Money issues + need advice

[Prestone]

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I am basically at a loss about my decision to get my pre-reqs full time. I am currently furloughed from my job and I have been accepted to a 4 year university next semester to start my pre-reqs. I am 23 years old, just graduated a year ago from my previous 4 year university and without a current job would it be worth taking small loans out to cover my pre-req classes so I could attend full-time and apply sooner?? I am very nervous about this situation and I know god puts brick walls in our way to see how badly we really want something but I am at a loss as to my venture here. Thanks for any advice!

 

[sindadel]

Can you give a little more background? Do you have a family, credit card debt, a mortgage? Do you have any options to live like a student for the next year - i.e., move in with relatives for low/no rent. Have you taken any of your pre-reqs yet? What is the cost of the university you have been accepted to?

If you have to take all the pre-reqs, I would lean towards working part-time, taking say 2 classes a semester and 1 in the summer, and taking the MCAT only when you are really ready (scoring consistently above your goal). You don't mention what your undergraduate GPA is either, so I don't know if that will need amelioration.

You also don't say whether you have EC's and clinical volunteering lined up. For all the things medical school wants to see, I think that taking 2-3 years to jump through their hoops is more likely to give you a solid application that will yield results in your first cycle.

 

[teacherman84]

your post inspired me to write a new thread about the wonderful job I took on that enabled me to work and go to school full-time...its an exhausting schedule but it pays the bills and gives me plenty of free time...and thats being married...if i were single i could easily work another day/evening job in addition to the classes and night work...

 

[ILikeFood]

I am basically at a loss about my decision to get my pre-reqs full time. I am currently furloughed from my job and I have been accepted to a 4 year university next semester to start my pre-reqs. I am 23 years old, just graduated a year ago from my previous 4 year university and without a current job would it be worth taking small loans out to cover my pre-req classes so I could attend full-time and apply sooner?? I am very nervous about this situation and I know god puts brick walls in our way to see how badly we really want something but I am at a loss as to my venture here. Thanks for any advice!

I was in your exact situation two years ago and chose to take out loans instead.

 

[nsx]

I am basically at a loss about my decision to get my pre-reqs full time. I am currently furloughed from my job and I have been accepted to a 4 year university next semester to start my pre-reqs. I am 23 years old, just graduated a year ago from my previous 4 year university and without a current job would it be worth taking small loans out to cover my pre-req classes so I could attend full-time and apply sooner?? I am very nervous about this situation and I know god puts brick walls in our way to see how badly we really want something but I am at a loss as to my venture here. Thanks for any advice!

Have you spoken with financial aid? If you have good grades, sometimes you can get a nice mix of grants/scholarships to reduce the amount you're borrowing.

There are a lot of factors at play here, including how marketable your undergrad degree is, if you have any dependents, how competitive your application is (you will need time for volunteering, research, etc). Only YOU know how much you can/want to take on. Going to school after a long shift can be exhausting, and it might be pound-foolish to continue working if you're able to get stellar grades by cutting back a little. On the other hand, there are plenty of success stories of full-time work/school acceptances. The decision is yours, just remember that a subpar GPA will screen you out. I bet you can find some grants if you search around. Good luck 🙂

 

[dec0y]

I'm currently in the same situation as you are. I elected to take out loans.

 

[Prestone]

Sorry for not posting earlier but to answer the previous thread at the top, my current G.P.A from Oklahoma State University is a 3.97 with a BS in Aviation Sciences. I have the opportunity to attend UNC in Northern Colorado where a course load of 16 hours with in-state tuition and the undergrad Colorado tuition grant brings tuition + fees to around $2400 a semester. I have a house to stay in for at least the first 2 semesters for free (parents moved out of state and we still have the house). I have little E.C's in regards to medical volunteering or research but I do have many honors and leadership positions in organizations. I was an airline pilot for the past year so I guess what some people were saying it makes an interesting story. I feel very fortunate with getting out of flight training and my first 4 year degree with only around $11,000 currently in student loans (I would try to continue paying these loans until medical school instead of deferring to save the accrued interest). So thats my financial situation.

When it comes to completing my pre-reqs I would have all of them to complete except my English. I took AP Physics (calculus bases), AP Statistics, and AP Calculus during high school so I would just have to redo those courses as I have heard medical schools do not accept them. I am not boasting but I can say I have good study habits and I would hopefully see myself applying in 2 years as I fear gaining enough EC's would be my only pitfall. Thanks for the posts!!

 

[bipolardoc]

Sorry for not posting earlier but to answer the previous thread at the top, my current G.P.A from Oklahoma State University is a 3.97 with a BS in Aviation Sciences. I have the opportunity to attend UNC in Northern Colorado where a course load of 16 hours with in-state tuition and the undergrad Colorado tuition grant brings tuition + fees to around $2400 a semester. I have a house to stay in for at least the first 2 semesters for free (parents moved out of state and we still have the house). I have little E.C's in regards to medical volunteering or research but I do have many honors and leadership positions in organizations. I was an airline pilot for the past year so I guess what some people were saying it makes an interesting story. I feel very fortunate with getting out of flight training and my first 4 year degree with only around $11,000 currently in student loans (I would try to continue paying these loans until medical school instead of deferring to save the accrued interest). So thats my financial situation.

When it comes to completing my pre-reqs I would have all of them to complete except my English. I took AP Physics (calculus bases), AP Statistics, and AP Calculus during high school so I would just have to redo those courses as I have heard medical schools do not accept them. I am not boasting but I can say I have good study habits and I would hopefully see myself applying in 2 years as I fear gaining enough EC's would be my only pitfall. Thanks for the posts!!

You're prob. in the best financial pre-med situations i heard of. Most people I know are 30-40K in loans at least pre-med.