Right Path

[Humans]

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(Before reading please note that I could not find another place to post this, if you can please move it to the right section, thank-you)

Hello all, i am new to this forum and am very glad that I have found it since it caters to all my questions about health related careers. I am currently attending a Community College in Chicago, not because I didn't get accepted to a 4-year school, but just to save money. I have narrowed down to three health-care careers:
1. Doctor (Anesthesiologist)
2.Dentist
3.Pharmacist

I am currently taking a class to become a certified Pharmacy Technician so I can begin to work in an environment that has to do with medications. I plan on transferring to a 4 year school to get bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry or Microbiology. My question is what classes I should take before transferring, such as “pre-req” classes. I’ve looked around and this is all kind of a blur to me. I hope that I can learn from you all.
Thank-you,
Humans

 

[aSagacious]

I am not privy to the standards of dental or pharmacy schools, but I would advise against taking your pre-reqs (math, chemistry, biology, physics) at a community college if you are considering med school. For now, just work on satisfying general university requirements (english/writing, social sciences, humanities, electives of interest, etc).

 

[Humans]

Thanks! I was thinking to take some classes over the summer so I could have more on my college transcript to transfer to Biochem or Microbiology.

 

[Seahawk]

You shouldn't take any prereqs at community college. Especially not all of them.

The normal prereqs for dental school are:

General Chem 1&2
Organic Chem 1&2
Physics 1&2
Bio201 (or whatever the entry level bio major class is)
Anatomy
English 1&2

Some schools might require calculus, biochemistry, or something along those lines. Just check their websites.


But like I said, dental schools will look down upon you taking prereqs at a community college. On that note, it's not too bad to take other classes at community college, schools normally have a limit on how many credits they will accept. Normally 2 years worth.

Most professional schools look down upon CC in some way....

 

[Phlame217]

I was a CPhT for 3 years and a just a plain pharm tech for 1 year. A lot of people don't know this due to the blasting of commercials in TV which tell you they will provide classes to become a CPhT, Nursing Aid, etc but CVS will train you and pay for the class to become a CPhT. I was hired with no knowledge into CVS and within 6 weeks of online training was a CVS qualified as a Pharmacy Tech. About a year later, CVS paid for me to take the test and become a CPhT.

TLDR; just get hired and let the pharmacy pay for your classes, don't spend 2 grand to become one.

Now on to the rest of school, You will save some money, but in exchange extend the time it takes you to get through undergrad by going to a CC. Your best bet is to hit up a cheap 4 year university. Like here in OK we have the two big schools OU and OSU but there are 12-15 smaller regional 4 year colleges. I went there on a full ride and got my Bachelors with no cost to me other than food and transportation. By going to a CC you're going to deal with classes that won't transfer, won't apply for the same course credit, etc... A big head ache.


I went to pharmacy school for a year before changing to medical school so let me know if you have any major questions.

 

[owlegrad]

I did all my prereqs at a CC. I have heard that in different parts of the country CC's are viewed differently. I do not think that CC's are viewed as inferiorly as some people believe them to be.

 

[Humans]

Thanks guys! I don't really know why schools frown upon CC but im just going to take like bio and chem I guess. As for pharmacy tech, I am not paying since FAFSA pays for 99% of it. The weird thing that I thought was that if you went to CC for pre-req and go to a 4 year school everything will be fine. Like I said, I want to go to a 4 year school for Biochem or Microbiology(UIC) and I already got accepted, I just don't have the money to pay.
Anyways thanks!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you're going to do a degree in Biochem or Microbiology you're going to have to take almost all of your prereqs at a CC. Anyways the rule of thumb is if you maintain your science gpa in a 4 year college and have a good Mcat you'll be fine.

 

[MrBird]

Why anesthesiology?

 

[Morsetlis]

Why anesthesiology?

They are the guardian of passage between that twilight realm of sleep and death.

 

[Humans]

Why anesthesiology?

When I came to America at about 5, I remember going into surgery (had my top row of teeth knocked out) and only remembering the Anesthesiologist telling me to count back. I enjoy comforting people and think that anesthesiology is cool since you can see the effects of certain drugs right in front of your eye (propofol). Without Anesthesiologists a heart transplant or other painful surgeries would not be possible.

 

[amgen]

have you ever tried job shadowing? it's a good way of getting solid advice!

 

[Humans]

have you ever tried job shadowing? it's a good way of getting solid advice!

I have not, but what exactly do you mean by that?

 

[deleted357625]

(Before reading please note that I could not find another place to post this, if you can please move it to the right section, thank-you)

Hello all, i am new to this forum and am very glad that I have found it since it caters to all my questions about health related careers. I am currently attending a Community College in Chicago, not because I didn't get accepted to a 4-year school, but just to save money. I have narrowed down to three health-care careers:
1. Doctor (Anesthesiologist)
2.Dentist
3.Pharmacist

I am currently taking a class to become a certified Pharmacy Technician so I can begin to work in an environment that has to do with medications. I plan on transferring to a 4 year school to get bachelor's degree in Biochemistry or Microbiology. My question is what classes I should take before transferring, such as "pre-req" classes. I've looked around and this is all kind of a blur to me. I hope that I can learn from you all.
Thank-you,
Humans

Decide which field is for you, all three are really diff, and pharmacy school require some classes that you don't need for med school vice versa.

The solid overall pre-reqs you need for med school are:

Eng 1/2
bio 1/2 both w/ lab
general chem 1/2 both w/lab
organic chem 1/2 both w/lab
physics 1/2 both w/ lab

some schools require biochem, calculus 1-2 etc.

go on each schools website for each program and look at admission requirements, it explicitly states them.

 

[Humans]

Decide which field is for you, all three are really diff, and pharmacy school require some classes that you don't need for med school vice versa.

The solid overall pre-reqs you need for med school are:

Eng 1/2
bio 1/2 both w/ lab
general chem 1/2 both w/lab
organic chem 1/2 both w/lab
physics 1/2 both w/ lab

some schools require biochem, calculus 1-2 etc.

go on each schools website for each program and look at admission requirements, it explicitly states them.

Thanks, I'm currently looking on different schoolwebsites for Biochem and Microbio, which is of coarse all science and math. Thanks!