No science department...

[Android22]

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I currently go to a design school in California that does not have a science department. Last year I discovered the profession of medical illustration that thoroughly excited me, and thus fueled my interest in going the premed route. I recently tried to transfer my undergraduate education to Rochester Institute of Technology, who offers a BFA in medical illustration. I just found out that this would be impossible due to RIT's price-tag and lack of transfer aid.

My current plan is to continue pursuing a degree in graphic design at my university while taking my prereq's at a local community college.

My question is how badly will not having a premed advisor at my current institution going to hurt me? And is there another option for committee letters and what-not?

Also how do I go about creating a timeline for myself in the next two years? Should I wait a year before applying or can I apply before all my prereq's are completed?

Your response is greatly appreciated!

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I currently go to a design school in California that does not have a science department. Last year I discovered the profession of medical illustration that thoroughly excited me, and thus fueled my interest in going the premed route. I recently tried to transfer my undergraduate education to Rochester Institute of Technology, who offers a BFA in medical illustration. I just found out that this would be impossible due to RIT's price-tag and lack of transfer aid.

My current plan is to continue pursuing a degree in graphic design at my university while taking my prereq's at a local community college.

My question is how badly will not having a premed advisor at my current institution going to hurt me? And is there another option for committee letters and what-not?

Also how do I go about creating a timeline for myself in the next two years? Should I wait a year before applying or can I apply before all my prereq's are completed?

Your response is greatly appreciated!

I would complete the degree and do an informal post bacc. You can get LORs there. Keep the GPA up, 3.5+ and apply broadly after the post bacc.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I currently go to a design school in California that does not have a science department. Last year I discovered the profession of medical illustration that thoroughly excited me, and thus fueled my interest in going the premed route. I recently tried to transfer my undergraduate education to Rochester Institute of Technology, who offers a BFA in medical illustration. I just found out that this would be impossible due to RIT's price-tag and lack of transfer aid.

My current plan is to continue pursuing a degree in graphic design at my university while taking my prereq's at a local community college.

My question is how badly will not having a premed advisor at my current institution going to hurt me? And is there another option for committee letters and what-not?

Also how do I go about creating a timeline for myself in the next two years? Should I wait a year before applying or can I apply before all my prereq's are completed?

Your response is greatly appreciated!

This isn't a bad idea, some say pre-reqs at a CC are looked down upon. If you smoke them, I doubt it will matter. Also at the CC you should be able to find an advisor at the CC that can help you along and possibly even write you the letter (you don't have to be getting a degree from them to get a letter). However most schools will allow 1 or 2 science faculty letters in the advisors place.

Applying to medical school before taking ANY of your pre-reqs will probably be frowned upon. Most schools like the MAJORITY of pre-reqs done by the time you apply, but you don't have to have them all done.

Like futureCTdoc said, one option is to finish up your degree then to an informal post-bac of pre-reqs OR if you feel you can handle the course load (or maybe even during the summers) you can try to fit them in and apply a year earlier. Do whichever works for you, if fitting them in is going to drop your GPA, wait.

 

[TexasPhysician]

You need an MCAT score to apply. You need your pre-reqs to take the MCAT.

 

[Daedra22]

The pre-med committee letter isn't always necessary. I got interviews at 3 out of 4 DO schools that I applied to without a committee letter. So, as far as LOR's go, I don't think it would hurt you doing your classes at a CC. Whether or not you do the prereqs at a CC or in a postbacc is a more personal decision, dependent on your course load and priorities (ie, is time of the essence, or are you comfortable taking an extra year or two for the postbacc?). Either way, you have options.

 

[Android22]

I'm thinking if I start this summer, and took two CC classes per semester, I could be completed with the prereq's by next summer and potentially be able to start the application process. I don't want to rush anything prematurely though.

An informal post bacc is a great option, but I'm a bit worried about the price. I read a lot of people were successful coming out of a CC, and I really enjoy the professors at the Pasadena City College.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I'm thinking if I start this summer, and took two CC classes per semester, I could be completed with the prereq's by next summer and potentially be able to start the application process. I don't want to rush anything prematurely though.

An informal post bacc is a great option, but I'm a bit worried about the price. I read a lot of people were successful coming out of a CC, and I really enjoy the professors at the Pasadena City College.

An "informal" post bac is one you put together yourself. So after you have obtained your degree, doing your pre-reqs after at your CC would be considered an "informal" post bac.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Private schools charge between 500 and 1000 a credit hour and publics will likely be between 200 and 400 a credit hour. There a 6 hours of english, math through calculus (4 credits), general chemistry (8 credits), organic (8 credits), physics (8 credits) and biology (8 credits). All sciences must have labs. This will take 42 credits and cost between $21,000 to 42,000 at most private universities or $8,400 and $16,800 at most public universities. This will likely take place over one or more years.

As a post bacc:
Sample Schedule Year I

Summer I
English I
Bio I
Gen Chem I

Fall I
English II
Bio II
Gen Chem II

Winter I
Calculus
Organic I
Physics I (If algebra based)

Spring I
Organic II
Physics II (If algebra based, I if not)

Summer II
Physics II (If calculus based)

While in college depending on which year it can be done each summer in time to graduate and enter medical school after your senior year.

 

[Android22]

I already have English, and a semester of Biology under my belt. I just don't know if I can afford to add another $20,000 to my debt load. I would really prefer to take my prereq's at a CC because of the cost.

Perhaps I can take some upper-level science classes at a 4 year institute?

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I already have English, and a semester of Biology under my belt. I just don't know if I can afford to add another $20,000 to my debt load. I would really prefer to take my prereq's at a CC because of the cost.

Perhaps I can take some upper-level science classes at a 4 year institute?

You're more than likely fine at a CC. If there are certain schools you are looking at, I would contact them just to make sure.

 

[Corpsman Up]

I currently go to a design school in California that does not have a science department. Last year I discovered the profession of medical illustration that thoroughly excited me, and thus fueled my interest in going the premed route. I recently tried to transfer my undergraduate education to Rochester Institute of Technology, who offers a BFA in medical illustration. I just found out that this would be impossible due to RIT's price-tag and lack of transfer aid.

My current plan is to continue pursuing a degree in graphic design at my university while taking my prereq's at a local community college.

My question is how badly will not having a premed advisor at my current institution going to hurt me? And is there another option for committee letters and what-not?

Also how do I go about creating a timeline for myself in the next two years? Should I wait a year before applying or can I apply before all my prereq's are completed?

Your response is greatly appreciated!

RIT is very expensive, but I believe they also have one of the last physician assistant programs that offers a bachelors? Something to consider...

 

[Android22]

If I went to RIT my heart would be set on the medical illustration program. It's phenomenal; you get to take a gross anatomy and surgical illustration classes.

I'm appealing the financial aid package they offered me ... I hope it works out.

 

[Melicopter]

I think that's a great idea. In addition, I'm not going to say that money is no object, but as a non-traditional who supported myself and got no help from family I think my biggest mistake was putting off my education because I was afraid of the cost. You only live once - you've got to do what you want with your life. Live within your means and you can pay back the loans. Work while in school if you can.

That said, I did a lot of prereqs at a community college and I have several acceptances. I also did some at a 4-yr, so that might help - that way they can see that yes, I got A's in chemistry at a cc, but I also got A's in o-chem at a university. Perhaps a very competitive school would frown on it, I don't know. In addition, if you get A's at a cc but C's at a university, that would strike me as a serious red flag so keep your grades up everywhere!

Good luck!

 

[Android22]

So i just found out RIT is definitely not an option.
My current institution does offer physics, so if I take those classes and nail them hopefully it will look good.
My school also offers botany, If I took that course would it count as another semester of biology?

 

[Melicopter]

That's too bad.

Botany could count toward your science GPA, but it almost certainly won't count as the general biology requirement for med schools.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

That's too bad.

Botany could count toward your science GPA, but it almost certainly won't count as the general biology requirement for med schools.

Botany counts toward your Bio:

Bio/Zoology
Animal Science
Anatomy
Bacteriology
Biology
Botany
Cellular & Molecular Biology
Cellular Physiology
Ecology
Evolution
Genetics
Hematology
Histology
Immunology
Microbiology
Micro-Organisms
Natural Science
Neurology
Oceanography
Parasitology
Pathology
Physiology
Virology
Zoology

 

[Melicopter]

Yes, it counts toward bio in sGPA calculations.

Considering the OP is not a science major and may not have already taken general biology, I do not know if the question was whether it counts for GPA or for the year of required biology. In fact, I still don't know.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I believe each school is different. Some schools I've looked into take botany as 4 of the bio credits but not all 8, some don't take the botany class at all and yet some don't care what your bio classes are as long as you have the required credits.

OP: if you have no other choice then to take botany, I would contact some schools you were interested in make sure its fine.