OChem/Physics Summer Courses

[DrMattOglesby]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am in a bad place right now.
I took Organic Chemistry (1&2) at a college that recently lost its accreditation. This means that I cannot request transcripts from them anymore.
I took physics 6 years ago at a community college. I think i might need to retake these courses as well?
anyhow, since i am planning on applying this summer (with an improved MCAT)--do i even stand a shot at getting secondaries without them seeing organic chemistry anywhere on my transcripts?
the best i can do right now is write about how my school lost accreditation in my primary essay and that i would take OChem ASAP.
so thats a REALLY large thorn in my side.
I was wondering what you guys thought of that situation...and in addition--if you know of any schools (that wont lose accreditation anytime soon) that offer physics and OChem over the summer.
thanks,
matt

 

[DrMidlife]

I don't know about physics, but UNECOM has distance ochem. http://distance.une.edu/.

 

[DrMidlife]

Oh and I took physics in 1988 and nobody had a problem with that. Each school has its own policy on expiration of prereqs.

 

[nlax30]

Wow, that is a pretty unique situation. Sorry you're having to deal with it now though.

Do you still have any previous transcripts or records from when you took O-chem? If so I'd probably call schools you're applying to and get their take on it, as well as call AACOMAS and see if there's anything that they can help with since they will be the ones to "certify" your initial app with all your courses. You DID take the courses, maybe (Hopefully) they can still take any previous transcripts/records you have and let those count?

 

[gman33]

What school was this?
Does it still exist? I assume it was accredited when you took the class.

I'd see if there was any way they can provide a transcript.
If not, I'd at least look into getting my money back from them for the classes.

If you are totally out of luck with them, look into your local state schools.
Most larger schools should have a section of Ochem in the summer.
You could submit your app without Ochem and put a note that you are taking it over the summer. Send a transcript to the schools you apply to as soon as the class is done. I'm not sure, but maybe you can have your app updated as well.

The best advice is to call the schools you will be applying to and see what they suggest.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

yeah thanks for the advice.
the school was New College of California.
they USED to have a website. its gone now.
I cant even get an unofficial transcript off of them.
I am planning on putting in a call to the headquarters of AACOMAS to ask them if I can get a copy of my transcripts i sent in.
then ill begin making tons of phone calls to future schools after that!
wish me luck...this is gonna be pain in the behind.

 

[Turkelton]

Hey Matt, I live relatively in the same area as you (Palo Alto), and wanted to let you know that Santa Clara University offers both a full year of Organic Chemistry in 9 weeks over summer, as well as a full year of physics in 9 weeks over summer. I took the full year of O. Chem there last summer, it was a pain in the *** but the time flew by pretty quickly. You'd have to drive an hour each way to school if your still living in Napa area. Another option is San Francisco State where you could take 1st semester O. Chem and Physics there this summer, and then take 2nd semester O.Chem and Physics there in the fall. Anyways good luck to you, I'm sending the good vibes your way for you to get in this year so you wont have to retake those damn physics and o. chem classes again!

 

[DrMattOglesby]

okay turkleton,
i sent you a PM thanking you for pointing this out for me.
now i have stayed up even later than I had planned and wrote out a series of pros and cons behind these courses:

http://www.scu.edu/cas/summer/classskedinfo.cfm

that is the link to the classes. It is offered in Santa Clara. Which is about an hour drive, five days a week. I think I might want to rent out someone's room there, or try to stay in a dorm.
the tuition is $250/unit. There are two 5-unit courses....so that is $1,250 per class (x2 classes) = $2,500 total.
that is not counting the $75 application fee nor parking and books.
the benefits of this are that I can take the MCAT this summer and have my applications for med school completed (with organic chemistry on my transcripts) by August. If i dont take these organic chemistry courses, then I will not be a competitive applicant no matter how early i retake my MCAT and submit applications. In addition, these classes will definitely be valid because Santa Clara University is a very established institution and will not lose its accreditation.
The cons of attending these organic chemistry courses are as follows:
-they are expensive
-lots of travel
-I might want to have organic chemistry completed (again) before I retake my MCAT.
-If I simply take organic chemistry 1&2 this upcoming Fall and Spring, then it wont cost as much money and I could schedule to retake the MCAT in January of next year (thus reapplying for med school the following summer)...however I am not really keen on waiting such a long time to get into med school.
-But, by taking organic chemistry spaced out over a regular semester, I could retake physics as well a review course in Gen Chem. I will have accumulated lots of study time for the MCAT and be much more fresh in the older materials. I will have also have put in many more hours of volunteer and clinical experience. my application will be very strong by then....and I will be 28 by then--living at my parents house. ugh.