Community College - bad idea?

[S. Ahmed]

Hi Folks:

I recently got laid off and thus looking for another job. I have a possibility in Allentown, PA. While its a nice town and cost of living is pretty reasonable, there are no public Universities around there. There is Lehigh University. But thats private.

I am currently finishing up MSEE and after that I am hoping to take pre-med courses so that I can take MCAT in 2004 or so.

Since I have to fully support my own education, I cannot afford to take courses at a private school. So, what are my options?

The obvious one is, of course, to take the courses at a local community college. But I have heard -- that is usually looked down upon by med schools.

Since I have pretty bad Undergraduate record, I need to do well in post-bac courses for any remote chance in med school.

I would very much appreciate advice from others, especially if you have been in similar situation.

Thank you.

Regards,
Shahab

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by S. Ahmed:
•Hi Folks:

I recently got laid off and thus looking for another job. I have a possibility in Allentown, PA. While its a nice town and cost of living is pretty reasonable, there are no public Universities around there. There is Lehigh University. But thats private.

I am currently finishing up MSEE and after that I am hoping to take pre-med courses so that I can take MCAT in 2004 or so.

Since I have to fully support my own education, I cannot afford to take courses at a private school. So, what are my options?

The obvious one is, of course, to take the courses at a local community college. But I have heard -- that is usually looked down upon by med schools.

Since I have pretty bad Undergraduate record, I need to do well in post-bac courses for any remote chance in med school.

I would very much appreciate advice from others, especially if you have been in similar situation.

Thank you.

Regards,
Shahab•••••NOT AT ALL.....COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLASSES ARE THE BEST AND THEY ARE NOT LOOKED DOWN UPON!!!

i WISH I HAD DONE THAT...I GO TO A GOOD UC (CALIFORNIA) SCHOOL, and I was under the impression that I needed to go to a top undergrad to be fairly competitive...

little did I know, half of my friends went to community, and then the last 2 years transferred over...

they ended up with HIGHER GPAS, less cost in terms of college, and some of them have gone to John Hopkins, Cornell and Columbia!!!

not at all...not even looked down upon...as long as u challenge urself, DO EXTREMELY WELL, and make a nice transition to college with strong MCAT score....ur chancers are not worse, they can even be bettr...because u will have a higher gpa because of the community college! and, it isn't like u tried to get the "Easy way" out...a lot of people like u, have financial difficulties...and community college is FRANKLY much cheaper.....

so go for it...

 

[Bevo]

i dunno. I think for prereqs it can be looked down at. I mean most people go to community colleges because it can sometimes be simpler. Granted cost is a big factor in some people going, but I do think it matters between a 4 year university and a community college.

Not saying you need to go to a top 50 us news and world report college, but a state university might be better.

 

[CaliMed]

It is a very good idea. I did and got into a top twenty medical college. It was great! I saved a lot of money but I would not say that it was simpler. I had to work very hard for my A's.

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by CaliMed:
•It is a very good idea. I did and got into a top twenty medical college. It was great! I saved a lot of money but I would not say that it was simpler. I had to work very hard for my A's.•••••Ummm...

First: Original Poster - yes, CC will be looked down upon BUT YOU CAN STILL PROVE YOURSELF! SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES AND TAKE PART IN A LOT!

Second: You worked hard for your A's at a CC in california? I just don't know about that....

 

[Pawnym]

<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> :wink:

 

[Tobtolip]

I dunno, I think cc's could be looked down upon... I mean its the same argument with the whole ivy vs. non-ivy undergrad deal. We all know adcoms do take into account where you got your bachelor's from. I think adcoms will perceive the same with cc's, cc maybe tougher but in the minds of adcoms cc is an easier road, just like a no-name 4 year school maybe actually tougher than the ivies but in the eyes of adcoms a ivy is more rigorous.

Thats not to say you can't get into med school with cc credits, after all, people who didnt go to the ivies get into the top med schools all the time. However, going to the best possible undergrad certainly helps.

I hope that made sense,
Tob

 

[OldManDave]

Most of the schools I asked when I was applying were not concerned about taking pre-reqs at CCs. Howeverm since it is "accepted" that CC courses are less rigorous [I know that this is not always true, but that is the general concensus], youre grades needs to be top-notch. Be careful though, some schools limit the number of CC hours they will accept...if I correctly recall, some of the Univ TX schools are less than ecstatic to see CC hours.

Best advice, if you know of some schools that really interest you, call them and ask.

 

[Barbara]

Hello Ahmed,

I think to start your undergrad at a community college is a wise decision. All you have to do is to work hard, especially make sure that you distinguish yourself from the rest already in your first semester. Make sure that you get at least a 3.5 GPA, which allows you to become the member of Honors Institute and Phi Theta Kappa. These are outstanding for three most obvious reasons:

1.) great to place both memberships on your AMCAS application

2.) great chance to stand out from the crowd by taking HONORS classes (not as hard as you might think, just a little bit more writing) AND med schools NOTICE that you took this extra effort to sweat over them !!!!

3.) you become eligible to transfer your Associate degree into any university (just give me a favor-always check with the university you will be transfering to, whether the classes at junior college are transferable; at jc, they very often make you take classes that are NOT transferable, bec. they assume you don't know that-EXTRA $ FOR JC AND A WAIST OF YOUR TIME AND $ )

4.) once you will maintain your gpa until graduation from a jc, you will become qualified for a variety of scholarships, even full tuition and even to A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY - all that, thank to HONORS Institute and Phi Theta Kappa; make sure you ask about those at your first advisory meeting at jc

The above constitute the best advices I can give you . And most importantly, do not give up. Never ever.

"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

Marie Curie

So, you too, give it all you have.

P.S. If you have to work, while studying, make sure you do not overload yourself with any classes. Take it easy at the beginning. If you work, you don't need to take more than 4 classes; it's 12 credits and already full time. DO NOT TRY TO COMFORT YOURSELF WITH RELYING ON W'S. MED SCHOOLS DO NOT LIKE THAT. !!! IF YOU HAVE ONE DOUBLE YOU, IT'S OK. THEY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ONCE HAPPENED, BUT ONCE THEY SEE A PATTERN OF W'S, YOU ARE NO MORE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

BARBARA

 

[Pawnym]

honors institute? Is that the name of your CC's honors program or is it a jc honor society I've never heard of? hmm

anyways, take CC courses. Get the highest grades you can, and be involved. Phi Theta Kappa, whatever. Make sure your teachers know you too. You need Recommendations from CC professors to get into better 4 year schools. Hell, find a way to be on the good side of your Deans and President. Personalized recommendations from them are EXCELLENT.

And mind you research opportunites don't really usually exist at most CC's, BUT YOU CAN VOLUNTEER! Do so. Try out lots of stuffs too. In other words, get high grades, be involved at your CC, and be involved in your community. No sweat :wink:

 

[Spang]

Shahab:

It would be a bit of a drive, depending on where you live in relation to Allentown, but I took all my post-bacc classes at night at Deleware Valley College in Doylestown PA. It's right on RT 202.

They have all the classes you'll need including o-chem and biochem with the labs, at night. It is a little pricey but it's a four-year college with a good (local anyway) reputation.

Let me know if I can provide any other info.

Spang

BTW I got 4 interview invites Sept/Oct, went on three got 2 acceptances right away and withdrew from all the other schools so atleast some of the schools I applied to gave my post-bacc work at Del Val credednce!

 

[none]

Definitely go for the community college. As long as you eventually end up at a good 4-year, I don't think it matters. It hasn't for me. Schools will see two things on your AMCAS: a great overall GPA and a great 4-year. They may notice that the CC is there, but are they going to take the time to sort out which classes were taken where and make that a big factor in their deicision? Nope and you'll have many more thousands of dollars to hand over to them.