Taking one course as a web course

[cutie_monkey]

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Hi All,
I am planning to take BioII as a web course. This will be the only course I am doing online. It is the only way for me as I am planning to take the MCAT in August. I am not sure if this is a good idea and how much that will hurt me in the future as far as acceptable credit, application and what not. Please let me know asap. I need to register tomorrow. 🙂
Thanks,
Annie

 

[gman33]

What type of school is offering the online course?
If it's a traditional school, then it's probably okay. If it's U Phoenix or something similar I wouldn't do it.

Contact the med schools you will be applying to for some better advice.

 

[Kateb4]

Agreed. I took several classes online from my university, and have not had one question as to their validity. As long as you are taking the class from an accredited university, I don't think that it is a problem.

 

[notdeadyet]

There's already a pretty lengthy thread on this page about this very subject.

Many med schools will not accept online courses to satisfy prerequisites. So far as I know, all med schools require two semesters of Bio.

So you have two options:

1. Take the course, take the MCAT, repeat the course at night school in the fall. Though going this route, you're probably better off not taking the web class at all and using that time to just read the text book and prep for the MCAT.

2. Take the course, take the MCAT, apply to schools that allow prereqs done via online learning. Contact schools directly and ask them in writing if they'll accept online learning for the second semester of Bio as a prereq. You'll find that many to most will not.

I'd go with 3. Take the MCAT, then take a Bio course properly. You can take the MCAT fine without the second semester in Bio, if it's all you lack. Use a good prep book and it will fill in the holes. Bio is mostly information retrieval, so it's not as if you'll be hurting for not having lots of class time to practice equations. You do not need to have your prereqs satisfied by time of application. Take the course in a classroom setting in the fall.

Best of luck with your application.

 

[notdeadyet]

By the way, please read the linked thread for a nice long discussion about how schools view online learning and their acceptance of distance learning for prereqs. I think I mentioned on that thread my background. I'm a fan of online learning. But med schools aren't.

As to the "how will they know?" issue, that's sort of like when folks can ask if they can not send in a community college transcript for one they took a few classes in and didn't do well in, because, hey, "how will they know?". It's an honesty thing. Knowing most schools do not accept online prereqs, the don't ask/don't tell thing won't fly.

I found out the policy of no distance learning for prereqs in April of the year I was to matriculate medical school in late-July. I had already turned down all acceptances except for one, then found out their policy. I had to scramble to find a school that would teach me my required BioChem class in time to matriculate. Don't let this be you.

 

[aliDO]

I took Bio online as well. There is nothing on my transcript that states this so this is no way for them to know it was online. I took it at a regular four year university.