C.C. courses or 1.5 hour commute each way

[hara_l]

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Hi! I'm a nontraditional student (graduated from top 20 univ) and plan on going to Harvard Extension during the fall. I just need to take general chemistry I and II during the summer but the problem is that the nearest university is an hour and a half away (yes, I live in middle of nowhere). Is it worth the extra drive everyday?? Or should I just go to the local community college. All of the schools I'm aiming for seem to take cc credit but then there's that IF - what IF I change my mind and want to apply to BU later, etc.

Could anybody with similar experience give me their advice?

 

[Polkadotfan]

I did a few CC classes did well (Edit: by a few I guess I mean a whole associates), but then transferred to a 4-year and did well there.

I don't see a problem with that if it's the only thing you have to take. I wouldn't drive 3 hours a day for up to 3-4x a week for 1 class. If someone asks that's probably what I would say, especially if you have other commitments like work or something.

I might just hate commuting because of where I'm from though

 

[Faefly]

I did a few CC classes did well (Edit: by a few I guess I mean a whole associates), but then transferred to a 4-year and did well there.

I don't see a problem with that if it's the only thing you have to take. I wouldn't drive 3 hours a day for up to 3-4x a week for 1 class. If someone asks that's probably what I would say, especially if you have other commitments like work or something.

I might just hate commuting because of where I'm from though

Did schools mind your CC courses?
Did you get accepted or interviewed at a dental school?

 

[Polkadotfan]

Did schools mind your CC courses?
Did you get accepted or interviewed at a dental school?

Interviewed and accepted at 4 (3 were TX) out of 10 applied. I will admit I was horrible at turning in 2ndaries since TX didn't require any I was hoping for that 🤣
I don't remember it being an issue. My Dat was high enough in the sciences and my GPA from a 4-yr was also high so even if it was an issue I would have brought that up.
I believe strongly in turning it all into positives though - I saved money taking CC courses, I could work online most of the time, and my CC was actually very nice and some classes were harder than a 4-yr!

 

[Faefly]

Interviewed and accepted at 4 (3 were TX) out of 10 applied. I will admit I was horrible at turning in 2ndaries since TX didn't require any I was hoping for that 🤣
I don't remember it being an issue. My Dat was high enough in the sciences and my GPA from a 4-yr was also high so even if it was an issue I would have brought that up.
I believe strongly in turning it all into positives though - I saved money taking CC courses, I could work online most of the time, and my CC was actually very nice and some classes were harder than a 4-yr!

Great to hear that, congrats.

 

[Polkadotfan]

Great to hear that, congrats.

Good luck on your decision! I hope others can share their experience!

 

[toothdoctor123]

Hi! I'm a nontraditional student (graduated from top 20 univ) and plan on going to Harvard Extension during the fall. I just need to take general chemistry I and II during the summer but the problem is that the nearest university is an hour and a half away (yes, I live in middle of nowhere). Is it worth the extra drive everyday?? Or should I just go to the local community college. All of the schools I'm aiming for seem to take cc credit but then there's that IF - what IF I change my mind and want to apply to BU later, etc.

Could anybody with similar experience give me their advice?

Yes, I think it's worth it. Consider applying for university housing or subletting an apartment (easy to do for a summer semester) if it's a 1.5 hour daily drive. Some schools say that they recognize CC credit, but that doesn't mean that they don't frown upon applicants taking the most important prereqs at a CC. If you don't have an extenuating circumstance (poverty, full-time job, family responsibilities, etc.) it can appear that you are just trying to take the easy way out to get a high GPA. But I suppose you could potentially claim disadvantaged status on your application for living in a rural area with low access to education.

Harvard Extension School is considered to be on par with community college, btw.

Are you from the Northeast? What are your options for CC/university?

 

[Faefly]

Yes, I think it's worth it. Consider applying for university housing or subletting an apartment (easy to do for a summer semester) if it's a 1.5 hour daily drive. Some schools say that they recognize CC credit, but that doesn't mean that they don't frown upon applicants taking the most important prereqs at a CC. If you don't have an extenuating circumstance (poverty, full-time job, family responsibilities, etc.) it can appear that you are just trying to take the easy way out to get a high GPA. But I suppose you could potentially claim disadvantaged status on your application for living in a rural area with low access to education.

Harvard Extension School is considered to be on par with community college, btw.

Are you from the Northeast? What are your options for CC/university?

Hi, how can you explain that you chose CC for one of the above reasons? Do you imply it in your personal statement based and they can infer that was the reasons, or is there a place on the application where I can say such things?

 

[hara_l]

Harvard Extension School is considered to be on par with community college, btw.

Are you from the Northeast? What are your options for CC/university?

Interesting... I read on these forums that HES has a good reputation. My only option is to go to the local state school (which is the one that is 1.5 hours away) but that school doesn't have a formal post bac program so I would have to do a DIY post bacc. I wanted to go to HES since there I can at least get a committee letter AND the cost would be almost equivalent to the state school (even though I would be paying in state tuition). It's too late now to apply to a formal post bacc program.

 

[toothdoctor123]

Hi, how can you explain that you chose CC for one of the above reasons? Do you imply it in your personal statement based and they can infer that was the reasons, or is there a place on the application where I can say such things?

There's a special section on the AADSAS application where you can mention things like these. You could choose to talk about it in your personal statement if the theme is overcoming obstacles, but it's not necessary. You can also bring it up in interviews; however, the interviewers are unlikely to ask direct you questions about it (because depending on what it is, it can be illegal for them to inquire).

Interesting... I read on these forums that HES has a good reputation. My only option is to go to the local state school (which is the one that is 1.5 hours away) but that school doesn't have a formal post bac program so I would have to do a DIY post bacc. I wanted to go to HES since there I can at least get a committee letter AND the cost would be almost equivalent to the state school (even though I would be paying in state tuition). It's too late now to apply to a formal post bacc program.

Yes, HES's Premedical Program has a good reputation for med school placement--my impression is that those students have to go through a relatively selective admissions process to matriculate. It's a traditional postbacc. Is that what you're doing?

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure that the courses you can take a la carte are open-enrollment (literally college for the community). Though the courses might be the same, I'm not sure you would be graded the same way as the students enrolled in the pre-med program, and you probably wouldn't qualify for a committee letter. That doesn't necessarily mean that the courses wouldn't be worth taking anyway...I'm just saying that it would not be as impressive as a post-bacc.

I could be wrong about this, but I think you should double check.

 

[S_Diamond_DDS]

Just go to your local CC. Since it's just for chem I & II, I doubt anyone will care. Save yourself the headache and $.