UW CE Experiences

[orbiter104]

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I'm interested in getting some input for those that are in the Seattle area and are trying to complete their premed coursework.

I've had some bad experience with UCSD and their concurrent enrollment programs through their extension school and was wondering if anyone knew or had tips on UW's CE program. I need to finish my sciences and am unable to do so because of the overpopulated school. As a concurrent enrollment student you can only get into a course if there is availability and your name is at the bottom of the pile and stays there regardless if another student adds, unless they are also concurrent enrollment. I've registered for courses that have had 15+ wait listed for the lectures and 10+ wait listed for discussions. You don't know if you're accepted into a course until after the third week, where you can be dropped if it is full. You have to find the class, get department stamped, go to class, get instructor signature after the third week, and pay fees. So now I've wasted my time buying books and going to class but, on the flip side, if I don't go and get into the class I'm three weeks behind in a quarter semester with only 10 weeks! The option to attend the same course with another instructor after three weeks is not viable either! The Sp09 quarter starts April 1st and registration just opened with most of the lectures already wait listed at 12+ with some even at 139! 😡!!

So I plan on moving back to Seattle and wanted to hear experiences from anyone doing the CE program at UW. The process seems a bit tedious and some posts on this site suggests that even the undergrads don't like the classes as they too are overpopulated.

Are there any other suggestions? I know that SU has a postbac program but I'm not considering that at the moment, nor am I looking into any more CC's.

Thanks!

 

[DrMidlife]

I did my postbac at UW, and you have an excellent understanding of how it "works."

Under no circumstances would I recommend waiting out a waitlist as a nonmatric. You very correctly understand the downside, and you cannot trust other students or faculty to even consider doing right by you. Everybody is on defense.

You simply cannot get into bio 180/200/220 as a nonmatric during fall/winter/spring. But you can get in for summer. So that covers 180, but getting 200/220 done either requires extreme luck (as you've described), 3 summers, or getting yourself admitted as a regular student. I was able to get myself admitted in '06 after 2 quarters of getting A's (bio 180 and chem 142 in summer, chem 152/162 concurrently in fall). But mid-year acceptances aren't happening anymore, and as you've noticed, there's an over-enrollment problem.

I wouldn't bet on this happening, but in theory you could petition to take bio 200/220 concurrently during your 2nd summer. The odds are high that the schedule doesn't allow it (lectures & labs will almost certainly overlap). And you will want to leave that summer open to cover any chem/physics labs that you can't get into during fall/winter/spring.

Now, chem, o-chem and physics do a better job of providing seats, and they also offer night classes that are never full. There is also an accelerated ochem lecture series that's offered in summer. So, in theory, you can nonmatric your way through chem and physics, and take the bio series at North Seattle CC or at Seattle U or SPU. (Note that the best [least demoralizing] chem/physics at UW are the honors series, which you can't get into as a nonmatric.)

If Seattle is NOT where you have to be, then go someplace else. Even Portland has better offerings. But if you MUST be in Seattle, then I recommend one of the following:
- as above, take chem & physics at UW as a nonmatric, and bio elsewhere. Just don't mix up the series.
- take the prereqs at North Seattle CC (or Seattle Central et al), kill it, and then take a quarter's worth of whatever upper div science you can get into as a nonmatric at UW. (You'll never get into genetics, but you can definitely get into some mol/cell bio, biochem, micro etc during fall/winter/spring).
- apply to U of Puget Sound in Tacoma (I am fond of their program, and it's a very strong school)
- apply to Seattle U, SPU or PLU (I am not particularly fond of these programs)

PM me as needed. Best of luck to you.

 

[ruraldr]

if you are going to do the UW--this will allow you access to classes with the same sign-up priority timelines that undergrad students have (and well in advance then many of them).

http://admit.washington.edu/Apply/Postbacs/Apply

 

[DrMidlife]

if you are going to do the UW--this will allow you access to classes with the same sign-up priority timelines that undergrad students have (and well in advance then many of them).

http://admit.washington.edu/Apply/Postbacs/Apply

Right - this is what I did in '05-'06. Times have changed: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008639109_webuwfreeze16.html

 

[orbiter104]

I did my postbac at UW, and you have an excellent understanding of how it "works."

Under no circumstances would I recommend waiting out a waitlist as a nonmatric. You very correctly understand the downside, and you cannot trust other students or faculty to even consider doing right by you. Everybody is on defense.

You simply cannot get into bio 180/200/220 as a nonmatric during fall/winter/spring. But you can get in for summer. So that covers 180, but getting 200/220 done either requires extreme luck (as you've described), 3 summers, or getting yourself admitted as a regular student. I was able to get myself admitted in '06 after 2 quarters of getting A's (bio 180 and chem 142 in summer, chem 152/162 concurrently in fall). But mid-year acceptances aren't happening anymore, and as you've noticed, there's an over-enrollment problem.

I wouldn't bet on this happening, but in theory you could petition to take bio 200/220 concurrently during your 2nd summer. The odds are high that the schedule doesn't allow it (lectures & labs will almost certainly overlap). And you will want to leave that summer open to cover any chem/physics labs that you can't get into during fall/winter/spring.

Now, chem, o-chem and physics do a better job of providing seats, and they also offer night classes that are never full. There is also an accelerated ochem lecture series that's offered in summer. So, in theory, you can nonmatric your way through chem and physics, and take the bio series at North Seattle CC or at Seattle U or SPU. (Note that the best [least demoralizing] chem/physics at UW are the honors series, which you can't get into as a nonmatric.)

If Seattle is NOT where you have to be, then go someplace else. Even Portland has better offerings. But if you MUST be in Seattle, then I recommend one of the following:
- as above, take chem & physics at UW as a nonmatric, and bio elsewhere. Just don't mix up the series.
- take the prereqs at North Seattle CC (or Seattle Central et al), kill it, and then take a quarter's worth of whatever upper div science you can get into as a nonmatric at UW. (You'll never get into genetics, but you can definitely get into some mol/cell bio, biochem, micro etc during fall/winter/spring).
- apply to U of Puget Sound in Tacoma (I am fond of their program, and it's a very strong school)
- apply to Seattle U, SPU or PLU (I am not particularly fond of these programs)

PM me as needed. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for your input DrMidlife. I have only completed one semester of bio and one of chem so it's comforting to know that there is hope for physics and chem through biochem while possibly squeezing some bio in over the summer. 👍 I'll be sure to layout some course planning to ensure all the right prereqs are taken in succession.

I've previously considered schools in Portland and even Montana State but also didn't want to lose any eligibility for in-state tuition or consideration under WWAMI. In addition, I prefer to be able to establish some good networks with hospitals and clinics throughout the Seattle area through volunteering and any other extra work experiences prior to med school. I've already done a lot here in the SD area and hope to build on a similar, great rapport in Seattle.

 

[orbiter104]

if you are going to do the UW--this will allow you access to classes with the same sign-up priority timelines that undergrad students have (and well in advance then many of them).

http://admit.washington.edu/Apply/Postbacs/Apply

Hey ruraldr. Thanks for your response.

Glad you brought up this option but this is another area where my wheels are spinning and I'm not making any progress. I've completed my postbac application but submission has been closed through Sp2010 due to budget cuts and overpopulation in classes. I hope things clear up by Su2010 but in the mean time I have to continue to make due with any other options that could be available.

Are you currently under this program?

 

[orbiter104]

Right - this is what I did in '05-'06. Times have changed: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008639109_webuwfreeze16.html

What did you submit your major as? The info page for the selection process indicated that you can select premed as your intended major but there is nothing in the category of professional or prehealth. I just selected Biology in the mean time and will indicate my intentions for premed completion in my statement of purpose.

 

[DrMidlife]

What did you submit your major as? The info page for the selection process indicated that you can select premed as your intended major but there is nothing in the category of professional or prehealth. I just selected Biology in the mean time and will indicate my intentions for premed completion in my statement of purpose.

I don't think it matters, because getting accepted by a department is a separate process. In the UW app they just want your intent for tracking the interests of incoming students. So you did the right thing.

When you get your UW email & netid, look for the AED and prehealth listserves. These will let you know when the UW info sessions are.