Pre-reqs: CC vs. CSU vs. UC

[Misled]

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Hey all,

I am currently 25 years old and have a BS in Business from a Cal State University with a 3.155 overall GPA. I have been working in the legal field for the past four years, but after careful consideration I have decided to abandon my previous plan of being a lawyer to go after my life-long dream of becoming a doctor. The road ahead is long and I am hoping for a bit of advice concerning a few matters.

My GPA is low, but I have not taken a single science course other than what was required so there is room for improvement. I was thinking about doing a post-bacc program for the pre-reqs, but I have been reading that my GPA is pretty low for that. My next option is to take the pre-reqs myself, take the MCAT, and either apply to med school or attend an SMP.

I am posting in hopes that i can get some much needed advice concerning where to take my pre-reqs. Options with pros/cons are as follows:

Community College
pros:
-inexpensive
-five minute drive from home
-it is actually a decent school and offers all the pre-reqs

cons:
-community college (is this frowned upon for med school acceptance?)

Cal State University
pros:
-may be seen as a better education than a CC
-more expensive than CC, but not bad
-more lab opportunities

cons:
-hour fifteen drive from my house
-I graduated from this school and am not very keen about it

University of California (Riverside)
pros:
-UC school
-great education

cons:
-more expensive
-hour thirty drive from my house
-might not even be able to get in as a post-bacc (does anybody have any information on this?)

A buddy of mine will be able to help me out with shadowing experience, clinical experience, and volunteer work.

My plan would be to take the pre-reqs and basically do as much of the EC's as I can to prove my interest in the profession and to create a more competitive application. Any advice?

Thank you in advance for any responses.

 

[DrMidlife]

I'm pretty fond of UCR for a variety of reasons, so the short answer is "I vote UCR," but I encourage you to think about bigger issues than postbac school choice.

First, a 3.155 in business says to me that you should expect to have a lot of difficulty in the premed prereqs. These are going to be the hardest classes you've ever taken. It would be a grave, permanent mistake for you to plan on getting a 3.5-4.0 in your postbac without doing some work to set yourself up to succeed. In your shoes, I would warm up to the task by taking some difficult math (preferably calculus for eng/sci) and a difficult science class, and imho you can take these at a CC (and then don't take anything else at a CC because you have an "academic mettle" claim to prove in med school admissions). Use this prelim coursework as a barometer for whether you're ready to hit it hard or not. If you can't ace these classes, then assume that you'll need tutoring and probably a small class environment to succeed in the rest of your postbac. Which means you need to be ready to spend some money.

Now, think long term. Do you want to stay in California? Do you want to get into a UC? The UCs, by far, are the most competitive game in the country. You'll be competing against an overwhelming array of youngsters who have never made a mistake in their lives. If your heart is set on a UC, then you need a GPA well over 3.5, and you need to be a profoundly compelling candidate, to overcome a 3.155 biz degree. Regardless, you won't be staying in the inland empire to go to med school: you'll be moving. So why not think about moving someplace where the in-state benefits are greater? Texas, Florida and Ohio, for instance, have a large selection of public schools that are inexpensive and not prohibitively competitive.

Food for thought. Best of luck to you.

 

[MissIrish]

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[KiwiBruin]

I have info about doing post-bac work at UCR. The policies there are made by college. Here is the link: http://http://cnasstudent.ucr.edu/students/limit.html

Note that "limited status" is not eligible for state/federal financial aid, in case this is a concern.

I am an alum of UCR and LOVED it. I'm going to do my second BA there.

FWIW, I commuted an hour each way to UCR when I attended (lived in Northern San Diego county) and it was a quick trip. Traffic was not a major issue. CSUSM was five minutes away but I did NOT want go there.

I don't think the OP can do that.
Important Considerations for Limited Status and Second Baccalaureate Admission:
Students should have completed the lower-division prerequisites for the proposed area of study. Remaining lower-division prerequisite courses may be taken at the community college when available.

Also, Course enrollment priority goes to current UCR students who are pursuing their first bachelor's degree. UCR will not admit students whose Limited Status or Second Baccalaureate degree plans include courses that are currently over-enrolled.

Biology at my school is always super full but not sure about UCR...

OP, I think you should goto the Cal State school. Just make sure you study hard and get good grades. Where you goto school isn't important as your GPA. I am also thinking that UCR will be at least slightly more competitive than at Cal State so why put extra stress and the commute on yourself? Don't take classes at a community college. I think it is frowned upon and since your G.P.A isn't very high already, I think you need to get good grades at a 4 year institution. Good luck~