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Running Start…

I have a question reguarding Running Start. For those of you unfamiliar, it is a program for High School students to get a head start in their education by enrolling to a local community college and taking classes that to receive college credits. They can enroll, in either Jr. or Sr. year, and only in-state colleges accept the credits. Basically, this program let’s students get 2 years ahead than what they are originally supposed to be in; when a normal high school students finishes high school and proceeds to their first year of college… a running start student would be starting there 3rd year of college.

I am planning to become a doctor when I get older and I have been thinking about taking the running start program. I am currently a sophmore, so I have 2 years to decide if I should enroll. My question is, if I take the running start program my jr. year of HS and go to an in-state university for college to finish my undergraduate education will those credits from running start transfer to a medical school?

By Nealp (Nealp) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 01:58 pm: Edit

no. medical school is a different ball game

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 03:05 pm: Edit

So my credits from Running Start will not transfer? Meaning.. that I will have to take the 1st 2 years of college over again?

By Useatoothbrush (Useatoothbrush) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 06:28 pm: Edit

No Spacecandle...you RS credits go on your college transcript and can count towards both your AA from the CC you went to and towards a BA/BS, I believe. A med school would see the credits you earned and your grades and consider those as part of your undergrad education. The credits themselves would not transfer to med school though--you basically start a new level of college after undergrad and credits just don't get shuffled around, as I believe it. You will be fine with your RS credits. I take it that you are in WA state?

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Yes I am in WA. By the way, what is AA and CC?

By Magicdragonfly (Magicdragonfly) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 01:01 am: Edit

Associate in Arts Degree..Community College...you could get an AS tho...depends on what you do..

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 01:30 am: Edit

What school are you planning to look at for your four year and what concentration are you thinking of? ( biochem- biophysics, etc)
Even if you are planning now to attend a public instate school, for which you should have a decent shot at gaining admittance through the transfer agreement, I would aim to fulfill requirements both in high school and through the running start program as if you were applying to a school with stricter entrance requirements, just to have more options.
You may change your mind about attending a large university if you are really intrested in medical school, I believe that proportionally liberal arts colleges have a higher number of students getting their PHds or professional degrees.

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 03:17 pm: Edit

My dream college would be to go to NYU, and I'm thinking of concentrating in biology, or biochemistry.

However, my backup college would be my local instate university, UW. I doubt i'll get in NYU just because my stats arn't competitive enough.

Why is it that you would consider a smaller university as opposed to a larger one?

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 03:53 pm: Edit

I don't know about NYU in the sciences, the students I have know who have attended there have gone for performance/drama/dance programs.

FOr students who are planning a long time in school (PH.d- MD or JD) they need as solid of a foundation as they can get. Students who attend smaller schools particulary liberal arts colleges, have more contact with professors and hence more support in their studies/research, than students who are one of many and who may have critical classes led by grad students.

At my daughters LAC, grads have a success rate of 59% of being accepted at a medical school, 78% of students who applied more than once.
Their average MCAT scores are higher than the average nationwide.
It also probably helps that every senior writes a thesis and defends it to a panel of scholars in that field. Good prep for grad school.

These links might help you do more research
http://people.howstuffworks.com/becoming-a-doctor3.html

http://www.geocities.com/josh_alley/essays/meded.html

http://www.hhmi.org/BeyondBio101/world.html

You can still do research at a larger university, but it just takes more energy to stay motivated and focused in my opinion. The UW does have honors programs however, and some real interesting people to work with, but don't know how accessible they are to average undergrad.

At an LAC there aren't so many people, so easier to stand out.
If you are interested in NYU because of NYC, you may also want to check out U chicago.

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 11:05 pm: Edit

What is LAC?

Do you think that if I do decide on attending my local University, University of Washington... my chances will be higher to being accepted to an Out-of-state Medical School?

About University of Chicago... i've read that they have excellent programs in Economics and Physics... however, i'm not sure about there science courses and Pre-med. I'm going to read about there medical school.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 11:27 pm: Edit

liberal arts college

Well possibly, however I think you would be better off going elsewhere for your BA and attending UW for med school. ( instate tuition!)
THey have a pretty good med school, in fact both of my kids were born at the UW hospital by choice not cause we didn't have insurance.( we needed the level 4 hospital facilities)
I don't think U chicago has a med school, Johns Hopkins of course has one of the best. a family friend who just graduated from UW last month, did quite a bit of work at Johns Hopkins ( not premed- she was astronomy, physics and russian), she loved the school, not so much Baltimore

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 05:32 am: Edit

Hm... So it'd be better for my to get done with my undergraduate credits at a different college, then come back home and take my medical school here??

Is it possible that I just take it all here? I'll go to the University of Washington for my undergraduate courses, then i'll go to the medical afterwards? What do you think?

By Spacecandle (Spacecandle) on Friday, August 01, 2003 - 05:00 pm: Edit

Bump