Hello all!
So I’ve been lurking on this forum for awhile, just absorbing information. Figured it’s finally time for me to take the plunge and sign up and introduce myself!
Right now I am just about to start my journey as a 24 year old post-bacc pre-med student. I graduated with my Bachelors in '09, and took the past two years to just work and earn some money and reduce my debt(oh loan debt… it never ends!). I graduated with an ok GPA(3.64), and do very well with standardized testing(1390 on the old school SAT way back in the day). Fairly typical background, yes? Here’s where I throw the curveball in. I attended Cornish College of the Arts, graduated with a BFA in Dance specializing in performance and teaching of Classical Ballet. Yup, you heard it right, a dancer who wants to be a doctor.
I’ve been evaluating my options for awhile now, and figure it’s finally time to seek some outside support. Since obviously I have pretty much no science background(I did take Kinesiology my senior year tho…), I have a fair amount of catching up to do. Since I’m supporting myself through this journey, my financial options limit things much. In the area I live in I can either go to the local CC for MUCH cheaper tuition, being able to take more than one class at a time, or I can attend the local state university where I’d only be able to take one class a semester.
One question I have is, will the shorter, more affordable route of the local CC effect my chances of admission to med schools? I am very confident in my ability to get a high GPA in the classes I’ll be taking no matter where I take them. I just don’t want my competitiveness as an applicant to suffer because I can’t afford to take all my classes at the big University.
I’m also slightly considering a post-bacc pre-med program full time… I’ve read a bunch on them on here, but has anyone else with a super alternative background like mine had any success with these?
So many questions, so little space. I have many more questions, but I don’t wanna just splurt out all I’ve got right now cause that’s a wee bit overwhelming. Thanks to anyone who even bothers to read this 
Consider your alternative background a strength, not a weakness. It means you’ll bring a different perspective (and would likely present well into a sports medicine field-you could argue that even if you aren’t sure it’s something you’d like to do, not like you’ll be held to your pre-med choices when it comes time to choose a specialty) and unique life experience is the non-trad’s greatest advantage over trad students. As long as your science grades reflect the same GPA you showed in your earlier degree, your actual undergrad major is, in many ways, secondary.
With you already having a degree, the choice on CC or not gets a bit harder. If you were going for your first bachelor’s I’d say go for it and take some upper level classes when you move to the four year, but with it being post-bacc (and, admittedly, your earlier degree, despite what I just said) you’ll have an uphill battle trying to sell CC classes. IMHO you should do the cores at a 4 year/formal post-bacc, one way or the other.
Remember that all those loans go back into deferral once you get back in school-you might find it is actually cheaper for you in the near term to take enough classes to get over that minimum limit to switch into deferral, since that means you won’t have that chunk of change going out every month. Yes, it means racking up more loan debt, but my personal attitude is that I’ll take all the loans I need to get through med school, there’s plenty of opportunity to pay them off later.
Well the question is: Do you want to go to medical school or do you want to be quick about it?
The best advice is to do either a formal or informal post bacc to get the pre-reqs and do well on them. This is a marathon and not a sprint. The quicker you do things, the more likely the chance that you will trip and the journey will be longer.
From your GPA, you are a good student. Start with 1 and work your way up and maintain the grades. The rest is up to you.
Hi there!!
I don’t post a lot but I do an awful lot of lurking. I have a BFA in theatre so you are not alone. I am currently working on my Post bacc and after taking some basics at CC I have been accepted at a local 4 year university’s pre med post bacc program (Loyola if your familiar with Chicago, no clue how I’m going to pay for it yet) Unfortunately I have no wise advice or stories of success for you because I am also in the early stages but I have learned a lot just from reading about other people’s experiences on this site. I do think that there is no hiding the BFA background and why would we want to! Art is part of who we are and what has brought us to this place, I have to hope that medicine has need of creative minds ; )
Good Luck!!!
- gabelerman Said:
Hey "very, very soon doctor" Gabe: you're stealing my best lines!
I think "Rule 2: It Depends!" applies here.
Typically doing prereqs at a CC will put you at a competitive disadvantage. But nontraditional students are typically atypical. My philosophy of applying to medical school requires is having a concise, coherent, and compelling narrative of your life that shows a pattern of commitment, motivation, and achievement.
If you had been a student with an mediocre background including science courses, then tried a DIY postbacc at a CC, it would be have a large negative impact.
However, for a excellent student with no science background, I think the taking your introductory courses only pose a small negative impact if any. This is provided that of course you do well in CC, show you can do some upper level at a 4 year school, and do well on MCAT. Mind you, this is my perception of how adcoms would perceive this. But in sum, I think starting at a CC would not hurt you. Do be careful of taking too much too quickly especially when working full time. Else you'll find yourself overwhelmed with poor grades.
Hi Guys,
Good to meet some BFA theater and dance people. I have a similar story too, being a great student in high school and following a theater path instead. But unfortunately I (impulsively) went to a conservatory in London. Most american medical school do not take foreign undergraduate degrees (which sucks) so I will have to start all over as a 26 year old freshman at a real life university.
At 24 you are still so young and if you complete your pre reqs in a couple of years you are basically traditional aged for med school. If this is really what you want and you are truly committed I believe you should do everything in your power to help yourself succeed. If it means taking out loans to do your pre reqs at a 4 year do it! it will be a drop in the bucked to what med school will cost. I believe that our creative background will be an asset, not only to medical schools, but to our future as a physician that are well rounded humans!
Welcome to the boards best of luck and keep us posted!
As everyone has said, take it slow, it’s not a race. 
I eased back into school with totally non-related courses at a community college, but in 2006 was advised (hmm, by a university advisor) to start my pre-reqs at university.
I benefited because of the first-year program I got into, but looking back (on my pile of student loans) I would defintely encourage the CC route for the first few years (100/200 level courses). 
The fact that you dance is great! I have heard that admissions comittees love individuals who are different–especially if what makes you different is doing something you love and are passionate about.
Secondly, I would suggest you not take your pre-reqs at a community college. This is coming from someone who did this with half my pre-reqs and am paying for it now while prepping for the MCAT (as I’ve realized the MCAT tests way more than what they excpect you to learn/know at a CC). I know there are individualas who may disagree and not att CCs are the same but if you can pay the extra $ to take them at a university then do it!
Best of luck & keep us posted!
Thanks so much for all the replies! You guys have certainly given me a bit more to think about. Also boosted my confidence a bit as to my background, thanks!
Right now I’m having difficulties getting myself in for some clinical experience. I have an interview with Seattle Children’s next month to do an observership, but that’s the closest I’ve been able to get! Any suggestions?
One last question(for now). I’m planning on going to Nicaragua on a sort of medical mission next year, just for a week and a half. Would this be something med schools would consider as legit clinical experience? The group I’m going with is a bunch of different types of doctors, and the sometimes end up doing some fairly heavy stuff down there. I’m planning on going no matter what, just sort of wondering if It’s something I could mention on my apps
Hi everyone,
Just my two cents here. My pre-med advisor, and the dean of bio dept at my 4-year school told me to do the pre-reqs at CC. They said I am non-trad, working full time, great grades already, and about to graduate with BA and that the Cal schools really care about your GPA but especially the MCAT score.
I was not able to take the basic pre-reqs at the university because they all ran during the day. I had to do everything at night. I did manage to take a couple upper-level science and got As.
Anyways…I hope they are right! Pre-med advisor says he’s been advising students for 20 years with a good success rate!
The key to your post, Brenda, is that your Community College is in CALIFORNIA…
which is different than that of KS, or NE, or MN, or CO, or pick-your-favorite-other- state.
Please be careful about suggesting just that because your advisor told you so, that it is okay for others.
The general consensus here, on OPM, has been to do the pre-reqs at the best land granting institution around (that being PhD granting schools).
OR IF taking some pre-reqs at CC then to do upper division courses at 4-year.