online pre reqs.

[ilovestewie]

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I am the same person who posted a thread about quitting PA school and going to DO school and I am considering staying in PA school and doing my remaining med school reqs online. Has anyone done some of the required pre reqs online? I have found a couple places that offer physics with lab and it would mean I could probably get it done at the same time as PA school. any thoughts?

 

[CatsandCradles]

I am the same person who posted a thread about quitting PA school and going to DO school and I am considering staying in PA school and doing my remaining med school reqs online. Has anyone done some of the required pre reqs online? I have found a couple places that offer physics with lab and it would mean I could probably get it done at the same time as PA school. any thoughts?

An online course? You might want to check what the medical schools have to say about this. Give them a call. I get the feeling they might not like online courses. My advice to you is to play it safe and take the courses in a classroom.

But I might be wrong. Perhaps someone else can chime in?

 

[Skaterbabe74]

If your transcript says that it's online adcoms won't like it. Some don't accept online credits for prereqs. However, if your transcript doesn't say online, and comes from an actual brick and mortar school rather than an online univeresity (or say U of Phoenix or something) the adcoms will never know that you took the prereqs online. For example, University of California - Berkeley's online division will be distinguishable because they use different course numbers for their online division, but ccconline.org (The Colorado College Consortium) uses the same numbering system as the home school your transcript will come from, doesn't distinguish between online or classroom on the transcript, and has excellent classes. I haven't done any of my prereqs that way, but I have taken many classes through this and therefore know what it looks like on the transcript.

If you're certain that it won't show up as online in any way (adcoms are pretty savvy and will know if the only diff is the course numbering system) go for it. There is a stigma against online courses, but personally I find that online courses are just as rigorous (in some cases moreso) as classroom courses, but mileage may vary so just make sure you research everything extremely well before committing to doing it this way.

 

[ilovestewie]

but ccconline.org (The Colorado College Consortium) uses the same numbering system as the home school your transcript will come from, doesn't distinguish between online or classroom on the transcript, and has excellent classes.

that is where I was looking at doing them.

 

[Sundarban1]

Be aware that adcoms are very aware of this issue and it is best to ask the school first before enrolling in these types of courses (whether it is stated on the transcript of not). If and when the school finds out, there could be serious academic penalties (ie withdrawn acceptance, etc). IMO not worth the risk.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Be aware that adcoms are very aware of this issue and it is best to ask the school first before enrolling in these types of courses (whether it is stated on the transcript of not). If and when the school finds out, there could be serious academic penalties (ie withdrawn acceptance, etc). IMO not worth the risk.

Out of curiousity, here's a hypothetical. I enroll in Bio 204, Microbiology, through Front Range Community College. The section I choose happens to be an online section. Front Range has 10 classroom sections, 2 online sections. The transcript doesn't say which section I'm enrolled in. How is an adcom going to know whether I took a classroom section or an online section? I agree that there is a risk in taking online courses in general, but don't see how this would be an issue in the above case?

Hypothetical 2: I enroll in Bio X-- at Univ of Cali - Berkeley Online. My transcript doesn't say it's online, but the X denotes that it is because Berkeley uses different numbering systems for their classroom sections and their online sections. In this case, an adcom is likely to know it's online course, and it's likely to come back and bite you in the butt if the school doesn't accept online credits. In this case you're better off just taking the classroom version, or double checking with your potential med schools as to whether they accept online credits.

 

[Sundarban1]

I am not an adcom, so I can't comment on how/where they get their resources and if your plans will work. My point is that if I were you I would not take that chance.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

I'm actually done with all my prereqs, and took them in a traditional classroom, and I agree that caution is always the best policy, and researching everything extensively before making a commitment that you might later regret is key.

But I also doubt an adcom is going to question every student that has a transcript from one of the 15 schools that are part of ccconline as to whether they took such and such class in the classroom or online, especially if you're actually from colorado too.

Good luck ilovestewie, and if you have any questions about ccconline feel free to PM me!

 

[OSUdoc08]

I am the same person who posted a thread about quitting PA school and going to DO school and I am considering staying in PA school and doing my remaining med school reqs online. Has anyone done some of the required pre reqs online? I have found a couple places that offer physics with lab and it would mean I could probably get it done at the same time as PA school. any thoughts?

Most medical schools will laugh at you if you send them online pre-requisites.

 

[ilovestewie]

Most medical schools will laugh at you if you send them online pre-requisites.

even with a super high mCAT? cmon.. LAUGH at you?

 

[scpod]

even with a super high mCAT? cmon.. LAUGH at you?

There are a lot of people with high MCATs and GPAs (from legitimate universities) who DON'T get into medical school. Doing your prereqs online is a joke. I don't know whether I hate myself more right now for acting like an ass or for agreeing with OSUdoc 😉 , but you have to put in your dues to become a physician. Taking online classes doesn't qualify. Taking physics with a lab online is laughable regardless of the situation.

 

[Daddydoc]

If they see on your timeline that you were taking these prereqs while you were still in PA school they might wonder, too. Its better to take a little more time to prepare than to jump in before you are ready. Also keep in mind that this is your preparation for the MCAT. If you shortchange yourself it will hurt your scores. Good luck!

 

[Skaterbabe74]

There are a lot of people with high MCATs and GPAs (from legitimate universities) who DON'T get into medical school. Doing your prereqs online is a joke. I don't know whether I hate myself more right now for acting like an ass or for agreeing with OSUdoc 😉 , but you have to put in your dues to become a physician. Taking online classes doesn't qualify. Taking physics with a lab online is laughable regardless of the situation.

Um, the OP was talking about taking the prereqs at a "legitimate university." Y'all really need to step up into the computer age. Most of our brick-and-mortar classes have the lectures online, powerpoints, homework, even quizzes online so what's the difference between that and taking a course completely online? Gee you have to physically go in to take an exam, and since a teacher is lecturing in the room you really should go in for at least some of the lectures, but it's not really any different than a full online version. Some of the online courses the OP was talking about require a proctored exam at a testing site anyway, or else they have online timed exams. and none of them are "at-your-own-pace" classes. You usually end up having more requirements to accomplish within a semester than a classroom class because you are graded on the quality and quantity of discussions you participate in, in addition to the normal homework, quizzes, and exams. Yes, it would be a bad idea to take a course from say University of Phoenix to satisfy the prereqs but what is the big deal with taking an online version of a course that is offered thru a "legitimate university?"

 

[Cinnameg]

I am the same person who posted a thread about quitting PA school and going to DO school and I am considering staying in PA school and doing my remaining med school reqs online. Has anyone done some of the required pre reqs online? I have found a couple places that offer physics with lab and it would mean I could probably get it done at the same time as PA school. any thoughts?

I'm taking genetics, which is required for OHSU, as an online course through Berkeley Extension. I'm glad to have the flexibility to work on it when I want, and to not have to be in a classroom, but other than that it really sucks. The course basically consists of reading a textbook and then doing problem sets and emailing them to my professor. There are "lectures" online that are very short (reading each one aloud only takes about 10 mintues) with minimal visuals and minimal information, and nothing at all useful for the problem sets. There's also a CD-ROM that comes with the book's solutions manual, but again, it has very little actual information on it, and is badly organized (I miss Campbell's really, really nice CD-ROM). The worst part about the course is that I have to write a paper, and I can't do the research for it because right now I am not associated with any university and I don't have access to a university library. PubMed won't let me get full-text articles and neither will online journals. Very frusterating; and so far, Berkeley Extension hasn't been able to find any solution to this problem. Other than the problem sets and the paper, I have to take one in-person test at a testing center (many locations all over the country, so no you don't have to be in Berkeley to take this course) and then it's done. There's 10 problem sets and you get 6 months to take the course; you're only allowed to turn in one problem set per week.

To sum up: if you just need to get it done, and don't really care about the material much, and need flexibility, do an online course. Otherwise, try and do classroom courses.

None of the medical schools I interviewed at were remotely surprised by or suspicious of the fact that I was taking a prerequisite as an online course, by the way.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Um, the OP was talking about taking the prereqs at a "legitimate university." Y'all really need to step up into the computer age. Most of our brick-and-mortar classes have the lectures online, powerpoints, homework, even quizzes online so what's the difference between that and taking a course completely online? Gee you have to physically go in to take an exam, and since a teacher is lecturing in the room you really should go in for at least some of the lectures, but it's not really any different than a full online version. Some of the online courses the OP was talking about require a proctored exam at a testing site anyway, or else they have online timed exams. and none of them are "at-your-own-pace" classes. You usually end up having more requirements to accomplish within a semester than a classroom class because you are graded on the quality and quantity of discussions you participate in, in addition to the normal homework, quizzes, and exams. Yes, it would be a bad idea to take a course from say University of Phoenix to satisfy the prereqs but what is the big deal with taking an online version of a course that is offered thru a "legitimate university?"

Could you provide us the name of this "legitimate university" that the OP is interested in?

 

[Hoberto]

I think as long as you ensure that you are taking these online courses through a university that is accredited in the field in which the courses are offered I think you'd be okay. More and more schools are moving to offering more and more online courses as Skaterbabe74 pointed out. Whether or not there are major courses being offered, as opposed to electives, I don't know.

 

[scpod]

Um, the OP was talking about taking the prereqs at a "legitimate university." Y'all really need to step up into the computer age.

I'm really interested in seeing someone participate in a "legitimate" lab class online. I don't see how it's possible. Maybe we should start doing all of our research online as well. How do you think that would work out? Hey, how about let's just start seeing all of our patients online? That ought to work out about as well as one of those "legitimate" online lab courses.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Could you provide us the name of this "legitimate university" that the OP is interested in?

I really don't see it written on this forum. Are you just making this up?

ccconline has 15 schools. It is a consortium of schools in Colorado plus one Montana school, and one Missouri school. I should have said legitimate college as they are almost all community colleges, but you apply and are accepted to any one of the 15 schools, register through that school, and get your transcript from that school. All ccconline does is store the classes in a single place, making it easier to find them when you need them.

The schools are:
Morgan Community College
Trinidad State Jr College
Lamar Community College
Front Range Community College
Community College of Denver
Pikes Peak Community College
Northeastern Jr. College
Red Rocks Community College
Otero Jr. College
Community College of Aurora
Pueblo Community College
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Arapahoe Community College
Dawson Community College, MT
Northwest Missouri State University

Yes, they are CC's/Jr Colleges rather than 4-year universities other than NW Missouri State, but the CC's/Jr Colleges in Colorado are just as rigorous as the 4year schools, and every university in Colorado respects courses from these schools. It's on par with the Cali system where a ton of students start out in a CC before heading to one of the UC's or CS's.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

I'm really interested in seeing someone participate in a "legitimate" lab class online. I don't see how it's possible. Maybe we should start doing all of our research online as well. How do you think that would work out? Hey, how about let's just start seeing all of our patients online? That ought to work out about as well as one of those "legitimate" online lab courses.

I don't know about your general physics lab but most of mine was computer simulations and simple mechanics/circuit board/optics experiments that could easily be conducted on your own in your own home if given the proper materials. Then just write up the labs like normal. Maybe an online lab would have more emphasis on the computer simulations, but for general physics stuff that's really all that is necessary to gain an understanding of mechanics, gravity, newton, circuits, and optics. I certainly am not suggesting that research or patient care be done online, but computer simulations certainly do have a place in scientific research (especially in physics). Heck even my orgo lab had one required computer simulation lab with many more on the cd-rom.

 

[OSUdoc08]

ccconline has 15 schools. It is a consortium of schools in Colorado plus one Montana school, and one Missouri school. I should have said legitimate college as they are almost all community colleges, but you apply and are accepted to any one of the 15 schools, register through that school, and get your transcript from that school. All ccconline does is store the classes in a single place, making it easier to find them when you need them.

The schools are:
Morgan Community College
Trinidad State Jr College
Lamar Community College
Front Range Community College
Community College of Denver
Pikes Peak Community College
Northeastern Jr. College
Red Rocks Community College
Otero Jr. College
Community College of Aurora
Pueblo Community College
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Arapahoe Community College
Dawson Community College, MT
Northwest Missouri State University

Yes, they are CC's/Jr Colleges rather than 4-year universities other than NW Missouri State, but the CC's/Jr Colleges in Colorado are just as rigorous as the 4year schools, and every university in Colorado respects courses from these schools. It's on par with the Cali system where a ton of students start out in a CC before heading to one of the UC's or CS's.

Yeah, obviously none of them are from a legitimate university. Since there is already a stigma attached to easy community college classes (meaning you better make a 4.0), why make it even worse by going beyond that?

 

[Barts]

ccconline has 15 schools. It is a consortium of schools in Colorado plus one Montana school, and one Missouri school. I should have said legitimate college as they are almost all community colleges, but you apply and are accepted to any one of the 15 schools, register through that school, and get your transcript from that school. All ccconline does is store the classes in a single place, making it easier to find them when you need them.

The schools are:
Morgan Community College
Trinidad State Jr College
Lamar Community College
Front Range Community College
Community College of Denver
Pikes Peak Community College
Northeastern Jr. College
Red Rocks Community College
Otero Jr. College
Community College of Aurora
Pueblo Community College
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Arapahoe Community College
Dawson Community College, MT
Northwest Missouri State University

Yes, they are CC's/Jr Colleges rather than 4-year universities other than NW Missouri State, but the CC's/Jr Colleges in Colorado are just as rigorous as the 4year schools, and every university in Colorado respects courses from these schools. It's on par with the Cali system where a ton of students start out in a CC before heading to one of the UC's or CS's.

I asked someone about this who did take a few online pre-req's through the CCC online system (Physics I and Calc at PPCC)--I was told that it didn't come up in one single interview, and he was accepted to multiple schools. I don't want to offer any advice though because I have no idea, just what I was told by someone who has been there/done that.

Edit--I know this is the DO forums--The person I talked to about this is currently in a MD program, I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not (as far as any outlooks/policies by the schools)but thought I would mention it.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Yeah, obviously none of them are from a legitimate university. Since there is already a stigma attached to easy community college classes (meaning you better make a 4.0), why make it even worse by going beyond that?

Um...the last one on there Northwest Missouri State is a legitimate university according to your definition. And yes I agree that there is a stigma attached to easy community college classes in some cases, but not generally for a non-trad who already has a degree and does well in the courses. Plus the CC's in Colorado are on par with the CC's in Cali so NOT "easy" community college classes. If you can go another way, ie. taking the classes in a classroom setting at a 4 year university financially and time-commitment-wise of course that's still the "best" route, but not everyone has that luxury, and in this case the fact that it's an online version of a class will not be distinguishable from the classroom section so it's not making things worse.

 

[beachbunny]

UNECOM offers online Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry as distance courses. Click here: http://distance.une.edu/

I'm currently with the Biochem course to fulfill my requirement for UNECOM so feel free to ask me any questions about that course. I don't know anything about their Orgo course, although I did see that it has a "virtual laboratory" component....interesting....

Good Luck with your prereq's!

 

[BobBarker]

I took Organic lab in a real lab. 6+ hours of lab time and 1 hour of class time every week. I received 2 hours credit for it. It was my least favorite class of my undergrad career. There is no way, an online organic lab should even be a possibility for satisfying prereq's.

 

[scpod]

I don't know anything about their Orgo course, although I did see that it has a "virtual laboratory" component....interesting....

A "virtual" organic lab would, quite simply, suck. The "hands-on" laboratory experience cannot be replaced. Doing the same old experiments that everyone else does over and over is not the way to learn things. Part of learning is trying something new, just to see what will happen. You can't do that in a virtual simulation. You also don't have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, like accidently discarding the organic layer or leaving the top off of a beaker and having your product evaporate. Have you ever tried an experiment a few times, looking for ways to increase your yield? You can't do that with a simulation. I wonder how you will learn the characteristic smell of an alkene from a computer simulation? There are just too many things that you can't do unless you are actually in a lab.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

A "virtual" organic lab would, quite simply, suck. The "hands-on" laboratory experience cannot be replaced. Doing the same old experiments that everyone else does over and over is not the way to learn things. Part of learning is trying something new, just to see what will happen. You can't do that in a virtual simulation. You also don't have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, like accidently discarding the organic layer or leaving the top off of a beaker and having your product evaporate. Have you ever tried an experiment a few times, looking for ways to increase your yield? You can't do that with a simulation. I wonder how you will learn the characteristic smell of an alkene from a computer simulation? There are just too many things that you can't do unless you are actually in a lab.

I dunno how a total virtual lab would work either but the simulation we did for our classroom orgo lab you could try something new just to see what would happen, and you could accidently discard the organic layer or leave the top off a breaker and have it all evaporate, and yes you could do it multiple times to try to increase your yield. Yeah the characteristic smells I don't see how they could simulate, but pretty much everything else can be simulated if you have a good enough simulation program. Check out the cdrom that accompanies Microscale and Miniscale Organic Chemistry Experiments by Schoffstall, Gaddis, and Druelinger sometime.