Physics Prerequisite....AAAAH.

[meninaesperta]

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Ok. I'm gonna try to keep this short and sweet, being my first post. I will probably have to come back and explain more later.

In short, I'm searching for somewhere to take a year of Physics online for credit. Does anyone have any advice on this or experience with it?

The reason I have not taken Physics is that I am applying to 2 schools IS - USC SOM in Columbia, SC and MUSC in Charleston, SC. Neither require Physics. I graduated college in 2009 with a double major in Chemistry and Spanish. Physics wasn't required for my Chem major, but I did take PChem and did pretty well. I also studied a lot of Physics for the MCAT (obviously).

The reason I want to take Physics is for the very likely reason I will have to reapply - I completed my secondaries in September and still haven't heard anything. I know it's not too late, but I can't help planning ahead...just in case. I'd like to broaden my scope to other schools (including DO -- I have been researching DO schools for a little bit now, and am very interested in finding out more), and I know Physics would help if I do indeed have to retake the MCAT, which is very possible. It would also raise my BCPM GPA - which would be awesome.

So this isn't as short as I originally planned, but any advice is much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

*In case anyone would like to know, my MCAT is 26Q, my GPA (AMCAS) is 3.44, and my sGPA (I just left out the math from the BCPM for AMCAS) would be 3.5 - my grades significantly increased in the last 2 1/2 years of college. I have great ECs - leadership, volunteering, tutoring, teaching, clinical and research experience.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Doubt you can take physics online since you will need to lab portion to fulfill the requirement. Only need the algebra based course.

Remember that when you apply to DO schools you go through AACOMAS not AMCAS

 

[Kevin Baker]

Ok. I'm gonna try to keep this short and sweet, being my first post. I will probably have to come back and explain more later.

In short, I'm searching for somewhere to take a year of Physics online for credit. Does anyone have any advice on this or experience with it?

The reason I have not taken Physics is that I am applying to 2 schools IS - USC SOM in Columbia, SC and MUSC in Charleston, SC. Neither require Physics. I graduated college in 2009 with a double major in Chemistry and Spanish. Physics wasn't required for my Chem major, but I did take PChem and did pretty well. I also studied a lot of Physics for the MCAT (obviously).

The reason I want to take Physics is for the very likely reason I will have to reapply - I completed my secondaries in September and still haven't heard anything. I know it's not too late, but I can't help planning ahead...just in case. I'd like to broaden my scope to other schools (including DO -- I have been researching DO schools for a little bit now, and am very interested in finding out more), and I know Physics would help if I do indeed have to retake the MCAT, which is very possible. It would also raise my BCPM GPA - which would be awesome.

So this isn't as short as I originally planned, but any advice is much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

*In case anyone would like to know, my MCAT is 26Q, my GPA (AMCAS) is 3.44, and my sGPA (I just left out the math from the BCPM for AMCAS) would be 3.5 - my grades significantly increased in the last 2 1/2 years of college. I have great ECs - leadership, volunteering, tutoring, teaching, clinical and research experience.

Don't take it online. I think there are some rare places where you can order a lab kit, do it at home, send it in, get it graded, etc. but it isn't cheap, it is a hassle, and imo it looks weird. Most universities imo offer some form of summer physics, from Juneish to early-mid August. I would look into that. It takes time and can take over your summer, but if in state, it can be really cheap. A lot of places don't put up summer curriculums until late winter/early spring, but the registrar should have an idea if the class will be offered, or you can google summer session 2010 for the school and see if they held the class last summer. It can be a hassle enrolling as a non degree seeking student, but start early enough and you should be fine.

 

[primadonna22274]

I did find, and registered for, an online PHY 201-202-203 series (well, just 201 for me) at Eastern Oregon University a couple of years ago. But buyer beware: I never finished it, partly because of difficulty communicating with the professor and partly my inability to teach it to myself beyond the very basic MCAT physics (my low section, duh). It was also difficult to find a proctor for exams.

There is a hybrid physics course at Midlands Tech in Columbia that looks promising--you meet all day on Tuesday for lecture/lab and complete course discussions outside of class online. A lot of self-study from what I understand. It fills up fast and I also had trouble getting that professor to return calls. If you are anywhere near Columbia it might be doable for you.

I've found a handful of online physics courses, but most without lab. I think there is one at NC State? it's been a while since I checked. The EOU course did have labs you do at home (they send you a kit) and I'm sure for some folks who are motivated enough the class would work OK, but it wasn't for me. I'm taking it traditionally this winter M/W nights (just one little requirement I have to complete for LECOM).

Good luck!

 

[TriagePreMed]

UNECOM is your answer.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I have to say that someone getting a degree in chemistry without having to take a calc based physics class is almost absurd sounding. Honestly go to a CC and take physics with a lab.

 

[meninaesperta]

yeaaaah. i am definitely just gonna have to suck it up.

thanks, everyone, y'all've been very helpful.

i think the solution will be to do it at a cc because it'll be so much cheaper.

@primadonna - thanks for your in depth answer. very helpful.

and @ serenade -- i have no idea either how i got a chem major w/o physics. i did have to have calc 1 & 2, though. honestly i was wondering that the whole year i was in pchem. anyone who does pchem should probably have to have physics first. oh well.

 

[browndrake]

This is a bit late but pertinent.

UNECOM is your answer.

according to them, UNECOM does not yet offer physics. They will likely have physics I next spring but do not yet know for sure, nor do they know when they will offer physics II

 

[TriagePreMed]

This is a bit late but pertinent.



according to them, UNECOM does not yet offer physics. They will likely have physics I next spring but do not yet know for sure, nor do they know when they will offer physics II

Oh really? My mistake. Thanks for the correction.

 

[gunito]

CCConline has online science classes. It's based off of the Community College of Colorado system. The teachers are CC teachers so they grade your labs. You get a lab kit, do the lab, and write a report and turn it in. The kits are about 200$.