How to manage the application process without a counselor?

[Desired Member Name]

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Hi all,

I'm thinking of taking science courses at a university extension school instead of doing an "official" post bacc pre med program (it's cheaper than all post bacc programs I've found, and far, far, far cheaper than some of them).

For people who have done this, can you share any advice on how you made up for not having a pre-med counselor like the students in an official post bacc pre med program have? What were your biggest stumbling blocks and how did you resolve them? What do you wish someone had told you...about the prereq courses, about the MCAT, about the application process, about the interview process, or anything else? (I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have already matriculated into a med school via this path, of course).

Thanks!

 

[Rogert]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of taking science courses at a university extension school instead of doing an "official" post bacc pre med program (it's cheaper than all post bacc programs I've found, and far, far, far cheaper than some of them).

For people who have done this, can you share any advice on how you made up for not having a pre-med counselor like the students in an official post bacc pre med program have? What were your biggest stumbling blocks and how did you resolve them? What do you wish someone had told you...about the prereq courses, about the MCAT, about the application process, about the interview process, or anything else? (I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have already matriculated into a med school via this path, of course).

Thanks!

I "made up for it" by spending an inordinate amount of time on this site just reading and asking questions including lots of dumb ones. The search function is your friend. For me personally, my biggest stumbling block was rushing into my first cycle without having a great grasp of what was expected for an application. I ended up applying with no clinical experience because I had no idea that was expected; a problem easily solved if I had just read a bit more. This is site is filled a lot of fantastic info and fantastic people willing to help you. Take advantage of it.

 

[NonTradJp]

I have not matriculated but I offer my 2 cents. Honestly I did not know much about the application process when I started. I read on this site but when you do not know what you do not know, you do not know what to look for. I did not know the existence of interviews, secondaries, and many other things. But I learned along the way which ended up with me applying very very late. Some things I would suggest you do that was really helpful (though I only found out after I started the application process) is to look at ucdprehealth. There are youtube videos from the conference including some about the application process and many other useful questions I with I knew to consider. If you watch the ones about application process, you should get a good skeleton of topics to look up on ucdprehealth or on sdn.

 

[FCMike11]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of taking science courses at a university extension school instead of doing an "official" post bacc pre med program (it's cheaper than all post bacc programs I've found, and far, far, far cheaper than some of them).

For people who have done this, can you share any advice on how you made up for not having a pre-med counselor like the students in an official post bacc pre med program have? What were your biggest stumbling blocks and how did you resolve them? What do you wish someone had told you...about the prereq courses, about the MCAT, about the application process, about the interview process, or anything else? (I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have already matriculated into a med school via this path, of course).

Thanks!

It can be relatively straight forward. Just be sure to double check in your schools catalog to be sure the classes you are taking are those for science majors. I did get into the wrong physics class my first week but I remedied that.

Without an advisor/pre-med structure you will need to develop a relationship with a professor to attain a LOR. I ended up bonding with my organic professor and after class it has turned into a good friendship.

I haven't really had good experiences with the pre-med advisors. My first semester at my university I had a advising appointment with our pre -med guy and he was trying to put me into calculus and was very insistent that it was a required course. I think he is overwhelmed with the massive amounts of students he is responsible for and with that he became out of touch. So just be wary.

 

[MrLogan13]

You don't need a counselor or advisor. You just need to do your own homework and research just like the rest of us.