CC class - but for a course I already have AP credit for

[hj3818]

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Hi all,

I am planning to go back to school at the University of Maryland as a full time student next Summer. I'm receiving a second bachelor's degree in Biology as part of my career-changing efforts.

In high school, I received a 4 on my Calc AP so I got credit for Calc 1. When I go back to UMD, I will begin at Calc 2 so as to save time. However, before then, I'll feel a bit rusty in Calc (haven't taken it in about 5 years, do not remember a thing) and I really want to make sure I get that A in Calc II.

I'm working full time until I go back to school next summer so I was thinking of taking Calc 1 again at the local community college in the evening to save money, and also to act as a refresher. I know CC classes are looked upon unfavorably for med schools and I'm trying not to do anything to decrease my chances at a good program. However, I feel this is a bit of a unique situation and so I was wondering how the Calc 1 class at the local CC would look, when I already have the AP credit. Will it be looked at unfavorably, favorably, or will med schools just shrug it off as an extra class, and not as a pre-req? Thanks!

 

[MedPR]

Hi all,

I am planning to go back to school at the University of Maryland as a full time student next Summer. I'm receiving a second bachelor's degree in Biology as part of my career-changing efforts.

In high school, I received a 4 on my Calc AP so I got credit for Calc 1. When I go back to UMD, I will begin at Calc 2 so as to save time. However, before then, I'll feel a bit rusty in Calc (haven't taken it in about 5 years, do not remember a thing) and I really want to make sure I get that A in Calc II.

I'm working full time until I go back to school next summer so I was thinking of taking Calc 1 again at the local community college in the evening to save money, and also to act as a refresher. I know CC classes are looked upon unfavorably for med schools and I'm trying not to do anything to decrease my chances at a good program. However, I feel this is a bit of a unique situation and so I was wondering how the Calc 1 class at the local CC would look, when I already have the AP credit. Will it be looked at unfavorably, favorably, or will med schools just shrug it off as an extra class, and not as a pre-req? Thanks!

Is Calc 1 already on your transcript? If it isn't, Med schools won't know that you could have gotten college credit due to AP class. If this is the case, I would take the Calc class at a CC since it's basically going to be a free A. If you go on to Calc 2 at your 4 year univ, the Calc 1 at CC won't look bad. The only "negative" from taking classes at CC (assuming you get A's) is the assumption that CC courses are not as difficult as 4 year univ classes. By getting an A in calc 2, you'll show that you are capable and didn't need to take Calc 1 at a CC, but chose to.

 

[rrt]

Taking classes at a CC isn't looked at unfavorably unless you fail the classes. Most adcom know that some CC professors teach the same classes at 4 year institutions with the same syllabus. My Chem professor went on a rant about the stigma because he not only is Director of the Chemistry department at the 2 year college, but is also assistant prof for a private top name 4 year university.

Take the class wherever you can.

 

[MedPR]

Also, the AP credit won't add an A to your transcript like a CC class will.

 

[hj3818]

Is Calc 1 already on your transcript? If it isn't, Med schools won't know that you could have gotten college credit due to AP class. If this is the case, I would take the Calc class at a CC since it's basically going to be a free A. If you go on to Calc 2 at your 4 year univ, the Calc 1 at CC won't look bad. The only "negative" from taking classes at CC (assuming you get A's) is the assumption that CC courses are not as difficult as 4 year univ classes. By getting an A in calc 2, you'll show that you are capable and didn't need to take Calc 1 at a CC, but chose to.

So my AP credit is actually on my transcript already -- but I'm assuming taking calc1 at the CC still won't hurt, right?

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[theseeker4]

So my AP credit is actually on my transcript already -- but I'm assuming taking calc1 at the CC still won't hurt, right?

Thanks for all the responses!

No reason for it to hurt you. If you went around, and took calc I from every cc in the area for example, ending up with 5 A's worth 4 credits a piece, that would be seen as an obvious attempt to artificially bump your GPA up. Taking a class you had AP credit in before, or even re-taking it, to familiarize yourself with the material before calc II shouldn't be viewed negatively at all.

 

[MedPR]

I had not thought of that. A community college should be a good way to get above a computerized GPA cutoff. But don't assume it's an easy A. There are some individual instructors at community colleges who are far from grade inflated.

Yea that's true, but I think it's fair to say that it might be a red flag if someone with AP credit for Calculus doesn't get an A in CC Calculus, at least from the ADCOM point of view.

So my AP credit is actually on my transcript already -- but I'm assuming taking calc1 at the CC still won't hurt, right?

Thanks for all the responses!

Nope, I don't think it will hurt as long as you get an A (see above). It definitely won't hurt if you go on to take Calc II.

No reason for it to hurt you. If you went around, and took calc I from every cc in the area for example, ending up with 5 A's worth 4 credits a piece, that would be seen as an obvious attempt to artificially bump your GPA up. Taking a class you had AP credit in before, or even re-taking it, to familiarize yourself with the material before calc II shouldn't be viewed negatively at all.

I agree. And even if you don't take calc 2, you are, at the very least, showing that you can perform in college level calc and not hiding behind your AP credit.

 

[pkwraith]

There is much less stimga of CC for non-traditional students. ADCOMs understand that for working adults, there is not always the same financial or temporal opportunities as someone enrolled in undergrad. Generally, the red flag comes in when a traditional undergrad takes a prereq at a CC instead of their own school.

I personally took a prereq class this year before med school. Obviously, it was a about 100x easier, but the most important part was that it was cheaper and more accessible.

If you think you need the refresher, go ahead. Just realize that it's going to be another transcript you have to send in.

 

[MedPR]

There is much less stimga of CC for non-traditional students. ADCOMs understand that for working adults, there is not always the same financial or temporal opportunities as someone enrolled in undergrad. Generally, the red flag comes in when a traditional undergrad takes a prereq at a CC instead of their own school.

I personally took a prereq class this year before med school. Obviously, it was a about 100x easier, but the most important part was that it was cheaper and more accessible.

If you think you need the refresher, go ahead. Just realize that it's going to be another transcript you have to send in.

I hope you're right about less stigma for CC. I would like to take/retake some classes at a 4 year, but I simply can't afford to pay the $1k+ my nearby 4year unis want PER CREDIT. It's nice that the CC classes are much easier, but I try to learn everything possible, which is always much more than necessary to get an A. I took a class this semester where I could have gotten a 0 on the final and still finished the class with an A.

It's also a nice confidence boost to breeze through classes, even if you know you're supposed to be breezing through them 🙂

 

[popopopop]

Can't you take it for no credit? I.e. an adult wanting to take a film class on his off days. I had that option when selecting my reasoning for enrolling back to CC.

 

[PharMed2016]

Hi all,

I am planning to go back to school at the University of Maryland as a full time student next Summer. I'm receiving a second bachelor's degree in Biology as part of my career-changing efforts.

In high school, I received a 4 on my Calc AP so I got credit for Calc 1. When I go back to UMD, I will begin at Calc 2 so as to save time. However, before then, I'll feel a bit rusty in Calc (haven't taken it in about 5 years, do not remember a thing) and I really want to make sure I get that A in Calc II.

I'm working full time until I go back to school next summer so I was thinking of taking Calc 1 again at the local community college in the evening to save money, and also to act as a refresher. I know CC classes are looked upon unfavorably for med schools and I'm trying not to do anything to decrease my chances at a good program. However, I feel this is a bit of a unique situation and so I was wondering how the Calc 1 class at the local CC would look, when I already have the AP credit. Will it be looked at unfavorably, favorably, or will med schools just shrug it off as an extra class, and not as a pre-req? Thanks!

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you need to take calc II for medical school. In any case, I would retake calc I as a refresher at the CC and I don't think medical schools will look unfavorably.

 

[hj3818]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you need to take calc II for medical school. In any case, I would retake calc I as a refresher at the CC and I don't think medical schools will look unfavorably.

If I could, I would just take calc 1/keep my AP credit but to receive a Biology degree at UMD, Calc 2 is required