Pre-med entry question

[ronin87]

Hello,

I would like to know if I am eligible for the 6 year pre-med+med school program or if you would have any suggestions on my particular case.

I am an expatriat american and have recently turned 21. I would like to become a doctor, but sadly for inevitable reasons, I was not able to complete a High School Diploma. My endgoal is to become a doctor(possibly an internist) in the navy, but to do so I must complete medical school first.
Given my age I would like to graduate as early as I can, in order to persue a higher speciality. In order to be accepted into AUA's program starting in January 2009, would a GED be sufficient?

Thank you

[Tipton]

A GED by itself is not likely to be viewed positively by AUA's Admissions Committee.

What have you done academically since earning your GED?

[ronin87]

I do not have my GED yet , I would still have to take the exam. As for other studies, I have none. I have been helping my father in busines and have learned much in this field, but it is not what I want to do in life. On my own, I have been reading books on biology and anatomy, but not part of any school program that would give "official" credit.
If AUA is not adapted for students in my condition, would you have a suggested course of action for me to take in order to become a doctor elsewhere? Tuition costs are not an issue.

Thanks

[AUCMD2006]

for all that is holy do your pre med in the US or whatever country you are at.. do not do pre-meds at any caribbean school because they are worthless. yes it will get you in that school and that school only because these med schools are not acredited to grant undergrad degrees the credits they issue are worth about as much as the paper they printed on outside that school. if you start out and find that you don't like the school for whatever reason then you are stuck because no decent school accepts tranfer credit

the other issue is farther down the road...you need 60-90 credits from an accredited insitution for licensure in most states so getting these pre med credits from an unacredited school may harm you in the end if the medical board looks into it.

get your GED, get in a community college and take the bare bones pre meds then tranfer to a university for your last year to finish the pre reqs and then apply to any school you want knowing you have a choice where you go and are not stuck with pre med credits useless outside that school

saving 9 months by doing one of these premed currriculums is not worth what you loose and what it may cost you in the long run

[Tipton]

Originally Posted by ronin87

I do not have my GED yet , I would still have to take the exam. As for other studies, I have none. I have been helping my father in busines and have learned much in this field, but it is not what I want to do in life. On my own, I have been reading books on biology and anatomy, but not part of any school program that would give "official" credit.
If AUA is not adapted for students in my condition, would you have a suggested course of action for me to take in order to become a doctor elsewhere? Tuition costs are not an issue.

Thanks

The first/best thing to do is go ahead and get your GED or go back to HS and graduate.

Then you should attend a local community college or continuing education program at a local university. Start off with some relatively simple maybe even remedial courses to improve your Math and English skills. Learning how to write and communicate verbally cannot be underestimated in its importance. (most of the people with low MCAT scores do fine in the sciences but are held back by their verbal and writing scores). Learn how to take notes to suit your learning style. Treat your professors as your colleagues/mentors who are there as catalysts for your success.

Focus on Problem Solving a Test Taking skills. I can't tell you how many excellent students I have met who are still nervous when they take a test. A test is simply a way for you to demonstrate your hard work. You will work hard right? So show it in the test.

If you are getting A's (and you should be getting A's) at this first level, start looking at a decent 4-year school in your area with a reputation for sending their graduates into US medical school(s). The community college will have an articulation/transfer agreement or two which will allow you to transfer to a State school. Private colleges might be a good transfer option as well especially if you want smaller classes and academic support. Be sure to speak with the 4-year school to clarify how/if they accept courses and credit.

Your time out of school has been an education hasn't it? It has taught you at least the importance of education in opening avenues of opportunity. USE THIS EDUCATION for your benefit. Treat every day of every class as a business deal: you have to learn X, Y and Z to make the deal today - so learn X, Y and Z. Studying and going to class is the hard work. Tests and quizzes are the play / pay-off for your hard work.

One last thing: this is YOUR education...not your parent's, brother's, sister's, friend's, fiance's...etc. Work to succeed as if your life depends on it. Because it does.

[thomasz]

From the way you describe your situation it seems that the best solution for you is to attend a community college. They should accept you even if you don't have a GED. All you have to do is just take a placement test. Just major in medical, keep your grades up above a 3.8 (4.0 would be better )and you should be fine. To do the transfer as soon as possible complete all the necessary GE classes. Complete your post graduate 1st( bachelor of science) then continue on to grad school.

It's nice that you have a focus on one school but you also have to assume that their is a possibility that they will not accept you. Every college, university, grad school, etc etc has their own philosophy. It is best to have many choices when you file an app. to the school.

[md4488]

Originally Posted by AUCMD2006

for all that is holy do your pre med in the US or whatever country you are at.. do not do pre-meds at any caribbean school because they are worthless. yes it will get you in that school and that school only because these med schools are not acredited to grant undergrad degrees the credits they issue are worth about as much as the paper they printed on outside that school. if you start out and find that you don't like the school for whatever reason then you are stuck because no decent school accepts tranfer credit

the other issue is farther down the road...you need 60-90 credits from an accredited insitution for licensure in most states so getting these pre med credits from an unacredited school may harm you in the end if the medical board looks into it.

get your GED, get in a community college and take the bare bones pre meds then tranfer to a university for your last year to finish the pre reqs and then apply to any school you want knowing you have a choice where you go and are not stuck with pre med credits useless outside that school

saving 9 months by doing one of these premed currriculums is not worth what you loose and what it may cost you in the long run

Is AUA Pre Med WORTHLESS??

I am planning to do Pre Med and Med at AUA, if TIPTON can explain that would be great.

Thanks,
MD

[AUCMD2006]

Originally Posted by md4488

Is AUA Pre Med is WORTHLESS??

I am thinking to do Pre Med and Med from AUA but if TIPTON can explain that would be great.

Thanks,
MD

pre med is worthless from one carib school to another so you start at one doing your pre med and if you don;t like it you arer stuck

getting back to the states with a premed from the carib also adds another set of obstacles to overcome in the minefield of state regulations. some states require that pre med be done in an accredited institution..accredited to give undergrad degrees which carib med schools are not. the bonus is that you probably will not find out until you finish residency and start applying for full state licensure.

try to do pre med in the states, why do them in the carib? any community college will do.....if your aim is just to get in any carib school then really any community college will do and you will get in somehwere

[Tipton]

AUA's Premed program is accredited. A simple demonstration of this is that AUA's Premed credit has already been accepted in transfer to accredited US undergraduate schools. Colleges and Universities in the US will only accept credit in transfer from similarly-accredited colleges and universities.

Transferring between caribbean schools is a whole different ball of wax. Each individual school will decide how they will or will not accept credit from another institution.

I have never seen a State licensing requirement detailing anything other than "accreditation" as the standard for accepting undergraduate credit to fulfill licensing requirements.

AUA is an accredited degree-granting institution. AUA's Premed program is accredited.

As for ANY student/graduate of a non-US/non-Candian school, it would behoove AUA graduates to have their transcripts evaluate by a NACES approved agency which converts credit and grades to the US system and denotes similar accreditation.

[NP88]

If I apply and get into the pre-med 4 .. after i finish, am i guarunteed a spot in Med 1?