A few prereqs at a CC?

[jmcoreymv]

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I graduated two years ago with a BS and MS in electrical engineering and a 4.0 GPA. After 2 years, and a lot of contemplation, I've decided I want to go to medical school, however I don't have the chem or bio prereqs yet. Are there any issues with taking these classes at a local CC? Will this hurt my chances of getting into a good school? I've got more than enough physics courses at least

Thanks!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Congrats on your awesome UG GPA! There's a lot of debate about whether it's okay to take prereqs at a CC. The general consensus is that it's better to do them at a 4-year institution, but it's okay to do some at a CC if cost is a factor. In your case, I don't think it would hurt much, since you have already shown that you can perform fantastically at a 4-year institution. Still, if possible, I'd take them at a normal state school, especially if you're aiming for a higher tier med school.

 

[chman]

You will get a lot of conflicting info. on here. So here it is in the words of a school. May not speak for all schools, but I believe it to be fairly accurate.


http://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/tap/premed.html

 

[mrmilad]

Took almost 90% of my prereqs at a community college, and I am applying as an international and I have one acceptance so far and a couple waitlists. So yes, you can take them. I don't think they will do any harm.

 

[flip26]

Define "good school."

It is always better to take them at a 4 year, but in your case, it probably is fine.

 

[chman]

By the way, I gave you a schools opinion, but my opinion is that cc is a great place to take the pre-reqs. Small class sizes, I was lucky maybe, but I had a PhD teaching every one of my pre-reqs, where as at larger schools you will most likely get a TA. You develop a bond with fellow students and your professor that is hard to mach when you are in a class of 400 other cut throat pre-meds at the state school.

 

[casillas]

Taking pre-reqs at a CC IS NOT A NEGATIVE. and i speak from experience. i took two years of classes at a CC including most of the pre-req classes (my cc did not offer organic chemistry). I am applying for entry in 2010 and i cannot say it has been a hinderance. i have been invited for 11 interviews including a handful of top 10 schools. and non of the interviewers even mentioned this as a negative. the only time it came up was when an interviewer told me... "there is a misconception among you pre-meds that community college classes are not as good" and i have two acceptances.

so moral of the story. don't listen to what some people here on SDN say. most of them have not been in circumstances where CC was the only option.

 

[anonymousername]

do it

your undergrad GPA is high enough to counterbalance any negative perceptions about CC courses.

Get A's in your courses and murder the MCAT..it's not a secret what to do

 

[chman]

I say do it because you already have taken a lot of science at the university level. If you were an English major or something my advise might be different. Plus, the MCAT is the equalizer. If you do good on the MCAT it will reiterate that you know the material and that your cc grades are comparable.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like it may not be ideal, but shouldn't be much of an issue regardless.

 

[hector219]

My experience is the same as Casillas.

My interviewers have generally given me a time to explain any red flags. This would be a good time to point out "sure, more people get As at CC, but my prof had to give me a 110 to balance the curve like she wanted to." or "out of 50 students, I had the only A"

for scheduling reasons I have no regrets about doing CC pre-reqs. With your UG performance, if that's what works best, don't even think twice.