where are non-trads taking their pre-reqs?

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at colleges. i have taken mine from 2 different 4 year colleges in my area. i have also taken some classes from a community college, but not my prereqs.

i will also add that my 4 year degree will not be from the 2 colleges I did my prereqs.
 
I think many people will say "where ever they can, and can afford"... If that's a 4yr college great, for some a community college has to do, for some it's a mix...
 
I decided to take them at my local university, after asking here. They offer the upper level bio-classes that many schools like, and I have not completed a Bachelor degree yet. I could have taken them at my Community College, however I have ran up against the student aid/credit wall.
 
RNwantDO said:
I decided to take them at my local university, after asking here. They offer the upper level bio-classes that many schools like, and I have not completed a Bachelor degree yet. I could have taken them at my Community College, however I have ran up against the student aid/credit wall.
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The general consensus here on the forum in the past has been (though there have been many arguments about it) that you should take the pre-reqs at a 4-year institution if possible and a 2-year only if necessary.

Edit: I took some of my pre-reqs at a 2 year school because in Tulsa that was the only option. This was questioned in my interview at Mayo and may be part of the reason that I am on hold rather than accepted there.
 
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I did all of the 8 required pre req classes at a CC. I needed evening classes and I needed cheap and the CC met both requirements. I have posted many times before that I think doing all my science at the CC was a mistake and this was maybe one of several factors why I was crushed in my first app cycle. I did take biochem a year and half ago at a four year. One of the reasons I took this class was to show adcoms I could hack it in an upper level course at a four year.
 
I'm taking mine at the local 4-year public university which also happens to be the top rated one in my metro area (at least i think it is). Granted, I could pay 1/3 what I am already paying if I take the classes at CC's, I priced the removed potential regret of an adcom "griefing" me as worth more than the savings. Call it insurance 🙂
 
NuttyEngDude said:
I'm taking mine at the local 4-year public university which also happens to be the top rated one in my metro area (at least i think it is). Granted, I could pay 1/3 what I am already paying if I take the classes at CC's, I priced the removed potential regret of an adcom "griefing" me as worth more than the savings. Call it insurance 🙂
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Exactly
 
Mixture. Did ochem sequence at a CC over the summer as it was the only place offering such a deal at the time. Everyone in my class was from surrounding universities (including various CUNY schools, NYU, Columbia).

I'll be taking physics 2 at a CC, and Biochemistry at a 4 year, as they don't offer a 4 credit version of biochem at the CC (which many dental schools require it to be).
 
CC here in San Antonio, if i dont get in with the 90 hours minimum then on to a BS @ UTSA (hopefully not!)
 
4 Yr only, so far. 30 credits as a Cal State Univ. Post Bacc and 30+ at a UC Extn. Post Bacc program.
Same reason - did not want to risk a CC - though I could literally walk (5 mins.) to one of well known CCs from my home which offers evening classes as well and the price is really cheap - I mean 1/7th or 1/8th of the price I am pay at the UC.
I may take Gen. Pysc. there during my application year, though.
 
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Finishing my AA at the local State College. I may take a couple of the "recommended" classes like Stats here too, but after I complete the AA, I'll switch into the State University and complete the true pre-reqs during the final 2 years of coursework for a Bio degree. I just have to make make sure that's logistically possible.
 
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All online
University of New England
Ocean County college
Coconino Community College
Chemeketa Community College

Called all my desired schools first to be sure it was OK to do so.

Important to note that I took many prereqs in person a a 4 year university many years ago. I'm just retaking them for a 'refresher'
 
I'm poor and wasn't sure when I was 18 years old how strongly I was going to pursue college. So I did CC. Got my AS and now I'm at a 4 year university with a full ride. 😀

I'd say take the classes at CC if you can't afford the university and/or can't get FA, OR if you are at all unsure whether you will totally complete your bachelors. Better to get the two year degree than to get half the classes done for a degree and have nothing to show for it.
 
Megglie07 said:
I'm poor and wasn't sure when I was 18 years old how strongly I was going to pursue college. So I did CC. Got my AS and now I'm at a 4 year university with a full ride. 😀

I'd say take the classes at CC if you can't afford the university and/or can't get FA, OR if you are at all unsure whether you will totally complete your bachelors. Better to get the two year degree than to get half the classes done for a degree and have nothing to show for it.
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That's good advice if you are not absolutely serious about getting into medical school. If you intend to go to medical school, come high water or a hot place, then a CC is something you do only if a 4-year university is not possible.
 
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I'm fortunate to be in the Boston area, so Harvard. It's a great education and relatively inexpensive, too.
 
At a number of institutions:

- I took G-Chem I and lab at a CC. I'll likely take G-Chem II and lab there as well. I had taken a chem class in college that I did poorly in and I feel it was because of the way it was taught. I found the way that G-Chem is taught in CCs to be more reflective of how the MCAT tests it (my college class was more tailored to those that wanted PhDs and already had superb chemistry knowledge).

- I took O-Chem I and II at UC Berkeley (Extension). I'll likely also take the orgo labs there. I had taken O-Chem I and lab yrs ago at Brown (but took it pass/fail, so I decided to do the re-take). I also took Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physics I here. I'll likely be taking my Physics labs and Physics II here.

- I took anything NOT mentioned above at Brown (except for a quarter of anatomy and physiology and an english course which I took in the Boston area).

Given my diverse classes, I feel my MCAT score will determine A LOT for me and am moving my emphasis to that realm.
 
EdLongshanks said:
That's good advice if you are not absolutely serious about getting into medical school. If you intend to go to medical school, come high water or a hot place, then a CC is something you do only if a 4-year university is not possible.
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Yes... I'm fairly sure that's what I just said.

Megglie07 said:
I'm poor and wasn't sure when I was 18 years old how strongly I was going to pursue college. So I did CC. Got my AS and now I'm at a 4 year university with a full ride. 😀

I'd say take the classes at CC if you can't afford the university and/or can't get FA, OR if you are at all unsure whether you will totally complete your bachelors. Better to get the two year degree than to get half the classes done for a degree and have nothing to show for it.
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Yep, there it is.
 
Megglie07 said:
Yes... I'm fairly sure that's what I just said.

People read very quickly and on the surface here at SDN. We are all very busy, so it is possible that someone might have misconstrued you to believe that a CC is a good option for poor students and missed the part about "even unsure about finishing college".
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I'm completing mine a 4-year public university fairly cheaply - just remember, $20,000 in loans is a drop in the water compared to the eventual debt you'll incur in medical school.

Go the 4-year route. Student pre-professional advising is typically more structured, and student life is fun.
 
i did mine at a 4-year university. the risk was not worth the amount of money i could have saved.
 
I took most of mine at a CC. The schools I am applying to don't care, but I might do a semester at the university to pick up biochem & genetics.
 
I got an aerospace engineering undergrad degree at a state school 5 years ago. All of my bio/chem at CC as they are the only ones offering night classes over the last couple years. It probably wasn't the most intelligent decision, but I had a difficult time justifying leaving a good salary and a career in the hopes of becoming a doctor. Now that it is a much more real possibility, I plan to leave my job and take any remaining classes at a 4-year.
 
I took some (Gen Chem, Gen Bio, Physics, upper level Microbiology and Genetics) at the closest 4 year school to me (still about a 50 mile drive). I took organic during the summer at the local CC. I also have a degree in an allied health field from same CC where I took entry level micro, A&P, ect, and I have a BA from an entirely different college where I took no science classes, but where all my humanities classes were taken.
 
I took physics chem and bio at a CC but im taking higher level classes at a 4 year uni. Having taken chem at bot a CC and 4 year, i can honestly say that the CC class was much harder. I feel confident on being able to get in, but what do i know.
 
Mix of Private Liberal Arts University, and a top tier private research University for a post-bac.

I ended up going back to the Lib Arts U after some "w's" and a 3.4 gpa in my post-bac (I knew I could do better if I didn't commute that far and stopped working full-time). I was able to rearranged my schedule so that I am just going to school full-time and volunteering now.

So far no regrets and the quarter is going great for me. I wasn't sure if I made the right decision at first but I'm getting a 2nd BA degree, now in Bio with upper level courses such as biochem vs. just the min classes in the post-bac. When I apply to med school I will hold a degree in Psych and Bio. Worst case, I'll have more options if I don't get accepted into med school.
 
I'm OOS at my local university and it's 700 bucks/credit hour. I can't afford that so I'm taking my courses at a CC sadly.
 
2physics, 2chem, 2orgo, 1bio at my 4yr while in undergrad.
2english, 1bio at local CC taken during grad school.
1biochem to be taken at local 4yr (not my grad school, which is private, too much $).

banking on my graduate degrees and my performance in upper level sciences in UG and grad to make it obvious that the few at my CC are not because i was hunting an easier route/ couldn't handle this or that.
 
ConcretEIT said:
... all the schools i've contacted so far have said they accept the CC prereqs but the more i read these boards the more i worry about them...
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I wonder about this. I know we hear it all the time, and for some schools, especially some of the top schools I'm sure this is the case. But I'd like to hear from people who have been told in post-interview rejection consultations that they should specifically go take the classes again (or higher level) at a university.

I honestly think if you have a good GPA (mix of CC and University) and a good MCAT, that it would speak more to your ability and knowledge than where you took your classes.

I know my issue with classes is scheduling and money. The CC's have a lot more flexibility with class times and are significantly cheaper.

Guess we shall see....
 
airborneinf82 said:
I wonder about this. I know we hear it all the time, and for some schools, especially some of the top schools I'm sure this is the case. But I'd like to hear from people who have been told in post-interview rejection consultations that they should specifically go take the classes again (or higher level) at a university.

I honestly think if you have a good GPA (mix of CC and University) and a good MCAT, that it would speak more to your ability and knowledge than where you took your classes.

I know my issue with classes is scheduling and money. The CC's have a lot more flexibility with class times and are significantly cheaper.

Guess we shall see....
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I took CC pre-reqs and it cost me, but I did get in.

The key is to prove that your CC classes do not reflect a lack of ability. If you have to take your pre-reqs at CC, get a good MCAT score and get A's in your later university classes.
 
EdLongshanks said:
I took CC pre-reqs and it cost me, but I did get in.

The key is to prove that your CC classes do not reflect a lack of ability. If you have to take your pre-reqs at CC, get a good MCAT score and get A's in your later university classes.
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If you don't mind me asking, how did it cost you? Did you find out they prevented you from getting in to other schools that you wanted to go to?

My situation is I took lower division classes at the CC then transferred to the university where I go now. I graduate in August and just recently decided to pursue a career in medicine. My final semester is over the summer and the CC was the only place that I could take my gen chem I. After this summer I will have also exhausted all of my GI Bill and hence the need for a more affordable option.

My plan is to try and take my organic chemistry at the university, but all my other pre-reqs at the CC due the schedule and money. I currently have a 4.0 for all my CC and university classes so I'm hoping that I can do well on the MCAT and together can show that I have the knowledge and determination they are looking for.

😕 Like I said, guess we shall see...
 
airborneinf82 said:
If you don't mind me asking, how did it cost you? Did you find out they prevented you from getting in to other schools that you wanted to go to?.
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I was questioned about it in most interviews. One of the Mayo interviewers was a former CC president and did not like my classes being from there. It is my opinion that this cost me, I have no proof.

The local DO school is my best choice, so, in the end, I got what I most needed. Nevertheless, I think that my final rejection at Mayo was at least partially related (the fact that i was a total spaz at the interview probably contributed also). A couple of schools didn't even ask me for an interview, despite the fact that my stats, LORS and PS were better than many applicants. At least one of the interviews was delayed by a couple of months behind others with similar application times.

So, in my opinion (and I have no proof of this), my CC classes were a negative that was mostly, but not completely, overcome by a reasonably high MCAT score and other strengths
 
From the conversations I've had with Admissions officers, taking your more general sciences (gen chem, gen bio, gen phys) at a CC will not be a problem, so long as you back that up with upper level courses, while doing well, at a 4-yr. And so, that is exactly what I'm doing; Gen Chem and Phys at a CC, the rest at a 4yr.
 
I have taken all of my pre-reqs at Harvard Extension School as part of their Health Careers post-bac program. I am just finishing off this year with Physics. I would highly recommend Harvard Ext. for both Gen Chem (Prof. Tucci) and for Organic Chem (Prof. McCarty) which were 2 of the best courses I have ever taken in terms of teaching level, staff enthusiasm/encouragement and organization. I hated Bio with Dr. Fixen - all of my experiences with that man (which have been deliberately few) have been discouraging and unpleasant. Physics with Rueckner is a mixed bag. I am doing fine in it but mostly because I teach myself. I think Physics somewhere else would be much easier. I was pre-warned from other students about Bio and Physics at Harv and sometimes I wish I had heeded those warnings!
 
mafunk said:
All online
University of New England
Ocean County college
Coconino Community College
Chemeketa Community College

Called all my desired schools first to be sure it was OK to do so.

Important to note that I took many prereqs in person a a 4 year university many years ago. I'm just retaking them for a 'refresher'
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If you don't mind telling. Which ones did yo do at which school...I am also doing a few online as well at OCC. great school great price
 
Took the majority of mine while in high school in the form of AP credits. Taking the others plus higher levels at my local public four year school.
 
I'm probably going to take my pre-reqs at a formal post-bacc program. I took Chem1 and Bio1 in college, but I think I want to retake them to have everything fresh as it has been a few years.

I took A&P1-2 and Microbiology as well during my undergrad years.
 
I'm going to go for a Master's in Exercise Science on a Graduate Teaching Assistanceship and doing prereqs in addition to the required coursework.
 
4 year UMUC (university of maryland university college)
although I can't get ALL of them with UMUC in my current location (only so many offered in person here, rest online) so I am waiting till I move back to the U.S in order to finish them at uhhhhh I have no idea where yet, but it will not be a CC. Somewhere in the north east haha
 
Just remember as a non-trad, everyone's situation is different. Some pointers I picked up along the way:
1) If money is an issue, then take what you can at a CC, but just remember that you will eventually have to take some classes at a 4 year institution.
2) once you transfer to a 4yr, try not to go back to a CC to take any science classes as ADCOM's might view this as you trying to take easier classes.
3) stream line your plan ahead of time especially if you have a spouse or children as this will ease the burden of you being away and or sacrificing study time.
4) class load is also considered, the more you can handle the better you will present yourself. I personally took between 17 and 20 CrHr's and my CC just to prove that even though I was at a CC, I did not do any less work than someone at a 4yr does.

What med school you plan on applying will ultimately dictate how strict you must be when factoring undergrad classes and where you attend. I know a local med school that absolutely has now issues with CC classes while another raises questions into why? If you have a good GPA and MCAT, it really shouldn't matter as an non-trad (in my book anyhow 😉). Good luck to all the non-trads out there :luck:.
 
Very helpful post.....great info.

GenusTide said:
Just remember as a non-trad, everyone's situation is different. Some pointers I picked up along the way:
1) If money is an issue, then take what you can at a CC, but just remember that you will eventually have to take some classes at a 4 year institution.
2) once you transfer to a 4yr, try not to go back to a CC to take any science classes as ADCOM's might view this as you trying to take easier classes.
3) stream line your plan ahead of time especially if you have a spouse or children as this will ease the burden of you being away and or sacrificing study time.
4) class load is also considered, the more you can handle the better you will present yourself. I personally took between 17 and 20 CrHr's and my CC just to prove that even though I was at a CC, I did not do any less work than someone at a 4yr does.

What med school you plan on applying will ultimately dictate how strict you must be when factoring undergrad classes and where you attend. I know a local med school that absolutely has now issues with CC classes while another raises questions into why? If you have a good GPA and MCAT, it really shouldn't matter as an non-trad (in my book anyhow 😉). Good luck to all the non-trads out there :luck:.
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Planning on taking mine at the public 4-year university near me. $3000 in tuition per semester.
 
It appears that many nontrads have taken classes and or prereqs at a CC, as nontrads do things outside the box. I believe that most if not all nontrads have other, more appealing experiences to show adcoms their drive and commitment to medicine.

Personally, I came to the USA my senior year of high school, and I attended the local CC due to my inability to pay international fees at a 4-year institution, having to improve my English and knowledge of university system as well as other perso issues. As mentionned in previous posts, I performed well and transferred but decided to go to medical school my senior year so I tried to take the prereqs at a state school, but went back to the local CC since I would have been charged graduate fees to take two classes only! Recently I took some upper bio classes at UC Berkeley extension, very expensive, to prove that I could handle a more "rigorous" curriculum.

I graduated with a BA four years ago and I have been working full time since and supporting my spouse as he pursues his studies in civil engineering. So, as it has been said several times in this post, schedule is an issue and so is money of course when it comes to staying current and demonstrating endurance and capacity to do well in med school. I sopke with nontrads med students (attending UC Davis SOM and TOURO-CA) who assured me scoring as high as possible on the MCAT weighs more than taking more classes, getting further into debt before acceptance.
 
SBB2016 said:
I think many people will say "where ever they can, and can afford"
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This. I'm retaking my prereqs at local community colleges because it is the only thing I can afford both time- and money-wise.

I understand it's not the best option, but hope the high credit load and only As on my transcript (plus some Greek honor society membership) can prove that I'm taking community college classes not because I'm a slacker. Besides, like I said, I'm retaking the prereqs: I have BS from an internationally recognized top Russian university where I've taken lots of chemistry, biology and physics and have a 3.5 GPA (which is not stellar but not particularly bad either: at the time I didn't think I would apply to American medical schools, so I had all the fun I could 😉) - but, obviously, the vast majority of American medical schools don't care about classes taken abroad, so here I am taking community college classes. On top of that, I have PhD from a US medical school, have been successful at research (publications, conferences), have been teaching Med Micro labs and ID conferences to medical students, have been volunteering and training new volunteers at an ER for 2 and a half years, have some more volunteering, leadership and hobbies... I think I should be OK with community college classes... At least I really hope so 😱
 
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I'm actually taking classes (simultaneously) from two different local 4 year institutions for cost and availability reasons. It's worked great for me save the commuting, which is awful.
 
I am taking the majority of mine at CC... it is on a quarter basis instead of a semester basis, and the majority of my instructors have a PhD and teach at UNL or Wesleyan anyway. It is also $51 a credit hour vs $200+. I'll do physics and upper level Science at UNO or Wesleyan. I had to get my math rotation taken care of, so CC made sense.
 
Next semester I'm going to be taking two classes at a 4 yr university, 1 class at my local CC and another class at another CC I have yet to register for. I will be doing this in order to qualify for the Texas Fresh Start program. It's incredibly inconvenient, but the effort will give my GPA a ridiculous boost.
 
Finishing up my undergrad at the University of North Texas (in Denton, TX). I'm sure most of yall who aren't from the South haven't heard of it, but it's actually the 4th biggest college in Texas!

Took some classes at a CC earlier on and got my Associates in a year before going back to UNT. I know that UNT isn't a Tier 1 school, but they're definitely upping their research and trying to make it a Tier 1 school, although I'm not even a science major.

Anyone else go to UNT?
 
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