There’s more than one way to skin a cat. After Human Anatomy lab at the community college, I can attest to this statement more than I’d like. Hey, we’re not a fancy school with real cadavers.
Just like skinning a cat, there’s more than one way that us career changers can tackle PT school pre-requisites. Unfortunately, we often are over our unit limits for qualifying for normal financial aid. Depending on your finances, you may need to pro/con list the following options:
Good Ol’ Community College
This is by-far the cheapest option. Currently, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA charges $46.00 per unit. With minor additional fees, a 5-unit chemistry class can cost around $250.00. Books might be another $100 on top of that. After filing my FAFSA, in which I declared myself as financially independent and proved my low-income status, I qualified for the California Board of Governors Fee Waiver. As such, I pay only lab and health fees and books. Tuition is covered. Thank you very much, whoever came up with that!
Access to this option depends on your area. Lucky for me, I live in Orange County, CA, where there are many great community colleges to choose from. As some schools are impacted, encountering course wait-lists can be a reality. I was able to deal with wait-lists by seeking classes at other junior colleges nearby. Even so, the times when I had no other option but the wait-listed class, I stuck it out and eventually got into the classes that I needed. If you are afraid of being in this situation, all I can say is register early.
Timing also works well for career changers with J.C. classes because they often have options for working professionals, such as night classes. This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how much you really need that 8:00pm – 11:10pm chem lab. Yes…that is a real lab time at one school I attended. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Post-Baccalaureate Programs
If finances aren’t as much of an issue, a post-bacc program might be for you. These programs are often pre-selected course bundles offered in cohorts for pre-health students who didn’t choose a pre-health major. As an example, California State University at Fullerton offers a pre-health post-bacc which costs around $450 per unit. That same 5-unit chemistry class that cost $250.00 at community college in a post-bacc could cost upwards of $2,300.
Due to the nature of cohort systems, post-bacc programs often provide less flexibility in terms of class schedule and program start dates. On the flip side, you are often guaranteed a spot in each class and don’t have to deal with waitlists. This would be a great option for someone with comfortable finances who just wants to get the pre-requisites done as soon as possible (i.e. my accountant friend… and yes, I’m still jealous).
Other benefits of post-bacc programs may include special career advisement, test prep, and assistance with applications. CSUF’s program even offers grad school linkages which could give candidates a leg up on the competition. If you have the scratch and the schedule, this option is not too shabby.
University Extension Courses
A third option, reserved also for those who can afford it, is the university extension course. This option allows non-enrolled outsiders to take university classes for credit, as long as the class is not full. Sometimes called “open university,” these courses literally open the university to just about anyone who A) can afford it and B) has the necessary pre-requisites for the class in question.
Extension courses are a great way to hit upper division science courses that may not be offered at community colleges. They also extend another option for the physiology course that you’d rather take at J.C. except that you’re #25 on the waitlist. The downside of extension courses is that university courses cost university tuition. IT. IS. NOT. CHEAP. California State University at Long Beach charges $307.00 per unit. Private universities will almost definitely cost more.
This is a great option for those of you who haven’t reached your limits on units for undergraduate financial aid or who have a rich uncle.
Where are you taking your pre-reqs? What obstacles have you encountered along the way? Let us know in the comments below.
Career Change PT 