community college classes

[sheikha9]

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I am currently finishing my 2nd year at university of maryland and i have recently decided to be pre-dent. I want to apply to this 3-year dental/arts program where my senior year of undergrad is done at dental school while doing my first year of dental studies. To be eligible for the program I need to finish my physics II this summer, but I wanted to take Physics II at my community college simply because its easier and cheaper, as we all know! My question is, how are dental schools going to look at the fact that I am going to be taking one of my pre-dental science pre-req's at a community college? I'm sure I'll get an A in Physics II at the community college, will that help at all?

thanks

 

[aasst15]

When i told my mentor who is on the pre-professional committee that I wanted to take orgo2 at the comm college he strongly talked me out of it. I am repeating it tho.

>I'm sure I'll get an A in Physics II at the community college, will that help at all?

thanks[/QUOTE]

 

[45540]

I'd take it at a community college. If it's closer to home or some other legitimate reason you can think up it won't matter. Get an A and be done with it.

In the grand scheme of things, physics is pretty useless in school. It's not like i remember anything i had in the class my sophomore year anyways. And it's only used in random biomaterial courses for the most part.

 

[organichemistry]

sorry for hijacking the thread, but do dental schools take into account grades you made at a community college? i'll probably have 15-20 credit hours at a CC once i graduate since im taking a couple classes every summer. in all likelihood, it will bring my cumulative GPA up if they count them...

Do they?

 

[mynameistino]

The only difference is if yo have a A and someone else who went to a higher class school and get an A then that person will have a better chance of getting in. THATS ALL!! but...the dental college test will even everything out.

 

[cowsgomoo]

My Kaplan DAT instructor had a similar problem and when he was taking the interview they brought it up. You need to have a valid excuse as to why you took the class at community college. Don’t tell them you took it there because it was easy.

 

[Bullfan16]

sorry for hijacking the thread, but do dental schools take into account grades you made at a community college? i'll probably have 15-20 credit hours at a CC once i graduate since im taking a couple classes every summer. in all likelihood, it will bring my cumulative GPA up if they count them...

Do they?

Are you serious? Please tell me you are kidding! Community College is a college, and you take college courses there, so why wouldnt it count in your cumulative GPA? If that were the case, I wouldnt have gotten in seeing that I took a decent amount of courses at my CC. Seriously, who asks that question? Did your advisor tell you this? I really think along with the pre-reqs dental schools should require us to take a course on the application cycle to de-bunk a lot of the myths seen on these forums such as the "NYU/BU-flunk out" scenario and the "will I get in even if I took a meaningless Physics course (material not on the DAT) at a CC" scenario?

 

[Ruprick]

sorry for hijacking the thread, but do dental schools take into account grades you made at a community college? i'll probably have 15-20 credit hours at a CC once i graduate since im taking a couple classes every summer. in all likelihood, it will bring my cumulative GPA up if they count them...

Do they?

Some do. Tufts, for example, takes strong preference to those who completed all of their prerequisites at a 4-year university. When I told them I was planning on taking only one course at a cc (biochem) they told me it would hurt my application, even though every other course was taken at a competitive 4-year school.

 

[Bullfan16]

Some do. Tufts, for example, takes strong preference to those who completed all of their prerequisites at a 4-year university. When I told them I was planning on taking only one course at a cc (biochem) they told me it would hurt my application, even though every other course was taken at a competitive 4-year school.

True some schools do this...but that doesnt mean your CC courses just automatically disappear from your cumulative GPA.

 

[wimmcs]

I took ALL my pre-reqs from a CC and I got into 4 very good schools. Was never brought up in any of my interviews. Don't worry about taking your class at the CC. Good luck!

 

[brandiwine1160]

I took my Anatomy and Phisiology at a CC. I did have a legitimate excuse. The local 4 year college classes were full. However, I was never asked about this. The admission committees didn't even mention it. It didn't seem to hurt my admission either. I got into all three schools I applied to (Baylor, UMKC, and UT-Memphis) So I would say go for it.

 

[dexadental]

Hmmm..Tufts told you that. That isn't what I heard. If you are up against a person with an A at a four year school, and you got your A at a comm college, they won't neccesarily be favored. You have to remember that its an application, with more than just stats...your personal statement, situations, DAT, and extracurriculars and shadowing all are factored in. Perhaps the person who went to cc didn't have enough money to afford a four year education directly. I'd choose this student, over someone who went to a four year school and got an A, but sat on his behind all day. Just a thought...it shows dedication to ace your classes at a cc...because most people who go there hold jobs, and have LIVES.

 

[asalazar]

I am currently finishing my 2nd year at university of maryland and i have recently decided to be pre-dent. I want to apply to this 3-year dental/arts program where my senior year of undergrad is done at dental school while doing my first year of dental studies. To be eligible for the program I need to finish my physics II this summer, but I wanted to take Physics II at my community college simply because its easier and cheaper, as we all know! My question is, how are dental schools going to look at the fact that I am going to be taking one of my pre-dental science pre-req's at a community college? I'm sure I'll get an A in Physics II at the community college, will that help at all?

thanks

At UF, if the science class is required within our major, we aren't allowed to take it elsewhere. If your school allows you to take it at a CC, do it!

 

[Ruprick]

Hmmm..Tufts told you that. That isn't what I heard. If you are up against a person with an A at a four year school, and you got your A at a comm college, they won't neccesarily be favored. You have to remember that its an application, with more than just stats...your personal statement, situations, DAT, and extracurriculars and shadowing all are factored in. Perhaps the person who went to cc didn't have enough money to afford a four year education directly. I'd choose this student, over someone who went to a four year school and got an A, but sat on his behind all day. Just a thought...it shows dedication to ace your classes at a cc...because most people who go there hold jobs, and have LIVES.

Yes an adcom at Tufts told me that, on more than one occasion. I would say Tufts is the exception more than the rule, as many schools don't care where you take your pre-req's. Personally I've experienced classes on both levels and in my experience there is a sizable difference between the two when comparing work load and quality of education. I'll probably get flamed for that but it's the truth in my experience.

 

[dexadental]

I guess we all have had different professors and experiences that have molded our views about community colleges. I always felt that the work was comparable to a 4 year school...I did a few summer semesters at a cc...fairly difficult and challenging...it really depends on your professor, their background, and the class itself. Basketweaving is the same at Harvard or at Manatee Community College.

 

[Bullfan16]

Ruprick the difference lies only in the amount of competition. At a state university (or 4 year university...really ivy leagues and state schools are the same in terms of the sciences...I am sure I will hear about that) there are many more people in a class that you have to compete with and usually they are more qualified than most of the people in the class at a CC. Personally, I found the content, teachers, and quality to be the same. I think it has to do more with the fact that it is a smaller class size and more conducive to "learning your professor" (ie their tendencies on a test, what types of questions they like to ask, etc) as opposed to a 4 year university where you can get lost in the shuffle and have no clue how to predict what a professor will throw at you (hence the survival of the fittest: those who can adapt much better end up as the top notch students and earn As). I know on some of these points I am generalizing here...but you get what I am saying...same classes, same teachers, same quality, same grading...but you compete against students who you couldnt compete with at a 4 year institution.

What I am saying is at a CC you can be the top dog and end up at a 4 year university and be middle of the pack. Its really just the level of competition and nothing else. I also think small, private universities are similar to CCs for the same reasons and because there are so few people in your class, competition usually isnt as fierce as it is in courses with many people.

With that said do adcoms really care where you went to school?

No (ok some do....1 school out of 8 I have visited/interviewed at told me they take where you went to school into consideration). Grades and DAT matter...why your GPA is high is of no concern to them (as long as you graduated within 4-5 years and your courseloads were fairly significant)

 

[pronto]

Ruprick the difference lies only in the amount of competition. At a state university (or 4 year university...really ivy leagues and state schools are the same in terms of the sciences...I am sure I will hear about that) there are many more people in a class that you have to compete with and usually they are more qualified than most of the people in the class at a CC. Personally, I found the content, teachers, and quality to be the same. I think it has to do more with the fact that it is a smaller class size and more conducive to "learning your professor" (ie their tendencies on a test, what types of questions they like to ask, etc) as opposed to a 4 year university where you can get lost in the shuffle and have no clue how to predict what a professor will throw at you (hence the survival of the fittest: those who can adapt much better end up as the top notch students and earn As). I know on some of these points I am generalizing here...but you get what I am saying...same classes, same teachers, same quality, same grading...but you compete against students who you couldnt compete with at a 4 year institution.

What I am saying is at a CC you can be the top dog and end up at a 4 year university and be middle of the pack. Its really just the level of competition and nothing else. I also think small, private universities are similar to CCs for the same reasons and because there are so few people in your class, competition usually isnt as fierce as it is in courses with many people.

With that said do adcoms really care where you went to school?

No (ok some do....1 school out of 8 I have visited/interviewed at told me they take where you went to school into consideration). Grades and DAT matter...why your GPA is high is of no concern to them (as long as you graduated within 4-5 years and your courseloads were fairly significant)

Bullfan, you are right on the money! If you plan on taking your class at a CC do not go into it thinking it will be an easy A. HAHAHA Physics is Physics is Physics. No, CC coursework will not be looked down upon. Plenty of pre-meds from the CC I go to completed all of their pre-reqs at the CC and got into medical school.

 

[penguinteeth]

If you can take it in your school.

And I had so many classes in community college. (all the prerequites were taken from community college)

Although I got accepted dental school, I think that is the reason that many schools rejected me.

But I personally like community college more since teachers are more friendly and accessible.

And also if you have more competitive major like electrical engineering and you had a good GPA then I don't think they really care if you took classes from community college or not.

As a result, it all depends. Just try best to make your resume look better.

 

[Ruprick]

Ruprick the difference lies only in the amount of competition. At a state university (or 4 year university...really ivy leagues and state schools are the same in terms of the sciences...I am sure I will hear about that) there are many more people in a class that you have to compete with and usually they are more qualified than most of the people in the class at a CC. Personally, I found the content, teachers, and quality to be the same. I think it has to do more with the fact that it is a smaller class size and more conducive to "learning your professor" (ie their tendencies on a test, what types of questions they like to ask, etc) as opposed to a 4 year university where you can get lost in the shuffle and have no clue how to predict what a professor will throw at you (hence the survival of the fittest: those who can adapt much better end up as the top notch students and earn As). I know on some of these points I am generalizing here...but you get what I am saying...same classes, same teachers, same quality, same grading...but you compete against students who you couldnt compete with at a 4 year institution.

What I am saying is at a CC you can be the top dog and end up at a 4 year university and be middle of the pack. Its really just the level of competition and nothing else. I also think small, private universities are similar to CCs for the same reasons and because there are so few people in your class, competition usually isnt as fierce as it is in courses with many people.

With that said do adcoms really care where you went to school?

No (ok some do....1 school out of 8 I have visited/interviewed at told me they take where you went to school into consideration). Grades and DAT matter...why your GPA is high is of no concern to them (as long as you graduated within 4-5 years and your courseloads were fairly significant)

I mostly agree with what you said. The competition was much more fierce at my university than at my community college. Typically at a cc you have a lot of students right out of high school unsure of what they want to do=less gunners. Also, none of my cc classes graded on a curve (only x amount of As) so that also led to less competition.

In my experience, though, tests and homework were not only easier but less frequent in the cc setting. Some of my favorite professors were at a cc, though.

 

[spc213]

do dental schools take into account grades you made at a community college? i'll probably have 15-20 credit hours at a CC once i graduate since im taking a couple classes every summer. in all likelihood, it will bring my cumulative GPA up if they count them...

Do they?

Yes, they take them into account. However, you can still get in with them on your record, as many on this thread have mentioned. Some schools "discourage" use of CC courses, but this is usually well-published. For example, UOP mentions use of CC courses in it's admissions area, I believe they want no more than 30 hours.

You must report ALL grades taken at ALL schools and send transcripts to AADSAS. So all grades will be included in your GPA calculations.

 

[Profchaos]

Yes, they take them into account. However, you can still get in with them on your record, as many on this thread have mentioned. Some schools "discourage" use of CC courses, but this is usually well-published. For example, UOP mentions use of CC courses in it's admissions area, I believe they want no more than 30 hours.

You must report ALL grades taken at ALL schools and send transcripts to AADSAS. So all grades will be included in your GPA calculations.

I happened to have one class in CC. I'm going to put it down on my application.

 

[sunnyjohn]

Bullfan, you are right on the money! If you plan on taking your class at a CC do not go into it thinking it will be an easy A. HAHAHA Physics is Physics is Physics. No, CC coursework will not be looked down upon. Plenty of pre-meds from the CC I go to completed all of their pre-reqs at the CC and got into medical school.

Northlake??

 

[dexadental]

UOP really doesn't care if you've taken classes at a cc. I know someone who completed most nearly all pre-reqs at a cc and got in there easily, granted his DAT was high. I think if you have a legitimate excuse, and have pulled a great GPA at a cc, you'll be just as golden as one with a great GPA at a four year.

 

[Profchaos]

Yes, they take them into account. However, you can still get in with them on your record, as many on this thread have mentioned. Some schools "discourage" use of CC courses, but this is usually well-published. For example, UOP mentions use of CC courses in it's admissions area, I believe they want no more than 30 hours.

You must report ALL grades taken at ALL schools and send transcripts to AADSAS. So all grades will be included in your GPA calculations.

I happened to have one class in CC. I'm going to put it down on my application.

 

[Mz Shaikh]

I had e-mailed NYU and BU...both are saying that taking pre-reqs at a community college will make me less competitive. What do you recomm? I really can't afford to take calsses at a 4-yr school since I'm already done with undergrad. Any one out there who is going to dental school at NYU, BU, Arizona, Tufts, Temple, MCG, Nova, USC or Howard and took science pre-reqs at a community college? (these are the schools on my list so far) 🙁

 

[realysa]

for private schools cc credits don't matter. they just want to have the highest gpa to advertise.

for example,

student 1: gpa 3.5 w/ 60 credits at cc dat 20

student2: gpa 3.0 at top 20 uni w/ dat 20

who would they take?

it's obvious.

 

[gabrielmeraz]

I am currently finishing my 2nd year at university of maryland and i have recently decided to be pre-dent. I want to apply to this 3-year dental/arts program where my senior year of undergrad is done at dental school while doing my first year of dental studies. To be eligible for the program I need to finish my physics II this summer, but I wanted to take Physics II at my community college simply because its easier and cheaper, as we all know! My question is, how are dental schools going to look at the fact that I am going to be taking one of my pre-dental science pre-req's at a community college? I'm sure I'll get an A in Physics II at the community college, will that help at all?

thanks

It makes totally no difference at all whether you take Physics at JC or University. I took pretty much all my Dental Pre-requisites at JC and only did my Orgo at the college level. Heck! two of my letters of recomendation came from JC professors. Don't worry about Physics at JC, but do take your Orgo at the college level. Don't sweat it, its ok! 👍

 

[gabrielmeraz]

I had e-mailed NYU and BU...both are saying that taking pre-reqs at a community college will make me less competitive. What do you recomm? I really can't afford to take calsses at a 4-yr school since I'm already done with undergrad. Any one out there who is going to dental school at NYU, BU, Arizona, Tufts, Temple, MCG, Nova, USC or Howard and took science pre-reqs at a community college? (these are the schools on my list so far) 🙁

USC baby! And had no problems whatsoever, don't worry buddy 👍

 

[Mz Shaikh]

USC baby! And had no problems whatsoever, don't worry buddy 👍

Thanx....I've registered to take Chem I,II this summer at a CC and will take the other science pre-reqs there as well. .... I am curious what was your GPA?

 

[Mz Shaikh]

USC baby! And had no problems whatsoever, don't worry buddy 👍

Thanx....I've registered to take Chem I,II this summer at a CC and will take the other science pre-reqs there as well. .... I am curious what was your GPA? 😳

 

[611]

Take as many classes as you can at the easiest possible school. A's from Community College are better than C's from Harvard. Take this advice to the bank.

 

[Mz Shaikh]

Take as many classes as you can at the easiest possible school. A's from Community College are better than C's from Harvard. Take this advice to the bank.

still not sure on what i should do....thank you all for your responses 😕

 

[gabrielmeraz]

Thanx....I've registered to take Chem I,II this summer at a CC and will take the other science pre-reqs there as well. .... I am curious what was your GPA?

My GPA is 3.76 Science and 3.60 Overall, My DAT Scores were 19AA/20TS/17PAT. If you need any advice on the DAT do not hesitate to send me an email. Best of luck to you 👍

 

[Mz Shaikh]

Since I am 3 credits away from my undergrad degree what should I do? Right now I am taking Chem I at a comm college and plan on taking the rest of my sciences there as well. (right now I am just taking those classes without being enrolled in any program) Will it be a problem since I will have my undergrad degree in a few months? ( plan to take trig next session to get my degree completed) Do i HAVE to enroll in a post-bac or Masters program? Those of you who decided to go into dentistry after finishing your undergrad.....did you take the science courses without being enrolled in some post-bac/masters program? Also will the science courses that I take be counted into my cum undergrad GPA? or just science GPA? Any info would be greatly appreciated. 😕