Would appreciate some guidance

[AndyO]

---

Members do not see this ad.

First post here! 😀

I am a transfer student from a two-year community college, currently attending UC Davis, and am majoring in history. Now, I'm a bit of a late bloomer and it wasn't until the past 6 months or so that I decided I would like to pursue a M.D.

Am I too late in the game? A lost cause?

My goal is to receive a B.A. in history by the end of my senior year (perhaps a quarter early if I'm diligent enough). Hopefully I'll finish my inorganic Chem along with math at Davis. OChem, Physics, and Biology will still need to be completed.

Where should I complete this remaining pre-med coursework? UC's tuition is high and cost of living is even higher. I could live at home with my parents and attend either the local community college or a state university (Stanislaus State University specifically).

Which path would you recommend taking? The classes at UC are more difficult, but does it bear more weight than a state university when applying to medical school? Is it more sensible to take classes that are difficult and get lower grades, or get higher grades from a lower-tier school? Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Mobius1985]

First post here! 😀

Am I too late in the game? A lost cause?

Where should I complete this remaining pre-med coursework? UC's tuition is high and cost of living is even higher. I could live at home with my parents and attend either the local community college or a state university (Stanislaus State University specifically).

Which path would you recommend taking? The classes at UC are more difficult, but does it bear more weight than a state university when applying to medical school? Is it more sensible to take classes that are difficult and get lower grades, or get higher grades from a lower-tier school? Any help would be much appreciated!

You're not too late in the game.

First priority is to maintain a very high GPA, 3.6/4.0 being the mean GPA of those accepted, even if it means taking 1-2 extra years of classes to get it there.

Second priority is to take prerequisites/difficult courses at a four-year school, attending more difficult schools may get you a modest credit. Taking them at your state university is fine.

With the understanding that economics must sometimes be considered, your last choice is to take the classes at a CC. It's OK to take summer classes there, but taking all the prerequisiites at a CC would be looked down on (not that it's never been done successfully). The concern is that these classes are not as rigorous and will not prepare you as well to score competitively on the MCAT (30+ is the mean of those accepted), and for the basics you need to build on during all the coursework in med school.

 

[ChairmanMao]

Not too late... We have people applying to medical school in their late thirties, early forties here who've been out of school for 15 years.

As for your classes. I understand the cost constraint that you are under. You might not be able to afford the tuition at UC Davis, but you should avoid community colleges if you plan on applying to an MD school. Their admissions committee frown upon taking pre-requisite at two years colleges, especially if you earned your diploma from UC Davis (it might give them the impression that you did this to avoid the more rigorous courses at your undergraduate school). I'm not sure about the state school that you mentioned because I haven't heard much about their curriculum, but in general, medical schools do place some weight on which undergrad college you took your pre-requisites at. If I were you, I would try to complete my pre-requisite at UC Davis (even if it means taking on additional loans) because they're well known for their curriculum, the professors can better evaluate you, and their premedical committee can provide you with a stronger recommendation letter.