Community College course work OK?

[Califlower]

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I know the road of a pre-med is a hard one. So I want to know up-front... Do med schools look down on community college course work? I read in several websites of universities and even got some info from previous threads... but it seems as though having attended a community college for the first 2 yrs of undergrad, and/or completing most of med school prereq's (i.e. math, physics, bio, chem) are not viewed favorable by med schools. I am worried... I've had some bumps along the way already, and my application is not perfect. If I wait until after I transfer to take prereq's, it will be too late to take the April MCAT's after Junior year of college. Should I just take them now at a CC or wait until transferring into a university, even if it means doing a post-bac or postponing a year before applying?

😕

 

[Jamaican MD]

I was told by an advisor that med schools rank undregraduate institutions based on their perceived level of competitiveness. Community colleges are ranked very low or not at all on the scale. Of course, if you have to take classes at a community college, then you have to. I attend an expensive school, and have countered some of the expense by taking classes at my state school, which I'm sure has a decent ranking.

 

[Neuronix]

Califlower I'd say that you going to a community college for 2 years is not a blemish on your application as long as you did well there. There are plenty of people on here who did CC for 2 years and got into medical school. In the end, it will come down to which schools you apply to (don't apply to Wake Forest) and interviewers you get (most won't care, a few will).

If your GPA at your CC is above 3.8 or even 3.5, you're fine. Continue doing well. If it was less than that, you'll need to make up for it somehow.

I went to a no-name state school and it didn't stop me from getting into my first choice. I'd say that 95% of the game is how you play it, not where you went to school.

 

[ironey]

FYI, there are several threads on this subject already. Do a search for community colleges and you'll find lots of info.

Cheers!

 

[Califlower]

Thanks guys for your info! 🙂

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

I went to long beach city college for 3 years part time and worked full time, and it didn't seem to be a problem for me. I have gotten several acceptances and was even waitlisted at Wake Forest. I also have a friend who is a third year at UCLA's main program who also did all his prereqs at Orange Coast College and it didn't seem to be a problem for him too. So moral of the story just do well in CC and then do well at a major Univ. and you'll be fine.

 

[mute360_CO]

I, too, did my prereq's at a community college, minus Phys 2. No one in any of my interviews even mentioned CC grades. Neither did they mention anything about my two letters from prof/dean there.

IMO, if you are going to CC to get an AS/AA degree then transfer to a 4 year program, there should be no problem. Also, if you are trying to take a few courses while working (non metriculating) this should not be an issue with ADCOMS either. I think that there would be trouble with ADCOMS if you are going to a 4 year program and opt to take prereq's at the CC.