<p>HI everyone!</p>
<p>I'm actually doing pre-nursing right now and finished all of my pre-requisites for it (Anatomy, Physiology, Gen. Chem 1, Microbiology, Psychology, Anthropology, Life Span/Child Development, Nutrition, Statistics... e.g.) I already have two Associate Degrees (graduated this Spring) from my 2 years at community college... But... I was just given a 5 year renewable scholarship for up to $30,000 each year...</p>
<p>Should I try Pre-Med? What is required? I am very confused about how to go about doing pre-med or becoming a physician since I'm a 1st-generation college student and none of my family members work in health care. Should I try it? I had a 4.0, but now it is 3.75+ (don't have my entire transcripts yet, but the 2.0 unit class is an A, so I don't know how much it will bring it up)... I got my first B's this semester in Gen. Chem. 1, Microbiology, and Small Group Communication... Would that ruin my chances? Should I do this or just continue with nursing... I figured though since it's for 5 years, maybe I should reach higher??
I really want to help people quickly, though, the disadvantaged and medically underserved as quickly as possible, that is my PASSION, but since I was given it, maybe there is a reason for it??? I could probably do a lot more to help low income people if I'm a physician, right? More than if I was a RN/NP??? Any thought or help on this?? What do you think??</p>
<p>Thanks for any help! Any at all!</p>
<p>(( Sorry , I didn't know where to put this to get replies... also, if I tried to I would have NO IDEA what college to go to or anything)) Thanks again!</p>
<p>What are the restrictions on the scholarship - is it for 5 years, or up to 5 years? Is it for undergraduate study only, or can you use it toward med school or grad school? $30,000 a year sounds like a lot, but it’s not all that much once you look at the cost of med school, even if it can be used that way.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply!! It is UP TO 5 years… It is until the degree is obtained and I think it can be changed to anything you want… It is ONLY for tuition. Some recepients I think I saw were looking at higher degrees, one was mechanical engineering… I think that required more than a Bachelors… and another a Masters, so I think it can be for beyong Bachelors, just UP TO 5 years…</p>
<p>Does this help? Thanks I just found out last week, So I have no idea what to do anyway, really</p>
<p>Hi Sunshine!</p>
<p>First off, congratulations on your hard work and nice scholarship.</p>
<p>Your questions are good ones. Nursing is a great field, and NPs have considerable autonomy. Research what is required to complete your BSRN, and NP. Call a local nursing school if you need to.</p>
<p>Medical school is also an option. Check out the pre-med threads here on CC and information from colleges that have pre-med advising and post info on-line (Johns Hopkins, Amherst are a few) which will indicate you need 1 year of gen chem, 1 year of orgo, one year of physics, a term of biochem, a year of math, statistics, and a year of bio, all at the level of a science major. See what it would take to get those requirements done, then take the MCAT and see how you do. After the 4 years of med school most residencies are 4-6 years more training. It is a long haul.</p>
<p>Many other health careers are really interesting too; check out physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, optometry, speech therapy, physician assistant, and see if any of those are appealing. See if you can volunteer in a hospital and check out what the different professions do.</p>
<p>You have achieved a great deal already - best of luck.</p>
<p>Hi Thanks 2PrepMom!</p>
<p>I volunteered at the hospital’s Emergency Room and enjoyed it! This was years ago - That’s when I decided fully on nursing though I’ve always wanted to go into the medical field since I was a little girl! I’ve only taken a semester of Gen. Chem and I had a B in it, would that ruin my chances at all? I also had a B in Microbiology. It was difficult going to school or work (I worked in a science lab) from 8am to 5pm… though it’s no excuse. So, I don’t know how that would affect going to med school if I chose that path. But with 5 years, I thought it would be best. Except, I think if I tried nurse practitioner I might lose my scholarship since it’s renewable, and the colleges want 2 yrs of work experience before applying…</p>
<p>Any advice at All??? How many years would it take before I could apply to med school based on what I’ve already done and is it a good choice?? Thanks for any help!!</p>
<p>A few Bs are not a problem, but if you take a standard pre-med course load like:</p>
<p>Calculus 1, Gen ChemII, Physics I, and maybe English, and then next term orgo, calc II, physics II etc.,</p>
<p>you probably won’t be able to work much and maintain a high enough GPA, so carefully check on how far the 30K will go to cover livings costs, and how many loans may be needed, because med school is expensive too.</p>
<p>The scholarship is ONLY for tuition, NONE of it goes to living expenses. I get some help with that though with Ch. 35 VA benefits for dependents… but I only have around 2 years left for that, after that the living expenses are completely on my own unless I can get another scholarship or work or something. I have a tiny scholarship of $500 which I can use for 2 more years, but that’s it so far w/ all of that and Federal Work Study.</p>
<p>I can’t get into Calc I right now because I’ve only taken Statistics at college level math. I’d have to take Trig and College Algebra before Calc!!! How many years would that add?? Also… I don’t even know what classes I can get into this semester b/c I am transferring to State University and since I’m a new student I get last priority and the classes might all be filled esp. the science and math ones!! So this semester might be spent entirely on Upper Division General Ed… so How many years would that add?? I don’t know what to do seriously!! Any more advice at all?? How long is this going to take and what are my chances???</p>
<p>And I already took English for 2 semesters! I took English Composition and the one for Critical Thinking/Composition… so ALL my undergrad GE is FINISHED… What would that do to the schedule?? Thanks!</p>
<p>Bump…</p>
<p>Also… what colleges should I look at if I decide to do this and what are my chances coming from a community college and then a state college, and possibly another college if I apply… Any ideas or help please and thank you?</p>