Non-trads going half-time instead of full-time

[lsu hopeful]

Is it even acceptable for a non-trad to go half-time (2 classes a semester) for pre-med instead of full-time?

I have a BA in Business Administration, majoring in CIS, and I'm halfway through my MBA, but I'm completely changing to pre-med. I work a 40-hour/week job right now and I've just begun entertaining taking 2 classes a semester instead of going full-time.

I know with my history I need to prove that I can take a full load and get A's, but do they take exceptions for non-trads?

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[brittat]

I'm definitely no expert but I asked this question to my top 2 school choices when meeting with their admissions staff and was told to try and stay full-time no matter what (i'm on quarters, so 3 classes/qt for me).

They both advised me that taking full-time coursework + work + volunteer/shadowing will indicate to the adcoms a level of commitment and work ethic that is important in the application process for non-trads.

It's totally possible to do. It's not fun and you'll have no life outside of work and school but I'm on the homestretch, 18 months into juggling my FT job and FT school (evenings and weekends) and I'm not burnt out. One of the admissions folks said to me "if you want it bad enough, you'll do it" and it's true, I just do it and don't really think about the difficulty or sacrifice.

And as for exceptions, none are made for non-trads. Everything trad applications have, non-trads are expected to have as well.

Good Luck!

 

[lsu hopeful]

Thanks for the comments.

Mind me asking how much you work? I'm guessing since you say full-time you work 40 hours a week?

My main problem is I work 8-5 and all my classes are only offered during the day. =(

 

[wholeheartedly]

I'd wait for more responses before changing what you're doing. Some non-trads work full time and have families to care for and it isn't financially feasible to take a fulltime course load with their job.

 

[ejw5075]

I was part time my first two semesters of premed, working part time, and am currently applying. I have not had any issue with the fact that I was part time, though it was very expensive per credit.

 

[brittat]

Thanks for the comments.

Mind me asking how much you work? I'm guessing since you say full-time you work 40 hours a week?

My main problem is I work 8-5 and all my classes are only offered during the day. =(

Yep, 40 hours. I work 8-4:30p Mon-Fri in Public Relations and then go to school from 6p til 10p (Mon-Thur), Sat 9am-12p (Physics Lab) and volunteer Friday and Sunday evenings at a local hospital.

I don't have a spouse or kids so I'm sure my schedule isn't feasible if you do. It just takes a lot of pre-planning, I do all of my homework/studying on weekends.

I negotiated with my employer to go from a 9am start time to 8-4:30 so maybe you can ask about a 7am-3p schedule or something? I've looked into so many other jobs that pay far less but would either be in the medical field or less hours a week but financially I just can't beat my current arrangement so I put up with the crappy school schedule but if you don't have evening classes available in your area, changing jobs might be your only option?

 

[lsu hopeful]

I worked out a schedule where I can keep my job and take 2 classes a semester. Pre-med won't be finished as fast as I'd like, but I won't be living off the private loan teet, so I feel better about it. I just wish I could actually have a sit-down with my preferred medical school and discuss this with them to find out if they would rather see this or me going full-time to prove I can handle the load. I'd hate to have it backfire, when I was trying to do the right thing.

 

[HenriMatisse]

I don't think it's possible to take a full time pre-med schedule and work full time. I'm taking physics and chem right now on top of 50 hours of work a week and 10-20 volunteering/shadowing a month.

In other words, my life sucks right now. I have zero time for my fiance or friends. My dog doesn't even like me at this point. I'm not trying to boo hoo and whine, we're all going through the same stuff. It's not fun, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just saying can't imagine taking 4 hard sciences instead of 2 on top of everything else. That seems absolutely absurd to me.

My advice is to go part time. Start off taking 1 class a semester and add additional classes as you see fit.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I find this interesting because my top schools told me the exact opposite. They said it was fine to go part-time as long as I did very well in all my classes (Note: my top choices are mostly schools in Cal).

However, note, I work full-time (and travel close to 50% of the time) and part-time and have been taking one class at a time. I'm barely able to keep up with the class as it's hard to study planes.

I have updated my plan to target the Fall of 2013. I'm planning to go back to full-time student status from Fall of 2011 to Spring 2012 and finish the last of my classes and take the MCAT.

I'm definitely no expert but I asked this question to my top 2 school choices when meeting with their admissions staff and was told to try and stay full-time no matter what (i'm on quarters, so 3 classes/qt for me).

They both advised me that taking full-time coursework + work + volunteer/shadowing will indicate to the adcoms a level of commitment and work ethic that is important in the application process for non-trads.

It's totally possible to do. It's not fun and you'll have no life outside of work and school but I'm on the homestretch, 18 months into juggling my FT job and FT school (evenings and weekends) and I'm not burnt out. One of the admissions folks said to me "if you want it bad enough, you'll do it" and it's true, I just do it and don't really think about the difficulty or sacrifice.

And as for exceptions, none are made for non-trads. Everything trad applications have, non-trads are expected to have as well.

Good Luck!

 

[brittat]

I find this interesting because my top schools told me the exact opposite. They said it was fine to go part-time as long as I did very well in all my classes (Note: my top choices are mostly schools in Cal).

However, note, I work full-time (and travel close to 50% of the time) and part-time and have been taking one class at a time. I'm barely able to keep up with the class as it's hard to study planes.

I have updated my plan to target the Fall of 2013. I'm planning to go back to full-time student status from Fall of 2011 to Spring 2012 and finish the last of my classes and take the MCAT.

Yea that's why I said I'm definitely no expert. When deciding on how to go back to school to finish my pre-reqs, I met with the 2 schools in my area (Mid-Atlantic region) and that's how I was told to proceed so I just went for it. I have no idea if it's an industry wide thought or just because of my circumstances.

I'm sure thousands of FT non-trads have been accepted over the years and an equally same number of PT non-trads.

I think ultimately as long as you have a solid answer if asked, "Why PT?" then you're absolutely fine.

 

[ruraldocmom]

Full-time work, part-time school... non-trads do it all the time. I did my undergrad full-time, but then 7 years of full time work and over the last two years, part time post-bacc classes.

If you were just part time school and part-time work--that might look bad. But juggling full-time, no-kidding career work and part-time school shows an exceptional kind of commitment. And like the previous poster said--as long as the "Why Part time?" question has a good answer... you'll be set!

 

[Prestone]

I worked out a schedule where I can keep my job and take 2 classes a semester. Pre-med won't be finished as fast as I'd like, but I won't be living off the private loan teet, so I feel better about it. I just wish I could actually have a sit-down with my preferred medical school and discuss this with them to find out if they would rather see this or me going full-time to prove I can handle the load. I'd hate to have it backfire, when I was trying to do the right thing.

I'm in the same boat you are! I think we're fine! I work as an analyst 40 hours a week and I am also currently working on my MBA, I have a BS in Aviation. I'm going to continue 3 classes a year until I start Med School with my MBA to finish. I am also taking 2 classes a semester to hopefully apply in a year and a half. I think it is good to finish, especially since my employer is paying $30,000 for my MBA 😀. On a side note I think it depends on what schools you apply to. I'm going DO and hopefully EM (I have my EMT-IV). I really liked your story since I am in the same exact shoes you are! Let me know how things go and PM me if you'd like, I'd like to hear about your journey!!