Online Pre-Req Classes

[missdvm]

I was wondering if anyone had taken online science classes for vet school and if you recommend doing it particularly for basic chemistry, biology, organic chemistry or any upper division science classes.

I wanted to retake classes I didn't perform very well in to strengthen my grades for the next cycle, and depending on the school, I was told both to retake classes I did badly in or to take harder upper division science courses.

Since I'm not sure what my work schedule will be like, I was hoping to get some insight from people who have taken online classes to fulfill their science pre-reqs.

• Do vet schools care if your pre-reqs are from a 4 year institution, community college or online?
• Do you have to fill it out differently on pre-requisite checklists/on VMCAS?
• If you have taken an online course before: where did you take it, what class was it and how did you like it?

Thanks for your help in advance! 🙂

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[Escalla]

I definitely had to do this -- so don't worry, it's possible! I took Chem I and II online through the Community College of Aurora (part of the Community Colleges of Colorado) and it was accepted by the schools, no problem. I checked before hand though and sent them the course description. I also took General Biology online through my university during one summer to cut down on classes during the year and there wasn't any problem with that either.

I would be wary of taking organic though. The lack of a lab setting I think would hurt your learning in the class, but I'm not sure if it's accepted or not.

Anyways, I really liked the chem classes through CCA. Pricey, but manageable! 🙂

For VMCAS you just have to state it as distance learning or online or whatever the option is.

 

[JoAnna423]

I was wondering if anyone had taken online science classes for vet school and if you recommend doing it particularly basic chemistry, biology, organic chemistry or any upper division science classes.

I wanted to retake classes I didn't perform very well in to strengthen my grades for the next cycle, and depending on the school, I was told both to retake classes I did badly in or to take harder upper division science courses.


Since I'm not sure what my work schedule will be like, I was hoping to get some insight from people who have taken online classes to fulfill their science pre-reqs.

• Do vet schools care if your pre-reqs are from a 4 year institution, community college or online?
• Do you have to fill it out differently on pre-requisite checklists/on VMCAS?
• If you have taken an online course before: where did you take it, what class was it and how did you like it?

Thanks for your help in advance! 🙂

Every vet school is different...and I do not think there is a "yes" or "no" to every question either but more of just "what looks better" and the person looking at your app. As far as community colleges, I am not sure...but I have seen schools websites where they expect all upper level science courses to be from a 4 year university, again, "expect"...and "must" are two different things. I am also sure than an "A" from a Community College looks better than a "C:" from a University. But thats just my opinion....

About online classes, I have had one school (Missouri) have an online rule...and that 2 classes per year are allowed online only. They also told me that they frown on multiple online classes since vet school is such a demanding in-residence program they want to make sure there applicants can handle the load.

I took 23 credits online, but only 2 classes of those were a pre-reqs (physics lecture, calculus). I loved online classes because I worked and it kept me from taking a semester off when I had my son. Quality in the course varied, just like any class on campus. Some classes I learned a lot, some nothing...some were hard, some were not. I will say that I worked VERY, VERY, VERY hard for my Organic Chemistry 2 class on campus. The hardest I have ever worked for a grade, and I got a B. (The only B out of the 4 people who made it to the end of the class). It was a little upset that the next year they started offering it online and that it was a breeze to those who had dropped it on campus the year before or were taking it for the first time. The final grades (all A's and B's mind you) were posted even before the students had completed the final, which was literally the EXACT same problems from previous test. 😡 It made me upset that on someones transcript, they had an A in a subject that I had a B in and I worked so hard for it. But that can happen with any class I know. But that is my one online beef!

As always, check with individual schools first but if you CAN avoid online classes other than a few electives that would be good, but I def would not stress about it if this is the only way you can get your pre reqs in.

 

[gnomie]

I had to do this as well, in my situation as a non-traditional student it was really my only option, it's totally doable.
I took all but one of my science pre-reqs at my local community college, and took the one online through another university, and got in =) (I do have a previous, unrelated BA though so I don't know if that factored into it.)

A couple things to remember:
I think that some schools will look at community college classes differently, so make sure you get awesome grades =)

Double and triple check that the class will meet the requirements. Not all community or online classes are created equal, so use online course equivalency guides, the professors and the schools you hope to apply to as a resource. Most schools say that you should/must take upper division classes at a 4-year institution, but I was really careful to make sure that my upper-division classes were accepted by the schools I was applying to as direct transfer equivalencies, and no one brought it up.

Don't take self-paced online classes if you are not very disciplined. I took my genetics class online, and was actually quite happy with the class and the professor... but even though I was really interested in the material, watching the online lectures was torture, and I had a really difficult time staying on top of them. I took it through Washington State University.

Escalla made a good point about the lab sections, make sure that you are not missing a vital part of a class by taking classes without a lab section. At my school the O-chem lab was actually a separate class so it would have been possible to take the lecture portion online and the lab on campus (I took mine in the evenings after work,) but not classes are like this.

 

[T_Rose]

I didn't take any of my pre-reqs online, but I did take some online courses. Look into the schools you are planning to apply to and ask their thoughts on online courses. I do know that some schools won't accept online courses for requirements such as organic.

I'm looking into taking genetics online so that I can apply to more schools next cycle. Does anyone have any suggestions of universities to take that through? I cannot fit genetics into my schedule for this next year. There is a different type of genetics course I am taking in the fall that isn't molecular genetics. I plan to send a copy of the syllabus to the schools where I want to apply, but I need a back-up plan.