CC or straight to undergrad

[EL GUNNER]

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Hey guys, quick question about community college and undergrad. I'm a pretty average student, didn't take HS serious until the ending of 10th grade. 3.5 UW 30 ACT 1900 SAT. The only school that would really accept me is FAU (Florida Atlantic University) and I don't really like the school.

I wanna keep this short as possible. If I go to cc for 2 years for an a.s I know I'd be able to transfer to a way better school than fau (and save a lot of $$). The only problem I see from this is when I transfer as a junior to another university I'll have to do all my pre-reqs in less than 2 years if I don't choose biology as a major.

Can I have some insight? Has anyone gone to CC after HS? How did they manage to do pre-med in 2 years and manage their major courses.

Thank you.

I'm a ga resident

 

[Undecided94]

I did cc for two years while in HS and got my AA. I took a lot of science classes but they weren't pre requisites. My major wasn't bio at the time. I saw my advisor a few days ago and she told me that I'd have to spend another 4 years in college and pay double per credit when I go over 120 credits.

If you go to cc, make sure you're taking the pre-req courses & plan on applying to med schools that accept cc credits.

If you go to FAU, it might not be as bad as you think. You have to get over your preconceived notions. I'm at USF because of financial problems. I really didn't want to go to USF but now I love it. The students in my sciences courses aren't super competitive with each other.

 

[EL GUNNER]

I did cc for two years while in HS and got my AA. I took a lot of science classes but they weren't pre requisites. My major wasn't bio at the time. I saw my advisor a few days ago and she told me that I'd have to spend another 4 years in college and pay double per credit when I go over 120 credits.

If you go to cc, make sure you're taking the pre-req courses & plan on applying to med schools that accept cc credits.

If you go to FAU, it might not be as bad as you think. You have to get over your preconceived notions. I'm at USF because of financial problems. I really didn't want to go to USF but now I love it. The students in my sciences courses aren't super competitive with each other.

I don't want to take my pre-reqs at the community college because very little med schools actually accept them.

 

[deleted357625]

well if you plan on getting an A.S at a CC you can finish almost half or close to all your pre-reqs

you need two science courses for your core classes anyway and almost 15-20 credits i believe of science electives which can be your pre-reqs.

Also, it's fine to take your pre-reqs at a CC, just make sure you take some upper-level science courses when you get to the university and ace them before you apply to show your real ability to do well university level.

Other then that your good. I did it and am entering my junior year at my university with almost all my pre-reqs finished.

 

[deleted357625]

I don't want to take my pre-reqs at the community college because very little med schools actually accept them.

A lot of med schools accept them. Unless you really plan on going to top med schools or competitive private schools. But there are many schools who accept CC credits it all comes down to applying smart..When it comes time for you to apply you'll realize that you will just be happy if you get into any med school.

Also, taking some courses at a CC are easier and can help your gpa.

 

[Hotshy]

I would go straight to undergraduate at FAU if I were you, especially if money is not an issue. If FAU isn't for you, you can always transfer.

Some med schools don't take CC credit, my state med school doesn't.

Not trying to be devil's advocate, but Med schools are extremely competitive as you know. If all other things are equal (GPA, MCAT, EC's) who do you take the person who took all of their classes at a university or some one who took half of their course work at a CC.

 

[EL GUNNER]

I would go straight to undergraduate at FAU if I were you, especially if money is not an issue. If FAU isn't for you, you can always transfer.

Some med schools don't take CC credit, my state med school doesn't.

Not trying to be devil's advocate, but Med schools are extremely competitive as you know. If all other things are equal (GPA, MCAT, EC's) who do you take the person who took all of their classes at a university or some one who took half of their course work at a CC.

Thanks. I'll keep looking into it.

 

[Wile]

"Brittany Blackburn is another community college success story. She attended Shawnee State Community College, Columbus State Community College http://www.cscc.edu/and Ohio State University -- and graduated with no student loan debt thanks to generous scholarships and her choice of schools. Now she's a student at Yale Medical School, where she also has a full scholarship that actually pays her $50,000 per year to take classes. She says she interviewed at a lot of top medical schools, and the community college credits on her transcript were "never a question.""

http://www.walletpop.com/2010/03/07/from-community-college-to-yale-medical-school/

Attending CC is by no means going to stop you from getting into medical school. Like Torshi said, as long as you take some upper level classes at your university you should be fine. Just remember to keep up your GPA, do well on the MCAT, EC's, etc.

 

[Wile]

I would go straight to undergraduate at FAU if I were you, especially if money is not an issue. If FAU isn't for you, you can always transfer.

Some med schools don't take CC credit, my state med school doesn't.

Not trying to be devil's advocate, but Med schools are extremely competitive as you know. If all other things are equal (GPA, MCAT, EC's) who do you take the person who took all of their classes at a university or some one who took half of their course work at a CC.

Interviews matter too, If the person A with CC credit had an awesome interview and person B that attended university all four years didn't, I doubt the adcoms would have a problem picking person A because of the CC credits.

That being said, I have to agree that it looks better to have gone to a university for all of undergrad but there are some situations where it may be impossible for a person to do so, and that shouldn't stop them from being able to pursue medical school.

 

[deleted357625]

I would go straight to undergraduate at FAU if I were you, especially if money is not an issue. If FAU isn't for you, you can always transfer.

Some med schools don't take CC credit, my state med school doesn't.

Not trying to be devil's advocate, but Med schools are extremely competitive as you know. If all other things are equal (GPA, MCAT, EC's) who do you take the person who took all of their classes at a university or some one who took half of their course work at a CC.

which tend to be the the top med schools. There are many med schools that accept it. Also, as a "back-up" there are D.O schools

 

[Hotshy]

Interviews matter too, If the person A with CC credit had an awesome interview and person B that attended university all four years didn't, I doubt the adcoms would have a problem picking person A because of the CC credits.

That being said, I have to agree that it looks better to have gone to a university for all of undergrad but there are some situations where it may be impossible for a person to do so, and that shouldn't stop them from being able to pursue medical school.

Completely agree, as far as tough situations go. But, if your family is a good place both emotionally and financially then why not attend university?

CC isn't bad saves a great deal of money, but like I said if all other things are equal (same gpa, mcat, EC's, and interview). The student who took all their courses at a university appears to be the better candidate, but CC credit will not keep you out of med school either, unless you're talking highly ranked med school.

One last thing to consider about attending university right out of high school is the benefits to getting involved in EC's and research. Based on my local CC, I know there are very few serious EC's that students can get involved in. If you start university right out of high school, I would say generally it is easier to get leadership positions in EC's you enjoy versus coming to the university after 2 years at CC, in which case you only have a year to squeeze EC's and research in. Also research is something you will definitely find more of at university. Just consider some of these things in your preparation, as research and EC's are both important components to your application.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't want to take my pre-reqs at the community college because very little med schools actually accept them.

90% of med schools is very little. LOL.

 

[desi0chick]

Your stats aren't really that bad. If this is the only option for you then go for it, many pre-meds have done it. But honestly if you just went to an affordable 4 year institution, it would be easier for you (in terms of adjusting, social life, getting acquainted with what's offered), but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[SN1]

Hey guys, I don't mean to hijack the thread but
if people say that it is better to go straight to a 4-year university from high school to do your prereqs how about,

student 1.
went straight to a tier 2 or tier 3 or even unranked university, did all his/her prereqs there

student 2
Horrible HS stats. Did 2 years at cc, did most if not all prereqs there, and transferred to a tier 1 or top 50 uni in the country to take upper level science and graduatee


which would be better?
I am student 2 and seriously I have been getting offers from cornell, lehigh, Tulane, Columbia, Maryland college park, and other top universities. I am trying to stick with my instate school (rutgers new brunswick) to keep the cost low.

what do you think?

 

[EL GUNNER]

Hey guys, I don't mean to hijack the thread but
if people say that it is better to go straight to a 4-year university from high school to do your prereqs how about,

student 1.
went straight to a tier 2 or tier 3 or even unranked university, did all his/her prereqs there

student 2
Horrible HS stats. Did 2 years at cc, did most if not all prereqs there, and transferred to a tier 1 or top 50 uni in the country to take upper level science and graduatee


which would be better?
I am student 2 and seriously I have been getting offers from cornell, lehigh, Tulane, Columbia, Maryland college park, and other top universities. I am trying to stick with my instate school (rutgers new brunswick) to keep the cost low.

what do you think?

I'd like to know to 🙂

 

[BizzyV]

its your last degree that counts. Go straight to undergrad and do work. Not sure about medicine but in dentistry having taken just a couple pre reqs at CC during the summer is keeping me from applying to a few attractive schools.

Where you did your undergrad won't matter worth a squat if you're an MD.

 

[Copernicium]

Hey guys, quick question about community college and undergrad. I'm a pretty average student, didn't take HS serious until the ending of 10th grade. 3.5 UW 30 ACT 1900 SAT. The only school that would really accept me is FAU (Florida Atlantic University) and I don't really like the school.

I wanna keep this short as possible. If I go to cc for 2 years for an a.s I know I'd be able to transfer to a way better school than fau (and save a lot of $$). The only problem I see from this is when I transfer as a junior to another university I'll have to do all my pre-reqs in less than 2 years if I don't choose biology as a major.

Can I have some insight? Has anyone gone to CC after HS? How did they manage to do pre-med in 2 years and manage their major courses.

Thank you.

I'm a ga resident

What grade are you in/are you done with high school?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This is a slightly old thread but, with a 3.5 UW + 30 ACT you could easily get a full ride to a lot of smaller schools and Liberal Arts Colleges. And trust me, it'll be significantly more bearable than University of Florida with it's 300+ student class sizes.

A good LAC I know about from a friend of mine is Lynn College, it's pretty chill for premeds and it's biology program is almost tenured towards pre-professional majors. You probably could get a full ride as well.