Taking Online Courses Before Applying to Medical School?

[entdreams47]

I am wondering how medical schools view additional online science courses. I finished up my undergraduate degree in May and had some sciences (Bio I, Chem I, Neuroscience, Nutrition I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I, Bunch of Psych Classes). I am currently enrolled in a formal Postbacc program for the next year to finish up my "pre-med" requirements. I was interested in taking some online courses from the University of New England (UNE) basically to keep me busy and to help out my science GPA a bit. (None of the "required" courses online, of course) I know they can't HURT, but how do med schools view these - will they count in calculating my science GPA or should I not even bother wasting my money? Would they even know it was online?

Also - if anyone has suggestions on other sites they have taken online courses from that'd be great! This is the only one I'm very familiar with that is significantly cheaper than taking them here through my post-bacc.

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[spiffysteve]

If they're science classes, I believe they would count towards your sGPA. That being said, I wouldn't do that. I would worry that you will overload yourself and either your post-bacc or online grades would suffer unnecessarily, which might actually hurt your GPA.

 

[entdreams47]

Well I'm only taking two post-bacc courses this semester and definitely do not function well when I'm not staying busy haha so I'm not worrying about being overloaded this semester-- I just want to make sure I wouldn't be wasting my money by taking them if they wont count

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Yes, online courses will count towards your sGPA, which is calculated by AMCAS--not the medical schools themselves. It may very well be clear that they're online courses since you'll have to submit transcripts to AMCAS (and at least some schools will write on the transcript that it's an online course). But this shouldn't be a problem. They'll still be factored into your GPA and as long as they're not prereqs, I can't imagine med schools having a problem with this.

 

[deleted707454]

They are generally accepted. Lots of people discuss UNE specifically on this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-official-une-online-course-thread.1120035/

I have taken 3 UNE courses, as well as other pre-reqs from other places.

 

[entdreams47]

They are generally accepted. Lots of people discuss UNE specifically on this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-official-une-online-course-thread.1120035/

I have taken 3 UNE courses, as well as other pre-reqs from other places.

Thanks for the reference! When you went to apply (If you've done so already) Do they indicate on the transcript they were taken online?

 

[deleted707454]

Thanks for the reference! When you went to apply (If you've done so already) Do they indicate on the transcript they were taken online?

I am applying this cycle. UNE does not indicate that they were taken online. I believe this is something you would report in a specific school's secondary application since the AMCAS application has no designation for this. Adcoms might know, though, just cause the UNE courses are popular. Which schools are you looking at? I have MSAR access and I can look up their stance on online courses.

 

[eng_elect_17yrs]

Hey guys, rather than creating new thread, i think i can use this thread to know about pre-req. I am a practicing electrical engineer but want to change my profession and wish to take medicine. I am planning to take UNE online courses to complete the pre-req. Am i going by the right path? Or missing something?

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Hey guys, rather than creating new thread, i think i can use this thread to know about pre-req. I am a practicing electrical engineer but want to change my profession and wish to take medicine. I am planning to take UNE online courses to complete the pre-req. Am i going by the right path? Or missing something?

You should purchase a subscription to MSAR because it will tell you whether certain medical schools will take online courses to fulfill pre-reqs. Most don't, so better check before wasting time/money on taking them and not having them count.

Also, most schools will allow non-traditional students to take prereqs at community colleges.

 

[eng_elect_17yrs]

You should purchase a subscription to MSAR because it will tell you whether certain medical schools will take online courses to fulfill pre-reqs. Most don't, so better check before wasting time/money on taking them and not having them count.

Also, most schools will allow non-traditional students to take prereqs at community colleges.

Most threads for UNE are saying those are countable to a lot of med shcools; is that different for non-trad students? Also, when you say community college; does it mean any community college? I mean med schools accept any community college like i have community college in mn state and schools in indianapolis will accept it?

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Most threads for UNE are saying those are countable to a lot of med shcools; is that different for non-trad students? Also, when you say community college; does it mean any community college? I mean med schools accept any community college like i have community college in mn state and schools in indianapolis will accept it?

I am unfamiliar with taking online courses to fulfill medical school prereqs. That is why buying a $30-40 subscription to MSAR will clear up things and ensure that you are not wasting time and money taking online courses that schools might not accept.

Community college courses are accredited and most USA universities will accept them regardless of which state they are taken in. So yes, your MN community college courses will count towards any college program in Indiana schools. Again, MSAR will help you determine which medical schools will accept community college prereqs.

Per @Goro, it is fine for nontraditionals to take community college courses to fulfill medical school prereqs.

 

[eng_elect_17yrs]

NO..... most medical schools will not accept online course work for required prereqs.

Will people please quote me on this for the next hundred times when this question comes up. Schools do not simply use a transcript to verify course requirements have been met and they do so after acceptance but prior to matriculation.

1) Schools only see the courses you enter on AMCAS when they are considering your application for admission. AMCAS does not verify online or do they do anything to check for prerequisites which is a school specific function.

2) Official transcripts are required be sent directly to the school when you are accepted but are not the only way that courses are checked during post-admission/pre-matriculation phase.

3) During a school's "due diligence" of an acceptee they will frequently use the National Student Clearing House (NSCH), which has agreement with AAMC/AMCAS a few years ago. This organization has the largest and most update database on official college course catalogs and other registration material now dating back about 25 years, a large fraction of which note course section number that may indicate if a class was online or not

4) Additionally, schools may contact UG registrar for it's pre-matriculants to check on courses including if any sections were online or not.

5) Schools also get "audited" for re-accreditation for LCME and they have spot checked students from admission to current (as sample the school is adhering to its accreditation standards. This has on rare occasions come up with issues on now matriculated students

6) why is this all important? Between attesting/signing/agreeing to AMCAS application, secondary application, acceptance agreements, and matriculation agreements, applicants/acceptees/matriculants have agreed to follow schools policies/student handbook/published requirements. If you are found anytime after acceptance, up through your earning a degree, to have not be accurate in this information, you could open yourself to an ethical violation. This could have your acceptance rescinded even if you are an MS3/MS4. While these actions at that point are exceedingly rare, it isnt the probability of the risk but the impact of the risk . You could have your acceptance rescinded, be removed from school, and you would have no legal recourse as a full Federal Appeals court has ruled.

In short, it isnt worth the risk. Check the MSAR which lists in its prerequisite grid if a school accepts online coursework

Well, my intention was not to lie at all!!

To whome it may concern!
I have spend some time/money to research about med schools accepting online courses; thanks to @DV-T for giving me the best advise; at least it opened my eyes for further planning!
My initial research shows that online courses are acceptable only by some med schools in IL, TX, MN, TN. I'm still search more schools so sit tight!