Part Time Course Load for Prerequisites

[Rip]

Hello All,

I'm a first time poster looking for advice on prerequisites. I've worked full time in my current career for the past 22 years and I'd ideally like to apply to Veterinary School from my current job. This makes for a nice plan B (keep doing what I'm currently doing if not accepted). With the aforementioned in mind, do adcoms look unfavorably upon taking one prerequisite at a time?

So far I've taken Gen Chem 1&2 one course at time and I'm currently taking Org 2 only. Last semester I took Bio 1 and Org 1 together (did well in class, but my job performance suffered).

Am I spinning my wheels taking one course at a time?

Thank you!

Rip

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[DVMorBust]

One of the issues a lot of returning students have run into is that schools like to see the capability of a heavy science courseload. The general consensus is that at least one semester of full-time science classes is the only way to ensure that you demonstrate this on an application. . .

 

[McVillesMom]

That was something that I was really concerned about. I took 1 or 2 courses while working full time for about 5 years. It wasn't an issue for me - I got an interview on the first day of interviews and they called me the next day to tell me I was in. I suspect this is not the typical situation, however - just another point of view 🙂

 

[bunnity]

What if you continued what you're doing until you only had 4-5 classes left, and then cut back on work and went full-time at school for a semester? That way you could still be making a living but you would be able to demonstrate your competence under a heavy workload. Especially if you were still working some hours, that would show that you have good time management.

 

[Shanomong]

I would suggest contacting the admissions offices of the schools you intend to apply to. They're usually really good about giving helpful advice when it comes to stuff like this. Maybe even set up an appointment with your IS (if you have one) to sit down and go over what they'd like to see from you. That way you not only get good advice from them, but they also become familiar with your face and name, and you can make contacts.

I think you could definitely turn yourself into a successful applicant without endangering your full time position. While schools might like to see a heavy courseload, I don't think it's the most important factor and there are probably other areas where you could make up for it. Best of luck!!

 

[athane960]

I think it says alot for you to be working full time and taking prerequisites. I have a full time job with alot of traveling involved and this past year I had to take a prereq for one of the schools that I was applying to that I did not take in undergrad. Working full time + taking classes is, in my opinion, on the same level as taking a heavy course load!


In on of my essays on the supplementals I mentioned that even though I had not been in school for a few years that the same work ethic I apply to my professional job on a daily basis would be applied to school and studying and etc. So I think that if you have a full time job, taking one couse at a time is understandable!

 

[DVMorBust]

IWorking full time + taking classes is, in my opinion, on the same level as taking a heavy course load!


In on of my essays on the supplementals I mentioned that even though I had not been in school for a few years that the same work ethic I apply to my professional job on a daily basis would be applied to school and studying and etc. So I think that if you have a full time job, taking one couse at a time is understandable!

All good points.

To clarify what I meant above (Reading back over, it sounded like a dire 'if you can't take a full-time courseload, you'll never make it' prediction): Taking a full time science courseload is the only CERTAIN way to show you can handle a full time science courseload. But it's possible to convince adcoms without taking a fulltime courseload - you just need to get more creative and have a little luck.

Also - GPA is something it's not easy to bounce back from if it gets too low. With that in mind, it's probably better to take he prereqs in a way that's manageable, and get good grades in them (if that means one or two a semester, so be it). If you apply and don't get in, and adcoms tell you in your file review that they really need to see that you can manage full-time sciences, you can always try and work a full-time semester of upper-level courses (non-prereqs) and rock them later on.

 

[nyanko]

I also think that taking a full time upper division sciences course load is important for your own sake, to make sure that you can handle it, seeing as how that's what you will be doing in vet school. It's not some random hoop they make you jump through, it's a valid concern. Balancing a full time job and part time classes, while not easy in the least bit, is a completely different animal from balancing a full time challenging courseload, and that's something you need to be cognizant of.

And after being out of school for awhile, it only gets harder, not easier, to go back and take a full courseload and do well in it. I was only out for a year and I struggled with it the first semester or two.

 

[sumstorm]

If you have been out for a while, you might want to brush up on study skills prior to returning. I don't think it is harder to go back.... I just think that skills you had years ago are a bit rusty.

 

[Badger Girl]

I'm in the same boat, Rip. I will be applying to UW-Madison only, and they told me to take at least one semester full-time. I would check with the schools you are applying to. When I went to visit Minnesota, they told me that it didn't matter what my courseload looked like. I work full-time as well, so it is going to be a tight squeeze time-wise and financially. If only I could tell you the tons and tons of hours I have obsessed over this, trying to figure out which classes would fit together the best without having to be away from work too many hours during the day.

I know everyone says that you have to consider what a full-time science load is going to be like once in vet school and how hard it is, but I have some other thoughts. I think that working full-time while trying to fit in school, shadowing, volunteering, and personal comittments is way harder than focusing on school alone. Of course there will be other commitments that go along with vet school and I will probably be ripped to shreds for saying this, but that's my opinion. My job can be super demanding and I believe that vet school will be uber stressful, but it will be a completely different kind of stress compared to removing kids from their home, going to court, arranging visits for the parents, being on-call, and then going to class at night for a few hours...then repeat. That's what I've got going on now. We all have our own stress and I think it depends on how you handle it. Just my two cents.

 

[ZooNose]

I think that working full-time while trying to fit in school, shadowing, volunteering, and personal comittments is way harder than focusing on school alone. Of course there will be other commitments that go along with vet school and I will probably be ripped to shreds for saying this, but that's my opinion.

Dont worry Badger Girl - I agree with you 100%! I have never been so physically and emotionally exhausted as I was when taking prereqs at night after working full-time during the day. I was so miserable and would prefer being a full-time student anyday (and I went to a very challenging undergrad program, so I've been there too). It's a whole different set of stress, but one that I find easier for myself to manage. So I hear you!

 

[Shanomong]

I think that working full-time while trying to fit in school, shadowing, volunteering, and personal comittments is way harder than focusing on school alone.

I think that probably depends on what school you go to, what your job is, and what your personal life is like.... Personally, in my own experiences, I agree. I've done both. When I was a full-time student I had way more "free" time to study for all of my classes. As a full-time employee studying at work was frowned upon, and in addition to the 40+ hour work week, I spent about 14 hour a week in class for just the 2 classes (microbio and biochem), and still had to find time to study at home. If I had to work the night before a big exam I couldn't "skip" as I would occasionally do with classes. Taking time off for a final was a hassle, and taking time off to study was not possible. There were days I worked until 2am and had an exam in the morning... and working in a veterinary clinic, training to be a nurse, I had a lot to learn for my job as well. I found it to be way more stressful.

And all that said, I don't have kids, my husband is VERY accomidating, and everything else in my life is in pretty good order. So I'm sure there are people with crazier jobs and crazier lifes trying to make the part time thing happen

But there are also people who go to more challenging schools, or are in graduate programs, and are involved in many extracurriculars etc... that I'm sure have just as much if not more to worry about... so it's all relative 😛

 

[Badger Girl]

But there are also people who go to more challenging schools, or are in graduate programs, and are involved in many extracurriculars etc... that I'm sure have just as much if not more to worry about... so it's all relative 😛

Agreed. It is all relative. We all have our own things going on and would all make good arguments as to the amount of stress we can or have endured. I think it's all about the way you handle it and what you are willing to do to acheive your goal. Does working full-time and going to school plus all the other stuff suck sometimes? Yup, but it sure makes me believe that this is truly what I want, otherwise I wouldn't be working this hard!

 

[sumstorm]

I can't really offer an opinion up on what is harder or more difficult or stressful....I worked PT through HS, FT through college, and FT now while finishing out some of the different pre-reqs (business, biochem, genetics, animal nutrition)..oh wait, I am PT now as of a week ago.

Actually, vet school would be the first time I have really gone to school without having work (farm chores growing up as a child) so if I get in, it should be a really interesting experience.

 

[nyanko]

I think that some of you are reading something into what I said that wasn't there. I said it was different, not that one was any harder than the other. Because it is different and does not require the same skillset.

Personally I came into graduate school figuring that there was no way it could be harder than undergrad - after all, my last two years of undergrad I was taking a full time courseload of upper division sciences + a couple grad courses, doing research for an honors thesis and TAing, plus working part time at a vet clinic.

Oh man was I wrong. My research responsibilities and TA responsibilities went up about 500 fold, and taking 3 measly classes along with that is really kicking my butt, and that's without the vet clinic job! Again, completely different animal. I anticipate that vet school will be a whole new set of challenges, but probably more similar to undergrad than what I'm doing now (and not really looking forward to that again!).

If you have been out for a while, you might want to brush up on study skills prior to returning. I don't think it is harder to go back.... I just think that skills you had years ago are a bit rusty.

Doesn't that make it harder, though? I don't understand your point here. I have no idea how one could really "brush up on study skills" prior to returning to a full time courseload - how are you supposed to study for classes that you aren't taking? 😕

 

[Rip]

All the input is really appreciated. Sounds like there is no one right answer. I'll check with each of the schools I'm considering.

I think our own individual experiences/perspectives cause us to be partial to our own situations. I've read were certain adcom officers have stated that the best indicator for success in Med/Vet/Dent School is handling a full load of science courses. While I don't disagree with the logic, I do think it's a bit narrow in scope. Personally, I would love nothing more than opportunity to go to school full time. It's my escape from the Rat Race and I enjoy it. Of course, I've been seperated from school for a while, so my take is a little different than a 21 year old that's been grinding it out for the last four years.

Thanks!

Rip