Request advice for pre-req phase...

[ThinkTwice]

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I need advice on surviving the pre-req's... what's the best way to handle it when you're single, etc...

Brief history: I am a nontraditional pre-med student, majoring in French, German and European Studies. I finally decide that I want a career in health-care, and after much deliberation I picked Osteopathy.

Question #1: It's not that surprising that I have no money to pay for school (even just the pre-req's), but does anyone have any good advice. What kinds of loans did you look into?

Question #2: I think I have a good thing going with my job, so I compromized my Fall semester to work so that I could take Gen. Chem I & II in the summer. Now I'm studying orgo on my own... for various reasons, and I plan on taking the MCAT early to mid-year 2007. I think it's too late for me to get all my pre-req's in before next fall to apply for 2008... is it ok for me to be finishing up classes after applying? Realistically, I don't see why not, because it is nearly a whole year before you're actually admitted.

Question #3: Is it possible/common to build a rapport with your #1 school of choice? How does one go about this exactly?

Thank you for your time!

 

[Bill_252001]

I need advice on surviving the pre-req's... what's the best way to handle it when you're single, etc...

Brief history: I am a nontraditional pre-med student, majoring in French, German and European Studies. I finally decide that I want a career in health-care, and after much deliberation I picked Osteopathy.

Question #1: It's not that surprising that I have no money to pay for school (even just the pre-req's), but does anyone have any good advice. What kinds of loans did you look into?

Question #2: I think I have a good thing going with my job, so I compromized my Fall semester to work so that I could take Gen. Chem I & II in the summer. Now I'm studying orgo on my own... for various reasons, and I plan on taking the MCAT early to mid-year 2007. I think it's too late for me to get all my pre-req's in before next fall to apply for 2008... is it ok for me to be finishing up classes after applying? Realistically, I don't see why not, because it is nearly a whole year before you're actually admitted.

Question #3: Is it possible/common to build a rapport with your #1 school of choice? How does one go about this exactly?

Thank you for your time!

I can't answer all the three questions but as far as question 1 goes, you can take some classes at a 4 yr univeristy and take some at a local community college. I did the same and I did not have any problem with how medical schools look where you took you pre reqs. I would say take few high level courses at a major univeristy.
For question 2, you can totally finish your pre reqs after you apply. You will get until Summer of the matriculation year to finish your pre reqs. But atleast give them something to judge your caliber, few pre reqs.
Hope that helps..

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

I need advice on surviving the pre-req's... what's the best way to handle it when you're single, etc...

Brief history: I am a nontraditional pre-med student, majoring in French, German and European Studies. I finally decide that I want a career in health-care, and after much deliberation I picked Osteopathy.

Question #1: It's not that surprising that I have no money to pay for school (even just the pre-req's), but does anyone have any good advice. What kinds of loans did you look into?

Question #2: I think I have a good thing going with my job, so I compromized my Fall semester to work so that I could take Gen. Chem I & II in the summer. Now I'm studying orgo on my own... for various reasons, and I plan on taking the MCAT early to mid-year 2007. I think it's too late for me to get all my pre-req's in before next fall to apply for 2008... is it ok for me to be finishing up classes after applying? Realistically, I don't see why not, because it is nearly a whole year before you're actually admitted.

Question #3: Is it possible/common to build a rapport with your #1 school of choice? How does one go about this exactly?

Thank you for your time!

Question #1: Are you talking about loans for your pre-requisites? They would pretty much be the same loans for your undergraduate degree. Stafford subsidized and Stafford unsubsidized would be your best bet. Take courses at night or at a community college where the cost of tuition is lower.

Question #2: Many students finish up the pre-reqs while apply or during the year before they matriculate. If you're confident about your performance on the MCAT without taking these courses, then go for it. I know many students who have done just that. I'm not sure I would recommend studying for orgo on my own, but it's the smallest portion on the BS section. Make sure you do some example tests.

Question #3: Good rapport can be accomplished in many ways. 1) Visit the school during their open house day 2) Send them emails concerning their curriculum 3) Some schools have different workshops and community involvement days 4) Shadow a doctor from that school and obtain a LOR from them

Now the daunting task of doing all that in the next couple of years. 🙂 Best of luck.

 

[ThinkTwice]

Thanks for the replies. I am lot more at ease after reading this advice.

I'll be happy to read more, so if you anyone else would like to reply, then thank you too!

🙂

 

[ThinkTwice]

Also, in my haste, I made it sound like I was still in school, that's why the loan advice must have sounded a little wierd, but I've graduated already.

Any more advice out there?

 

[clsr2nrvna]

Coming from PA (one of the most expensive states for higher ed.), i began my prereqs shortly after finishing my master's, & achieving 40+K of school loans.

If u have preexisting loans, check to see if they are deferred when you take so many courses (mine were not deferred with 6 credits, but once i took 3 classes, they were automatically deferred). But be careful, as they still accrue interest, though this helps me financially for the time-being.

At first i was taking classes as a non-degree seeking student (or "grad special"), and paid cash for some. But if you choose to declare a major, then you are eligible for state loans most of the time (as long as you are in a degree-seeking program, as opposed to just taking a few classes). And you never have to finish the degree, just get your prereqs in.

I think almost all schools allot for the payments to be broken up during that particular semester, if you have that kind of money.

You could also shop around for loans (check ur bank/credit union) for education SPECIFIC loans, sometimes u can get a great rate.

One last option is to hit the lottery, my current approach...*after thought* guess i should start playing...

KATiE