Newbie here needs help! Thank you so much!!

[MaryWrathers]

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🙂 Hi, these Q's are for people who have already done it, going to do it, or already doing it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

What was your undergrad major?

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

 

[titoincali]

🙂 Hi, these Q's are for people who have already done it, going to do it, or already doing it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs?
I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

It took me 2 years (4 sem). Actually I still have one more term, but that's because I decided to wait to take the Orgo lab and Calculus until after the MCAT and while applying to med school.

What was your undergrad major?

Psychology

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

I was a mental health counselor (paid for 1.5 years), patient advocate and medical interpreter at free clinic (2 years and still volunteering- unpaid), work now in clinical research (4 years and still working), have also done medical interpreting in ER (8 months), and 2 clinical psych summer internships while in undergrad.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

1 bio prof, 1 chem prof, 1 physics prof- all from post-bacc university.
2 from doctors/supervisors at work (both professors at medical school), and 1 committee letter from undergrad which includes input from undergrad work supervisor, bio prof, and psych advisor. I figure I can pick and choose when it comes time to send out letters.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

Organic chemistry classes. It was just very different from anything I had ever taken before. I found myself having to study a lot more than in any other science class.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

Most had between 30-70 students. Labs usually had about 15-20 students.

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Worked full time (40 hours a week). Took 2-3 science classes with lab each term. During some terms also completed English requirement and took some upper-level sociology/anthropology classes that sounded interesting to me.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

My work paid for my classes. One of the perks of the university I work for!

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

I applied as a second bacc/post-bacc.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

I have EMT certification but I only use it in my volunteer work. I was trained as a phlebotomist at work in order to draw blood from participants.

I hope this helps!

 

[cfdavid]

🙂 Hi, these Q's are for people who have already done it, going to do it, or already doing it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

I took them 10 years ago in undergrad.

What was your undergrad major?

physiology at first, then finance for the degree.

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

**I would do some hospice or any good hospital volunteer activity. You can call any local hospital and ask for their volunteer services people. They'll be very happy to work with you. ***Strategically, it seems that it's more important to get some longetivity in. What I mean is that you will be very busy. It may not be feasable for you to allocate x-amount of hours per week (depending on your situation). SO, just get signed up early (soon). That way, you can show consistancy and some good history with a particular activity. I think lenth of time involved is more important that # of hours/week.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

2 Professors, a community (non-medical) volunteer director, and someone at the hospital (not sure who yet. hopefully a doc)

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

It seems that these could only be good, but it depends on what you have going on in your life. Good luck, you'll do just fine. Just work hard, but try maintaining balance.

ss

 

[smsansoucie]

I'm: going to do it

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs?

One year down, one to go.

What was your undergrad major?

Biology

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

I will be volunteering at a local hospital starting in two weeks and plan to volunteer throughout the next year. I have several years of clinical experience previously from CNA work and work in vocational rehabilitation.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

Professors and hopefully another MD

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

So far they have all been pretty simple; however, I am starting Organic this Fall and I have heard it's tough.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

15-30

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Yes, I have been working in a lab on campus for about 15-20 hrs per week.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

No. I did get Pell/MAP grants through my AA, but I have not been eligible for the past 2 years. I am funding my education fully through scholarships and loans.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

Yes. I have a B.A. in Human Services and am seeking to attain a B.S. in Biology.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

I was certified as a CNA, but I let the certification lapse several years ago. I really regret this and am considering recertification.

Stephanie

 

[ShyRem]

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.
Two years.

What was your undergrad major?
Math and chemistry

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?
I had over 15 years of clinical volunteer experience - 5 as a firefighter/EMT and 12 as a paramedic.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.
One from chemistry prof, one from "pre-med" advisor, one from trauma/EMS coordinator where I volunteered for 12 years.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?
Second semester OChem. I got mono that semester.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?
Varied from 15-35.

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?
I did not. However, I was taking 21 credits a semester and I have two children at home.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?
I got ONE state grant my first year. The rest of my time was funded by Stafford loans and my husband working massive amounts of overtime to pay the bills.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?
No. I had gone to college 18 years ago (and did horribly - withdrew after two years), so when I went back this time I did the double major in three years.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?
As stated earlier, I am a paramedic. Along with that comes ACLS, PALS, AMLS, BTLS, 12-lead EKG, etc... a veritable alphabet soup of certifications all gathered before I went back to school.


On another note, can I ask why you're gathering this information?

 

[blee]

🙂 Hi, these Q's are for people who have already done it, going to do it, or already doing it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

One year (12 months, June through May) to complete the pre-reqs and take the (April) MCAT.

What was your undergrad major?

Computer science

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

Shadowed a physician at my postbac university's hospital, 5-6 hours per week for the spring semester

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

Pre-med committee for the composite letter, then from one additional prof and the doctor who I shadowed and for whom I currently work

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

Orgo, due to the sheer volume of detailed information; this was also my favorite pre-req class by a good margin

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

Somewhere around 150, all but a handful were regular undergrads

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

No

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

No grants, just loans

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

No; my school has a formal but unstructured postbac pre-med program

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

Nope.

 

[chan]

🙂 Hi, these Q's are for people who have already done it, going to do it, or already doing it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

What was your undergrad major?

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.
I am thinking 2 years as well

Still taking them, will be starting Gen Chem II and Physics II in the fall.

What was your undergrad major?

Psychology, Minor: Child and Adolescent Development

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

Hospital Volunteer-1 year: Medical Pulmonary 3 mos., ER 3 mos., Labor and Delivery 3 mos., Main OR 3 mos., Leadership Team 3 mos.

Shadowing 2 mos.

Volunteer School Counselor 1 year

Also worked at UC Irvine for a while doing clinical research on Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.


Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

An MD and DO I shadowed. 2 Bio Professors, Boss, Hospital I worked at.


What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

So far Anatomy has been the toughest, just because of the amount of information you have to learn.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

30 in lab and lecture

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

yes 50+ hours a week.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?
nope.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?
nope.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?
Phlebotomy certified, cpr, first aid... have never used any of them.

 

[Frogmed]

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs?
4 years...it was my first time to attend college

What was your undergrad major?
zoology with a minor in microbiology

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?
Hospice for three years. I also volunteered at my daughter's school for five years.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.
One from pre-med advisor (science professor)
One from science professor
One from french professor
One from D.O.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?
Toss up between cell biology and animal physiology. Both classes presented a tremendous amount of new material. Cell bio required memorization and moderate understanding. Animal phys - memorization of tiny details lost in the book and side boxes, alot of application, alot of formulas.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?
200 to 350

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?
I worked the first two years 20 hours a week. My gpa was dropping. I finally decided I would have to give up everything to make this dream happen...and I did.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs? I rec'd pell grant and grants from my state every year.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs? No, as I mentioned earlier, this was my first college experience.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs? No

 

[Emergency!]

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs?
One and a half. I could have done it in one, but physics wasn't offered the first quarter I started and I had to go into a second acdemic calendar year to take it.

What was your undergrad major?
Spanish

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?
I volunteered as an EMT for six years for my town.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.
One from my Gen Chem prof, one from my Bio prof, one from my Organic lecture prof, one from my Organic lab prof, and one from my EMT-B instructor who was also a co-worker and supervisor to me on the squad. I only actually sent all five letters to one school, but having five allowed me to pick and choose. They were all confidential letters, so if I was limited on number to send, I chose the ones that met the requirements (i.e. three academic letters).

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?
Probably organic chem, due to the sheer volume of the material and the fact that I took the entire year w/labs in a ten week summer session.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?
Ranged from 12 to over 200

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?
20 - 30 hours.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?
No. Not eligible as a non-degree student.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?
No. I enrolled as a continuing ed student. If I had to do it over again, I might enroll as a degree seeking student because you are limited to 12 consecutive months of financial aid as a con. ed. student.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?
No. I had my EMT-I cert prior to starting the pre-reqs.

 

[DD214_DOC]

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs?
I spread them out my entire undergrad, so about 4 years.

What was your undergrad major?
Experimental Psychology. I would recommend you stay away from Biology and Psych. Go for chem or physics.

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?
I volunteered in the ED at a Level III metropolitan trauma unit.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.
1 from english prof, 1 from a DO, 1 from my premed advisor (DO requirement), 1 from the woman I TA'ed for (for the hell of it), and trying to get 1 from gen chem and 1 from physics.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?
Organic. The material wasn't as intellectually demanding as physics or chemistry, where I have like a 3.70 average, but I wasn't mature enough to handle the amount of studying required. I also had a brand new professor who ended up being fired after our class because of his pass/fail record.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?
Over 100 in every class except gen chem II, which I took in the summer. It was probably around 60.

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?
Off and on doing at-home computer webmaster stuff.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?
Nope.

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?
I'm currently enrolled as a second degree student, B.S. in Physics, to take more sciences and retake Organic I. I might finish the degree if I'm never admitted to med school


Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?
I'm currently doing a phlebotomy course while taking more sciences.

 

[thirdunity]

How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

They're getting spread out over the course of my schooling, so I'm figuring it'll be about three years. They also double as requirements for my major.

What was your undergrad major?

Biology. Because I love biology, and it's the only thing I won't get bored with over three years.

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

Haven't done my volunteering yet.

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

Haven't gotten them yet. I am all new to this.

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

All of my liberal arts GE classes.
I'm not being facetious. I really struggled through all of my "soft" classes. I actually do much better in structured classes (math, science, language) where it is very clear what is expected.

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

I expect less than fifty for the first year, because I'm transferring from a CC. I haven't taken the science pre-reqs yet, am still working on the mathematics pre-reqs for the science!

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Yes, I will be working while in undergrad; probably twenty to thirty hours a week.

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

Yes, I get the Pell and the BOGG (Board of Governors Grant; fee waiver for low-income California residents).

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

Working on first degree. I may end up having to complete a second degree or a Master's because my transcript is so abysmal. I had undiagnosed ADHD my entire 13-year college career. Which means = no matter how hard I work *from here on in*, I'll never have a competitive GPA. I'm hoping there is some way I'll be able to have a second chance.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

I start phlebotomy school tomorrow! And I'll have my EMT-B by the end of the year.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I can only take one class at a time, so it's taking me from Spring 2005-Spring 2007 to complete my pre-reqs. I'll be applying summer 2006.

My undergrad major was History.

I volunteered at two clinics as an undergrad (1 year) and now volunteer at a hospital (will be 1.5 years when i apply). I did a month of shadowing as an undergrad.

My LORs will come from my orgo 2 prof, physics prof (both from recently, not when i was undergrad), 2 history profs (undergrad), and a grad school prof I TAed for. I may have a DO writing me one as well, but not sure.

My hardest pre-req so far has been Biology. I'm definatrly an organic chem person. I found the memorization in Bio difficult. I'm not looking foward to physics this Fall either.

I take my science pre-reqs in the evening and have maybe a dozen or so classmates.

I am working full time as a stay-at-home mom while taking my classes and I'm also pregant. I honest to god work 24 hour days.

I can't get any funding because I am only taking one class per semester. I'm going broke!

I did not apply for a second bachelors degree. I'm only taking what I have to, given my going broke and working 24 hours situation.

I did not and will not obtain any certification. I don't have the time so if med school reject me for this reason, they can rot in hell. 😛

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Ill answer between your questions 🙂


How many calendar years did it take you to complete the 4 science pre-reqs? I'm thinking it will take two years including science electives and taking the MCAT.

It will take me to summer 2006 to finish all of them and plan to write MCAT either Aug 2006 or April 2006

What was your undergrad major?

Bachelor of science in Nursing

Where did you clinically volunteer? For how long at each place?

I did volunteering quite awhile ago, but i work in the field currently

Where are you getting your LORs from? Professor, hospital employee, etc.

People I work with on a daily basis

What science pre-req class was the hardest for you and why?

Chem and i expect O chem (im not good at it 😛)

About how many classmates did you have in your science pre-req courses?

None did them 100% online exept O chem

Did you work while taking pre-reqs? How many hours per week?

Yes 40-50 hours a week is typical

Did you get the Pell grant or any other state/fed. grants while taking pre-reqs?

Im a Canadian working in the US currently in process for green card status so im not eligible

Did you apply as a second-degree B.S. seeking student to satisfy the pre-reqs?

I simply stated i was pre med for online credits.

Did you obtain medical assisting, EMT, phlebotomy, or any other experience/certifications in conjunction with taking your pre-reqs?

I was a paramedic, then a Nurse (ER/ICU/Trauma) now a flight Nurse