You know, I was trying to find a simple web site that describes the general requirements for med school admissions, but I couldn't find any. How strange!

Anyway, most medical schools require at least one full year of the basic science courses -- general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. You might also find that schools will want to see some math and English coursework, although requirements vary a bit from school to school. All of these four classes must be taken with a lab component, which makes it very difficult to find any online offering that would satisfy the requirement. Generally speaking, it's best to take these classes at a four-year university.

There are several post-baccalaureate programs designed for career changers or other people who need to take the basic pre-med classes before applying. I went to the one below, but most major metropolitan areas have at least one.

http://college.georgetown.edu/programs/premed/pbpm.html

You will also have to take the MCAT. The MCAT tests problem-solving and critical thinking skills based on knowledge you should have gained from the pre-req classes.

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

My classmates come from very diverse places. Many are EMTs, a few are nurses, but neither one of these is a guarantor or detractor to admissions. For the most part, med schools are looking for academically competitive students who have a real passion for medicine. This means having a high GPA, a strong MCAT score, and a background that demonstrates interest in the medical profession.

As for time, that varies for non-trads. All of this may be done in as little as one year, but I know people who have stretched it out beyond two years.

I'd write more, but i have a final exam tomorrow (gulp). Perhaps others in this forum could help to fill in the gaps!

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

While it varies from school to school, you will need 1 year plus labs in the areas that you listed above. In addition, you will also need to have 1 year of English, and (usually) 1 semester of calculus or statistics. If you are planning on applying to any TX public schools, you need 2 years of Biology. Other schools might have requirements like 1 semester of social sciences or something like that, but that is pretty rare.

 

[efex101]

Having EMT/paramedic/RT/OT will not stand in lieu of getting the classes required for matriculation.

 

[davidgareau]

Okay, so it's called, post-bach.... great, I looked it up and saw the forum for it, thanks.

I didn't mean do the courses online, I meant do the search for them online.

I looked a lot of the 4 year programs for this, and it looks like it will take 1-2 years and cost $30,000 plus at the big universities here in the Northeast.

Have any of you heard of doing these classes overseas and then applying to medical school here in the U.S. would that be possible you think? I just can't imagine paying $30,000 before going to Med School... probably me just being cheap, but I had a full ride for undergrad and I'm just having some cognitive dissonance about the idea of going back and paying for undergrad, I started a Medical School program in Belarus and when my wife got a green card we had to leave and come back to the U.S. I am just wondering if I could go back do the first year there and then use the credits here. It would only cost$2000 there and I get to work on my Russian some more.

thanks
david

 

[albaniandoc]

David, I highly doubt that the credits will transfer from Belarus. You can always find a cheaper state school rather than an expensive private university. For example at my state school (University of South Florida) tuition is about $4000/ year. Of course you have to provide for your own living expenses but that is understandable. It will take about 2 years if you go full time, but you can do it in 1.5 yrs if you include summers.
You could do something like this:

Summer 1.
Bio 1
Chem 1
Physics 1

Fall Semester
Bio 2
Chem 2
Physics 2

Spring Semester
Orgo 1
Calc 1

Summer 2
Orgo 2
Calc 2

You could also try to get in some Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiology, Cell Bio etc if you want.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Like the previous poster said, take them at your local University -- no need to shell out $30k. I completed my prereqs in 1 year (3 semesters -- Summer, Fall, Spring,) but then again, I already had the Gen. Chem. and Physics requirements (though not the labs) complete from my Undergrad. Total cost was under $10k.

 

[davidgareau]

Jota-
after doing the pre-reqs at local university, what programs did you apply, get accepted, and go to? What did you do during glide year?