Second Bachelor?

[benworld9822]

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Hi can someone clarify if I should pursue another bachelor to be more competitive as an applicant when applying.


I currently have an online bachelor degree from u of p and I was wondering if I should get another bachelor from brick and motor university before applying to medical school ( DO ). I'm not sure if online degree is worth the paper it’s printed on for professional program.


Please clarify.

Thank you

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would. Phoenix has a bad reputation. I met a man that got 2 masters there with very high marks but was in his 4th attempt to pass general chemistry 1.

 

[Mehd School]

It depends on your numbers as they currently stand.

If you have a 3.5 and a 27 there's not a whole lot you'll gain by going back to school.

If you have a 2.9 you'll need more school regardless. Some will question online science courses.

 

[benworld9822]

I would. Phoenix has a bad reputation. I met a man that got 2 masters there with very high marks but was in his 4th attempt to pass general chemistry 1.

lol. Na bro, I ain't that bad. I've taken several science course such as Bio 1, Chem 1 & 2, Human Anatomy and Physio at CC with one B and reset A.

So I guess I should pursue another bachelor at four year and finish up reset of prereqs.

Say for instance I wish not pursue DO and later decide that I rather apply to PA program, should I still pursue another bachelor? I'm already 28 so I'm trying to figure the fastest way to approach my situation. Still deciding between PA or going to medical school.

Thank you

 

[TriagePreMed]

lol. Na bro, I ain't that bad. I've taken several science course such as Bio 1, Chem 1 & 2, Human Anatomy and Physio at CC with one B and reset A.

So I guess I should pursue another bachelor at four year and finish up reset of prereqs.

Say for instance I wish not pursue DO and later decide that I rather apply to PA program, should I still pursue another bachelor? I'm already 28 so I'm trying to figure the fastest way to approach my situation. Still deciding between PA or going to medical school.

Thank you

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were that bad. I'm just saying that those schools have that type of bad stigma due to those people.

If you go to the non-trad forum, you'll see someone recently asked about PA vs. MD. That might help settle your mind. I don't know how PA would treat a University of Phoenix degree. Heck, I can't be absolutely sure about DO school either. All I know is I've never seen someone from University of Phoenix when I've browsed school websites and where their students went for undergrad.

I know what it's like to be 28 and want it fast. I'm 28 also and just want to get there. I would do a second BS if it were financially realistic. Sometimes small universities will grant a second BS with as little as 30 units of work.

 

[benworld9822]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were that bad. I'm just saying that those schools have that type of bad stigma due to those people.

If you go to the non-trad forum, you'll see someone recently asked about PA vs. MD. That might help settle your mind. I don't know how PA would treat a University of Phoenix degree. Heck, I can't be absolutely sure about DO school either. All I know is I've never seen someone from University of Phoenix when I've browsed school websites and where their students went for undergrad.

I know what it's like to be 28 and want it fast. I'm 28 also and just want to get there. I would do a second BS if it were financially realistic. Sometimes small universities will grant a second BS with as little as 30 units of work.

True that. Along the line that's what I was thinking as well. I'd probably look into local college for second degree. I doubt it would take longer then a year or so. I already have general ed out of the way.

Take care..

Thank you

 

[MindtheGlottis]

Well if i were you i would start calling schools and explain your situation then ask if you would be competitive if you just took the prerequisite classes. I doubt they would take the diploma legitimately, unless you did exceptionally well on the MCATs.

 

[group_theory]

I don't think you need a second bachelor degree per se (you might), but you will have a very tough uphill battle when it comes to having a University of Phoenix (or Devry or ITT Tech) degree for both medical as well as PA schools. Even with high GPA and MCAT score, it will still be a tough battle.

Now if you were in the military, serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and got your Bachelor while serving overseas, then came back and and took your premed science courses at the local CC closest to where you were stationed, then I can see medical schools/PA schools giving you a chance.

But otherwise, it will be an uphill battle for both PA as well as medical school. You will need more science courses at a university. Not sure if you necessarily need to get a second bachelor degree, but you need more courses at a university level to show medical school admission committee (or even PA admission committee) that you can handle the courseload of medical school.


Challenge - find (using google) a physician or even a physician assistant who did his undergrad at University of Phoenix and then went to medical school/PA school.

*James Cannon doesn't count - he got his DHA from University of Phoenix. His undergrad was at University of Arizona before going to AT Stills for his PA studies.

 

[corpsman33]

I don't think you need a second bachelor degree per se (you might), but you will have a very tough uphill battle when it comes to having a University of Phoenix (or Devry or ITT Tech) degree for both medical as well as PA schools. Even with high GPA and MCAT score, it will still be a tough battle.

Now if you were in the military, serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and got your Bachelor while serving overseas, then came back and and took your premed science courses at the local CC closest to where you were stationed, then I can see medical schools/PA schools giving you a chance.

But otherwise, it will be an uphill battle for both PA as well as medical school. You will need more science courses at a university. Not sure if you necessarily need to get a second bachelor degree, but you need more courses at a university level to show medical school admission committee (or even PA admission committee) that you can handle the courseload of medical school.


Challenge - find (using google) a physician or even a physician assistant who did his undergrad at University of Phoenix and then went to medical school/PA school.

*James Cannon doesn't count - he got his DHA from University of Phoenix. His undergrad was at University of Arizona before going to AT Stills for his PA studies.

I got my B.S. degree from National University, which is an accelerated program very similar to University of Phoenix (granted National University is non-profit and Phoenix is profit; also I was in the Navy, but not deployed; also I took the majority of my classes there in a brick and mort. with the exception of both O Chems being online).

I received about six DO interviews and one MD (only attended three), so schools will definitely still consider you.

If you have all the pre-req's from a regionally accredited school (and Phoenix is accredited despite what some people may think) and you ROCK the MCAT (the great equalizer; there is not much that an incredible MCAT score won't compensate for) then you might be ok (although you might still have some questions to answer at the interview).

Also, if you do decide to do another program don't do another bachelors degree but do a one year post bac with nearly guaranteed admission following completion that is offered at several schools including mine. Good luck!

 

[group_theory]

I got my B.S. degree from National University, which is an accelerated program very similar to University of Phoenix (granted National University is non-profit and Phoenix is profit; also I was in the Navy, but not deployed; also I took the majority of my classes there in a brick and mort. with the exception of both O Chems being online).

I received about six DO interviews and one MD (only attended three), so schools will definitely still consider you.

If you have all the pre-req's from a regionally accredited school (and Phoenix is accredited despite what some people may think) and you ROCK the MCAT (the great equalizer; there is not much that an incredible MCAT score won't compensate for) then you might be ok (although you might still have some questions to answer at the interview).

Also, if you do decide to do another program don't do another bachelors degree but do a one year post bac with nearly guaranteed admission following completion that is offered at several schools including mine. Good luck!

Agree with doing a one year postbac (and getting your science requirement out of the way). Also don't underestimate the difficulty (and the knowledge base) require for MCAT ... it's easy for people to say "rock the MCAT" but it's harder than people realize

corpsman33, congrats on the multiple interviews and acceptance. Although I still believe it is an uphill battle coming from an online school ... not sure what role for-profit vs non-profit plays, but schools such as University of Phoenix, DeVry, ITT Tech, Strayer Online, etc. are not as well received in the conservative academic environment as they are by the general public.

National University, although available online, is on a different playing field compare to the schools mentioned above. While it offers accelerated coursework, it is more of a traditional university than the other online schools.