How to get prereqs in while working 9-5?

[Jeex]

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Morning All,

I plan on taking a working persons bachelors finishing program at a state school that gives the me the ability to work on classes from 6pm-10pm at night. I plan on getting a 4.0 from this school and a BPS or BSBA.

The school unfortunately doesn't provide pre-req science classes during the night or weekend, and my local community college only offers Gen Bio1/2 and Gen Chem 1/2 after hours.

I would really like to complete a post bacc program while continuing to work 9-5. Is such a thing even possible or will I have to quit my only source of income at an attempt to even be considered for acceptance at a medical school?

Thanks,
Jeex

 

[Rogert]

You can see if they'll let you work reduced hours. It required quite a bit of saving money beforehand, but my job let me drop from full-time to part-time while I went back to school.

 

[el_duderino]

Find a school that offers the classes off-hours, or offers online classes.

Or you could potentially try to restructure your work schedule around some morning or afternoon classes.

I did a combination of both of these. Some online classes, some morning classes... one or two days a week, I'd work from 7:30 - noon and 1:45 - 5:15, or take an 8 AM class and work 9:30 - 5:30, or whatever.

 

[Jeex]

Find a school that offers the classes off-hours, or offers online classes.

Or you could potentially try to restructure your work schedule around some morning or afternoon classes.

I did a combination of both of these. Some online classes, some morning classes... one or two days a week, I'd work from 7:30 - noon and 1:45 - 5:15, or take an 8 AM class and work 9:30 - 5:30, or whatever.

As far as online courses for sciences, wouldn't that be considered a "no-no"? What about labs/etc and wouldn't this negatively impact my chances at acceptance?

 

[el_duderino]

Labs at my schools were generally offered in the evenings, so it wasn't a problem. As for whether online is bad or not, I suppose it depends on the school... at mine, online classes have the same course numbers and descriptions as in-person classes, so they're identical on the transcript and there's no way for AMCAS or med schools to know they were online.

But if you're a nontrad working full time, and take a couple of classes online because there's no other way, I don't think it will be a big deal. Just make sure you ace them and score well on the MCAT.

That said, I think some specific schools have requirements about whether prereqs taken online are acceptable. If the info doesn't appear on your transcript, then I suppose it's up to you to be honest and not apply to that school.

 

[Apollo1]

8am lectures are your friend.

 

[DrMidlife]

Get a job at a university that offers discounted tuition and registration priority to employees.

Then you can get a real degree and decent med school prep.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Jeex]

Get a job at a university that offers discounted tuition and registration priority to employees.

Then you can get a real degree and decent med school prep.

Best of luck to you.

Unfortunately, they don't pay as well as my current position and I need to maintain this position to pay off debt. HOWEVER, I believe I can work on the weekends here and then take tu-th classes when I am ready. 🙂

 

[takeonme]

Definitely tough but you do what you gotta do to get it done. For me that meant classes everyday during the day and then work 7pm-7am. Sometimes it also means putting your dreams on hold until you can find a suitable work environment/hours. It takes a lot of planning, I had a friend who saved for the few years he was working then quit to go to school full time to do prereqs. Either way it'll be tough. Best of luck to you!