Class Advise needed

[gigi405]

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Hi,

I'm a health science major, on the pre-med track and currently a sophomore. I have taken the gen chem and calc sequence. I'm currently taking organic chemistry. I still have to complete my bio sequence and here is where I'm a bit stuck. Currently my gpa is pretty ok, I have a 3.8 overall and a 3.87 science gpa. The bio class at my school is notorious and I have heard nothing but bad things. It is purposely made difficult to even pass, in order to deter pre-med students. I was wondering if I should take half of my bio sequence perhaps in another school, maybe a CC. Would that look bad when I apply to medical school? I have heard different things from different people. Some say that its fine as long as the gpa is solid. Others say that taking one semester of bio at a CC will negatively impact my application. What do you guys think?

 

[dinomite00]

It is of my personal opinion that it might draw attention taking the class at a CC. Another consideration would be that some schools may or may not accept CC credit for prerequisite courses. Either way, you might end up closing doors that you don't know of now (I didn't know all that much about this as a sophomore myself) because of taking that course elsewhere. And if asked about it, I dont think "it is a hard course at my school" is a good enough explanation to get away with it. Just my two cents though, I am by no means an expert and am just speaking from my experiences applying this cycle

 

[aldol16]

If you are at a four-year institution, going back to take one of your pre-req courses at a CC is not recommended unless there are exigent circumstances (e.g. financial difficulties, needing a class to be able to graduate on time, etc.). Taking a pre-req at another, peer four-year institution is a bit different but I think you should avoid that too because it does bring up the question of why you decided to take it there instead of at your home school. No matter how "hard" the course is at your school, that is a not a good reason to take it elsewhere. At the very least, it'll probably cost you more to take courses elsewhere. Your best bet is to take it at your home school and do well in it. "Hard" is relative. Professors rarely give everyone terrible grades just to weed people out because that's not what an academic's job is. Our job is to teach you, not to hold you to unrealistic standards. If a professor does give most of the class bad grades, it's more likely that the class itself did not live up to the standards of previous classes, etc.

 

[Umyo]

Taking one sequence of bio at a CC will not harm your application in anyway.

Many people do this for different reasons. I know money is a big factor for many.

As long as you don't do this habitually and take ALL of your pre-reqs at CC you will be fine.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Don't take it at a CC. You are doing yourself a disservice because not all Med schools accept CC credits as stated above.

Take the course where ever you think you will receive the best education. Remember you're paying to learn, not a grade.

In my school, intro bio 1 and 2 was also difficult, but only because it was taught by different foreign professors every year. I ended up with B- in both. As I continued with upper level courses like genetics and virology, then real PhD professors revealed themselves and I actually began to do well. I got an A in both. Reflecting back, the upper level courses were ORDERS more difficult in terms of material, but it was properly taught and presented.

In conclusion, regardless of who is hard or easy, the better the professor, the better your education. Unless you're the type to stay at home and teach yourself.