nontrad--taking prereqs

[chstrckwl]

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Hey guys, potential nontrad here. Currently looking into local options for my prereqs. Right now, it looks like I may start chemistry and biology classes this summer at a regional university then go to the big state school in the fall (regional U's summer offerings don't conflict w/ each other as much). I want to take a couple of math classes at some point and wanted to get started with them this summer, too. However, the course offerings are very slim at the regional U, so the math classes they're offering conflict with the only BIO and CHE classes I can take right now.

Is it possible to take precalculus or trig from an online university or something, without it looking like you flaked out on a real class? An online class would fit into my schedule much easier and enable me to get ahead. Thanks for any advice about this, and I'd welcome any guidance on prereqs in general. Take care

 

[dentalmama]

I'm a non-trad starting dental school in August, and I'm not sure why you need to take any math classes at this point. Maybe I'm biased because 25 years ago I was actually a math major, but looking back at the prereqs I didn't really think you needed calculus - just a little algebra to solve for variables, and VERY basic trig - nothing you can't learn on your own when you get to the point you need it. Now, maybe you're really bad or rusty with math, but if you had algebra in high school you should be fine! I suppose you could take it online if you had time, but don't sweat it. The chem and bio doesn't require calculus at all. You may need a little trig for Physics, but then you don't even have to take it until your last year because its not on the DAT.
Hope that helps.
Oh - the math classes WILL help you if you don't remember any algebra, and they will help you when you take the DAT for the quantitative reasoning secion.

 

[chstrckwl]

I would say my math skills are rusty, but existent. So that's good. I know at least one school (UAB) requires a couple math classes, but some of the others I'm looking at do not. Thanks for the advice!