Non-traditional students preparedness

[Psittacidae]

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Hi everyone! Just a little background: I'm a non traditional student. At 27, I have no college experience of any kind. In high school, I was always an AP student, but after graduation I found myself going the way of family pressures ( working in the family business) rather than pursuing my dream of becoming an avian veterinarian. This year, I finally said enough is enough and enrolled in my local community college.Yay me! 😀 As I'm still working full time in the family business, I started with 12 credits of easier non-science based courses, ( West Civ, Psych, Algebra etc. ) because I didn't want to overload myself. So far, everything has been great but as I approach my second semester I know I really have to start some science classes. Here are my questions:

1.) For non traditional students ( lets say 10 years or so out of school ), was it more challenging than you expected to mentally get back into a Biology or Chemistry course? Do you recommend taking a remedial/refresher course to brush up? Or is there any literature you could recommend reading before classes begin?

2.) If I do end up taking a remedial/introduction course to Bio or Chem will this affect my chances of being accepting to veterinary school? I realize how important the "courseload" and "level of difficulty" of classes can be on an application. Do you think this would make a difference, or would explaining my gap in education justify the classes?

Thank you everyone in advance;advice of any kind from non traditional students is GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[hairlessratlvr]

First of all, congrats on following your passion despite family pressures!

I am a non-traditional student and took a refresher chem course. I found it helpful, but chem was never one of my strongest classes in high school. I really don't think taking a refresher course will affect admissions (you will still have to take the regular chem like other applicants). Final advice: if you feel like it would help you transition back into school, take it. There is an explanation portion on you vet school app if you have any insecurities about taking a lighter course load or classes you feel more comfortable with in the very beginning. I took a similar approach and was accepted into my number one school so try not to stress. Good luck!

 

[StartingoverVet]

I took a class "Introduction to college chemistry". In this case it was a non-credit class but it still showed up on my transcript with a grade, just no credits.

It was definitely worthwhile. It had been decades since I took a science class, and it was an easy way to ease back into the terminology. It definitely helped me be more comfortable in subsequent classes (especially chemistry).

I wouldn't worry too much about the "level of difficulty". You have plenty of time to take more rigorous classes. One or two prep classes won't make that much a of difference. And better to make sure you don't screw up in the important classes to come.

Enjoy the ride!

 

[OH Bunny Girl]

I had never taken a Chemistry class until I started college, so I worked my way up from the very beginner basics to a minor in it! A refresher course can only help you. You don't want to get in over your head in a tougher course if you don't think you're prepared.

 

[Megascops Asio]

Congrats on heading back to school! And to simply echo everyone else so far, if you think it would be better for you to take a refresher course, do it! You wouldn't want to dive in head first and not do as well as you'd like. Good luck!

 

[Psittacidae]

Thank you so much for the replies everyone 🙂 I was really hoping it wouldn't affect my application if I enrolled in the refresher courses. I'd rather take them (even if I receive no credit) to give myself a leg up in my sciences. I just didn't know if seeing " remedial" courses on my transcripts would impact me negatively. When I schedule my fall classes, I'll be taking intro to Chem and Bio. Thanks again!

 

[Emiloo4]

Thank you so much for the replies everyone 🙂 I was really hoping it wouldn't affect my application if I enrolled in the refresher courses. I'd rather take them (even if I receive no credit) to give myself a leg up in my sciences. I just didn't know if seeing " remedial" courses on my transcripts would impact me negatively. When I schedule my fall classes, I'll be taking intro to Chem and Bio. Thanks again!

I took a "baby bio" course by accident my freshman year lol. Turned out fine for me! 😀 Best of luck to you and congrats on following your dream!

 

[Packen]

I don't think it will be an issue at all. Like SOV said, better to get your feet wet with a refresher - intro course and figure out what how you want to tackle those courses than on the real ones where the grades are more important for your apps. I can't study the same way for sciences and non-sciences, so this might be a way for you to develop a good science study method before trying it out on the real one.

 

[Psorophoraferox]

I definitely don't think taking an intro class in biology or chemistry would be a negative. I think it would be the opposite, actually -- it would show that you truly wanted to understand the material, and were willing to take the time to do so.

I took about a 6 year break between my first two years of college (right out of high school) and when I went back fiveish years ago. I am a much, much better student now. While I know part of that has to do with being much healthier (finally recovering from an illness in my late teens/early 20s that went undiagnosed for a very long time), I found that I am more motivated mentally/personally. I have an actual goal for why I am in school, instead of just being in college because it's what people do after high school.

I took an intro to general chem class when I went back. But for me, I ended up regretting taking it, because at my school it was essentially the same class as the regular general chem I, only with somewhat less math. I had the same instructor and used the same book, and even did the same experiments in lab! It was nice to breeze through the second version (the one that "counted"), but I felt like I wasted a semester. Your school may be different!

 

[CanHardlyWait]

Thank you so much for the replies everyone 🙂 I was really hoping it wouldn't affect my application if I enrolled in the refresher courses. I'd rather take them (even if I receive no credit) to give myself a leg up in my sciences. I just didn't know if seeing " remedial" courses on my transcripts would impact me negatively. When I schedule my fall classes, I'll be taking intro to Chem and Bio. Thanks again!

Congrats on taking this big step!
6 years ago I was nearly exactly where you are now, except I hadn't even graduated high school. I have my GED, long story but a valid reason. I was 26 when I started at a community college. I then transferred to a university, graduated with honors and got in to vet school on my first application cycle. At community college I had to take remedial math for 2 semesters. I never took any remedial sciences, and did well in regular classes, but science was always a strong point of mine (and math a super weak point). My remedial math classes were never brought up in the admissions process for vet school, I think because it was pretty self explanatory with my background and because my grades were really good. I think you should do whatever you need to to get the best GPA that you can and let that speak for itself. Congrats again! You're going to be awesome!👍

 

[Cypress]

I would say do what you have to do to get the BEST grades you possibly can. I am a non trad with a lower GPA - I was a solid B student during my undergrad studies and I really had to work to make up for that. So whatever you have to do to be successful in the classes you are going to take (meaning get A's) - DO IT!

And congrats on taking the leap! As a non trad on the other end (was just accepted on my third cycle) - its a long road but it is worth every step and struggle. Even just getting accpeted has felt huge for me and I am so proud of all the work I have put into the process.

Go kick some ass!! Hope to see you posting your accpetance in a few years!!