I Have Wanted This Forever: Ross University School of Medicine Information Sessions February and March, 2011.

All of my transcripts were received by UNCG for the summer post-bacc pre-med program. I also requested a copy of my transcripts to personally be sent in case I need them for any other schools. They are sealed with the schools certification stamps on the envelopes.

While doing a google search, I came across a google ad for the Ross University Medical School information sessions that are going on this weekend and next month. The title "You have wanted this forever" is great and really puts my ambition into words. Although I don't think that Ross is the best school around, I believe that they do very well with marketing.

The info sessions are being held in a number of major cities in the U.S.

February, 2011

• Columbus, OH, Saturday, February 26, 2011, Information Seminar
• New Orleans, LA, Saturday, February 26, 2011, Information Seminar

March, 2011

• New York, NY, Saturday, March 5, 2011, Information Seminar
• Toronto, ON, Saturday, March 5, 2011, Information Seminar
• Houston, TX, Saturday,March 12, 2011, Information Seminar
• Irvine, CA, Saturday, March 12, 2011, Information Seminar
• Tampa, FL, Saturday, March 12, 2011, Information Seminar

Three months until summer session.

I had a total of five undergraduate and graduate transcripts that I requested to be sent off to UNCG. Four of them came in and I am still waiting on the fifth. I'm glad that I am taking care of this now, and I feel like I'm having a test run of the med school application process. I know that I still have a few months to go, but since I am planning on taking much more than the recommended prerequisites, I was thinking that I should try to get ahead. I purchased theThinkwell Biology lectures, and I must say that they are suprisingly enjoyable. I have seen about 7-8 hours so far, and I am still interested in watching the next 50-60 hours remaining. I wish I could have someone as animated and interesting as George Wolfe to teach me in real life. I know that College level biology will likely go into much more depth than the lecture, but I am hoping that it at least will give me a good base which to attack my summer classes.

The thinkwell website sells the online version of the lecture for $150, and the physical CDs are an extra $25. You can only purchase the CD's from the thinkwell website if you already purchased the online version.

Amazon.com has a number of Thinkwell biology CD's for as low as $19.69.  You may have to pay a little extra for the notes, but I have been told that many online biology classes require Thinkwell biology lectures for their classes. It is definitely worth checking out.

If you are interested in watching a sample video, you can check out:

How can I qualify for in-state tuition?

I called Tidewater Community College today to inquire about in-state tuition. I am planning on trying to kill myself with science med school prerequisites this summer, and I would save over $3,000 if I was declared an in-state applicant. I spoke to a representative in Chesapeake, but she could not answer my questions. She transferred me to the enrollment office where no one picked up the phone. I called the Virginia Beach office and was able to speak to someone in enrollment. I was trying to explain my situation about how I never intended to remain outside the state of Virginia, and that I meet the majority of the factors listed in VA Code §23-7:4 B. I tried to explain the factors that SHEV considers when granting in-state residency and how they apply to me.

1. Continuous residence for at least one year immediately prior to the date of alleged entitlement.
2. State to which income taxes are filed or paid.
3. Driver's license.
4. Motor vehicle registration.
5. Voter registration. b. Actual voting.
6. Employment.

a. If a person has otherwise shown residence in the state with domiciliary intent, unemployment does not preclude a finding that the person is a Virginia domiciliary.
b. Fulfillment and documentation of state licensing requirements in order to be certified to practice a profession in Virginia (e.g., attorney, clinical psychologist, nursing), is evidence of domiciliary intent; however, it is not determinative. Enrollment in but noncompletion of an educational program designed specifically for employment in Virginia is not sufficient evidence that domicile has been established.

7. Ownership of real property.
8. Sources of financial support.
9. Military records.
10. Accepting a written offer of employment with a Virginia employer.
11. Social and economic relationships.

I explained that I had 7 out of the 11 on my side, however the woman at the enrollment office told me that there was an inital level of checking in-state status and I would not pass, she said there are also second and third level, and maybe they would approve me. I think I need to start getting some documents together.

Foreign Medical Schools that qualify for Title IV Student Loans

********UPDATE December 2010. The U.S. Department of Education began to review foreign medical schools for U.S. student loan eligibility and Fatima was determined to be out of compliance. Fatima does still have Sallie Mae Private loans available, however Federal Stafford loans are not.

It really wouldn't make sense to create a list of all Title IV medical schools. A better list would be all Title IV schools that have medical school instruction in the English Language. As far as an incomplete list:

1. UNIBE, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2. American University of the Caribbean, St. Martin, Netherland Antilles
3. Fatima College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines   *** temporarily suspended in 12/10 by DOE
5. Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica
6. St. George's University School of Medicine, St. George's, Grenada

There are other schools that accept Title IV student loans, however in terms of cost, liklihood of admission, and instruction in English, I have limited my personal possibilities to these schools. Each school is different and all have their pluses and minuses. With the exception of UNIBE, the other schools have affiliations with U.S. mainland hospitals for clerkships in the 3rd and 4th year of medical school.

While looking up various regulations, it appears that all foreign medical schools are ineligible for the Pell Grant, but will allow federal student loans. I was reading the GAO report on foreign medical schools and it would appear that there are approximately 30,000 U.S. foreign medical students, ~8,000 in each year. Considering that there are 18,000 U.S. slots, there are over 1/3 additional slots for students that are willing to travel abroad for school.

Post-Bac Pre-med programs are expensive

So, I am still unsure how exactly I will get my science prerequisites of biology, chemistry and physics for medical school. The UVA and UNCG programs are great in that they can be completed in one year, but both will cost me $20-$25,000 for tuition alone. The advantage is that I can qualify for student loans, but I anticipate it would only cost $5-$6,000 to take the identical classes if I was able to qualify for in-state status at the local community college. Tidewater Community College in Virginia has chemistry I and II in the summer in intensive 5 week sessions, which is that same sequence as UVA's post-bac and UNCG's. I have heard that many college admission officers do not look highly on community college credits, however $25,000 is still $25,000. For someone who already has undergraduate student loans, making payments on those loans and paying the community college tuition may be too much. So far I have sent my transcripts (from 5 schools) to their "missing documents" department at UNCG admissions. Hopefully I will be accepted shortly.

Called Dr. Cannon of the UNCG Post Bac Pre Med Program

I had actually already submitted my application as a 2nd degree seeking student for the May 2011 post bac class. Once I submitted the application, I felt a sense that this is really happening. I am on my way to medical school. I called Dr. Cannon to let him know that I had applied, and to ask a few questions on the admissions process. He was extremely helpful explaining a number of thing about becoming a doctor. He stressed that in addition to a high GPA and MCAT scores, there needs to be evidence that the applicant is interested in helping others. Shadowing, volunteering, hands on medical experience are preferred. He sent a health careers "puzzle" that showed the blocks that admission officers look at when assesing medical school applicants. I read on a medical school student forum that Dr. Cannon's wife is an admission officer at UNC Chapel Hill, so he probably knows extremely well what colleges are looking for. He provided me with a number of books that I should read about information on becoming a doctor.

I was informed the the summer session consisted of General Chemistry parts 1& 2 with labs. The course uses the book Chemistry: the Central Science. From the reviews on Amazon, it sounds as if the solutions to exercises books are good choices as well. The main textbook is quite expensive new, however Amazon has 400+ used copies starting as low as $32.00.

Can you get into medical school without a science degree?

When I made the decision to switch careers and become a doctor, many people asked me if it was even possible getting into medical school without a science degree. A co-worker was telling me yesterday that the only way that I could be successful in medical school was to really want to be a doctor. I do really want to be a doctor, and I would really like to help people in need. In addition to helping people is the fact that doctors make a lot of money. Granted there are high malpractice insurance fees, some as high as $30,000 per year, and high student loans. One thing that actually had me excited to become a doctor was the fact that many states will actually provide student loan incentives for doctors that agree to work in underserved areas. Because that would be my desire regardless of the pay, this is an added bonus.

As for a bit of my background, I have a degree in government from a highly ranked university and a relatively low GPA. For medical school anything below a 3.5 is a low GPA. I have taken statistics which I took pass/fail and received a B. I have taken chemistry and physics in high school however I never took anything but Geology in undergrad. I did have a slightly higher GPA in graduate school where I have an advanced degree. So now 13 years after undergrad, is it possible getting into medical school, even without having taken any science classes?

Recently I discovered that many universities have programs designed to have students complete their entire science med school prerequisites in one year. Or actually the summer, fall and spring. for a total of 12 months. I was interested in the University of Virginia Pre-Med Post-Bac program and also the Post-Bac program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Since I am out of state for North Carolina, I would be paying out of state tutition with a cost of $21,000 for tuition and approximately $8,000 for living expenses. When I read the linkage information for UVA's post-bac (GW school of medicine, and Univ. of Pitt school of medicine), I don't think that everyone qualifies for the linkage and it would depend on the applicant's GPA. Since my GPA is not extremely high, I don't think that I would qualify even if I were admitted, so I am leaning on UNCG at the moment.