Very helpful! Thank you!
This part I’m not sure about as I’ve never encountered the problem. @WayOutWestMom might have the answer.
The rest you’re correct on - all CC classes count regardless of whether any other college counts them, etc.
I have to disagree here. This whole thread is a case of where it helps if high school students know what is desired by med schools. I’ve seen students take languages at CCs and get Bs telling me they didn’t put effort into those - just wanted to pass - because they “knew” it didn’t matter as much for getting into college as the main classes. That might be true for college acceptance. It’s not true for med school acceptance. Those Bs go into their GPA as 3.0 classes - not good when one needs a high GPA.
IME it’s also helpful for students to look at what successful applicants have so going forward they can have a plan for what they want to do in college. They also know to get a solid foundation in high school instead of easing along not really caring if they don’t understand it all as long as they’re still getting decent grades. Plus, it’s not all grades. ECs, medical experience/shadowing, and community service are also important - while getting stellar grades. They know to hit freshman fall quarter running which can keep them out of the party atmosphere. Majoring/minoring in party freshman year is a quick way to end plans to be a doctor.
With knowledge ahead of time they aren’t blindsided later. Knowing what’s involved, some go ahead and choose another choice. Nothing wrong with that. If you know the race isn’t your thing, choose something else. There are plenty of options in the medical world (or elsewhere) that they do not have to take the MD/DO route to be successful in life.
Any pre-med should have a Plan B anyway. If it’s not needed, great, but if they are in the majority who apply to med school and don’t get accepted it’s good to have rather than wondering WTH they’re supposed to do now.
4 Likes
No, In fact many so-called pre-med advisors at colleges aren’t especially knowledgable about the rules.
It also sounds like she has to report these courses to medical school, regardless of how well or poorly she does in them, even if her four-year college will accept them for credit. The same holds true for any other CC course she attempts and/or finishes.
Absolutely true, AMCAS** requires every college course a student has ever enrolled in–including dual enrollment classes and audited classes–be reported when the student applies for med school.
How does that work if the college doesn’t take that particular CC course for credit? For example, let’s say the college won’t take CC Psych 101 for credit. The student may not be allowed into Psych 102 , because they need the college’s Psych 101 as a pre-requisite and the college didn’t give credit for the CC Psych 101. But if the student takes Psych 101 again in college, then does the med school think she is repeating a class and that’s a problem for her cumulative record?
If a student’s college will not accept the transfer credit and requires the student to repeat the class because it’s a pre-req (or whatever), then, yes, when the student lists their coursework on their AMCAS application, AMCAS automatically marks the class as “repeated”. However, there is usually a space on most individual med school’s secondary applications where they can explain any issues like this. (Typically under --“Is there anything else you you want to add?” type question.)
**Osteopathic medical schools (DO) have their own application system, ACOMAS, as do all Texas medical schools (MD and DO), TMDSAS. Each system has its own rules, but I believe both are very similar to AMCAS.
8 Likes
It depends on if the student’s college assigns credit for a specific undergrad class for the AP score.
For example, D2 took AP Bio, scored 5, but her college did not allow bio majors to receive course credit for any courses required by the major. Instead, her AP credits appeared on her transcript as “4 credits of elective biology.” Those credits did not count toward fulfilling her degree requirements and her Intro Bio class (Bio 112) was NOT marked as repeated class.
However, her AP Calc BC does appear on her transcript as earning credit for MTH 161 (calc 1) and MTH 162 (calc 2). She did not take either of those classes over again. (She started with MTH 163) But if she had retaken calc 1 (MTH 161), then that class would have been marked as repeated by AMCAS.
2 Likes
I’m familiar with vet school admissions, but not med school. I’ve learned so much from reading these posts. This information is so important, would the posters consider starting a topic sharing their med school admissions info in the med school forum under high school course selections if considering future med school admissions?
1 Like
In the Pre Med forum there is a pinned thread which explains how AP/IB credits are treated by med schools and how dual enrollment credits are handled.
4 Likes
Getting back to the list of schools……
I think the OP indicated that the family needs $20,000 in merit. What do they want the cost to come down to? $20,000 in merit at Pitt is different than $20,000 at Tulane.
Besides UMD (they don’t seem to like it), are there any schools that are both an academic and financial safety? VCU was noted to be a safety…is it affordable? Does she like it (I believe there are about 20,000 undergrads)?
Earlier I mentioned TCNJ. Despite being a state school, it is small (7000 undergrads) and they give some merit. It is also a strong school academically.
Without knowing what the family can afford, it’s hard to tell whether a school like Rochester will be affordable, even with merit. I know very, very strong students (top 1%) who applied and got about $20,000. Is that enough?
1 Like
My son is a TCNJ graduate, solid school, it’s as selective as Rutgers (where my daughter graduated). My only Heath science major is at UDel so I’m not familiar with TCNJ’s science department, but his good friend graduated from nursing and he was is the hospitals all throughout covid.
3 Likes
I think TCNJ and UDel should be on this list, but it’s not my kid going to college lol.
4 Likes
And I think College of Charleston should be on the list as well.
Of the schools the OP listed, it’s not likely that $20,000 in merit aid is going to happen…and the costs to attend will be higher than UMD.
5 Likes
Agree with you. Unless we are missing something, it seems many of these schools will be unaffordable (Rochester, Tulane, etc).
It looks like Muhlenberg has some very nice scholarships, but they are competitive (which makes this school a financial reach) and the cost will not meet UMD.
1 Like
I know there has been a lot of push back about Furman on this thread, but OPs daughter would probably be looking at somewhere in the $35k range in merit aid. If she can get her test scores up to a 1500/34, she would be competitive for the Duke scholarship which is a full ride. At Rhodes,merit aid would most likely be in the 30k range.
My son has applied EA to both this cycle. We were very impressed by Furman on our campus visit. We haven’t been to visit Rhodes yet, but my son had a one on one zoom session with a Rhodes AO through his school.
1 Like
I don’t know enough about the school, but it seems to get push back because the OP wants a school with a Jewish presence, and Furman only has about 50 Jewish undergrads (2%). That being said, it seems that the parent is keeping Furman on the list.
I may be wrong, but I think this student may go test optional? Practice tests were in the 1400 range, and if I remember correctly I don’t think the student is planning any more prep (again, maybe I am wrong). Getting a 1500 may be hard.
IMO this list needs some serious revisions if significant merit is necessary. UMD is an amazing school, but the OP wants smaller classes and doesn’t think her daughter will have the gpa to make her competitive for medical school.
Has Furman added significant merit aid in the last decade? My guy had higher stats than 1500/34 and didn’t even come close to getting 35K, much less full ride.
As I’ve seen with other students/schools though, they just might not have cared for mine - certainly not enough to show they wanted him financially. His other schools most certainly did.
Folks looking for aid should look in more than one spot unless the aid is guaranteed. Schools are fickle in who they like and want to attract. It’s difficult to say ahead of time.
3 Likes
Based on previous comments, 1400 is not from a practice test but is what the parent anticipates her daughter will score. So really hard to know about merit for any school that requires test scores until there is more hard data available. But some schools are still TO for merit, so that helps.
1 Like
I have no idea what Furman was doing ten years ago, but I attached the link with info on their merit scholarships. I believe the Duke scholarship is fairly new. It is a competitive process requiring an interview and certainly a long shot for everyone. My son attends a small private school, everyone who was accepted in the last few years has received either the Townes or the Bell Tower.
As they are not automatic awards, I agree that nothing is guaranteed. Always best to apply broadly
2 Likes
So the COA at Furman is just over $70,000 a year. If this student gets even a $30,000 merit award….is $40,000 affordable per year for this family? We don’t know.
Cost of attendance at UMD instate is a tad over $28,000 a year.
U of Delaware is about $53,000 a year OOS but there is potential for this student to get merit aid.
College of Charleston is in the $45,000 a year range OOS…but again merit aid is potentially there.
I will add….it seems that costs are not at the top of the list of criteria. Seems like med school potential, some Jewish life, and then cost….but maybe I’m misreading this.
3 Likes
Thanks everyone. We will make decision based on acceptances. The school with best fit and best money will win. I would say best fit without money - will not work.
We need at least half ride from a school to be even in consideration pool. We do have minor scholarship from work (quarter of the tuition.) So if DD will get half ride plus a quarter. We will need to pay another quarter plus room and board. Taking DE was one way to cut the cost for college. That worked for oldest but it seems not the best approach for youngest.
3 Likes
Good luck…hope it all works out.
I want to wish your daughter the best. I also feel the need to warn you that there are a lot of schools on this list that will most likely not give you the money you are hoping for.
The good news is that UMD is a wonderful school- one that is very highly regarded. Best wishes!
1 Like