what to do...

[MEDIC GOIN MD]

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Being that this is my first post on SDN, let me thank all of you out there for the great info being shared, its been very helpful in learning more about the path to being a MD.
At the age of 18 I became an EMT responding to 911 and inter facility transports.
By 21 I had attended a Fire Academy and graduated from Paramedic school.
At 22 I was a career Firefighter/Paramedic, making great money, working two days a week, and living "the dream" as we called it in the Academy. I know what it is to strive for excellence in school and work.
Now at 24 I have recently made the decision to pursue medical school. I feel very passionate about this and I wish I would have realized this long ago.
I am currently attending a CC, but I'm able transfer now. I going to begin by getting an UG in Bio. My question is, should I do as many lower div. courses as I can at the CC. Also is it better to carry a full load of units and stop working or work full time go to school part time. My parents have been very supportive of my new decision and have offered free room and board. Any input is greatly appresiated.

 

[Foghorn]

I am currently attending a CC, but I'm able transfer now. I going to begin by getting an UG in Bio. My question is, should I do as many lower div. courses as I can at the CC. My question is, should I do as many lower div. courses as I can at the CC.

If you're able to transfer now, doesn't that mean you've accumulated at least 60 semester/90 quarter units by the time you transfer? If you are planning to earn a B.S. in Biology, aren't you supposed to complete lower division requisites for the major, as well as English/Humanities and General Education courses, prior to matriculating as a transfer at a 4-year university? Practically all of the 4-year universities put a cap on the # of transferable units from CC. If you are at or near the cap, expect to spend extra time at the 4-year university fulfilling all requisite coursework for the degree.You should research transfer unit policies of the institution where you plan to eventually matriculate and talk to one of their academic counselors.

Also is it better to carry a full load of units and stop working or work full time go to school part time.

It doesn't matter as long as you're making academic progress towards the degree and preferentially doing well in your classes. If you('ve) do(ne) well in your CC classes, apply for (academic) scholarships when you transfer. Many universities also have paid (year round) internship opportunities available to CC students as a method of recruiting potential transfers, as well as promoting the university.

 

[gman33]

Have you already taken the med school pre-reqs at cc?
If not, I would wait and try to take them at the 4 years school. Most med schools would prefer this.

Going to school part-time is okay, but I would recommend at least 2 semesters going full-time and taking maybe 3 science courses with labs at the same time. Don't do this right away. Wait until you adjust to your new school and have a lot of A's under your belt. This will show med schools that you can handle a difficult course load. Science classes take a lot of time and can be a challenge. Remember your goal is to try to get an A in every science class you take. Don't take on too much until you adjust. There are a lot of people who think they can handle a bunch of classes, and two semesters later they have a low GPA and a tough road ahead of them to ever get in anywhere.

 

[njbmd]

Being that this is my first post on SDN, let me thank all of you out there for the great info being shared, its been very helpful in learning more about the path to being a MD.
At the age of 18 I became an EMT responding to 911 and inter facility transports.
By 21 I had attended a Fire Academy and graduated from Paramedic school.
At 22 I was a career Firefighter/Paramedic, making great money, working two days a week, and living "the dream" as we called it in the Academy. I know what it is to strive for excellence in school and work.
Now at 24 I have recently made the decision to pursue medical school. I feel very passionate about this and I wish I would have realized this long ago.
I am currently attending a CC, but I'm able transfer now. I going to begin by getting an UG in Bio. My question is, should I do as many lower div. courses as I can at the CC. Also is it better to carry a full load of units and stop working or work full time go to school part time. My parents have been very supportive of my new decision and have offered free room and board. Any input is greatly appresiated.

It's good to carry as many credits as you can handle if you are not working full-time. If you are working full-time, you carry the maximum number of credits that you can handle and perform well. If you can afford to stop working and attend school full time (you are fortunate to have this option) then do so because you can get your work accomplished faster and more efficiently. Just keep in mind that your overall performance in undergraduate work that is the most important GPA for admission to medical school. Essentially, you have one shot to do your best so have some good and efficient study skills that will enable you to acquire the knowledge that you need for to do well in your pre-medical studies whether they are full or part-time.

 

[thoffen]

Some schools will discriminate against CC courses, especially prerequisites.

You will want to do a full load with upper divison sciences at least one semester at a university. It's important to demonstrate that you can handle the stresses of a full science-based curriculum.

Good luck!

 

[canjosh]

Medic goin MD: check your PMs.

 

[viostorm]

Welcome to SDN! 🙂

I'm a medic myself now a MS3. I did my pre-reqs while working part time.

Here is my advice:

* Realize that your GRADES and MCAT are the most important thing you can do to get into medical school. Anything less then an A- should be unacceptable to you from here on out. If you don't make A's and A-'s then you probably won't be a successful applicant. That is just the facts. 3.6 and a 30 on MCAT is the ticket to medical school.

* Don't work full time. Get a part time gig to pay the bills and work less then 24 hours / week max. Trust me, I have tried.

* Try and make contacts at a medical school. Volunteer as a "candystriper" or work as a tech in the ER and meet the physicians. Let them know your intentions up front. Build relationships so that they can talk to the admissions committee and write you a letter of rec.

* Volunteering is part of the application. I know it is ******ed since you actual are a paid medic, but make sure you have something to put down.

* As far as your "upper level" bio courses. DON'T TAKE THEM! They won't help 1 bit. Do the minimum required for your major.

* My recommended schedule would be as follows:

Spring 2008: Chem 1 + Chem 1 lab, English
Summer 1 2008: Statistics or Calc I
Summer 2 2008: Chem 2 + Chem 2 lab
Fall 2008: Organic Chem I + Org Chem Lab I, English
Spring 2009: Organic Chem II + Org Chem II Lab, + 1 EASY COURSE, nothing else!!!!
Summer 1 2009: Biology I + Biology I Lab
Summer 2 2009: Biology II + Biology II Lab
Fall 2009: Physics I + Physics I Lab + one or two other EASY COURSES
Spring 2010: Physics II + Kaplan MCAT. Take MCAT June 2010
Continue with whatever coursework you need and apply 2010 for Class 2011

If not, I would wait and try to take them at the 4 years school. Most med schools would prefer this.

Going to school part-time is okay, but I would recommend at least 2 semesters going full-time and taking maybe 3 science courses with labs at the same time. Don't do this right away. Wait until you adjust to your new school and have a lot of A's under your belt. This will show med schools that you can handle a difficult course load.

I would ignore this advice outright by gman. GPA + MCAT is all that matters. There are classmates of mine that have gone to schools you have never even heard of and gotten into medical school. This is probably one of the biggest PREMED MYTHS out there. Unless you are going to an Ivy, all schools are pretty much equal.

It doesn't matter how difficult your course load is. Adcom's don't care one bit. It is 1000% better to get A's in your classes then take a bunch of classes to show you can handle the workload. The simple fact is that no courseload in undergrad prepares you for medical school nor demonstrates if you will handle the work.

It is much better to prove you can do well on classes. Working your a$$ off will come when you are a med student.

I can't tell you how much I disagree with gman's advice. I overloaded myself and cost myself a year in the process having to repeat a class. DON'T do it. Let gman take 3 science courses at a time, but don't do it. Especially with the paramedic background ... I know how medics are, it seems a consistent pattern of taking on more then is reasonable.

 

[canjosh]

As usual, Viostorm is right on.

 

[Kiek73]

I am a medic also and I am scared that I might have fell into the taking more than I can handle load and I would like some advice on if you guys see any way I can rebound. I did the full load with the full time job, family, part time job, and trying to study and I found myself on academic probation now. OUCH!!!!!! I hope my dreams aren't shattered however I had the impression that an applicant had to maintain 14 -18 credit hours. What I found out later after my downfall is that that is directed more for traditional students. I met with one of the med school advisor's at UNMC and she informed me that I needed to slow down and not take as many classes and that being non-traditional and medical field experience is figured in for us. I now am taking less of a load and trying to figure out what to do about my GPA. Don't get yourself into a mess like I have. I will probably have to retake a few classes to get my GPA up and that stinks when you are already 38 y/o. Good luck.

 

[gman33]

I'm not trying to pass on premed myths, just giving info that I was told by the director of admissions at my med school.

CC does not equal 4 year school. Don't let anyone tell you it does.
Take prereqs at the 4 year school unless you have no other option.
If you are going to be a BIO major at the 4 year school, I'm not sure if the school will let you transfer classes in your major anyway. Look into that. Some schools won't.

As I said in my post, don't take more courses than you can handle, but if you have a few semesters of all A's and fell up to it, try a semester or two where you take a few science courses. Getting an A is your first priority, so don't do this unless you are up to it. You are the only one who knows what you can handle.