Online Bio as a pre-req?

[atomi]

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[dancinRN1022]

How big of a deal is it to take bio 101 and 102 online (from 2-year college) as a pre-req? Obviously the labs are done in person, but the lecture is done online. I'm taking bio right now at night at the community college while I work full-time (it is the only course I have left to meet the pre-reqs). I'm not too worried about doing this because I have a 4.0 in engineering from a well known polytechnic. I am worried about the level of instruction I'm getting from my bio teacher at the CC and my ability to make an A (I think he rarely gives out A's since he assumes no one at the CC deserves them - 8 point grading scale with no curve - a 92 is a B, etc). I think I would be better served working with the MCAT book on my own and taking the class online while I study alone.

I don't think the transcript will show the online class as online. But if I am ever asked about it, I will have to admit that it was. How big of a deal is this? Would it be worse to make a B (my first one ever) in a CC lecture or to make an A in an online version (keep in mind I work 45 hrs/wk as a professional engineer)? Or with my GPA is it not really going to make a difference (I already have straight A's in engineering physics, engineering chemistry, and organic chemistry)?

I'm looking for hard, annedotal experiences -- not really your opinions or gut feelings on doing this. Of course it would have been better to finish bio at a 4 year college, but I couldn't justify wasting a year for 1 course when I could save enough to pay for school (2-3 years out) now by working.

Thank you.

well i am currently applying right now..however i needed to take physics II and my pre-health advisor told me not to take it online...he said it wouldn't count, and i would need to take it at a school preferably a 4 yr school but definitely in person... so i did! i am also a non trad..graduated with two degrees 3 years ago... working full/over time as an RN...and he said i have to take it in person despite my workload...
i would call your pre-health advisor or the schools that you are applying to to ask them personally.. they would give you the best advice...
good luck
Mel🙂

 

[MossPoh]

The general consensus is to avoid community colleges for the pre-reqs. Your situation doesn't really allow you to do that I suspect. It is kind of frowned upon to do the stuff online. Just a bit of a stigma with it. They will assume it is an easier class most likely. I'd like to think a 4.0 engineering degree would disprove that you did it for ease, but I am not an adcom. If you can take it in person, I'd just do that. It is easier to avoid conflicts than to take our anecdotes. If you can take it at a 4 year university, I'd do that as well. If the CC is what you have to work with, then just keep the classes in person.

 

[postbacker]

How big of a deal is it to take bio 101 and 102 online (from 2-year college) as a pre-req? Obviously the labs are done in person, but the lecture is done online. I'm taking bio right now at night at the community college while I work full-time (it is the only course I have left to meet the pre-reqs). I'm not too worried about doing this because I have a 4.0 in engineering from a well known polytechnic. I am worried about the level of instruction I'm getting from my bio teacher at the CC and my ability to make an A (I think he rarely gives out A's since he assumes no one at the CC deserves them - 8 point grading scale with no curve - a 92 is a B, etc). I think I would be better served working with the MCAT book on my own and taking the class online while I study alone.

I don't think the transcript will show the online class as online. But if I am ever asked about it, I will have to admit that it was. How big of a deal is this? Would it be worse to make a B (my first one ever) in a CC lecture or to make an A in an online version (keep in mind I work 45 hrs/wk as a professional engineer)? Or with my GPA is it not really going to make a difference (I already have straight A's in engineering physics, engineering chemistry, and organic chemistry)?

I'm looking for hard, annedotal experiences -- not really your opinions or gut feelings on doing this. Of course it would have been better to finish bio at a 4 year college, but I couldn't justify wasting a year for 1 course when I could save enough to pay for school (2-3 years out) now by working.

Thank you.

You will get nothing but opinions here. Your best bet is to ask medical schools directly. Really, nobody here knows.

My opinion: an online science pre-req should be a last resort choice. Other online courses (non pre req) are probably no big deal, but I would not want to have a transcript full of them myself...

 

[Ookluh]

I don't think the transcript will show the online class as online. But if I am ever asked about it, I will have to admit that it was.

Ask your community college and find out. If they don't denote it as an online course, then I don't see how the adcom would ever get the idea to ask you about it.

 

[atomi]

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