Online BS degree?

[labgirl]

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I'm a newbie here, so here's my story...
I got my AAS degree in lab technology from a community college, then after working for a few years, I earned my BS online in Clinical Lab Science from the Univ. of Cincinnati (program similar to RN-to-BSN, except for lab people). After graduation, I finally acknowledged the voice inside that was imploring me to go to med school. So because that was never my original goal, I did not focus on my studies as best I could, and have a 3.3 GPA. I am going to be taking OChem and Bio next year, then will apply to matriculate in 2010 (am not taking MCAT til after OC & bio). I have been employed FT in a hospital lab for the last 9 years, being the lab manager the past 3 years. With this type of background, what kind of chance do I stand getting accepted anywhere, MD or DO? How will my online degree be perceived?

 

[DrMidlife]

I think you'll have a really fun time writing your personal statement. You've clearly worked your way up and you've earned a lot of perspective that's going to make you stand out.

In general, there's a stigma about online study. It's considered poorly standardized and questionably rigorous, compared to classroom study.

That said, the very best thing you can do to counter this stigma is what you're doing. Take classroom coursework, and do very well (above 3.5).

I suggest that you need more than ochem and bio in the classroom. In your shoes I'd also take some humanities, and some upper div science, in the classroom. These are good MCAT prep, besides.

A 3.3 is not going to be "fixed" by another year of coursework, and a 3.3 is not going to get you into an MD school. So either get friendly with DO (as I did) or look into doing substantial postbac undergrad work to raise your GPA to at least 3.6, or look into an SMP.

Your MCAT score is crucial. CRUCIAL. If you need to cut your working hours or otherwise rearrange your life to get a good MCAT score (and to improve your GPA), it's worth it.

Best of luck to you.

 

[plauto]

Everything DrMidlife said....except I'd do a full postbac program in your shoes. there is a very big stigma regarding online classes, let alone degrees.
IMO earning an excellent GPA in your postbac along with doing well on the MCAT will make adcoms overcome that stigma.

 

[notdeadyet]

I'd echo what DrMidWife says, but I'd amplify it somewhat. Many medical schools will flat-out not accept an online degree. I was accepted at a UC with the understanding that I would need to scramble to re-do two prerequisites because they were online and most UCs do not allow it.

My advice is this: Contact admissions departments at 10 schools you're interested in and find out if they'll accept an online degree. If you find most will, color me corrected. But if you find that most won't, you need to think carefully about this.

Ask yourself how serious you are about becoming a physician and what sort of sacrifices you're willing to make. With a 3.3, you have a lot of make-up to do to bring your GPA up. More than a year of study to make you competitive.

Since you have to take more than a year's worth of full-time classes, why not enroll for a second Bachelor's? You can get all of your prerequisites done as well as avoid the problem of having schools slam doors in your face because of an online degree. You'll be eligible for financial aid and can go to school full-time. With two years of full-time study, you should be able to get your bachelors, fulfill your prereqs and raise your GPA to something competitive.

If you'd rather go with what you have, be sure to save the $30 application fee and contact each school before bothering to apply. Be open about a DO degree and be open to move anywhere in the country. And do not take any more coursework online. Even if schools accept online degrees, they don't hold them very highly. You want to prove that you can cut it in the classroom, especially since it's been a while.

(Disclosure: I used to work consulting to help schools and organizations move coursework online. I'm a big proponent of online learning. But I'm also a realist and have had the experience of schools saying absolutely not to having prereqs satisfied by anything other than classroom learning)

 

[sm007thie]

how's is an online degree percieved when all of the prerequisite classes were done post-bacc in a classroom with a 3.80ish GPA? ya know... hypothetically 😉

i have an online degree where 80% of my classes were accepted from military service schools. i finished it while in the service because going to classes wasn't an option. since separating, i've finished about 100 units (quarter) at a small private school in california. i'm pretty concerned that all of the UC schools are going to laugh at me. i'm still waiting for my MCAT scores (4/5/08 club). hopefully they'll provide some relief.

 

[notdeadyet]

how's is an online degree percieved when all of the prerequisite classes were done post-bacc in a classroom with a 3.80ish GPA? ya know... hypothetically 😉

Contact schools you're interested in. You might find some that will accept the online degree. Many wont'. Find out before applying so that you're not throwing money down the drain.

Most don't advertise this. I was actually accepted by my school before they said, "Hey, we don't take these classes." So you want to get it up front.

The schools that wouldn't accept online prereqs were UCs. I don't know how they feel about online degrees, but there's no harm in asking...

 

[Blade28]

Contact schools you're interested in. You might find some that will accept the online degree. Many wont'. Find out before applying so that you're not throwing money down the drain.

Most don't advertise this. I was actually accepted by my school before they said, "Hey, we don't take these classes." So you want to get it up front.

The schools that wouldn't accept online prereqs were UCs. I don't know how they feel about online degrees, but there's no harm in asking...

Very good advice.

Unfortunately many online degrees/coursework are viewed unfavorably since it's tough to know if the school is reputable/accredited or not. So it behooves you to contact the schools you're interested in and seeing if each accepts these credits/degrees. That's crucial information. That way you'll know if you need to retake any classes before applying/matriculating.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I'm a newbie here, so here's my story...
I got my AAS degree in lab technology from a community college, then after working for a few years, I earned my BS online in Clinical Lab Science from the Univ. of Cincinnati (program similar to RN-to-BSN, except for lab people). After graduation, I finally acknowledged the voice inside that was imploring me to go to med school. So because that was never my original goal, I did not focus on my studies as best I could, and have a 3.3 GPA. I am going to be taking OChem and Bio next year, then will apply to matriculate in 2010 (am not taking MCAT til after OC & bio). I have been employed FT in a hospital lab for the last 9 years, being the lab manager the past 3 years. With this type of background, what kind of chance do I stand getting accepted anywhere, MD or DO? How will my online degree be perceived?

Does Cincinnati display their Distance Ed courses on your transcript different than they do their normal campus classes? This may be a big factor in how your degree is viewed.
I am in similar shoes as yours, I'm planning on doing a full years worth of course work in the classroom though, I'd be interested in how your progress goes.

 

[Isoprop]

also, i don't think it's a problem if your prereq courses are done in a traditional setting. but before you do anything, do what the poster above said: make sure it actually reads distance learning or online on your transcripts. it may be a moot point.

 

[notdeadyet]

also, i don't think it's a problem if your prereq courses are done in a traditional setting.

Just curious where your opinion is coming from. Do you know anyone who's been successfully admitted to medical school with prereqs done via distance learning? I know three folks who've tried and all have had to repeat. A full time year's worth of coursework. I'm concerned your opinion is more based on hope or speculation than firsthand experience. Nothing wrong with that, but if it misdirects the OP into wasting time, that would be awful.

I had to repeat all online prereqs. If you know of any schools that have accepted online prereqs, please list them out. This would be a good starting point of schools for the OP to contact. Because I think the list will probably be a small one.

but before you do anything, do what the poster above said: make sure it actually reads distance learning or online on your transcripts. it may be a moot point.

Ack. No. Criminally bad advice.

The OP's degree is Clinical Lab Science from the Univ. of Cincinnati. Adcoms are going to look this up. I don't know how much they push online learning, but the distance learning option is the first thing that shows up on a Google search of the program. It doesn't matter what the transcripts say.

At one of my interviews, the admissions director looked at the transcript at my prerequisites and asked if the Berkeley Extension classes were done in classroom or online (it doesn't say on the transcript). That's all it took.

I would not advise folks to think that they're scott-free just because the transcript doesn't list "online learning" on the transcript. They might sneak one past the school, but there's a very real chance that they will be asked a quick question. Then your choices are to lie (baaaaaad idea) or tell the truth and run the risk of losing your seat. If this conversation happens after May 15th, you just lost your only admission.

 

[labgirl]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice and comments! Just to clarify: All my pre-req's have been or will be taken in the classroom. I think there was some confusion on that from my original post. Also, Univ. of Cincinnati does not distinguish on their transcripts what was taken online vs. in the classroom. Their stance is that you receive the same degree through online coursework as you would if you graduate from their classroom program.

I took the advice of notdeadyet and called around 10 schools of interest. Most of the responses were that the online degree is not a problem as long as it is accreditted (which it is), and as long as all my pre-req's were taken in the classroom (which they are/will be) so that I get the lab portion. Now granted, I was not calling top 10 schools, in fact most were DO schools, but I only encountered one that said they only accept coursework taken from 4-yr universities in classroom format. So, I feel hopeful. My focus now is to do well in my last two classes (which are being taken in the classroom), and I MUST rock the MCAT!

 

[notdeadyet]

I took the advice of notdeadyet and called around 10 schools of interest. Most of the responses were that the online degree is not a problem as long as it is accreditted (which it is), and as long as all my pre-req's were taken in the classroom (which they are/will be)

Phew! Well, that's reassuring. Congratulations. That's gotta be a weight off.

Now granted, I was not calling top 10 schools, in fact most were DO schools, but I only encountered one that said they only accept coursework taken from 4-yr universities in classroom format.

If DO is where you're interested in heading, that's all that counts. And top 10 schools are over-rated.

I MUST rock the MCAT!

Give yourself plenty of time and put in the hard work and you'll be fine. Best of luck with your app.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I took the advice of notdeadyet and called around 10 schools of interest. Most of the responses were that the online degree is not a problem as long as it is accreditted (which it is), and as long as all my pre-req's were taken in the classroom (which they are/will be) so that I get the lab portion. Now granted, I was not calling top 10 schools, in fact most were DO schools, but I only encountered one that said they only accept coursework taken from 4-yr universities in classroom format. So, I feel hopeful. My focus now is to do well in my last two classes (which are being taken in the classroom), and I MUST rock the MCAT!

I'm doubting you'll even be asked if they were online or not, as these are the exact same class titles and courses as Cinncy offers on campus. There is nothing to denote otherwise. But if all your pre-reqs are coming through traditional coursework there is little to be worried about. The online 4 year stigma, I believe comes from colleges like George Fox, Western Governor's, Phoenix...etc.

Might I ask which D.O. school does not recognize the 4 year degree so I can bother not applying their? I'm guessing KCUMB, but that is a shot in the dark.

 

[commymommy]

How would the school know that your coursework was taken online? I have taken a total of 3 DL courses and none of them showed up on an official transcript as being distance learning. Is there a special area on the med school appliation that requests this information?

 

[nu2004]

Everything DrMidlife said....except I'd do a full postbac program in your shoes. there is a very big stigma regarding online classes, let alone degrees.
IMO earning an excellent GPA in your postbac along with doing well on the MCAT will make adcoms overcome that stigma.

i think this is pretty much spot on. but as drmidlife said, you should have some excellent fodder for your personal statement. if you do a full post-bacc and earn good grades - along with a decent MCAT - med schools (MD or DO) will have no choice but to take you!

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

How would the school know that your coursework was taken online? I have taken a total of 3 DL courses and none of them showed up on an official transcript as being distance learning. Is there a special area on the med school appliation that requests this information?

Some schools denote on transcripts that it was an online course. Other schools have a separate transcript they send out for online courses. If the class is from a traditional university and they don't note the differences between online or classroom classes there is nothing to worry about. In another couple years I think all students having some DL will be a norm.

 

[studentDO]

I'm a newbie here, so here's my story...
I got my AAS degree in lab technology from a community college, then after working for a few years, I earned my BS online in Clinical Lab Science from the Univ. of Cincinnati (program similar to RN-to-BSN, except for lab people).

OK.

You have gotten a lot of advice on this thread so let me clear it up from the perspective of someone who has actually done the research and done what you are trying to do.

My associates is in criminal justice (in classroom). I completed my bachelors online in business management. I took Bio, Gen Chem and physics post bac in a classroom and took both Org chem classes via distance education from the University of New England DO school. Expensive but worth it. They were proctored, luckily one of the PhD's at the local college was nice enough to let me sit in the back of his class for tests.

Online degrees are not frowned upon at all as long as they are accredited via one of the assoc. of colleges and schools. They are far more rigorous than lecture courses because they require a tremendous amount of self discipline. You also do not have the luxury of an instructor that you can go whine to in order to up your grade, it is also impossible to operate an online course on a fair curve so what you get is what you get and your final grade is far more representative of a true score. Also, most medical schools have no attendance policy and most of the students I interviewed with have never been to class except for tests so what's the difference?

I can't say about MD schools because I wanted to be a DO. I applied to 5 schools and got interview offers from all 5. I was accepted to the first 2 I interviewed with and canceled the other 3 interviews. Transcripts from accredited schools rarely differentiate between on campus or distance. During my interviews they never asked me so I told them that i completed the last 60 hours through distance learning, they were impressed that a middle aged man with two kids and a full time job could accomplish spending 4 hours a night completing a bachelors. Now, I will admit that I graduated cum laude with a 3.67 GPA and my post bac sciences I had a 4.0 and an MCAT score of 28 first time out.

Last thing: All the DO schools look at is your SCIENCE gpa and your mcat. That will get you an interview. The most important thing after that is how you interview. In both of my interviews nothing medical came up at all. It was an informal talk about me, which is another reason I respect DO schools. If you are a good SINCERE well rounded person (you are from your post) with decent credentials (all you need is a 25 or better on the MCAT) you will do fine.

Best of luck and contact me if you need pointers.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

OK.

You have gotten a lot of advice on this thread so let me clear it up from the perspective of someone who has actually done the research and done what you are trying to do.

My associates is in criminal justice (in classroom). I completed my bachelors online in business management. I took Bio, Gen Chem and physics post bac in a classroom and took both Org chem classes via distance education from the University of New England DO school. Expensive but worth it. They were proctored, luckily one of the PhD's at the local college was nice enough to let me sit in the back of his class for tests.

Online degrees are not frowned upon at all as long as they are accredited via one of the assoc. of colleges and schools. They are far more rigorous than lecture courses because they require a tremendous amount of self discipline. You also do not have the luxury of an instructor that you can go whine to in order to up your grade, it is also impossible to operate an online course on a fair curve so what you get is what you get and your final grade is far more representative of a true score. Also, most medical schools have no attendance policy and most of the students I interviewed with have never been to class except for tests so what's the difference?

I can't say about MD schools because I wanted to be a DO. I applied to 5 schools and got interview offers from all 5. I was accepted to the first 2 I interviewed with and canceled the other 3 interviews. Transcripts from accredited schools rarely differentiate between on campus or distance. During my interviews they never asked me so I told them that i completed the last 60 hours through distance learning, they were impressed that a middle aged man with two kids and a full time job could accomplish spending 4 hours a night completing a bachelors. Now, I will admit that I graduated cum laude with a 3.67 GPA and my post bac sciences I had a 4.0 and an MCAT score of 28 first time out.

Last thing: All the DO schools look at is your SCIENCE gpa and your mcat. That will get you an interview. The most important thing after that is how you interview. In both of my interviews nothing medical came up at all. It was an informal talk about me, which is another reason I respect DO schools. If you are a good SINCERE well rounded person (you are from your post) with decent credentials (all you need is a 25 or better on the MCAT) you will do fine.

Best of luck and contact me if you need pointers.

This is good info, it sounds like you may have saved me from a semester worth of bio/inorganic/organic if they were willing to take your organic via distance online.

As for labgirl, you have amazing clinical experience as a lab manager. I think a few hours of volunterring (40ish or so) and a couple days shadowing a DO should get you some interviews with a solid MCAT.

 

[labgirl]

Might I ask which D.O. school does not recognize the 4 year degree so I can bother not applying their? I'm guessing KCUMB, but that is a shot in the dark.

Thanks, MLT2MT2Do for all your advise. It was Oklahoma State COM.

And studentDO, that was a great piece of information to help me in my pursuit.

So how should I address this in my PS without drawing unnecessary attention to it?


labgirl

 

[studentDO]

Thanks, MLT2MT2Do for all your advise. It was Oklahoma State COM.

And studentDO, that was a great piece of information to help me in my pursuit.

So how should I address this in my PS without drawing unnecessary attention to it?
labgirl

Don't know what to tell you here except to just avoid it, not because it is online but I have never read a good personal statement that focused on education. My PS focused on my volunteer experiences in rural areas and how it opened my eyes to the true need that exists that nobody is filling and how it told me that I was supposed to be a physician. I would avoid talking about education, it is boring anyway. I just noted that I "went back to school and finished my bachelors degree", that should do it. If they like you as a person in the interview it won't matter. If they point out you did online work then make it clear (emotionally) that it "instilled within you a great sense of self discipline due to working independently".

Let me know if I can answer any questions as you go through the process. I spent 4 years researching schools and the app process and interviews and everything else in between. I'm a worrier ...

 

[studentDO]

This is good info, it sounds like you may have saved me from a semester worth of bio/inorganic/organic if they were willing to take your organic via distance online.

As for labgirl, you have amazing clinical experience as a lab manager. I think a few hours of volunterring (40ish or so) and a couple days shadowing a DO should get you some interviews with a solid MCAT.

The OCHEM is taught by PhD's from the UNE Osteopathic medical school. I learned a LOT. The courses are composed of your typical reading assignment followed by all the questions at the end of the chapter and then for each module there is an online quiz which is HARD. Don't think you can just log on and look up the answers, these guys are tricky.

There is a totally cool "virtual lab" software that comes with the course and a lab module associated each assigned module. It works just like an organic lab. That is followed by a lab quiz.

The final has about 150 questions on it, it takes about 3 hours to complete. OCHEM 2 is more fun than 1, the first semester is hardcore reactions.

 

[studentDO]

This is good info, it sounds like you may have saved me from a semester worth of bio/inorganic/organic if they were willing to take your organic via distance online.

As for labgirl, you have amazing clinical experience as a lab manager. I think a few hours of volunterring (40ish or so) and a couple days shadowing a DO should get you some interviews with a solid MCAT.

P.S. They also offer Biochem and Micro online but I did not take them. They even advertise that you should apply to their school if you don't have the pre-reqs because of their distance programs.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

The OCHEM is taught by PhD's from the UNE Osteopathic medical school. I learned a LOT. The courses are composed of your typical reading assignment followed by all the questions at the end of the chapter and then for each module there is an online quiz which is HARD. Don't think you can just log on and look up the answers, these guys are tricky.

There is a totally cool "virtual lab" software that comes with the course and a lab module associated each assigned module. It works just like an organic lab. That is followed by a lab quiz.

The final has about 150 questions on it, it takes about 3 hours to complete. OCHEM 2 is more fun than 1, the first semester is hardcore reactions.

This is what I don't understand, everyone saying there is no way to "gauge" a distance ed course. An accrediated college is an accrediated college. A PhD teaches that one and currently I'm taking an A&P with lab taught by an MD. I don't doubt it was a rough OChem class. I was actually looking at possibly taking Biochem (mainly because my current UG requires a boatload of un-needed prereqs for their Biochem) from UNE but was curious how it was viewed by DO schools. Again thanks for the info.

LabGirl, the closest I would get in my PS about mentioning I did Distance Learning is possibly mention where you worked full-time and where you went to school full-time, if you were working in California while going to University of Cinncy, and the adcom doesn't bother asking I don't see any reason to bring it up in your PS or your interviews.

 

[Haga]

I have a Bachelors degree that was 50% in class, 50% online, and the online classes were harder than the actual campus classes. Online classe, you do more work, and its more independent study. Taking online classes and making a good grade, I believe is a testimate to how hard you can work.

Granted all experiences vary, this is just my experience.

 

[studentDO]

I have a Bachelors degree that was 50% in class, 50% online, and the online classes were harder than the actual campus classes. Online classe, you do more work, and its more independent study. Taking online classes and making a good grade, I believe is a testimate to how hard you can work.

Granted all experiences vary, this is just my experience.

Well said. To me the most important factor is that you don't know your teacher face to face and if you get lost you can't just ask the student next to you because there is not one. The grades are far more fairly given because the instructor has nothing to base a curve on unless the entire class has an issue with specific topics. And with 60 people in a class it is difficult for that to happen.

 

[rogue0722]

I think this was answered in the earlier posts but just to clarify for myself:

I'm enrolled in a traditional 4-yr university. I've taken all my classes in-class except for three (2 maths and a computer class). These are reflected the same on my transcript and the university doesn't have a "distance" learning program as far as I can tell (though they do have a few satellite campuses). I should be ok, right?

 

[notdeadyet]

I'm enrolled in a traditional 4-yr university. I've taken all my classes in-class except for three (2 maths and a computer class). These are reflected the same on my transcript and the university doesn't have a "distance" learning program as far as I can tell (though they do have a few satellite campuses). I should be ok, right?

You're golden. Unless the school has a math requirement and does not accept distance learning for pre-reqs.

Then it becomes a matter of whether or not you'll get caught. Granted, like not submitting transcripts, the odds of getting caught are very low. But you don't want to be that guy.

To be safe, you can contact schools you're interested in and ask them if they accept distance learning for pre-reqs. If they say "no", either cross them from your list or take a night class at the local community college.