Anyone else attend a Community College in Virginia?

[Fakhter]

NOVA to be more specific. The reason I ask this because this is my first year and the classes seem to be quite easy. I'm wondering if it's just me or the rigor of the courses is nonexistent.

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[MedPR]

NOVA to be more specific. The reason I ask this because this is my first year and the classes seem to be quite easy. I'm wondering if it's just me or the rigor of the courses is nonexistent.

Community college is easy.

 

[Fakhter]

Community college is easy.

But why? You learn the exact same material.

 

[487806]

But why? You learn the exact same material.

Taught in a much easier fashion. Go to a 4-year undergrad before applying to medical school.

 

[shinbeats]

I attended nova/nvcc myself before going to a 4 year university and eventually medical school. Northern Virginia community college is a joke compared to other institutions. The same material is not taught, they actually teach less but most importantly the tests are way way easier than what you will experience in a 4 year university. I had a 4.0 in nova and then ended up with a 2.9 my first semester of University. I did get used to the difficulty level and get my gpa back up in a semester or two but it required a lot more work. I would suggest if you're really trying to save money then for the sake of learning go to a university after 1 year of community college and don't take prerequisites at nova since you will be cutting yourself short in preparation for the rigors of the mcat and medical school.

 

[MedPR]

But why? You learn the exact same material.

Yes, but in much less detail.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Community college is easy.

It's a little bit different in the Mid Atlantic. Montgomery College, North Virgina College, and a few others, are ranked very highly to the point that transfer credits literally transfer to even Cornell. But anyways, my classes weren't different in intensity between my CC and my 4 year. That's more my experience at MC though, it's curious whether it's impressive or shameful, but it's the highest ranked CC in the nation. NOVA is ranked pretty highly too.

Yes, but in much less detail.

You probably learn less than the people at Yale, and more than the people at Podunk. But again, I'm going to say that NOVA's classes won't be easier than even U Virginia. Plenty of my friends actually had an easier time at U Virgina.

 

[Fakhter]

I attended nova/nvcc myself before going to a 4 year university and eventually medical school. Northern Virginia community college is a joke compared to other institutions. The same material is not taught, they actually teach less but most importantly the tests are way way easier than what you will experience in a 4 year university. I had a 4.0 in nova and then ended up with a 2.9 my first semester of University. I did get used to the difficulty level and get my gpa back up in a semester or two but it required a lot more work. I would suggest if you're really trying to save money then for the sake of learning go to a university after 1 year of community college and don't take prerequisites at nova since you will be cutting yourself short in preparation for the rigors of the mcat and medical school.

Do you mind sharing what medical school you went to?

 

[shinbeats]

Do you mind sharing what medical school you went to?

I'm still attending and It's in Virginia so let's just leave it at that.

 

[shinbeats]

It's a little bit different in the Mid Atlantic. Montgomery College, North Virgina College, and a few others, are ranked very highly to the point that transfer credits literally transfer to even Cornell. But anyways, my classes weren't different in intensity between my CC and my 4 year. That's more my experience at MC though, it's curious whether it's impressive or shameful, but it's the highest ranked CC in the nation. NOVA is ranked pretty highly too.



You probably learn less than the people at Yale, and more than the people at Podunk. But again, I'm going to say that NOVA's classes won't be easier than even U Virginia. Plenty of my friends actually had an easier time at U Virgina.

lol wtf no? I attended NOVA for 2 years please don't tell me it's as difficult as UVA you must have lost your mind.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

lol wtf no? I attended NOVA for 2 years please don't tell me it's as difficult as UVA you must have lost your mind.

I guess things have changed in the last 4-8 years. Regardless, I'm going off of what friends who went there said. I didn't attend NOVA. I went from MC to UMD and haven't found it to be too much more difficult except for an added commute. Then again MC is ranked high and my professors worked me hard.

 

[shinbeats]

I guess things have changed in the last 4-8 years. Regardless, I'm going off of what friends who went there said. I didn't attend NOVA. I went from MC to UMD and haven't found it to be too much more difficult except for an added commute. Then again MC is ranked high and my professors worked me hard.

Well I am a UVA grad, I did 2 years at NOVA and 2 years at UVA. UVA will hands down destroy anything that NOVA or MC has to offer.

Montgomery College does not even rank in the top 50 community colleges in the US, I don't know where you're coming up with all these bluffs.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2010/community_colleges.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/12/ranking_community_colleges.html

It's actually ranked pretty low compared to other mid atlantic community colleges.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Well I am a UVA grad, I did 2 years at NOVA and 2 years at UVA. UVA will hands down destroy anything that NOVA or MC has to offer.

Montgomery College does not even rank in the top 50 community colleges in the US, I don't know where you're coming up with all these bluffs.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2010/community_colleges.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/12/ranking_community_colleges.html

It's actually ranked pretty low compared to other mid atlantic community colleges.

Eh, idk that was what the orientation said and we've got awards for it. But regardless, I've never taken a course at UVA and never will, but like I said, I know people at UVA and that's all I'm going off of.

 

[shinbeats]

Eh, idk that was what the orientation said and we've got awards for it. But regardless, I've never taken a course at UVA and never will, but like I said, I know people at UVA and that's all I'm going off of.

Look I'm not trying to belittle any school. NOVA and Montgomery both have decent education for the buck but if someone wants to go into medical school it's best to go to a 4 year university. If they want to save money then yeah it's alright to go to one of the decent community colleges for a year but that's about it. These community colleges don't even offer the in depth courses, research opportunities, rigorous academic environment that average universities provide let alone top ranked undergrad schools like UVA.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Look I'm not trying to belittle any school. NOVA and Montgomery both have decent education for the buck but if someone wants to go into medical school it's best to go to a 4 year university. If they want to save money then yeah it's alright to go to one of the decent community colleges for a year but that's about it. These community colleges don't even offer the in depth courses, research opportunities, rigorous academic environment that average universities provide let alone top ranked undergrad schools like UVA.[/QUOTE]

That's kinda why they're 2 year colleges and not 4 year colleges, you're not going to take 300 or 400 level courses there. Regardless, I feel like both provide decent education and prepare you for university.

 

[bearofthesnow]

I took College Physics I and II at NOVA and I felt it was similar in difficulty to the 200 level sciences at my 4-year institution. I scored decent in the PS section and I have a few interviews, so I don't believe it has hindered me. However, going to NOVA full time might have a different impact.

 

[487806]

Just to sum up this mini-debate, I believe the general consensus is go to community college if you want, but graduate from a 4-year undergrad before med school. Regardless of how good the community college is, med schools will not care, and they expect you to attend a 4-year undergrad before matriculation.

 

[shinbeats]

Just to sum up this mini-debate, I believe the general consensus is go to community college if you want, but graduate from a 4-year undergrad before med school. Regardless of how good the community college is, med schools will not care, and they expect you to attend a 4-year undergrad before matriculation.

You need a bachelors degree to apply to most medical schools in the US and you can't get a bachelors from a community college not that I know of. Therefore common sense would dictate that everyone would have to go to a 4 year school if they were going to apply to medical school. The debate here is if and when you should go to a community college. I would recommend not spending more than 1 year at a community college and most importantly to complete all prerequisites at a 4 year university.

 

[MedPR]

It's a little bit different in the Mid Atlantic. Montgomery College, North Virgina College, and a few others, are ranked very highly to the point that transfer credits literally transfer to even Cornell. But anyways, my classes weren't different in intensity between my CC and my 4 year. That's more my experience at MC though, it's curious whether it's impressive or shameful, but it's the highest ranked CC in the nation. NOVA is ranked pretty highly too.



You probably learn less than the people at Yale, and more than the people at Podunk. But again, I'm going to say that NOVA's classes won't be easier than even U Virginia. Plenty of my friends actually had an easier time at U Virgina.

Well, I can't discount your opinion since I know nothing about any of those schools. However, WashU takes credits from the community college I currently go to and I can say 100% that the classes at this community college are a joke. Barnes Jewish Hospital (top 5 or 10 hospital in the country) takes nurses from this community college's nursing program as well. I went to a non-top undergrad university and the coursework there was way more in depth and difficult than this CC I'm at now.

Of course, I understand things will vary between schools.