A big thank you to everyone who was so helpful on my first SDN thread. I had an entirely different idea about my chances/strategy in applying to med school before getting all your responses. And I think it now makes sense to do an entirely new undergrad degree. (Also thanks for pointing out Empire!)
The only way this is remotely feasible is to find a cheap, partially online option. I've spent the last week or so looking into things, and I think SUNY Empire would be a great option for me. It's cheap, it's flexible and it has some great courses available. I could access physical classes through SUNY Plus- and it looks like take classes at pretty much any any other school that could be transferred for credit.
I do want to make sure I don't make any big mistakes here though, so a few questions:
1. Empire offers the core lab science pre-reqs online, with the purchase of a "lab kit" that I'm guessing requires you to do science experiments in your living room (or maybe kitchen for your gas range Bunsen burner 🙂 ). I assume I should not take any of these online. (Though it would make things so much easier!)
2. But can I take everything else online pretty safely? Just as long as the Physics/Chem/Orgo/Bio courses are actual classroom courses? What about Biochem (not offered now but maybe elsewhere online) and the non-science suggested pre-reqs like math/english/foreign languages? Or will this still be very negatively perceived?
3. It's a little early for me to be targeting specific schools. But I'd like to see generally what policies are regarding online courses. I need an AMCAS account to register for MSAR. I still know so little about this whole thing. Is there any reason I should hold off creating one? Once I have MSAR access, will I be able to search for med schools that accept online courses?
4. What's the verdict on my foreign undergrad degree? I know I can't use it for transfer credits if I want to avoid submitting it. But are schools likely to have a problem if I don't? It'll be obvious I had some sort of undergrad training since I did a US JD. Seems sort of sketchy to say "Pay no attention!"
The only way this is remotely feasible is to find a cheap, partially online option. I've spent the last week or so looking into things, and I think SUNY Empire would be a great option for me. It's cheap, it's flexible and it has some great courses available. I could access physical classes through SUNY Plus- and it looks like take classes at pretty much any any other school that could be transferred for credit.
I do want to make sure I don't make any big mistakes here though, so a few questions:
1. Empire offers the core lab science pre-reqs online, with the purchase of a "lab kit" that I'm guessing requires you to do science experiments in your living room (or maybe kitchen for your gas range Bunsen burner 🙂 ). I assume I should not take any of these online. (Though it would make things so much easier!)
2. But can I take everything else online pretty safely? Just as long as the Physics/Chem/Orgo/Bio courses are actual classroom courses? What about Biochem (not offered now but maybe elsewhere online) and the non-science suggested pre-reqs like math/english/foreign languages? Or will this still be very negatively perceived?
3. It's a little early for me to be targeting specific schools. But I'd like to see generally what policies are regarding online courses. I need an AMCAS account to register for MSAR. I still know so little about this whole thing. Is there any reason I should hold off creating one? Once I have MSAR access, will I be able to search for med schools that accept online courses?
4. What's the verdict on my foreign undergrad degree? I know I can't use it for transfer credits if I want to avoid submitting it. But are schools likely to have a problem if I don't? It'll be obvious I had some sort of undergrad training since I did a US JD. Seems sort of sketchy to say "Pay no attention!"
