UNECOM online?

[Zohaib86]

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Hi Everyone,

I'm going to start my pre-med journey this fall. I was wondering what you guys thought about taking the per-requisites through UNECOM's distance program? I want to apply to D.O. schools and most of the ones I talked to said they would accept the courses. I just wanted to see how others felt about the program or if anyone had experiences they wanted to share?

Thanks!

 

[mspeedwagon]

My advice is that if you have any other option, don't take them or limit the amount you take through the program. However, that said, in my case I will likely have no option but to take G-Chem II through UNECOM.

There are a couple of reviews of their biochem class on here. Most people seemed to really like it and quite a few schools that require biochem recommend students take their class.

Online education is seen as inferior in the medical school world (whether justified or not). So by doing this, you'll be putting more focus on your MCAT (in conjunction with acing your classes), as you would be taking classes at a community college.

There are some that may not have an option, such as those in the military or those who have schedules that travel a lot (such as myself). If you fall into these categories than this is a way to take the pre-reqs, though not the most ideal one.

Also here is an older thread about it (I haven't taken G-chem II as I had planned at the time, but am considering taking it in the fall): http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=9428581

 

[TriagePreMed]

mspeedwagon, have you considered checking the Guinness World Records book to see if you're at the front of attending the most colleges?

 

[turkeybean]

Aside from this UNECOM program, has anyone tried UC Berkeley Extension's online courses? I think I found a couple very old posts on these online courses but the info was vague and incomplete. If anyone has taken UCB's biochem or biology online courses, I'd love to hear your experiences as I'm also having to fulfill a couple prereq requirements online.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Hahahaha... I can't wait to request my transcripts for AMCAS and AACOM. It's going to be so much fun: Brown, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UNECOM, Northeastern, Canada College and I can't even keep track any more. I'm going to do my best to NOT add any more schools to the mix.

I haven't taken online class through UC Berkeley Extension, but the few people I know that did tended NOT to like them very much. Harvard Extension and UNECOM probably have better classes imho.

mspeedwagon, have you considered checking the Guinness World Records book to see if you're at the front of attending the most colleges?

 

[Zohaib86]

Sounds like I might just take Organic Chem I and II at UNECOM online and the rest @ a community college. I would like to be done with my pre-reqs within a year.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Now that we're on topic. Does anyone know if these credits are taken seriously by allopath schools?

I'm not trying to say they aren't "real" classes, but the discrimination is something we all gotta deal with.

 

[turkeybean]

Now that we're on topic. Does anyone know if these credits are taken seriously by allopath schools?

I'm not trying to say they aren't "real" classes, but the discrimination is something we all gotta deal with.

This is something that concerns me, but I have no choice but to do this having a full-time job. To be honest, I think a lot of the contents of these prereq courses will be studied again in medical school, so I am not too worried about any substantial disadvantage on knowledge grounds. But as you say, this could work against you in admissions. To what extent? Not sure. The way I look at this is that if the adcom finds me intriguing enough, then they might choose to overlook a couple pre-req classes that I will likely repeat in medical school anyway. If they don't like me, then the few online courses probably won't alter the outcome all that much. And my hope is that an understanding, flexible adcom would see this practical necessity of having a job as an adult. And if they don't, well then it's probably not a program that I'd like to be in anyway. The idea is that I've tried my best given the circumstances.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I wouldn't count on it even being useful knowledge for medical school. Per my gf, who is now an M3, this is the break-down of classes and how useful they are (I've extended a bit beyond the pre-reqs).

Anatomy: Not all that useful because the volume of this in med school far exceeds that of any undergrad class.
Physiology: Good to have a background in. But, volume will get to you in med school.
Biochemistry: The most USEFUL thing you can learn. Those that learned or had exposure it before med school had a significant upper-hand.
Molecular biology: Pretty useful. Comes back in every class in medical school. Have to know it really well for the boards.
O-chemistry: Utterly useless. One or two very basic concepts come up in pharmacology, but they can be taught to someone in a day.
Physics: Even more useless than o-chem.
G-Chem: A little more useful than o-chem and physics, but not by much.
G-Bio: A very good overview, but not really that useful at it's way too basic to be of any use.
Math: If you know how to add/subtract/multiple/divide that should be sufficient. A basic understanding of stats won't hurt (but is by no means required).
English: Well... if you understood the above, you know enough English to be successful. Waste of time.

To be honest, I think a lot of the contents of these prereq courses will be studied again in medical school, so I am not too worried about any substantial disadvantage on knowledge grounds.

 

[ChE04]

I wouldn't count on it even being useful knowledge for medical school.

Haha... Looks like we both have gf's in the med profession.

Agreed. According to my gf (who is a PGY3), none of what you learn in undergrad is all that helpful because, as you said, the sheer volume and depth of material is so far beyond undergrad.

 

[deleted92121]

I am planning on taking a few of these courses. And if no other schools take 'em, I will apply to UNECOM.

 

[CookDeRosa]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to start my pre-med journey this fall. I was wondering what you guys thought about taking the per-requisites through UNECOM's distance program? I want to apply to D.O. schools and most of the ones I talked to said they would accept the courses. I just wanted to see how others felt about the program or if anyone had experiences they wanted to share?

Thanks!

>>

I'm sure several are going to tell you not to do it- but I'm doing everything except physics through UNE. I have several emails saved as verification that these courses meet the prereq requirements and that method of delivery has no bearing. *as I started entering courses into my AACOMAS application, I found no way to distinguish online/hybrid/oncampus/night school/ICN/ videocom/ weekend college/ etc.

Over the past year I have taken 4 online science labs (not prereqs, but same format). Lecture component is like any other online course. Text, recorded lectures, power points, etc. Email in homework, use local proctor or proctorU for quizzes/tests. (proctorU is new-not offered for all classes. It's a live proctor via webcam that watches you take your test, search youtube to see a short demo of how it works)

You generally don't do the lab "online" as is a popular myth (unless specified- and I have noticed a few of the sim programs for online use, specifically labs). You'll need to set up a lab in your home. You'll purchase a microscope, small wares, supplies, etc. and then the appropriate LabPaq for each course. You'll photograph each step, and include your lab photos in your lab reports. There are pros and cons IMO. Con- Be prepared to do more lab work than what you'd do in class. I averaged no less than 6 hours for a lab, and then you have to write up the report. I think my shortest report was 12 pages. LabPaq will be the one who gives you the lab manual, and the questions are contained via CD. These are long labs- just know that. Also, if you get stuck, too bad. You'll have to either hire a tutor or turn to the internet. Just allow time, and you'll be fine. (microbiology labs require cultures >36 hours almost every time, so those labs literally take 5 days each. It was common for me to have simultaneous labs running every day)

A big pro, is you can do your labs when it fits into your schedule. In my case, my school time is "3rd shift" which isn't a real popular offering at the local college .


P.S Thanks for asking this question. I have kept quiet about my courses and the emails I have exchanged with UNECOM. Per US Dept of Education, 98% of public colleges and universities are offering online courses, many offer degrees. It is quickly becoming popular, I don't think there will be a decline any time soon. Science has been slow to join for obvious reasons. There are, however, a few colleges that offer quality science at a distance. UNECOM is the only college of medicine doing so, and they are the only 4 year university in the USA offering all of the bios and chems needed in premed. Most of the distance sciences are offered at community colleges. Last year, I called LabPaq, and they shared with me their college client list. That's how I found UNECOM.

Mspeed- I've taken distance courses through Harvard Extension also, LOVED them. If I had unlimited time and money, I'd be earning my ALM as I type this!

 

[eablackwell]

I spoke with a professor at UFCOM about the Biochem course through these guys.

The professor has been on the adcom for over 10 years, and said it was perfectly fine for their prereq, but it is on a case by case basis as far as online courses go. It just happens to be that they accept the one from UNECOM.

Of course, I was also told by this person that my CC credits would not be a problem at all, whereas people on these boards insist that UFCOM takes no CC credits. So who knows...

 

[Alegna86]

To be honest, it really depends on where you apply. Some schools specifically say they do not accept online courses. Your best bet would be to call the schools you are interested in and see what they say. Good luck!

 

[CookDeRosa]

To be honest, it really depends on where you apply. Some schools specifically say they do not accept online courses. Your best bet would be to call the schools you are interested in and see what they say. Good luck!

>>

Do you know of any specifically? This has been my "project" question for the past few weeks, and I can't find a DO school that has such specification on their website. That's not to say that it isn't buried in some handbook somewhere, but I've not yet found anything. I'm firmly planted in doing UNE classes, so any school that specifically forbids it would be very very helpful. Thanks!

 

[mspeedwagon]

Virtually all DO programs will accept them. There a few MD programs that will not. Yale comes to mind (they also don't accept cc credits in general [though apparently they make exceptions]).

>>

Do you know of any specifically? This has been my "project" question for the past few weeks, and I can't find a DO school that has such specification on their website. That's not to say that it isn't buried in some handbook somewhere, but I've not yet found anything. I'm firmly planted in doing UNE classes, so any school that specifically forbids it would be very very helpful. Thanks!

 

[Cutiecat624]

Selling the LabPaq for Chem 1 UNE. BRAND NEW WITH ACCESS CODDE