Hello all!
I am a 31 y/o male with an undergraduate 3.0 about ten years ago and a law degree. I am now trying to take the pre-med courses but live in California so none of the community colleges or state schools have budget for people who already have an undergrad to take premed courses as postbacc or 2nd bach.
My present gpa, especially because of low law gpa would not get me into the best post-bacc in private schools. I am wondering if you guys have any suggestions…I am considering the online UNE courses but I don’t think too many schools look kindly at them
I am still in the beginning of process so any help will be appreciated.
I took some online coursework and there was no way to distinguish those classes from ones where I sat in a chair on the application (of course that was 5-6 years ago. )
Not sure how to get around the california thing, but maybe look at doing a masters instead?
Hopefully some others will chime in, as this is beyond my scope.
Marcia
You should be able to take courses piecemeal at community college. That’s what I’ve been doing. One person on this forum said she took most of her pre-reqs at CC, followed by a few more at the local CSU. She said she always had to crash courses, but said the professors accommodated her and she was never turned away. Another member on this forum completed a postbacc at UC Berkeley Extension. Both OPMs eventually made it to medsch.
When I enrolled in CC, there were no issues with the fact that I had a degree. I simply enrolled without declaring a major and have been taking classes since. Of course, going DIY postbacc at a private college is a possibility (either a formal postbacc or a DIY) but I’d guess that would be an expensive proposition. So what specifically were you told when you tried to enroll in your local CC? Please post for the discussion.
Note: My reply assumes that you are comfortable with the idea of taking pre-reqs at a community college.
Hello there!
It depends on what part of California you are in - Southern or Northern.
I am in a formal post-bacc in So. Cal @ Charles Drew. This program is focused on serving the undeserved, but is by far one of the “less stringent” programs in which to enroll. When I say this, I do not mean that anyone can get in. Yet, it is not as difficult to obtain admission or have difficult requirements as say USC or Scripps.
Although crashing courses and going the CC route are fine for some, I personally decided that the going through that hassle would give me a headache. Since I had a goal of getting into medschool for Fall 2014 ( I started the post Bacc in Fall 2011), I didn’t want anything to impede that progress.
The extensions (UCLA or BERKELEY) are good choices as well!
Good luck in your decision.
I would avoid Community colleges for any post bacc work. Which school you took the course at does show on the application and CC just doesn’t get looked at the same as a university. At least this was my experience.
What Marciah said is in general true, but it is less true of California CC’s, as their courses are viewed as equivalent to university, as I understand it.
You can borrow for 1 year of preprofessional courses from the federal government if it is in a formal post-bacc and those courses are required for the program : about $12,500 it was in 2008, not sure this year. Likely no scholarships.
Best of luck!
Kate
The location in California is impt. UC Berk extension has an informal and formal post-bac program that is decent for Northern California–classes from South Bay to East Bay, including city. It’s not cheap, nor exorbitant.
- aledvina27 Said:
The location in California is impt. UC Berk extension has an informal and formal post-bac program that is decent for Northern California--classes from South Bay to East Bay, including city. It's not cheap, nor exorbitant.
The director of that program, Dr. Patrick Brown, was at our conference in 2011 and is a big supporter of us
I have heard the same regarding the community colleges. From my experience, though, it is pretty difficult to take classes at a university after ba/bs. The universities usually cater to the undergrads above graduates unless you are in a postgrad program. I’ve also heard that it might be better to shoot for a masters in something, then you can take the prereqs at will along with the classes for the masters.
Hi, RG4MD and all the other wonderful old pre meds!
So, I took almost all of my pre-reqs at a California community college. Then, I took a handful of courses at a CSU after crashing the courses. I think I’m the one that Dull Head is talking about. In terms of the community colleges, one of their purposes is to help people who are already out in the workforce to acquire new skills. I already had a BA (with the low low GPA of 2.7) and I had absolutely no problem taking classes. In fact, I was able to register along with all the other students. The class times were mostly evenings and it was super convenient. Also, in California schools, the classes are considered equivalent to those seen at the public 4-year institutions. In fact, many students from those institutions take community college courses along the way because the CSU and UC systems are so unbelievably crowded and it is often difficult to get the classes that they need. But, CSUs and UCs do not allow students with an undergraduate degree to matriculate as a degree seeking student into their schools. But - this does not preclude you from taking classes there. Every UC and CSU has some sort of open university program where you can crash classes and then have the professor sign a sheet of paper allowing you to take that class. Then, you have to pay a slightly higher fee than normal students. In the UCs, it was $220/unit (but they’re on quarters - so more expensive overall) and the CSUs were $165/semester hour (don’t quote me - but I think that’s what I remember). But, if you take classes in the community college system you pay the exact same price as everyone else - $26/credit hour. Also, because I was low income (and I have dependents) - I paid $0 for my community college courses because I qualified for a governor’s waiver. So - I was able to do pretty much my entire post bacc for about $2,000 - and that was just for 3 classes at a CSU.
In terms of admissions - it probably had some effect. But - I got secondaries from almost every school I applied to. I applied both DO and MD and ended up going DO (and actually canceling MD interviews) because I fell in love with a couple of DO schools and I felt like my search was over. Also - DO admissions have a little bit earlier time frame in the application season so I had a couple acceptances in hand before MD schools are even allowed to give out acceptances.
However, I did couple my CC courses with a solid MCAT (36), so I think that really helped my application season. Also - it is impossible to tell if it was my CC courses or my cum GPA (3.2) that was the turn off to some schools. My science GPA ended up around 3.8 - so I don’t believe that hindered me at all.
Moral of the story: CA community colleges are pretty good. Going to one is cheap and easy. It may have a slight effect on your application season - but its really impossible to tell because med school admissions is so subjective and relies on so many different factors. But, I’m a med student now. I’m finishing up my first year at a school that I’m happy with. I’ve done fairly well and I get to be a doctor in a few years. So, it can be done.
Greetings RG4MD,
I completely understand where you are coming from regarding California and the current economic condition the state is in. We are relocating there next summer (2013) to plant our roots and be by family. I have been researching the state’s economic woes; are you certain that a cash-paying customer at one of their community colleges or universities will not be welcome?? Cash paying customers are ALWAYS welcome.
Perhaps Dallas County College online classes can help with your pre-meds, even in CA. I’m starting them next month and although I currently am in Texas, they’re pretty cheap compared to my nursing degree at a MAJOR Longhorn-related university 
Also, I work nights and cannot attend class at 8 a.m. after a long 12+ hour shift…I’m just not functional.
Take a look at Dallas County online for your pre-meds in California and talk to the bursur’s office at UC or CSU or the community colleges. Cash is always king…