Bay Area community college

[ScalpelJockey]

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Hello all. As of now I am a Junior in High School. My first two years were below average. My current year is doing better (3.3 first semester and holding) yet not as good as I hoped. For varying reasons I plan on going to a community college then transferring to a UC for my last two years. After that I plan on applying to UCSF or Davis or even San Diego. Has anyone hear taken a similar route or went straight to UC Davis or San Diego? I was wondering if you could tell me what your experience was like because I'm really having trouble trying to paint a mental image of my future as far as schooling goes. I know thats a mouthful but any and all information would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[nisarg2010]

I think its ok to go to community college but not for both your first and second year of college if you plan on going to medical school. From what I know, most people finish their premed requirement in the first two year and therefore if you do all your requirement in a community college, medical schools might look down upon or at the very least you might have to justify why you did that in medical school interviews. That’s why I would say go to community college if you want, but only for the first year of college but if you have the change to get into a four year college (no matter how low quality), take it (if money is not an issue).
Good luck
P.S. dont give up yet, you still have time before college applications come around.

 

[Vicviper]

Don't get too worried by the Community College naysayers - Community College, especially California Community Colleges, can be really great schools, on top of saving you tons in student loans. I've experienced the Dental side of this, which is more or less the same as Med. The only problem you'll run into after having gone to a CC is the few schools that don't like CC credits, such as Tufts for Dental, where it's near impossible to get in after having taken CC classes, but the number of schools that really discriminate against CC's is getting smaller.

The Key to success in professional school applications after having gone to a CC is to really prove yourself after you transfer. For example, if you want to transfer to most UC's from a Community college, you'll need to take a year of bio, and a year of chemistry before you can apply - and since this is a major part of the Health Professional Schools Pre-reqs, you need to be sure to do well in the upper division classes that you take in similar areas once you transfer. I went to Community College and took more or less all of my pre-req classes there, a year of general bio, genetics, ochem, gchem, physics, and once I transferred to UC Irvine I just kicked butt in the upper division classes (which I found easier actually, haha), just to make it so that no one can say that you had it easy at the CC.

When I applied, I did well on the DAT (Dental version of the MCAT), and further proved myself. Although I was given the occasional "well, we would have liked to see you take these lower level classes at a university," it really was a non-issue for the most part. I got into a number of schools, including an Ivy league, and that's after taking all of my pre-reqs at a CC.

Oh, and if you go to a CC, go for two years, finish your GE's, get an IGETC (which says that you don't have to take any more GE at the school you transfer to), take the basic sciences you need to, transfer, and do great where ever you end up. You really won't be able to transfer easily after one year, since most schools want to see that you've taken at least 60 units, and the individual programs (ie. The School of Biology) will want to see that you've taken basic pre-reqs (Bio, GChem).

Good luck, don't stress, and just do your best!

 

[ScalpelJockey]

Thanks for all the great information! The reason why I am going to a Community College for two years is because I know that some UC's and CSU's have a program where if you take the right classes (entire plan here http://www.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=POSITAS&ria=UCD&ia=POSITAS&oia=UCD&aay=09-10&ay=09-10&dora=BIOLSCI.B.S. they let you transfer into the school. Im hoping this would look good enough to graduate schools.

 

[ScalpelJockey]

I also had another question but felt that I shouldn't create its own thread. If I plan on going to a community college for two years, transferring to finish my bachelors then applying to Med school should I bother taking the ACT's or the SAT's? Will it look good or since I went to community college first it doesnt matter?

 

[nisarg2010]

I also had another question but felt that I shouldn't create its own thread. If I plan on going to a community college for two years, transferring to finish my bachelors then applying to Med school should I bother taking the ACT's or the SAT's? Will it look good or since I went to community college first it doesnt matter?

you should still take the ACT and the SAT, they could get you into a 4 year college even if your grades are not good.

Will it look good or since I went to community college first it doesnt matter?[/QUOTE]

med schools wont know if you took the ACT or the SAT, they will only know what college you went to and how well you did there + your MCAT score.

 

[Nanon]

I went to City College of San Francisco and did most of my med school pre-reqs there, then transferred to UC Berkeley, and am currently going to a highly regarded medical school. So I'm a huge fan of the CC pathway.

Here's what I would recommend. Go ahead and take ACT/SAT and apply to some of these schools you've listed. You might get in. You never know. If you don't, go to a community college (CCSF will kick your ass, but really prepare you) and follow the IGETC program. These are the requirements that you have to fulfill to go to any UC, and they don't include all of the prereqs for medical school unless you're planning to apply to a bio major at the UC.

I would recommend that you don't initially plan on transferring into a bio major when you apply to the UC system - those majors are very competitive, and you can always change your major once you get to the UC. Instead, plan to major in something that's EASY for you so you can keep your grades up, and then take most of your pre-reqs at the UC. Remember, you can major in anything and go to medical school, as long as your pre-reqs are done and you get really good grades. (Of course, if bio is easy for you, go for it.)

Make sure you see the transfer counselor at least once when you start CC, and twice when you're applying to UC, so that you're sure that you have all of the classes you need and know the time line.

Good luck to you!

 

[Vicviper]

Yeah, I'd suggest taking the SAT/ACT, you never know, but I didn't take either and I did just fine. Also, if you've got your heart set on a UC, many of the UC's have guaranteed transfer programs. I know UCI and UCLA have them, and the one for UCI said that as long as you keep a 3.0 and get B's in Gchem, you're guaranteed a seat in the Biology Program. It's called TAG at UCI, it's what I did and it worked like a charm - the application was just a formality. I think it's called something different at UCLA - I'd suggest checking if UCB and UCSD have a similar program, I don't see why they wouldn't.

Good luck, and yeah what Nanon said is totally right, a good CC will still kick your ass in the major sciences and prepare you really well, I know mine did, go go 95th percentile in DAT Gchem, haha.

 

[Morsetlis]

Yeah, I'd suggest taking the SAT/ACT, you never know, but I didn't take either and I did just fine. Also, if you've got your heart set on a UC, many of the UC's have guaranteed transfer programs. I know UCI and UCLA have them, and the one for UCI said that as long as you keep a 3.0 and get B's in Gchem, you're guaranteed a seat in the Biology Program. It's called TAG at UCI, it's what I did and it worked like a charm - the application was just a formality. I think it's called something different at UCLA - I'd suggest checking if UCB and UCSD have a similar program, I don't see why they wouldn't.

Good luck, and yeah what Nanon said is totally right, a good CC will still kick your ass in the major sciences and prepare you really well, I know mine did, go go 95th percentile in DAT Gchem, haha.

UCSD does take a lot of transfer students. My exgf is in pharm school now and she was a UCSD transfer student from a CC.

 

[ScalpelJockey]

Allright guys, thanks for all the advice. Just one last question, if I choose to major in something besides biology, would that mean I have to take additional classes to meet my pre reqs? If I majored in biology would all the classes I took for my major go towards my pre reqs?

 

[nisarg2010]

Allright guys, thanks for all the advice. Just one last question, if I choose to major in something besides biology, would that mean I have to take additional classes to meet my pre reqs? If I majored in biology would all the classes I took for my major go towards my pre reqs?

The prerequisites for medical schools are:
· At least one year of general biology
· At least one year of calculus (Calculus I and II)
· At least one year of general (inorganic) chemistry with lab
· At least one year of organic chemistry with lab
· At least one year of physics with lab
· English composition

You can Read more at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/medicine/education-faq/part1/section-2.html

Remember that they vary based on the medical school.
Now to answer your question, Yes, you would have to take extra classes if you major in anything other then biology (even if you major in biology, you might have to take extra classes depending on the requirement of the major at the college you are going to). If you major in any science, you probably won’t have to take too many extra classes. If you major in lets say business, then you might not meet any of the prerequisite (except for English maybe) for medical school and have to take all the classes extra.
My opinion is that you should major in whatever you are interested in, even if it means taking extra classes or going to summer school. If you are doing something you are interested in, you will probably get higher grades. It might even look better on your medical school application if you major something non science.

 

[ScalpelJockey]

The prerequisites for medical schools are:
· At least one year of general biology
· At least one year of calculus (Calculus I and II)
· At least one year of general (inorganic) chemistry with lab
· At least one year of organic chemistry with lab
· At least one year of physics with lab
· English composition

You can Read more at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/medicine/education-faq/part1/section-2.html

Remember that they vary based on the medical school.
Now to answer your question, Yes, you would have to take extra classes if you major in anything other then biology (even if you major in biology, you might have to take extra classes depending on the requirement of the major at the college you are going to). If you major in any science, you probably won’t have to take too many extra classes. If you major in lets say business, then you might not meet any of the prerequisite (except for English maybe) for medical school and have to take all the classes extra.
My opinion is that you should major in whatever you are interested in, even if it means taking extra classes or going to summer school. If you are doing something you are interested in, you will probably get higher grades. It might even look better on your medical school application if you major something non science.

Hey thanks! This helped alot.
And thanks everyone again. Really appreciate your help 👍

 

[ScalpelJockey]

Might be a silly question but if I choosed to follow Philosophy as my major, could I get into med school with an A.B if i met all the pre req? Or does it call for a bachelor of science. Unless they are the same thing in which case I feel like a *****

 

[indianjatt]

Might be a silly question but if I choosed to follow Philosophy as my major, could I get into med school with an A.B if i met all the pre req? Or does it call for a bachelor of science. Unless they are the same thing in which case I feel like a *****

Of course you can. Remember that the only requirement is to take those courses! You can pick any major you want so long you take all the classes.

 

[ScalpelJockey]

Has anyone on these boards majored in philosophy? What do you study?

 

[nisarg2010]

Has anyone on these boards majored in philosophy? What do you study?

My AP physics teacher went to Emory and majored in philosophy but did not get into med school. This does not mean that it cant be done. If thats what your intrested in, then go for it. Just remember to get your prereqs done and study for the MCAT.

Im most likely going to major in biochemistry and molecular biology at University of georgia.

 

[the duck]

Interesting fact: At UC Berkeley the major that has the highest percent acceptance yield to medical school is philosophy. But yes, it will mean taking sciences outside of your major.