Just took MCAT & realized I dont have all my prereqs...need avice

[clubescape]

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Hi, I would like some advice from you knowledgeable people on SDN.

I was a Bio major at UC-Berkeley and graduated in '02. I was not a pre-med at the time and since I had to pay out of state tuition (an extra 10k per yr! those bastards), I wanted to graduate ASAP. So here is my problem: I just took the MCAT this saturday (Whew!) and am now researching schools. I just realized that I don't have all the prereqs required for DO or MD schools. I only took 1 semester each of chem and math. So the question is should I take these classes at a local CC? Is this frowned upon? (My first gchem and math, and both english credits were from a CC...I took these during the summer bc it was cheaper than paying for UC classes) If so, how do I go about taking a couple classes at a university? Wouldn't I have to do the full enrollment process? I currently work full time so won't be able to cut back my work hours.

Since I'm already asking for advice about class...I have another question. My GPA from undergrad was not very stellar (cumulative 3.2), so I'm hoping my EC and post college activities will weigh more heavily on my application. As I mentioned, I was not a pre-med in college so didn't care that much about GPA. I worked 20 hrs/wk during college to pay for living expenses and volunteered 20 hrs/wk at an research lab. I traveled to Vietnam one summer to teach English to college students. Since graduation, I've been in medical sales and now currently research at Stanford School of Medicine. I've been here for almost 2 years and hope to get a kick ass letter of rec.

Anyway, enough rambling. People have suggested that I do post-bac bc of my GPA, but I'm hoping my MCAT score will be high enough and my EC will be enough to not have to go that route. I plan to apply to M.D. and D.O programs. Does anyone have any advice for me? Sorry this is so long! Thanks sooooo much.

 

[RxnMan]

About pre-req's, investigate school by school. California is a difficult pre-med environment, so the schools may have a problem with you not being 'complete' yet. My state school didn't care that I didn't have enough english classes (I did, but they were easy to miss on my transcipt) because of my MCAT score and gave me interviews anyways. All schools will require that you finish your pre-req's before matriculating.

About the GPA, check out my profile. I have a low ugrad GPA. I've had some interviews, but not as many as I would have based on the other facets of my application. 3.0 is the big cut-off, so if you kill the MCAT, you'll be noticed. Otherwise, you'll need to do a post-bacc and prove you can hack it in the classroom. In any case, I'd suggest applying to many schools and many different schools to maximize your chances.

 

[ShyRem]

Ok. I'm surprised you would even attempt the MCAT without your two semesters of biology, two semesters of gen chem, two semesters of ochem, and two semesters of physics (since those are what the MCAT is based on). However, what's done is done. If you have done well on the exam, the scores are good for 3 years. No sweat on that one.

Regarding the prereqs: a very few med schools won't mind if you take prereqs at a comm. college. However, many med schools will not accept CC credit for prereqs. Look at the schools you are interested in to check their requirements. To be safe, I would take the classes at a university or non-community college. You should be able to do this on a part-time basis if needed.

Your GPA may or may not be a problem depending on where you apply, what your MCAT is, your PS, etc. etc. There are people here who have gotten fabulous results with a 3.2 GPA, and others who have gotten no results whatsoever with a 3.2 GPA regardless of MCAT. You need to take the prereqs and do very (!) well. This will do two things: good grades on your prereqs are always a good thing on the app, and it will also raise your GPA.

 

[clubescape]

Thanks for the replies. How do you take classes at a university? Don't you have to do the whole application process or is it different if you just want to take a couple classes? Yea gchem on MCAT was particularly hard for me...go figure, i didnt take the 2nd semester of it! Your kids are adorable by the way!

 

[relentless11]

Thanks for the replies. How do you take classes at a university? Don't you have to do the whole application process or is it different if you just want to take a couple classes? Yea gchem on MCAT was particularly hard for me...go figure, i didnt take the 2nd semester of it! Your kids are adorable by the way!

Go through UC Extension Open Campus Program. Most if not all of hte UC Extensions will have it. You can also do open campus through CSU campuses as well.

Although your GPA should be enough to get you a secondary at a UC, it will be a tough sell to go beyond that despite your EC's. You will quickly learn that all the ECs in the world will not make up for a low UG GPA (and/or MCAT).

Having to work in undergrad is not an excuse, and thus should never be portrayed that way. Most undergrads had some kind of funding requirement anyway, and a good portion of those people have done well.

Now if you apply to non-UC schools then depending on your MCAT score you should be in a pretty good place. So obviously take your pre-reqs so you can at least apply, and secondly apply to a lot of schools.

 

[cadilakgrl]

Thanks for the replies. How do you take classes at a university? Don't you have to do the whole application process or is it different if you just want to take a couple classes? Yea gchem on MCAT was particularly hard for me...go figure, i didnt take the 2nd semester of it! Your kids are adorable by the way!

Both SF State and Berkeley have open university classes. Check the websites. They are a little expensive (~$500/class) but will probably count toward your pre-reqs. You might also think of a post-bac program. UCSF has one in which you can take prereqs and SF State and get help preparing applications.

 

[clubescape]

Both SF State and Berkeley have open university classes. Check the websites. They are a little expensive (~$500/class) but will probably count toward your pre-reqs. You might also think of a post-bac program. UCSF has one in which you can take prereqs and SF State and get help preparing applications.

Eesh that is $$!! (still recovering from student loans) Would taking it at a CC look really bad or should I just not even risk it?

 

[cadilakgrl]

Eesh that is $$!! (still recovering from student loans) Would taking it at a CC look really bad or should I just not even risk it?

I don't think the issue is that they look bad, I think it's that many schools won't accept them! You need to contact one or two schools directly and ask them about CC classes vs. university classes. Admissions websites may also have this information.

 

[clubescape]

Ok. Dang it, I wonder if I have to take a whole year of chem now since I took the first part at a CC. Ah, I wanna quit this whole med school business already! Lol. Thanks for the replies.

 

[relentless11]

Eesh that is $$!! (still recovering from student loans) Would taking it at a CC look really bad or should I just not even risk it?

You want to try to take most courses at a 4-year university. I was a transfer student so most of my pre-reqs were from a CC. When asked, the admissions people at the UC's didn't care about that since I had my coursework from UCD and the MCAT. But this is as a transfer student, not a college graduate.

For the most part, if you have completed a bachelors degree already, and are seeking to take additional science classes, you should take them at a 4-year. Even though $$ is a valid reason, it can be taken in the wrong way (e.g.: trying to get an "easy" A). Although from personal experience, I can say that CC classes are up to par with UC classes, its really up to the person that reviews your application to make that decision. It is understandable that one transfers to a 4-year through the CC route, since many students do that in CA. However it is probably better to do a post-bacc, open campus or graduate program, rather than go take classes at a CC.

 

[Charles]

Hi - I took about half of my pre-reqs at at 2 yr CC, and had no problem getting into med school - just be sure you get A's!

 

[clubescape]

Hi - I took about half of my pre-reqs at at 2 yr CC, and had no problem getting into med school - just be sure you get A's!

Hi Charles, was this as a transfer student, during or post your bachelors? Thanks for responding. =) I'm looking at some options around here. UC-Berkeley is too far from me so I might do SJSU if they have something I can work with.

 

[Charles]

Hi --

The CC classes were post-graduation. I was a liberal arts major, and decided after my junior year in college to go to med school. So I took Gen Bio & Chem as a senior as electives before graduating, then finished the other classes at my local community college. Granted I didn't get into Harvard Med School (I wouldn't have anyway), but none of the places I interviewed at seemed to care where I took my pre-reqs - nobody even asked me about it....

My email is [email protected] if you have any other questions.......

 

[vtucci]

Don't risk the CC Classes because not all medical schools will look kindly on them. The City College of San Franscisco apparently has a number of evening classes and I believe it is a 4 year college and may be cheaper than the alternatives mentioned.
Good luck

 

[MedChic]

You know, CC pre-reqs are actually not all bad. I know someone who graduated from a top school and took a few pre-reqs at a CC post-graduation. SHe did take half of them at an Ivy League as well though, so I guess it was a fair mix. She ended up getting into 9 schools and received about 12 interviews. Her MCAT was def. above 30 though. So if you can prove yourself on the MCAT it doesn't matter as much where you take them.

 

[sweetmelody]

I took my bio pre reqs at a CC due to the fact that i was in an accelerated program in high school. i went to UVA and i didnt take ANY bio in college (spanish major). during my app season however, i took a cell bio course offered at hopkins (where i work) and did very well in it. so i got to cover my a** a little when i went to interviews (applied to 24 schools, got 9 interviews, went to 7) and say i was makin up for my lack of extensive bio courses and the fact that i was takin it at JHU looked good too. i paid for the classes through tuition remission by my job, so if i were you i would look into employer offered tuition payment to pay for the cost of the classes. i have friends in med school who took pre reqs at CCs also so i think that one or two pre reqs taken at a CC isnt frowned upon too bad but i wouldnt advise doing all of them at a CC.

 

[MaryWrathers]

So if you can prove yourself on the MCAT it doesn't matter as much where you take them.

I heard someone else say this too. Good news for me!

 

[NonTradMed]

I've heard that alot of MD schools won't take CC pre-req credits, but it seems DO schools aren't as picky about that. Check the DO forum.

I also had a friend in Cali who said he called around and found out since one of his pre-reqs taken at a CC, he couldn't apply to a multitude of med schools around cali because they don't acknowledge it, not sure how true that is (he mentioned it in passing) so you may want to call and ask around before deciding to go CC again.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Eesh that is $$!! (still recovering from student loans) Would taking it at a CC look really bad or should I just not even risk it?

Check carefully for schools you want to apply to. Frankly, if your MCAT is good it should not be a problem. You are not missing many prereq's so it's not as though you can use these credits to 'proove' anything to anybody. I found out I was missing two prereq's after the MCAT (physics I and II) so I took them at a CC. They were taught by a Ph.D. and I felt he put togther a very thorough curriculum (comparing it to three other institutions I had studied at before this). Nobody cared and nobody gave me a hard time. I have many friends--both career changers and traditional students who were missing prereq's--who did some CC time. Nobody cared. You'll find that there are relatively few medical schools that have a problem with CC credits, and those schools usually say it's "not recommended". The only positive aspect about CC is that you'll save a ton of money. Only you can decide the importance of that. In the end, the choice is yours. Good luck!

 

[relentless11]

I've heard that alot of MD schools won't take CC pre-req credits, but it seems DO schools aren't as picky about that. Check the DO forum.

I also had a friend in Cali who said he called around and found out since one of his pre-reqs taken at a CC, he couldn't apply to a multitude of med schools around cali because they don't acknowledge it, not sure how true that is (he mentioned it in passing) so you may want to call and ask around before deciding to go CC again.

This is highly inaccurate. I'm at UC Davis, and have spoken with our director of admissions numerous on occassions and he has never brought up any concern about my CC pre-reqs. Our dean of admission, along with the deans from UCSF, and Stanford have also denied such rumors at the various AMSA sponsored pre-med conferences in CA, including those held at local community colleges. It would be pointless for these deans to talk about admission into med school during the AMSA pre-med conference held at American River College back in 2004 if the students were all going to transfer and have most if not all of their pre-reqs taken at that community college.

Since the UC's are pretty much uniform in what they require, and the fact that a lot of their students are transfer students, I would say that all 5 UC med schools have this policy. Therefore combined with Stanford, that would take care of 6 out of the 8 California MD schools. I wouldn't be surprised if USC didn't care either.

I have also spoken to Tulane over in New Orleans back in 2004, and they could care less. I do admitt there are schools that will refuse to take CC credit, BUT they are a minority. Considering MCAT, upper division coursework are also available to prove performance, it moot if CC pre-reqs can play a substantial role. The only concern is what was brought up by Law2Doc where one takes CC coursework to boost their GPA. But that is relatively obvious. If a person transfers, they would be spending their last 2-3 years at a university, and if their performance is the same or better than their time as a CC student, its clear that they can handle university coursework.

 

[NonTradMed]

This is highly inaccurate. I'm at UC Davis, and have spoken with our director of admissions numerous on occassions and he has never brought up any concern about my CC pre-reqs. Our dean of admission, along with the deans from UCSF, and Stanford have also denied such rumors at the various AMSA sponsored pre-med conferences in CA, including those held at local community colleges. It would be pointless for these deans to talk about admission into med school during the AMSA pre-med conference held at American River College back in 2004 if the students were all going to transfer and have most if not all of their pre-reqs taken at that community college.

Since the UC's are pretty much uniform in what they require, and the fact that a lot of their students are transfer students, I would say that all 5 UC med schools have this policy. Therefore combined with Stanford, that would take care of 6 out of the 8 California MD schools. I wouldn't be surprised if USC didn't care either.

I have also spoken to Tulane over in New Orleans back in 2004, and they could care less. I do admitt there are schools that will refuse to take CC credit, BUT they are a minority. Considering MCAT, upper division coursework are also available to prove performance, it moot if CC pre-reqs can play a substantial role. The only concern is what was brought up by Law2Doc where one takes CC coursework to boost their GPA. But that is relatively obvious. If a person transfers, they would be spending their last 2-3 years at a university, and if their performance is the same or better than their time as a CC student, its clear that they can handle university coursework.

Well, I can only repeat what my friend have said regarding cali schools, but I have heard from admissions people that they do not like to see CC credit (at least from me). Maybe they like you better than me. Personally, if the OP want to chance it with CC, that's fine, but I'd rather just go with the assurance of a four year university and avoid all this questioning if possible.