Taking Premed Reqs as non-credit courses? Has Anyone done this?

[mfmiranda18]

Hi All,

Just curious - is there such a thing as taking pre-med reqs as a non-degree student?

The thing is this - I'm NOT a Post-Bacc Student; I am still an undergrad student, but with no official school affiliation (withdrew from undergrad Fall 2009 - illness in the family).

I am transferring to another school for Spring 2012, but I'm anxious to get back into the classroom beforehand; looking into NYU Summer Session or Fordham Summer Session/Fall 2011

Can I do this and be ok with med school admissions?

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[mfmiranda18]

Oops - I just noticed that the title thread does not match with my comment (it's supposed to be non-degree, not non-credit)

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Hi All,

Just curious - is there such a thing as taking pre-med reqs as a non-degree student?

The thing is this - I'm NOT a Post-Bacc Student; I am still an undergrad student, but with no official school affiliation (withdrew from undergrad Fall 2009 - illness in the family).

I am transferring to another school for Spring 2012, but I'm anxious to get back into the classroom beforehand; looking into NYU Summer Session or Fordham Summer Session/Fall 2011

Can I do this and be ok with med school admissions?

It would be absolutely OK with adcoms to take prereqs as a non-degree seeking candidate. However, most of the lower-cost options (state schools) tend to have limited seats that can be impossible to get into. Here in CA, you have to be a graduating senior (which means a 5th year student) to get an early enough registration slot to get into some of those classes. Non-degree seeking means you are the lowest person on the totem pole registration-wise. Hence some people having to quit jobs and enroll full time as a postbac degree seeking student just to have the opportunity to enroll in those classes.

 

[ChE04]

Non-degree seeking means you are the lowest person on the totem pole registration-wise. Hence some people having to quit jobs and enroll full time as a postbac degree seeking student just to have the opportunity to enroll in those classes.

Might want to check with whatever school you want to do your classes at. At the state school where I did mine, post bacc non degree seeking students got first dibs on registration, along with degree seeking seniors.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

If I understand your question correctly, this should help clear up some confusion:

I've never seen official transcripts that identify whether you were a degree-seeking student or not at the time of a class. Being enrolled without formal acceptance is a distinction that the university cares about for its own purposes, but on your academic record they only list your class-by-class data, and any degrees that you actually do earn.

So I don't think a med school is going to know that you weren't a degree seeking student, except if they can just sort of guess by looking at your overall record.

Hope this helps!

 

[lsu hopeful]

What's the problem with just declaring a biology major and taking whatever classes you want? Unless you're going to a school that's going to nazi you into taking the classes in their curriculum.

That's what I'm doing, but the difference between you and I is that I already have a bachelors, so my advisor is just like "you're cool, take your med school pre-reqs and good luck applying." My advisor also happens to be the pre-med committee head, which helps when LOR time comes. That brings up an important point... if you do go for classes without a major, don't forget you need LOR's, so you will need to form relationships quickly if you plan to get a LOR before you move on to your degree-earning institution.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Might want to check with whatever school you want to do your classes at. At the state school where I did mine, post bacc non degree seeking students got first dibs on registration, along with degree seeking seniors.

At CSU/UC's, AFAIK you have to be a matriculated student to have any hope of registering in time to get a seat. Non-degree seeking gets you very last shot, and the current budget crisis has the seats/students ratio all out-of-whack.

 

[Helen Wheels]

I did all my pre-reqs as a non degree student at a CC and took one class (biochem) as a non degree student at a private university. I never had trouble getting the classes I wanted but I always registered early. Maybe I was just lucky?

It is definitely possible to do all those as a non degree student. But you will be on your own getting LORs and figuring out applying since you likely won't have access to a pre med advisor or committee letter.

 

[mulberry]

I'm currently doing this. Got my Bachelors of Science but starting fresh with all my pre-reqs. Most colleges have 'adult and continuing education' you can enroll in, especially from the university you graduated in or a CC. be wary of some CCs as a few med schools wont accept science pre reqs from CCs (I think, not 100% sure).

 

[ChE04]

At CSU/UC's, AFAIK you have to be a matriculated student to have any hope of registering in time to get a seat. Non-degree seeking gets you very last shot, and the current budget crisis has the seats/students ratio all out-of-whack.

I dont doubt. Sorry, I quoted you but my post was directed to the OP, who is considering schools in NY.

 

[mfmiranda18]

Thanks for the advice! 🙂

Yes, the LOR's is something to consider - I just want to transition into the classroom before I start all over again (I've been away for two years; been a caregiver to my grandmother)...

Let's just say that I decide not to take premed reqs during this transition - what are some good classes to take?

 

[lsu hopeful]

Thanks for the advice! 🙂

Yes, the LOR's is something to consider - I just want to transition into the classroom before I start all over again (I've been away for two years; been a caregiver to my grandmother)...

Let's just say that I decide not to take premed reqs during this transition - what are some good classes to take?

I'd suggest taking entry-level chem/bio courses that you're confident you'll get A's in... the ones a level lower than what you'd normally start at. If you can get A's, these will raise your GPA. Either way you go, you may be asked why you chose to take whatever you end up taking, so make sure you have a good explanation. Low-level sciences you make an A in could be explained by you wanting to get back into school-mode, but some worthless nothing classes you make a B or a C in may not be able to be explained away very well.

 

[mfmiranda18]

I'd suggest taking entry-level chem/bio courses that you're confident you'll get A's in... the ones a level lower than what you'd normally start at. If you can get A's, these will raise your GPA. Either way you go, you may be asked why you chose to take whatever you end up taking, so make sure you have a good explanation. Low-level sciences you make an A in could be explained by you wanting to get back into school-mode, but some worthless nothing classes you make a B or a C in may not be able to be explained away very well.

In my case, it would be retaking the classes (I've done Bio 101/101L, Chem 101/101L, Genetics, Dev/Cell Bio (both were in one class), Microbio, and Anatomy/Physiology (all in one class) ).

Can I still take classes as a 'review' since I've been away for so long? (I can admit, that as I am typing this, I am reminding myself on how 'rusty' I am on the previous classes I've taken...)

Thanks Again for the advice 🙂