CC-unfavorable to med schools?

[CNG]

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Would starting off at a community college and then transferring to a university be looked down upon by med schools?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

No. Here's a good article to read about the subject, too:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/04/community-college-and-professional-school-admissions/

 

[Vicviper]

Yes, that's a very good article to read. They all say that they'd prefer science classes be taken at universities, but it's often very unmanageable to take no sciences before you transfer, and as long as you do well in your upper division sciences, I don't think it's a big deal since you've proved yourself there.

 

[adeline]

NO.

THAT SAID.

Once you xfer, take more science classes that are junior/senior level.

😀

 

[fishbait63]

CC may be frowned upon for those in 4 year universities already... That being said there is nothing wrong with going CC then entering a 4 yr your junior year especially if you come in and get a great GPA the remaining time and put all qualms to rest.

 

[Near]

Hah, I was just thinking about linking that article before I saw someone else do it. I basically agree with them, CC isn't really bad as long as you eventually take upper-level courses. Don't be hesitant to read those lengthy comments on that article either; they can open your eyes further.

 

[coldweatherblue]

you want to give yourself the best chance of succeeding. You will do this by taking your pre-req classes at a 4-year university. It doesn't matter to me what people claim cause I've heard dean's of admission for med schools say point-blank, "We strongly prefer applicants to take their core classes at 4-year universities.".

if you take comp 101 and a bunch of freshman general classes at a CC, then transfer for bio and g-chem sophomore year that might work, but you'd still just be better off starting at the 4-year uni.

 

[Vicviper]

It doesn't matter to me what people claim cause I've heard dean's of admission for med schools say point-blank, "We strongly prefer applicants to take their core classes at 4-year universities.".

Of course they say that, because it's true, they would prefer it, but clearly because they allow you to take science classes at the CC it's really not that big of a deal - as long as you can prove yourself. Some schools don't let you take CC credit, so for them it is a big deal. But that doesn't mean that if your only fesible option for starting undergrad is to go to a CC and you take prereqs there that it's going to significantly hurt you. I took just about all of my pre-reqs at a CC, and then transferred and did well in my upper division classes, and got accepted to an Ivy League school, and the question of the validity of my CC pre-req's didn't even come up at the interview.

If you can start at a 4 year, thinking back on my experience and missing much of that "college" experience, I would say to take that opportunity. But there's nothing wrong with the CC as long as you can prove that you really are worth the grades that you earned there.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Of course they say that, because it's true, they would prefer it, but clearly because they allow you to take science classes at the CC it's really not that big of a deal - as long as you can prove yourself. Some schools don't let you take CC credit, so for them it is a big deal. But that doesn't mean that if your only fesible option for starting undergrad is to go to a CC and you take prereqs there that it's going to significantly hurt you. I took just about all of my pre-reqs at a CC, and then transferred and did well in my upper division classes, and got accepted to an Ivy League school, and the question of the validity of my CC pre-req's didn't even come up at the interview.

If you can start at a 4 year, thinking back on my experience and missing much of that "college" experience, I would say to take that opportunity. But there's nothing wrong with the CC as long as you can prove that you really are worth the grades that you earned there.

👍. If money is tight, go the CC route. Period. I really don't think there is a definitive answer to this question. I should email UMDNJ and see what they have to say but I'm pretty sure that the majority of allopathic med schools could care less as long as you have a strong GPA/MCAT and decent EC's.

When you transfer, just take a handful of upper level sciences. Medical Schools understand that students can't go straight to a four year because of finances. They understand. And it makes sense even if you do have the money. The first two years are the same pretty much anywhere you go unless we are talking about a school that is Ivy League caliber or something along those lines.

The only drawback is that you do miss out on that "college experience". But hey, you meet new people every sem. in college...it's not that big of a deal.

 

[El Nino]

Yes, it will.

This is a game of incremental benefit. Think about it, if you had two applicants, both of whom had similar GPA and MCAT, but one had 25% of their credits from a community college (where courses are notoriously easier with minimal competition), who would you prefer to take?

Both. If their equally qualified. We should not penalize a student for attending a CC. Plus, We do not even know his/her circumstances for doing so (poor high school grades or financial status etc.)

.... okay, if I had two doctors, one educated at arizona med and another at Harvard. Who would you prefer to have as your doctor?

 

[Vicviper]

The only drawback is that you do miss out on that "college experience". But hey, you meet new people every sem. in college...it's not that big of a deal.

Yeah, though it is a drawback, I definitely did love my years at CC - and I don't really feel like I'm much less of anything for not having had more of that "college" experience."

To Tired's post, If everything was the same in two applicants, and it never is, possibly I'd concede the point, though it's of my recognition of the very often false discrimination of CC's, but definitely not of my approval of it.

There's so many other factors that go into play - I'd definetly say that the CC student would quite possibly have a much better chance of having a high quality letter of Rec than a student who has only gone to a big university. I know this was the case with me compared to my friends who were applying the same year I was.

Granted, it would be easier to get into research earlier on if you start at a 4 year, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get research as a transfer student.

Like I said before, and you addressed as well, while it might make a difference, I don't think it makes much of a difference, and the application process is complicated enough and has enough factors to easily find a place to make up for that.