Which plan would be best?

[millermg88]

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I posted this in non-trad, but didn't get any response...I'm not even sure if I am considered a non-trad or not, so maybe that is why...

I graduated from my undergrad institution with a B.A. in Politics. Prior to declaring my major, I had completed about half of the pre-med required courses. I switched tracks because I wanted to see what other options were available in the field of health (I focused on health policy for the majority of my undergraduate career) and I now realize that the policy route is not the route that I want to take and I have have come full-circle back to medicine as my career of choice.

Like I said before, I completed about half of the pre-med requirements before switching tracks. The required courses that I lack are: Organic II + Lab, Physics I and II + Labs, Genetics and one English course. I am hoping to get some opinions on the best way to complete these courses. Currently, I am employed full-time and I also have a part-time job. In addition, I have been admitted to an MPH program for Fall 2011, with the option of deferring until Fall 2012.

The way I see it, I have a couple of options:

Option 1 (fast and furious): Quit my full-time job and keep my part-time job. Defer my MPH until Summer 2012. Take Physics I, Genetics and the English course during Fall 2011 and take Physics II and O-Chem II and study for the MCAT during Spring 2012. Take the MCAT in May and apply for admission in the 2012-2013 cycle.

Option 2 (slow and steady): Keep my full-time job for a year. Quit my part time job. Take 2 MPH courses per semester during Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 (half-time, enough to qualify for financial aid). Take Physics I during Fall 2011 and Physics II during Spring 2012 (these are the only pre-med reqs offered as night classes). Use Summer 2012 to take more MPH classes. Quit full time job before Fall 2012 semester and take remaining pre-med classes, which are only offered during the day. Use Spring 2013 to study for MCAT and take an additional science class or two to improve application. Apply Summer 2013 and use remainder of year to finish up MPH/work and save money.

Option 1 is appealing because I am impatient and want to apply as soon as possible. However, because I will not be a degree-seeking student, I would have to take out private loans to fund my pre-med classes. If I enroll in the MPH program, I will qualify for federal financial aid, which I may be able to use to help pay for some of my pre-med courses.

I hope this post makes sense...it's been a long day and I have a bit of a head cold. I guess it basically boils down to...should I take 1 year or 2 years to finish things up. Also, I guess I should throw in the fact that I am 22, so even if I did take 2 years to finish up, I would still only be 25 when I matriculate (IF I get accepted).

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[HINKLO]

Genetics and english aren't required by many schools, but many like to see them. Definitely need to knock out orgo and physics.

Importantly, what do your ECs look like? If they need improvement too, I would take the 2 year plan and try to round them out.

 

[MSU2009]

If you really aren't interested in health policy anymore why are you still wanting to do the MPH? Could you perhaps seek a B.S. or something at the university to qualify for federal aid, and just drop the major later?

And if money isn't an issue with PT work, option #1 looks pretty attractive.

 

[millermg88]

With regards to the genetics/english requirement...I live in Arkansas, and would ideally like to stay here for medical school, and they require genetics/one year of english (at least they will starting for applicants in 2013).

As far as ECS go, I have a lot of ECs that are non-medical related, such as leadership in political organizations and on campaigns. I also served as chair of my school's Multicultural Development Committee for 2 years and I served on our campus-wide philanthropy committee for 3 years, with increasing responsibilities. I've done a lot of research on HIV/AIDS policy and service providing, including a research project that involved a trip to visit and interview service providers in NYC and San Francisco, which was paid for by my school and my senior thesis, which was about the threat of HIV/AIDS in the South and was presented at the National Conference for Undergraduate research. I did some self-directed research on MRSA as a freshman that nothing really ever came of and I worked as a lab assistant for the biology department for 2 years.

To answer the question about "why an MPH?", I am not planning on specializing in health policy. I plan on specializing in health behavior and education or in epidemiology (undecided at this point). Money is definitely an issue, but I would be able to get financial aid for my MPH, and any surplus from being a half-time instead of a full-time student could be used to put towards my pre-med requirement classes, which I will not receive financial aid for since I will not be a degree seeking student.

 

[powersr8810]

I think MSU is on the right track, just "pursue" another bachelors for the financial aid and drop it when you're done with the pre-reqs.

As far as the MPH goes, I am graduating with one this weekend and I'm positive that it will help inform my medical career which starts very soon. The MPH was really helpful for the interview process but I would advise against it just for the financial aid aspect of it, go for it if you actually want to use it in the future.

From your ECs it seems that you are actually interested in public health so thats good, and you have some pretty good ones that will help you stand out against other applicants.

 

[Person0715]

Your ECs look good. That HIV/AIDS research sounds really interesting and exciting.

Best of luck to you and to your future endeavors!

 

[millermg88]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I tend to overthink things and stress myself out, so it is nice to get an outside perspective.

 

[boobelle]

I'd go with whichever route you feel you can handle both financially and academically. I would really look into the MPH financial aid if your main goal is to use it to fund your premed courses...usually you're only allowed to take out what is considered the official cost of attendance (tuition for the classes you're actually taking + room/board). Maybe it's just the schools I've attended, but I've never heard of being able to take out the full amount while only being enrolled half-time...usually you're only allowed tuition for the classes you're actually taking and room/board. But maybe it's different where you're considering? But, also, it seems to me that even if some of those loans cover *some* of your premed classes, in the long run you'll be taking out more money for an MPH and premed classes than you would just for taking the premed courses with a private loan....especially if you factor in the extra year(s) of the MPH/applying where the MPH interest is compounding. I guess I'm just saying, make sure your finaid plan is realistic and, you know, legal before actually committing to a degree you don't seem to really want for the sake of the degree itself.

Just curious, how did you manage to graduate college without taking any sort of english or lit course?

 

[millermg88]

I guess I should explain myself more with the financial aid thing. I'm not getting my MPH just to get financial aid for my pre-med requirements. That would be an absolutely ridiculous thing to do, not to mention a complete waste of time and money. I've been planning on pursuing an MPH since I was a freshman in high school and I really can't imagine myself in any other career other than public health. I guess my thought was that if there was extra loan money from room and board, I could use it for school if I was working a part time job that covered room and board, but now that I just typed that, it really doesn't make much sense.


In regards to your question about the English requirement...I took one semester, but UAMS requires a year of English classes. I took a ton of writing-intensive courses in philosophy and political science, but I am unsure as to whether or not that would count towards the requirement since they don't read as an english/writing course on my transcript.