Should I apply for the fall?

[Drifter7]

Thanks to you all, this forum has been extremely helpful as I think about my next step.

Background: I am finishing a post BA pre-med program in New York City. I have a BA from several years ago, and am taking this program at a good school. After this semester I will lack only the second half of Organic Chemistry to finish the usual requirements. Gen Chem 1&2, Bio 1&2, Calculus, Stats, Phys 1&2. I'm 33 and had a 10 year business career. It took a while, but I'm back in the swing of this stuff. For the same reason grades are ok, not stellar, and my first run through college... lets just say I was a sociology major. This last Orgo 2 class is not offered till the fall here, and in any case I would not try that in summer school if it were! Heh heh. So I am looking at January as a start date for med school no matter how it shakes out.

The question: Would it be a good option to apply to AUA for the fall? Would I be in the "modified pre-med" for a semester? I am a volunteer EMT at the moment, which is cool, but beyond that I can think of no reason not to move on. New York is deadly expensive. I mean crippling. I would just as soon finish there at half the price and be ready to start in January, maybe even have a jump on things if I were allowed to take a medical class in the fall. All thoughts appreciated.

[Tipton]

I don't see why you can't take Org Chem 2 in Summer school. If you're already able to balance work, family, school...etc. why is an Org Chem 2 Summer school course such a scary option? Just curious.

I have heard some positives from students who came into Premed 4 for a semester and then transitioned into Med 1. But mostly it has to do with getting used to living in Antigua and having a few less things to worry about when entering Med 1 (is my shower working, where can I get a good cup of coffee, is that goat going to bite me?...etc.)

You can always apply for Premed in Sept 2008 and if you are accepted and decide you really want to see the lights at Saks one more time request a deferral for Jan 2009. The Admissions Committee will be able to revisit your file for Placement into Med 1 but only after your Org Chem 2 grades is posted/submitted on a new transcript.

[Drifter7]

Thanks,
I would not be frightened of taking Organic 2 in the summer. It would be tough to have all that in five weeks, but not impossible. As far as I know they just don't have it here. It would be worth it to finish. If that were all I lacked in the fall, would I be able to start with other medical courses? Perhaps I should go on and apply and see if I can take the class somewhere else this summer? Surely there must be somewhere that does offer it. That seems like a good plan, to go on and apply, then see if I can do it this summer.

[islandthrift]

Originally Posted by Drifter7

Thanks,
I would not be frightened of taking Organic 2 in the summer. It would be tough to have all that in five weeks, but not impossible. As far as I know they just don't have it here. It would be worth it to finish. If that were all I lacked in the fall, would I be able to start with other medical courses? Perhaps I should go on and apply and see if I can take the class somewhere else this summer? Surely there must be somewhere that does offer it. That seems like a good plan, to go on and apply, then see if I can do it this summer.

There are plenty of schools in NYC, I am sure several of them are offering orgo II over the summer.

[Tipton]

Originally Posted by Drifter7

Thanks,
I would not be frightened of taking Organic 2 in the summer. It would be tough to have all that in five weeks, but not impossible. As far as I know they just don't have it here. It would be worth it to finish. If that were all I lacked in the fall, would I be able to start with other medical courses? Perhaps I should go on and apply and see if I can take the class somewhere else this summer? Surely there must be somewhere that does offer it. That seems like a good plan, to go on and apply, then see if I can do it this summer.

No. You can't co-mingle Premed and Med courses at AUA. I know Sree talks about doing back when there were cavemen at the airport. But not anymore.

And you're kidding me right? Can't find a summer course in NYC? You haven't actually looked yet right? There's only like 50,000 schools here...

[Drifter7]

Fair enough.
I know what I need to do now. I will go on and apply for the fall with the understanding that the Orgo 2 will be done in the summer. You're right, I should be able to find somewhere that will let me do that one class. I have been looking around today. When I said "here" I meant my school. I just do not want to go through an application process at another undergrad school just for the one summer course. Arrrgghh... that was kind of the issue in the first place. And man, that would be so great to start for real in the fall. This has been a long road. Thanks