@Beangoals
If you’re unconvinced by the advice of all the posters on this thread, I suggest you contact your in-state public medical schools and ask them if they will accept your non-science bio class or your A&P class as fulfilling their admission requirements.
(Your in-state publics because those schools will your best chance for admission.)
Don’t be surprised if they say no. Our state flagship U offers an A&P class for allied health science majors that is rigorous and intensive and students work on prosected human cadavers every class… However, that class does not confer credit toward fulfilling graduation requirements for biology majors and the state med school will not accept it as fulfilling the biology requirements for admission. (They want something more fundamental like cellular and molecular biology or genetics.)
I do not intend to receive entry through a “back door”. I have a family of doctors, and I simply wanted to know what non-science major would be most beneficial considering the subject it encompasses. Yes, the university I am currently taking summer classes will allow me to receive a degree in a year as long as I have 120 credits. The courses I took as a dual credit student did not count towards my high school diploma and were listed for college credit only (basically, I was just a high school student taking courses, none were administered by a high school teacher or “AP”). I am a certified MA, and while traveling and doing non-profit work, I had the correct credentials to assist. I personally disagree with the statement of MAs not having much patient to patient contact. It’s much more significant than a regular volunteer. My GPA stands at a 4.0 and I am aiming for a 520 MCAT score. I have been taking pracitce exams and scoring very highly, I am also attending college on a scholarship. It’s not a full ride, but its something. I have been featured in many news articles and journals for my major accomplishments and advanced academics. I have an entire year, and I don’t slack. The university I am attending has many of the same professors as the cc I attended. I know for a fact that the professors I had for BIOL I and II were very strict and did not slack when it came to their material. I personally dislike the primitive mindset of some people. Just because a community college is rigorous to get into, does not mean that the work is worthless. This was supposed to be a positive forum filled with advice, instead, it is full of sorrow and pity.
I never asked for an opinion on my choice of finishing my bachelor’s degree in a year. I earned an associates degree basically within a year (Fall-Winter-Spring-Summer1-Summer2). I’ve been taking heavy course loads in college alongside an entire high school curriculum which I also finished early. No volunteer work that I did is considered “illegal” or “unethical” as I went through organizations that are fully accredited. I personally know several doctors with low GPAs and MCAT scores that were accepted into several medical schools. I’m sure that I’ll be fine, have already applied for BIOL I and II for 6-week classes in the Fall. In addition to the other courses. Thank you for the information concerning the non-science classes, my STEM advisor had told me that it met the same requirement, but it’s better to be safe than sorry I assume.
@twogirls I am not trying to enter medical school through a back door approach, that to me is a bit offensive. I already have most of the prereqs met, I just need four more classes which can be met through fall, spring, winter, summer1, summer2.
I do not believe that you are intentionally trying to get into medical school through a “back door” approach. What I do believe is that you are attempting to replace science prerequisites with nonstandard science classes…because you think it’s ok. I don’t think you are trying to cheat the system; I think you believe it’s ok. It’s not. There are specific classes that you will need to take.
Volunteering abroad is not a bad thing to do, but it isn’t recommended for medical school. I did not make that decision.
The posters here are trying to help you. Your new college should have a premed advisor who can help.
It’s good you push yourself, but if you have a scholarship, try to spend two years at your current university and use them well (take graduate classes, join a lab, volunteer through RAM or at a clinic…)
Psychology is a perfectly fine premed major. But no matter what our major is, you need to have the advanced biology classes, organic chemistry, biochemistry. Neuroscience/cognitive science would be a worthwhile addition, as would bioethics.
Where are you with foreign language?
I speak four languages fluently; English, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian. I also speak sign language, however, that’s usually not considered a language. As far as a foreign language course, I took Japanese I and II in college. As I said, most of the credits needed for the Prereqs I have already met, I just need the two biol plus two other science classes. I have already taken advanced science classes, as the cc I attended had a joint admissions program with the Uni that I am attending open to all students. I have 75 credits already, and I plan on taking 18-20 credits a semester (fall/spring) plus two winter classes (6-8 credits) then Summer 1 (9-15) then Summer 2 (9-15). If I use this enrollment plan I will have over 120 credits by the summer of 2020. I don’t see why I would spend more money to take these classes over the course of more semesters. The tuition at my school is around $30,000 and I am trying to end my undergrad career debt free. My scholarship only covers 60% and the other 40% I have been paying for with my savings and inheritance.
@MYOS1634 Why do you suggest that I volunteer at a clinic when I already work at a clinic?
@twogirls I don’t feel as if they are trying to help me. Almost everything I’ve read thus far has been pretty discouraging and in my opinion, hopeless. Discrediting community college credits? That is beyond me and a very outdated outlook. I do not need a “miracle” to gain acceptance to med school, as I know many current med students and doctors that had significantly lower GPAs and less experience that was accepted to many medical schools. I gained absolutely no inspiration from this forum, just shadowing self-doubt.
Take a look at the websites of your instate medical schools.
It doesn’t matter whether you think an idea is dated. If schools don’t take your classes, they don’t take your classes.
My university accepts the credits, and views it as equivalent to theirs, given that it was taught by one of their professors. Of course, I’ll have other course work completed from my current uni, showing them that I can perform well at a tier one school as opposed to just a community college.
Although your university may accept all of your CC credits ( many schools also accept AP credits) it doesn’t mean that the medical schools will accept them.
A “tier one” college that lets you attend only one year? I can’t name one that does.
I already have 75 credits on my student account. They accepted all of my credits from the CC because they have a “track” transfer program of some sort. After I earn 120 credits that meet my degree requirements, that’s it. I’ll have those credits done within a year.
@twogirls I understand that many medical schools do not accept AP credits and the ones that do suggest that students take more rigorous science courses. I did not take any AP courses, so that shouldn’t be an issue for me. Also, some medical schools do not even require a degree. My aunt for example just took her prereqs (some at a cc and some a uni) and was accepted to seven med schools. She then completed her bachelors while attending medical school. She’s now an OBGYN with her own practice. The medical schools that I’ve been looking at do indeed accept credits from community colleges. I am open to attending a medical school outside of the US, so my options are not limited.
And that’s a “tier 1” college? Or a state/public arrangement?
If you’re transferring from a cc, you may find a higher level of rigor in the new school. Don’t assume 45 credits in one year is doable til you get immersed. Also, now you say all your credits were accepted, but you started this thread telling us 4 classes were not. You will have a LOT of academic work to complete satisfactorily.
@lookingforward I already have an associates degree from an honors program at a community college that’s connected to the university. I’ve been working with a track advisor to ensure that all of my credits will smoothly transfer over. As I’ve mentioned, I do not take winters or summers off. I’m not surprised that you haven’t heard of what I’m speaking of. If this wasn’t college “confidential” I’d give you my name to search on google. I’m sure you’d be impressed by the news articles that were recently published about me.
@lookingforward My credits were accepted, but they cannot be used as core science classes for a bachelor of biology. M advisor suggested that I switch my major so I would not have to take those classes again. That’s why I was considering switching my major so that those courses will count towards my degree. I, however, have decided to not switch majors and continue my route. I have already enrolled in the needed courses. Biology is my strong point so I will be taking them as six-week courses with a professor that I have previous experience with. Do you understand as far as the transfer credit? I am already taking summer courses at the uni, it’s very similar to the rigor of the cc I attended. It’s a matter of mindset, I want something and I’m going for it. I had an illness that almost claimed my life last year, and I realized that tomorrow, next year, or two years form now isn’t promised.
I’m aware of state universities with various arrangements. Fine. But this still leaves you with courses to complete for med school. Plus grades, ECs, and committee support. 45 hours in one year is a huge load.
You’ve gotten great advice from posters who know what it takes to get into med school. Take it or leave it.
I can easily rack up hours shadowing and volunteering at one of my relative’s clinics. I have been discussing research with one of the most esteemed professors in my area. I’ll be fine on the grades, as long as I apply myself and manage my time correctly. I earned 75 credits in a little over a year. Anything is possible when you’re focused and determined. I don’t see the benefit in slowing down my rate of progress and potentially landing in debt for an additional year of school when I can finish without debt. I’ll keep you guys updated on how everything goes.