Weird request

[daviddamoore]

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I thought I would post on this forum just in case anyone can help me.
I am a foreign (UK) degree holder (MS in medicinal chemistry) with one year of study here in the US on an exchange program. I have a green card and I am applying to med school. Now a bunch of schools really prefer it if I take the pre-reqs at a US school (I don't know why - colonial hatred?). Does anyone know of a way that I can just enroll somewhere for one semester (I guess I could push it to two) and just take exams and essays for all the pre-reqs and not go to class. The schools will have to compromise and allow my lab time from the UK and my work to count.
Am I off my rocker? Or do I have a chance? I got a 35 MCAT which I was hoping might suggest to schools that I do have some basic knowledge of the sciences (if they really think that my degree doesn't show it), but it's looking unhopeful.
Ta very much!

 

[aznsfla]

I am sure you can enroll as an open university student (meaning just take classes of your choice) It will probably depend on the professor on whether or not the class will have assignments throughout the year or just a midterm final format....you should check your local university and contact the professor teaching the courses you are looking for...

I thought I would post on this forum just in case anyone can help me.
I am a foreign (UK) degree holder (MS in medicinal chemistry) with one year of study here in the US on an exchange program. I have a green card and I am applying to med school. Now a bunch of schools really prefer it if I take the pre-reqs at a US school (I don't know why - colonial hatred?). Does anyone know of a way that I can just enroll somewhere for one semester (I guess I could push it to two) and just take exams and essays for all the pre-reqs and not go to class. The schools will have to compromise and allow my lab time from the UK and my work to count.
Am I off my rocker? Or do I have a chance? I got a 35 MCAT which I was hoping might suggest to schools that I do have some basic knowledge of the sciences (if they really think that my degree doesn't show it), but it's looking unhopeful.
Ta very much!

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Hey David,

Nice MCAT score...for a brit 😀

While it is fairly easy to study for and do well on exams in the pre-req sciences without going to lectures (usually the weakest part of the course IMO), frequently, passing lab is required and is usually like 25% of your grade (at least at UMass) which kind of implies that you WOULD need to attend lab.

However, upper level prereqs (at least the bios) like genetics, micro, cell, molecular are 3 credit course and do not have labs (different schools may vary). That may be the best bet for you. You can demonstrate your knowledge of the basic pre-reqs by performing well on the upper levels.

Good luck, and it's not colonial hatred, it's that yanks are jealous of the aesthete accents. 😎

I thought I would post on this forum just in case anyone can help me.
I am a foreign (UK) degree holder (MS in medicinal chemistry) with one year of study here in the US on an exchange program. I have a green card and I am applying to med school. Now a bunch of schools really prefer it if I take the pre-reqs at a US school (I don't know why - colonial hatred?). Does anyone know of a way that I can just enroll somewhere for one semester (I guess I could push it to two) and just take exams and essays for all the pre-reqs and not go to class. The schools will have to compromise and allow my lab time from the UK and my work to count.
Am I off my rocker? Or do I have a chance? I got a 35 MCAT which I was hoping might suggest to schools that I do have some basic knowledge of the sciences (if they really think that my degree doesn't show it), but it's looking unhopeful.
Ta very much!

 

[airvent]

SOme state schools have courses online. They may have the course you need like Organic Chemistry. The give you an outline and test dates, And you must basically study yourself. There is a professor available for questions . Exams are usually given in person. You could feasibly take a course at a Uni 2000 miles away. Or you can enroll in any of the state schools in the state you reside. You may need to apply for admittance. If you go back to the school you originally spent your exchange year you may avoid that.

 

[daffy]

I thought I would post on this forum just in case anyone can help me.
I am a foreign (UK) degree holder (MS in medicinal chemistry) with one year of study here in the US on an exchange program. I have a green card and I am applying to med school. Now a bunch of schools really prefer it if I take the pre-reqs at a US school (I don't know why - colonial hatred?). Does anyone know of a way that I can just enroll somewhere for one semester (I guess I could push it to two) and just take exams and essays for all the pre-reqs and not go to class. The schools will have to compromise and allow my lab time from the UK and my work to count.
Am I off my rocker? Or do I have a chance? I got a 35 MCAT which I was hoping might suggest to schools that I do have some basic knowledge of the sciences (if they really think that my degree doesn't show it), but it's looking unhopeful.
Ta very much!

Hi daviddamoore,

Great mcat - congrats!

Regarding the classes:
- do you have any prereq taken already here in US? if so this is good to meet some of the prereq the other classes might have
- the best bet you have (and this is only if you have a school around you that offers that) - if the lec & lab parts of the class a separate you can only take the lab (but be there and do all the experiments) and only go for the test in the lec part of the class. This will still take you at least two semesters. But you have to do that for all classes (assuming you haven't taken any yet) - bio, chem, o-chem, phys. There would be scheduling issues, problems with prof not willing to sign you up for o-chem without chem fr example etc. But go to the schl and check it out. You might have 3 sem available - including the summer (i don;t know if this works with your schedule).
The online classes won't help you - they don't have labs - or if they do check it out it might work.

Best of luck
daffy

 

[daviddamoore]

Thanks so much for the info everyone - I am trying to look into taking mostly upper division courses partly to avoid the lab requirement and partly because it will kill me to go backwards 6 years to lower division chemistry. UCSD have been kinda strange when I have communicated with them; I just want a definitive answer as to whether the pre-requisites of 1 year chem, 1 year o-chem etc. HAVE to be the entry-level courses (General chemistry etc.) or whether upper division/graduate level will work as well. Also, will ecology or virology count towards the biology requirement?
You guys are great! I was feeling so down but your encouragement and help are keeping me very focused!