I need help from my fellow non-trad's out there.

[Mr. Beef]

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The time has come for Mr. Beef to make a decision. The thing is I don't know what decision to make.

I can either do one of three things.

First, go to community college and get my Associates Degree in arts; since I'm pretty close and only need like six classes to finish it up.

Second, is forget about the Associates Degree and just go ahead and transfer to a four year school with the credits I have from my years at community college. Since I have no science credits and the only high level math class I've taken is College Algebra and I struggled in that, I'm going to have to buckle down hard and really study in order to get a half decent BCMP GPA.

Third is, put off both for a year and go to a private instution and get a degree in something like Pharmacy Technician or Surgical Technician to have some experence in the medical field.

What do you think I should do? I'm leaning twards the second one because I really do not have an aspiration to go for an Associates Degree, but something like a Bachelors Degree in something worthwhile would be good so I can find something to do while I'm waiting for med school applications to come in to fill out.

Thanks,

Mr. Beef 👍

 

[Static Line]

The time has come for Mr. Beef to make a decision. The thing is I don't know what decision to make.

I can either do one of three things.

First, go to community college and get my Associates Degree in arts; since I'm pretty close and only need like six classes to finish it up.

Second, is forget about the Associates Degree and just go ahead and transfer to a four year school with the credits I have from my years at community college. Since I have no science credits and the only high level math class I've taken is College Algebra and I struggled in that, I'm going to have to buckle down hard and really study in order to get a half decent BCMP GPA.

Third is, put off both for a year and go to a private instution and get a degree in something like Pharmacy Technician or Surgical Technician to have some experence in the medical field.

What do you think I should do? I'm leaning twards the second one because I really do not have an aspiration to go for an Associates Degree, but something like a Bachelors Degree in something worthwhile would be good so I can find something to do while I'm waiting for med school applications to come in to fill out.

Thanks,

Mr. Beef 👍

Don't worry. I hated math too. My struggle with it was mostly due to my attitude and resistance towards having to learn it. Still, I made it through Algebra, Stats, and Calculus. It really helped me that my wife, my tutor, is a math wiz and received all sorts of arithmetic awards. Anyways, your science classes aren't based on your knowledge of math ( Thank God), therefore, I excelled in my sciences, you can too. I apparently did well enough because I start med school in the Fall.

As a non trad who didn't go back to school till I was 29, married with children, to start from scratch for a bachelors degree, I didn't take any class that didn't move me in the direction of finishing that degree. If your classes aren't going to help you finish your degree, then don't take them. You don't have the luxury of time that some of the younger undergrads have. At your age, with some life experience, and a solid GPA and decent MCAT you'll do fine. Research, volunteering etc... helps, but ultimately, it is all fluff. Produce good numbers, period. As a non trad with good numbers , it shows that you can manage your personal life as well as your academic life simultaneously. That makes you a desirable candidate.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
The question for you to answer is "What is your ultimate goal?" If medical school is your ultimate goal, then finishing an associates degree at a community college in art is not going to get you any closer to your ultimate goal. Do you have the option of finishing your Associates Degree with science or math courses that will get you closer to your ultimate goal? Community colleges are designed for remedial work so you might better spend your tuition money taking a course that will provide you with a solid foundation for math or science.

If you believe that you need to work while going to school, then getting an allied health degree is helpful but again, will not get you closer to your ultimate goal. Most allied health degree will enable you to have a job when you are done but these credits do not generally do much improving your background. Most allied health professions with the exception of emergency medical technology, respiratory therapy or vascular technology, are backtracking and time-consuming (one or two years). You can volunteer, shadow or work in research that will provide you with enough "medical " experience.

You are going to need to take the pre-med courses General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Physics and General Biology (all with labs) and do very, very well. Anything that puts you in a position to take these courses and excell in them will get you closer to medical school. Some medical schools require calculus, genetics or molecular biology in addition to the above so look at the requirements of the specific medical schools that interest you.

The other useful thing that you can do at the community college level is take a couple of courses in efficient study skills and coursework mastery. University-level math and science courses are pretty unforgiving especially if you find that you have to work and study at the same time. Any remedial work in test-taking skills, note-taking skills, critical reading and analysis will be very useful for you in your quest for medicine.

Find a way to solidify your study skills, get your pre-med courses done well and do well on the MCAT as soon as possible. As a non-traditional student, you do not have an infinite amount of time to get these things accomplished. You need to find ways of moving forward.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[adventurer]

Do not waste your time getting an associate's degree and, check with the medical schools about their requirements-some schools require that you take the science courses at a 4 year university anyway (or highly recommend it), in wich case, you would have to retake them at the 4 year college anyway.

If they aren't too specific, I enjoyed my science courses at the CC, since they were smaller, with more teacher-student interaction, but I am going into Pharmacy School, and the school did not require a 4 year degree to get in, so I felt no pressure to take them at a 4 year school.

 

[Mr. Beef]

Don't worry. I hated math too. My struggle with it was mostly due to my attitude and resistance towards having to learn it. Still, I made it through Algebra, Stats, and Calculus. It really helped me that my wife, my tutor, is a math wiz and received all sorts of arithmetic awards. Anyways, your science classes aren't based on your knowledge of math ( Thank God), therefore, I excelled in my sciences, you can too. I apparently did well enough because I start med school in the Fall.

Well, I just have a slight math anxiety to go with my test anxiety and that's about all. I made a C in College Algebra mostly becuase I showed my work on all the tests and that got me some bonus points. Trig, Pre Calc and Calc just seem like impossibilities for me right now, but I'm sure I can get through those with a B.

As for the Sciences that should be something I excel in becuase I had no trouble with it in high school.

As a non trad who didn't go back to school till I was 29, married with children, to start from scratch for a bachelors degree, I didn't take any class that didn't move me in the direction of finishing that degree. If your classes aren't going to help you finish your degree, then don't take them. You don't have the luxury of time that some of the younger undergrads have. At your age, with some life experience, and a solid GPA and decent MCAT you'll do fine. Research, volunteering etc... helps, but ultimately, it is all fluff. Produce good numbers, period. As a non trad with good numbers , it shows that you can manage your personal life as well as your academic life simultaneously. That makes you a desirable candidate.

Well I don't have to worry about having a family or anything else because I don't even have a girlfriend to worry about. The only thing I'll have to worry about is a job (whether full time or part time)

So if I keep on a good track, have a decent GPA, good MCAT's, some Voluenteer experence and research I should be a competative canidate. That's what everyone keeps telling me, and I'm inclined to believe them.

Meanwhile I just have to worry about getting into the four year of my choice with the credits I have so far.

Thanks Static Line. 👍

Mr. Beef

 

[thirdunity]

Take your transfer-pattern liberal arts classes, and the prerequisites for your university-level classes, then transfer to the 4-year. And use this time to work on your math study skills.

 

[Mr. Beef]

Hi there,

Hi back njbmd. I feel so honored to have a moderator respond to my post.

The question for you to answer is "What is your ultimate goal?" If medical school is your ultimate goal, then finishing an associates degree at a community college in art is not going to get you any closer to your ultimate goal. Do you have the option of finishing your Associates Degree with science or math courses that will get you closer to your ultimate goal? Community colleges are designed for remedial work so you might better spend your tuition money taking a course that will provide you with a solid foundation for math or science.

My ultimate goal is to get into a Medical School in either Texas, Illinois, or some other school that I know I might have no chance of getting into, but it never hurts to try; like Harvard. I'm ambitious like that.

The associate degree in art can be changed to an associate degree in science, but that means something like 20 hours of physical science, math or computer classes and that will add at least a year to what I had planned. Plus I'd hate to have to retake the classes again at a four year college because they do not take credits in prerequisites from the community college at the medical schools I'm looking into.

Trust me if I could I would take all my prerequisites at a community college, but I know I'll have less of a shot if I do that.

If you believe that you need to work while going to school, then getting an allied health degree is helpful but again, will not get you closer to your ultimate goal. Most allied health degree will enable you to have a job when you are done but these credits do not generally do much improving your background. Most allied health professions with the exception of emergency medical technology, respiratory therapy or vascular technology, are backtracking and time-consuming (one or two years). You can volunteer, shadow or work in research that will provide you with enough "medical " experience.

Nothing is set in stone yet on the whole Surgical Technician or Pharmacy Technician education. I was just looking for something that might give me some patient interaction while earning a living.

I'm already doing a volunteer work, but that may change at the end of May, and as for the working in a lab that sounds like something I would really be into with my science background.

The other useful thing that you can do at the community college level is take a couple of courses in efficient study skills and coursework mastery. University-level math and science courses are pretty unforgiving especially if you find that you have to work and study at the same time. Any remedial work in test-taking skills, note-taking skills, critical reading and analysis will be very useful for you in your quest for medicine.

I took a class like that many years ago, but it was self-paced and I don't seem to remember anything about the class other than the occasional thing. I guess I could take it again this summer if they offer it and this time pay attention in class. 😀

Find a way to solidify your study skills, get your pre-med courses done well and do well on the MCAT as soon as possible. As a non-traditional student, you do not have an infinite amount of time to get these things accomplished. You need to find ways of moving forward.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

I'm going to get through this if it is the last thing I do. I'm looking at another 2 years or more if I start going in the fall of '05. Perhaps even 3 years if I take only one or two sciences at a time. I know Calculus is going to be killer for me like Static Line and I discussed.

Thanks njbmd 👍

Mr. Beef

 

[Mr. Beef]

Do not waste your time getting an associate's degree and, check with the medical schools about their requirements-some schools require that you take the science courses at a 4 year university anyway (or highly recommend it), in wich case, you would have to retake them at the 4 year college anyway.

That's my main concern; having to take them all over again and losing a bunch of time.

If they aren't too specific, I enjoyed my science courses at the CC, since they were smaller, with more teacher-student interaction, but I am going into Pharmacy School, and the school did not require a 4 year degree to get in, so I felt no pressure to take them at a 4 year school.

The one lab science I did take I made a D in, but I was taking it at night after working a Part Time Job and taking another couple of classes during the day. With my concentration being on my studies this time instead of having to pull three ways at once with work, school and volunteer work.

Thanks Adventurer 👍

 

[sunnyjohn]

The time has come for Mr. Beef to make a decision. The thing is I don't know what decision to make.

I can either do one of three things.

First, go to community college and get my Associates Degree in arts; since I'm pretty close and only need like six classes to finish it up.

Second, is forget about the Associates Degree and just go ahead and transfer to a four year school with the credits I have from my years at community college. Since I have no science credits and the only high level math class I've taken is College Algebra and I struggled in that, I'm going to have to buckle down hard and really study in order to get a half decent BCMP GPA.

Third is, put off both for a year and go to a private instution and get a degree in something like Pharmacy Technician or Surgical Technician to have some experence in the medical field.

What do you think I should do? I'm leaning twards the second one because I really do not have an aspiration to go for an Associates Degree, but something like a Bachelors Degree in something worthwhile would be good so I can find something to do while I'm waiting for med school applications to come in to fill out.

Thanks,

Mr. Beef 👍

Mr Beef,

When I read your post, I thought you were calling my name!

If go to DCCCD you pay 33$ a crdit hour. If you only have 6 classes left, finish up the transfer req's and head over to UTA.

Oh and by the way, a ton of Dallas folks who have attended and graduated from UTSW did some or all of the accelerated science classes at Northlake. They are the best kept secret in DFW.

As a surgical tech (yes I did it at El Centro) I personally know 3 docs who did it. I am not saying you should do this, I am just saying it is an option. The adcom at UTSW is familiar with the level of work.

Check this link out. It is about a doc who did just that:
http://www.dcccd.edu/About+DCCCD/News+and+Events/It+All+Begins+Here/Alumni+Profiles/Kim+Saenz.htm

I did the Surg tech program at El Centro. I love being a tech. If you do go this route, you will not have time to take extra classes during the day. The clinical and paperwork demands are intense.

You do not have to take a class to become a Pharmacy Tech. Just get the review book and study. That's what more than half the follk who take the certifying exam do. I will be taking the test at the next sitting.

Click here to get information about becoming a certified Pharmacy tech:
http://www.ptcb.org/Exam/apply.aspx

Click here to register for the exam:
http://www.proexam.org/ptcb/home.page

For short term career training, you might want to consider becoming an EMT. UTSW has a great program. You can train in 27 days. If you don't want to work on a rig, Children's and PArkland both use EMT's in their ED.


Here is the link to the UTSW EMT program:

http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept29240/files/76402.html

Agape

 

[Mr. Beef]

Mr Beef,

When I read your post, I thought you were calling my name!

If go to DCCCD you pay 33$ a credit hour. If you only have 6 classes left, finish up the transfer req's and head over to UTA.

It's more like 7-8 classes now that I look at it and that's a year not including a summer of classes and things like that. I'm looking at going to UNT since I live closer to that than UTA.

Oh and by the way, a ton of Dallas folks who have attended and graduated from UTSW did some or all of the accelerated science classes at Northlake. They are the best kept secret in DFW.

That is a pretty well kept secret becuase I was in the DCCCD for five years and never even heard of that.

I did the Surg tech program at El Centro. I love being a tech. If you do go this route, you will not have time to take extra classes during the day. The clinical and paperwork demands are intense.

That sounds like something I'll take a pass on. It sounds like a good paying job and all that, but if the demands are anything like you said I'd much rather take something like EMT.

You do not have to take a class to become a Pharmacy Tech. Just get the review book and study. That's what more than half the folk who take the certifying exam do. I will be taking the test at the next sitting.

I did not know that although I like taking a class becuase I get hands on and all that good stuff.

For short term career training, you might want to consider becoming an EMT. UTSW has a great program. You can train in 27 days. If you don't want to work on a rig, Children's and PArkland both use EMT's in their ED.


Here is the link to the UTSW EMT program:

http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept29240/files/76402.html

Agape

That is a great program, and the price is in my range. Although Brookhaven has an EMT Program that is one semiester for about the same price although they have prerequisites.

Thanks Agape/sunnyjohn 👍

Mr. Beef

 

[spc213]

It sounds like your goal is to get a Bachelors degree, so transfer as soon as you can and get started on your pre-reqs. IMO, having an associates degree isn't going to make you any more competive for med school.

If a Bachelor's is your goal, then spending any extra time at a CC is not going to help you, other than to build your confidence. You sound like you don't need that boost, so just move on and keep rolling forward.

Go for it!