Waiving science prereqs and MCAT

[ARSdogma]

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I did a search and found some pertinent info but nothing exactly answering my question.

I'm new to the medicine route so forgive me if this has been answered already.
Is it ever heard of to have science prereqs waived by schools based on request and high MCAT score?

I'm sure it depends on the school but how likely is it that a school would be willing to grant a waive of a few science prereq classes if an applicant has a really impressive MCAT score (along with good interview, personal statement, etc.) and requests waiving due to financial circumstances?

I need to take 2 more quarters bio, chem, ochem and physics. That's 2 years and a good amount of money and time more than anything and ive always been able to learn better by teaching myself than in a lecture classroom setting. Assuming one is able to take the MCAT and do well on it without taking the classes (no matter how slim the chances are), are there any schools that might consider waiving the classes? (maybe not all but some or one even)

Thanks. All help appreciated.

edit:
Are there any standardized tests that one could take that would give credit to waive a science prereq class? APs could do it for some schools and most universities but im no longer in hs so thats not an option. Wondering if there is an university level bio, chem or physics type test that would give college credit?

 

[ILikeDrugs]

No, you must take them. Everyone does even people who are financially disadvantaged. If you really are, you should be able to take them for free at a college after filling out the proper financial aide forms. My entire college education was free cause I was really broke. If your parents make to much, it would be best to go to a community college and take out a loan.

 

[ARSdogma]

No, you must take them. Everyone does even people who are financially disadvantaged. If you really are, you should be able to take them for free at a college after filling out the proper financial aide forms. My entire college education was free cause I was really broke. If your parents make to much, it would be best to go to a community college and take out a loan.

Hm, so under no extenuating circumstances would any school allow a waiving of said classes? Even with a top notch MCAT score?

Yes, broke would be the word, and 2 years of going back to school with work means even more broke and a whole lot of cash thats wasted IF there's any other alternative.

Ive looked up the CLEP exams and I know they give you college credit, I am wondering if its possible to CLEP out of those classes. Is it even acceptable to do so? Maybe I can take even 1 or 2 courses out to lighten the load somewhere.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Hm, so under no extenuating circumstances would any school allow a waiving of said classes? Even with a top notch MCAT score?

Yes, broke would be the word, and 2 years of going back to school with work means even more broke and a whole lot of cash thats wasted IF there's any other alternative.

Ive looked up the CLEP exams and I know they give you college credit, I am wondering if its possible to CLEP out of those classes. Is it even acceptable to do so? Maybe I can take even 1 or 2 courses out to lighten the load somewhere.

I've never heard of anyone having the pre-reqs waived. I just noticed your in CA. If you're still broke and make under $30K you can sign up for the BOGG (Board of Governors something) Waiver. All your classes will be free. You'll only be required to pay for the sign-up fee and health fee and maybe some lab fees. It's usually no more than $40 total. Now that I think about it, when I was still trying to transfer out of the university I qualified for the Pell Grants which gave me $3,000 each year for the three years that I was there. I was able to do whatever I wanted with that money. However, once you get a Bachelors you don't qualify for the Pell Grants. You need to talk to a financial advisor to see what you qualify for. Call em up so you go in with the right tax papers and other papers that they might need.

 

[TriagePreMed]

No, there's no way out of your prerequisites. If you can't afford the 4-year education, you should attend a community college. Your disadvantaged background will help justify it once your application rolls in.

 

[Catalystik]

Before you ask: Don't take cheaper on-line coursework to earn the science prerequisite credits.

We've even seen those with US science PhDs who completed prerequistite coursework in their home country required to retake the basic sciences at an accredited US school to gain med school consideration.

 

[emlibrary]

Before you ask: Don't take cheaper on-line coursework to earn the science prerequisite credits.

We've even seen those with US science PhDs who completed prerequistite coursework in their home country required to retake the basic sciences at an accredited US school to gain med school consideration.

Excellent advice!


There is no way around this - you must take the pre-requs

 

[RogueUnicorn]

pretty presumptuous to think you're going to net yourself a "really impressive mcat score"

 

[iniquus]

Even people who are accepted before finishing their prerequisites must complete them to enroll.

 

[ARSdogma]

pretty presumptuous to think you're going to net yourself a "really impressive mcat score"

Hmmm, how is it presumptuous? I can say the same thing about anyone who applied to Harvard Med or any top school and said they felt good about their chances.
I can also say its a pretty presumptuous statement to say that I'm being presumptuous because based on the information given, you have no idea how well or how badly i would do on the MCAT, or about my abilities and potentials. 🙄
But..... if your point was to reiterate the fact that the MCAT is massively hard, then I concur. (which is all the more reason for schools to give people credit! )




Thanks to all with the input. I was actually going to ask about the online courses... so I guess that's out. I forgot to mention that I already have my Bachelors. It's in Economics with tons of the English/Humanities/Communications/Psychology courses already taken. No sciences though, which is why I ask because as i understand it, financial grants are hard to come by once you're out of school and working.

I do make less than 30k so maybe I can apply to get my CC covered. Is there a restriction or any requirements for that program? Can anyone do it? I would think that if anyone could, more people would be going to college for free...

 

[aliblack]

I know of people who have managed to get out of 1 course (2nd semester of gen chem). This happens alot at my school because our first semester of gen chem is taught at the high school level and most pre-meds place out. Most pre-meds end up only having 1 semester of gen chem with lab plus the other requirements. They get around it by taking a semester of biochem and getting a letter from our dean. Most schools are not phased by this. The thing is, they still apply with the same number of pre-med credits and it helps to have an institution backing you up... Beyond this kind of a substitution (which not all med schools will accept) I don't think there is any flexibility.

 

[jm192]

Hmmm, how is it presumptuous? I can say the same thing about anyone who applied to Harvard Med or any top school and said they felt good about their chances.
I can also say its a pretty presumptuous statement to say that I'm being presumptuous because based on the information given, you have no idea how well or how badly i would do on the MCAT, or about my abilities and potentials. 🙄
But..... if your point was to reiterate the fact that the MCAT is massively hard, then I concur. (which is all the more reason for schools to give people credit! )




Thanks to all with the input. I was actually going to ask about the online courses... so I guess that's out. I forgot to mention that I already have my Bachelors. It's in Economics with tons of the English/Humanities/Communications/Psychology courses already taken. No sciences though, which is why I ask because as i understand it, financial grants are hard to come by once you're out of school and working.

I do make less than 30k so maybe I can apply to get my CC covered. Is there a restriction or any requirements for that program? Can anyone do it? I would think that if anyone could, more people would be going to college for free...

The MCAT is a really easy test. Don't listen to the haters. It's really easy to know all of the material WITHOUT even taking the pre-reqs. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙄

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Hmmm, how is it presumptuous? I can say the same thing about anyone who applied to Harvard Med or any top school and said they felt good about their chances.
I can also say its a pretty presumptuous statement to say that I'm being presumptuous because based on the information given, you have no idea how well or how badly i would do on the MCAT, or about my abilities and potentials. 🙄
But..... if your point was to reiterate the fact that the MCAT is massively hard, then I concur. (which is all the more reason for schools to give people credit! )

actually, any person who applies to HMS, Wright State, St. Georges or wherever should have a decent clue as to how they may fare. if you apply to HMS with a 4.0/44 and feel good about your chances, you're not presumptuous, merely reasonable. you on the other hand, have absolutely no basis for such an assumption beyond "i think i can do it!!!!" you're right, i have no idea how you would do on the mcat. notice how i never said you would do poorly. it's a simple statement of fact that thinking one can somehow do extraordinarily well on a scaled, standardized exam without even the prerequisite courses for said exam is presumptuous. in other words, you are presuming you can do very very well. good luck with that, but strictly speaking, statistically/probabilistically, the MCAT is going to crush you like most others.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

OP, you can take online courses, but for your prereqs, it will limit the places you can apply. Some schools flat-out will not allow any online courses, some schools will, and some take it case by case. However, that said, this only can apply to your prereqs, not your whole degree. Just an FYI... and some courses, like humanities, they really don't care... its mainly they don't want online science courses... either way... no, you can't clep out, you can't honors out, you can't test out... even if you have CLEP credits, most schools will make you take higher level courses as your prereqs...

 

[ARSdogma]

actually, any person who applies to HMS, Wright State, St. Georges or wherever should have a decent clue as to how they may fare. if you apply to HMS with a 4.0/44 and feel good about your chances, you're not presumptuous, merely reasonable. you on the other hand, have absolutely no basis for such an assumption beyond "i think i can do it!!!!" you're right, i have no idea how you would do on the mcat. notice how i never said you would do poorly. it's a simple statement of fact that thinking one can somehow do extraordinarily well on a scaled, standardized exam without even the prerequisite courses for said exam is presumptuous. in other words, you are presuming you can do very very well. good luck with that, but strictly speaking, statistically/probabilistically, the MCAT is going to crush you like most others.

Hm okay I'll agree with that. I guess depending on the perspective, my mentality can be seen as pure optimism and confidence...or naiveness. At least for now. I will concede to the fact that I am being presumptuous so you were right (might have taken it a bit more hostile than I should have) but presumption is huge factor in confidence in self. We will see how I fare later. I'm not expecting to pass with flying colors strictly based on deluded hope. I passed AP bio with a 5 with ease and have a better natural ability in science materials than say, the LSAT. Also have at least 20 friends who were premed and about 4 or 5 that went off to med school that explained to me that it is possible to teach yourself the prereq materials better than going to lecture (it just depends on how an individual learns, and I learn 1000% better sitting down and teaching myself material from a textbook and review guide and committing it to long term memory vs. sitting in a lecture and cramming before a test).
Anyway, it looks like I will have to be taking most, if not all of these classes.


Question: At my university, they place you higher if you have taken AP bio and passed with a 5. Meaning you can start at life sciences 2 instead of 1. This will obviously save me money. If I opt this route and take LS2, LS3, lab, etc.., will med schools still make me take the LS1 regardless of where the university has placed me in order to fulfill "a year of biology with lab" prereqs?

Question 2: How are accelerate courses look upon? In socal, there are a few colleges that give full academic credit for accelerate 5 week courses for the science prereq classes (as opposed to standard 10 week quarter system). It is 16 hours (8 on sat, 8 on sun) a week of class that is mandatory for biology, chemistry, ochem, physics, etc. I believe the colleges that offer this type of courses are at certain health universities (chiropractic, PT schools, etc.). Isn't this seen the same as community college?
they offer financial aid and its faster.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

depends on the school, so as big a PITA it is, you should individually check every school that you are interested in. some schools accept AP credit and it's the end of that. others will place you out of one thing or another but not as full substitution. yet others will ignore it completely and say that just means you have to take 2 upper level electives, etc. many schools have this information available on the website, though you might need to make some calls