In the beginning..there was the "older" freshman...I could use some advice *LONG*

[exilio]

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Okay,

So here is my deal and I will try to make it as succinct as possible. Basically I am just looking for feedback with regards to my situation and my plan.

I have been out of high school for quite some time. And in that time I discovered what it is I really want to do in life. I have had many jobs and one steady profession that has paid well for the past five years or so, but left me feeling empty. It occured to me that what I was doing was not of my own choosing, but rather, where circumstances propelled me.

Suffice to say, I started looking at my options, and for many years I always put off the idea of college due to financial feasibility and not being sure what I would want to do anyways.

Through a series of events and reflection upon my circumstances growing up, it finally dawned on me that medicine was where I belonged. Not as an EMT, paramedic, nurse or physician assistant...but as a doctor; particularly one specialized in emergency medicine.

So here I am...

Just turned 30.

9.5 quarter units into school, from last spring, I had to to take time off to close up some loose ends in my life, but now back on track.

Attending a local community college in California with a decent reputation, if there is such a thing for a community college.

I have my EMT certification, but that will expire this summer, and it is doubtful I will find the time to study and re-certify for it.

My basic plan is this:

Continue my education at the community college until I have the credits sufficient for transfer, 90 qtr units.

Then transfer to a four-year college to continue my studies.

I am majoring in English; this is a subject I greatly enjoy and can only benefit the heavy science load of any aspiring med student.

Due to me being out of school for so long, I am more than rusty on math and the sciences so I need to take some pre-req courses before I can get to the more serious science courses. In fact, I have to take two math courses that will offer me zero credits for transfer, but I need them as pre-req's for calculus.

Anyways, this all means I have to take a heavier load in order to stay on track. About 20 hours per week/quarter. That's a lot of homework and studying from four classes.

Attached, you will find a chart I created that outlines my planned course load for the remainder of my community college studies. I just want to know what people think and if this is too much, just right, or perhaps I am missing something. Just getting some other viewpoints from people would be extremely helpful.

So to sum up, I plan on getting the med school pre-req's of general bio and chem my freshman and sophomore year at the CC, then get the physics, orgo and calculus when I transfer.

Is taking English, orgo, physics, calculus realistic for a transfer student? I may not have any choice as I will need it for application to particular med schools and I certainly will need the sciences for MCAT preparation.

Sorry for the long message, just trying to clear some thoughts in my head and make sure that I am laying things out realistically.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/advice. 👍

 

[gary5]

I'd skip the community college and switch to a 4-year now. Get a prehealth advisor immediately and do everything they recommend. Don't worry about your age. Make sure you do well in every class. There are many others to take your place.

 

[exilio]

In California, you cannot skip community college unless you want to take the SAT or ACT and even then that's not a total solution since I have been out of high school for so long.

The simple reasoning being I have no proven track record and the community college is where I need to prove myself and that I can handle the rigors of a college education..even if only at the community college level.

So the path for me has to be the community college route...not my first choice but I really didn't have one. Thanks for your thought though. 😉

 

[ad_sharp]

You have an EMT certification. You have maturity. You have ambition. You sound like you want to do medicine for the right reasons. That's very respectable. I think that your plan sounds fine, but I would be sure to study those basic sciences as the MCAT is a tough mother. With your experience, I think that you'll have an advantage over the folks my age. The community college thing may hurt a little, but when you go to the four year university, prove that you can handle the courseload by maintaining a good GPA. I think that adcoms will look favorable upon your age and experience, your biggest concerns are grades and MCAT. My parents both earned their grad degrees later than you in life, and I know that your road will not be easy. I hope that my rambling helps. Best of luck.

 

[EvoDevo]

I think your plan is fine. Friend of mine got into a top ten school doing her pre-reqs at a community college. Do switch into a four year and take some upper level bio courses and you'll be fine.

Take your time, enjoy the process as much as possible and don't rush!!

Evo, 32 years young

 

[sgilani]

everyone above has given great advice. just be wary of a prehealth advisor if they try and deter you from medicine due to your age. don't let that sidetrack you.
good luck.

 

[sgilani]

if you need the SAT or ACT to get into a 4 year college, is it possible that you can take an SAT prep course and then actually take the SAT so that you can save time/money and not have to attend community college?

 

[sistahnik]

you are doing exactly what I am doing. I attend a cc college and will be transferring to university after I accumulate the required 24 hour credits for transfer. I have taken gen bio, taking gen chem this semester and so forth. don't worry about your age, I also just turned 30 and I had some issues with it at first, but I talked with some sdn folks and they reassured me that I was fine. If this is what you really want then you are the only one who can get it for you. don't let negative ppl cloud your ambitions with doubt and believe in yourself. don't be discouraged, just keep the ball rolling and you'll be surprised at your progress! you can do it!!! congratulations on the life decision.

 

[DrMom]

There should be no problems with starting out at a CC and transferring to a 4 year. My advice would be to go ahead & talk to an advisor at the 4 year you hope to transfer to now. Find out what the classes are for their degree (English, I assume) and also find out which classes you need for the premed prereqs (search around here and you'll get a good idea). That way you can do your best to only take classes at the CC that will go towards the 4 year degree. (Disregarding the few pre-reqs that won't transfer).

Good luck.