More Debt or AP and Online Classes

[Endoxifen]

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So, I'm hoping for a bit of advice on a serious dilemma for me. Should I continue to use AP for chem and take non-prerequisite online classes in order to graduate early, to save a little bit of money for medical school, or should I go into a little bit of debt in undergraduate, but gain the time to take gen chem proper and avoid the online classes?

For a bit of context, I took AP chem in high school (junior year), took O Chem senior year, and went on into gen biochem freshman year. I got b's in O Chem but I have maintained a 3.97 GPA once I got into real college (trial by fire from O Chem).

The online classes are because I am doing my thesis off campus and I'm trying to keep up with graduation requirements in order to keep on track for graduating early.

What does everyone think? Is the debt worth avoiding the possible black marks or not? Would explaining this help mitigate any damage done? Thanks!

 

[Lardy Boy]

If I'm reading this right, you took ochem in high school? If so, You might want to check if the schools you want to apply to accept ochem from high school. You might lack some major pre req for many med schools if your ochem is waived off in your current undergrad. Same with gchem, some schools may not accept ap Chem credits.


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[Endoxifen]

If I'm reading this right, you took ochem in high school? If so, You might want to check if the schools you want to apply to accept ochem from high school. You might lack some major pre req for many med schools if your ochem is waived off in your current undergrad. Same with gchem, some schools may not accept ap Chem credits.


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I should have clarified. I took the O Chem at a university in my city.

The AP credits not being accepted is part of the reason that I'm considering taking it "again". I put together a school list that's roughly appropriate for my stats, that all accepted the AP credits, but I am concerned about the impression it may leave.

 

[Endoxifen]

Beyond the technical issue of whether or not AP and online credits will be accepted, a significant number of these may affect your competitiveness. It really depends on how they are arranged, how many you have, and what other coursework you have. Some med schools speak directly to recommending applicants take as rigorous courses as possible (see link below which has links to multiple schools on this). Remember you are in a competition akin to an Olympic class event where sometimes fractions of second can decide the winners from the loser.

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...science-classes-easier.1232381/#post-18384640

Those are exactly my concerns. Still, considering that debt is incredibly dangerous, are these risks worth it? This is unlikely, but might adcoms see my actions as a sign of pragmatism and maturity?

 

[Endoxifen]

it depends on your overall application but the first hurdle is always academic metrics. I cant give you anymore direction with more details

I haven't take the MCAT yet, but I'm scoring around 520 (I know this doesn't mean a whole lot). I have killer research (3 first author projects (clinical), 1 third author (lab), one project for state palliative care council, two poster presentations, one presentation to a department, upcoming presentations to tumor board, and I will be applying to present at a few national conferences in the coming year.) I have decent volunteering (~250 clinical, ~130 non-clinical by time of application). I have ~50 hours of shadowing. I will also be TAing in the fall.

With this for context, do you think it is a reasonable risk?

 

[Endoxifen]

what are your academic trends and actual "heavy" coursework you have taken

I've been taking honors and 400 level classes since freshman year. The list goes biochem 1 and 2, immunology, honors mammalian physiology, research colloquium, protein and molecular cloning lab, honors introduction to microbiology, honors ordinal differential equations, and honors principles of nutrition. I will be taking a 400 level medical ethics class in the fall and maybe a few other 400 level science classes. This list doesn't include any of the calculus classes or calculus based physics courses which are also quite challenging. It also doesn't include any of the lower level, nonhonors classes I have taken. I should mention that I was asked to TA the mammalian physiology class.

Edit: I forgot to add that I have maintained a 3.97 GPA in college. I'm set to graduate summa cum laude.

 

[Endoxifen]

With your heavy academic classwork, I do not think you will have a problem with AP and such being looked at as taken for ease but rather as part of your academic trend.

Can you clarify what you mean by academic trend? I didn't retake the AP classes because I felt it was counter productive to retake the class when I was ready to take gen biochem. Is that how it will be perceived?

 

[Endoxifen]

You have enough heavy duty classes to prove your academic ability. Its not like you just did AP classes for prereqs and then went to be a English major

Thank you very much!

I don't want to keep bothering you , but what about the online classes? Do you think that they will be a liability or is the risk worth it?

 

[Endoxifen]

Dont worry, I will bill you per question

I am a little confused , I understand the idea of online nonprereqs to save $$$ and get out early
but you only took Gen Chem in HS/AP?
and then you took Ochem in HA/AP but repeated it in school?

Depending on the medical school, you may not have fulfilled the Gen Chem AP "additional" requirement


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...al-school-applications.1198163/#post-17717701

I'm sorry if I wasn't very clear. I took AP chem during junior year of high school. From there, I dual-enrolled with a local university (not community college) and I took O Chem during my senior year. When I went to college, I registered my AP credits and transferred credits from the university. I took the full progression of Ochem and it's accompanying labs. I also took some ungraded workshop classes and a biomedical physics course at the university.

 

[Endoxifen]

So you have
AP Gen Chem
Ochem from Uni while in HA
Ochem from Uni while in College
you have no additional chem (except Biochem)

You may need to pick up advanced credits in chem to "make up" for missing Gen Chem (see my post with "AP Rules" link to previous post

Ok, that makes sense... I could easily take P Chem or the inorganic chem... you don't think I should just retake it?

Also, I only have Ochem from college. It's just a different college than the one I am currently attending.