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  • February 23, 2004 at 6:10 pm #21626
    Astrid
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    I am an Anthropology major that just transfered to UCLA from a community college. I was very excited because I was finally on my way to pursuing my goal –medical school. I thought I had a well thought out plan of taking all my pre med requirements, as I worked on my undergraduate degree. Well, Once I arrived at UCLA and found out all the requirements and rules it seemed unobtainable. Because I am a transfer student and have over 90 units, my counselor advised me to take my pre med requirements at a community college. The university has a 216 unit cap and does not allow anything past that amount. I would be going over 35 units and I would have to petition for permission to go over that amount, my counselor was not to helpful or encouraging. If I would have wanted to pursue all my pre med requirements at the community college I would have done so before transferring, but I knew that medical schools take a GPA from a top level university more serious than one from a community college. I have this dilemma and need some good advice.
    Thank You

    February 24, 2004 at 6:59 pm #26587
    twu
    Participant

    You are correct. Medical school admissions committees not only look at the grades you earn in premed courses but also the caliber of the institution through which you took the course. Earning a string of As at UCLA will move you up the ladder a lot quicker than a bunch of As at a community college. Correct me if I’m wrong, as I’m somewhat confused, but what I think you’re trying to say is you held off on taking premed courses until you got to UCLA but now find that it’s not feasible because of some credit restriction. Is that right?

    Your case isn’t all that different from a “late bloomer” college student who didn’t realize he wanted to go to medical school until his senior year. What I would advise him to do is enroll in a post-baccalaureate premed program. It’s an extra year (or two) out of your life, but it’ll allow you the quickest way to finish off all your requirements, take the MCAT, and apply to med school.

    There are a number of very good post-bacc premed programs out there, some of which have special agreements with medical schools across the United States (in other words, “special consideration” come application time). If we at AdmissionsConsultants can be of help in selecting a good post-bacc program, give us a call or email us at the address below.

    Good luck.

    Timothy Wu, MD
    AdmissionsConsultants
    703.242.5885

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