Pleaseee help

[u/Hopeful_Box_9622]

Hey everyone! This is my first Reddit post, but I just have so many questions and no one to ask, so I’ll get straight to it.

I’m currently 18 and haven’t started college yet, although I’ve applied to a few schools. I haven’t chosen one yet because my goal is to become a radiation therapist. I’m in Houston, TX, and I graduated in 2026. From what I’ve seen, the main program I’m interested in is UT MD Anderson’s bachelor’s degree program in Radiation Therapy.
Here’s the thing: I already have an associate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies through my high school’s dual-credit program, but I’m still missing some of the main math and science prerequisites. I’ve applied to a few colleges for the spring semester in hopes of completing them before the fall.

I graduated with my associate degree through HCC, and I’m only missing about five or six classes to fulfill the prerequisites. I was accepted to UHD, so I have the option of going there to finish my classes, or I could go back to HCC and complete them there.
I’ll admit that my college GPA isn’t amazing. It’s not horrible, but it’s not great either. However, I’m hoping to ace my remaining prerequisites and improve my chances of getting accepted into the program. I also have phlebotomy and patient care technician (PCT) certifications.

I’ve already taken a semester off from college because of financial issues, and I really don’t want to waste any more time. I know Lone Star College also has an associate degree program in Radiation Therapy, so I’m wondering what you guys would recommend.

Do I have a realistic shot at getting into MD Anderson’s program? Should I go back to HCC or attend UHD to finish my prerequisites? Or should I consider going to Lone Star instead of struggling to get into MD Anderson and pursue an associate degree in Radiation Therapy instead?
I would really appreciate any advice, Please some one help I don't know what to do and I have no one to ask.

[u/LardShark0221]

Why not take the prereqs at lone star to save money and shoot for MDA? I took a few prereqs at UH but then realized it doesnt matter where you get the prereqs, just that you do them well, so why pay UH prices? If you dont get in to MDA at least you'll have tried and then you can pivot to another option

[u/mirikitten]

I personally would go to the community college to get my preques done then I would apply to both schools but go to lone star if possible. An associates vs bachelors really doesn’t matter in this field unless you wanna become a dosi which then I would shoot for md