community college courses!!!

[meemee]

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Hi guys! I was wondering if it would be beneficial to my application to take some bio classes at a community college (classes that aren't prereqs for dental school) because I am taking some time off. Would this be helpful in terms of boosting up my gpa, or would dental schools not be too fond of this, since they are from a community college? Thanks!

 

[Kavidee]

yeah I was wondering the same thing, cuz I just signed up for two bio non-prereq classes for winter qtr. Do schools really look at individual classes make up the bcp and from which college you took it from...any ideas guys?

 

[Sinner Saint]

Hi guys! I was wondering if it would be beneficial to my application to take some bio classes at a community college (classes that aren't prereqs for dental school) because I am taking some time off. Would this be helpful in terms of boosting up my gpa, or would dental schools not be too fond of this, since they are from a community college? Thanks!

In my case,I had no problem regarding community college classes.

 

[Snahster]

Certain schools DO NOT accept community college courses. For example TUFTS! I took 1 class a community college and they even offered me an interview. Then when I inquired about their community college course policy they told me that if I interviewed and was accepted, I would have to repeat that course at a 4 year institution. So beware. Some schools don't accept them and will waste your time and money.

 

[ladybug123]

Since the classes you are planning to take are not prereqs for dental school, i think it would be beneficial to take some extra science courses. It will look a lot better than doing nothing in the time you are taking off and i'm sure community college courses will still help you later on, no matter what. Good luck.

 

[Ething]

i would avoid taking classes at community colleges. it used to be acceptable but with all the competition now, it just isnt worth it. if you are at a private school, definately go to a public institution to take your classes. i wouldnt go to community college for classes...every year more and more dental schools refuse to accept credit from there.

 

[ibwhoa]

Tufts is the only school i found that did not take community college courses. And, i dont think it could hurt. Extra bio courses could only help you in dental school. I went to community college for my first 2 years of college and took all my dental school prereqs at my community college. I've found teachers at community college tend to be much more interested in interacting with students making the courses much more beneficial. (while at community college i was tutoring friends over the internet from Wake and Maryland in organic chem because i had a fantastic teacher and actually understood the material). But, anyway 65 credits at community college and i got into my first choice school 🙂

 

[Ex_EE]

Tufts is the only school i found that did not take community college courses. And, i dont think it could hurt. Extra bio courses could only help you in dental school. I went to community college for my first 2 years of college and took all my dental school prereqs at my community college. I've found teachers at community college tend to be much more interested in interacting with students making the courses much more beneficial. (while at community college i was tutoring friends over the internet from Wake and Maryland in organic chem because i had a fantastic teacher and actually understood the material). But, anyway 65 credits at community college and i got into my first choice school 🙂

I completely agree. People have ignorant preconceived notions about community college. I took all the prereqs I could at a community college and got in to the only school I applied to. I learned so much more there than I did in the prereqs I took at the state school. I agree that there are good and bad community colleges, but the same can be said about any school. Don't worry about what the school thinks and go where you know you will learn the material.

 

[Old School]

Would this be helpful in terms of boosting up my gpa

One sure-fire way to boost your GPA is to study more.

Avoid taking courses where you know they will be easier. It's a waste of your time and money, because these courses will not help you to build the base of knowledge you will need when you encounter a more rigorous academic schedule.

Instead, find the toughest undergrad school near you, and take the courses taught by professors that the majority of students say is "too hard".

 

[Mcglock]

I completely agree. People have ignorant preconceived notions about community college. I took all the prereqs I could at a community college and got in to the only school I applied to. I learned so much more there than I did in the prereqs I took at the state school. I agree that there are good and bad community colleges, but the same can be said about any school. Don't worry about what the school thinks and go where you know you will learn the material.

I also took most of my prereqs at a community college and agree that people have misconceptions. Everyone in my Chem and O-Chem classes were taking those classes for the same reason I was, professional school. The teachers were very helpful and actually taught the material, which was not the case at my University. When I took Gen Chem 1 at my University it was a horrible learning experience. There were 1200 people in the class, and we took our tests in the basketball stadium. You were lucky if you got a Teaching Assistant who spoke English. Some people may be able to learn in those circumstances but I hated it. I learned way more at community college, and did better on those sections of the DAT than my roommate who took the classes at the University.

 

[Snahster]

The problem with community college is that it doesn't simulate dental school. If you are going to NYU you are going to have 300 people in your class not 20-30. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to deal with a large class size in undergrad than being screwed in Dental school? And from my personal experience, it is soooooo much easier to get an A at community college than it is at a university. The reason is because they still curve and while i'm sure people may learn a lot, it takes a lot less to get an A in the class because many people around you are only there because their parents are making them go and with a smaller class size there is much less of a chance for many people to do well on the tests. Whereas in a university the curve is usually set very high because your class has 500 people and the ones who fail drop and so the curve gets even higher....

 

[Solstica]

Most of night classes are offered at JC, so JC is the only option for people who work daytime.

 

[Mcglock]

The problem with community college is that it doesn't simulate dental school. If you are going to NYU you are going to have 300 people in your class not 20-30. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to deal with a large class size in undergrad than being screwed in Dental school? And from my personal experience, it is soooooo much easier to get an A at community college than it is at a university. The reason is because they still curve and while i'm sure people may learn a lot, it takes a lot less to get an A in the class because many people around you are only there because their parents are making them go.

1200 people in my Chem class doesn't simulate dental school either. The faculty to student ratio in dental school is usually something like 1:10, even at NYU, at least from what I've read. And the people in the classes I took weren't there because of their parents, they were there for the same reason I was. IMO, part of the reason its easier to get A's is because its a better learning environment, at least for me it was. Here's part the problem I had with my Universtiy prereq classes. The averages on the tests rarely got above 70, and usually hovered around 60. When the average on a test is 60%, how well are the students really learning the material? They barely understand half of what they're tested on! Since I was going to be tested on this material on the DAT, I felt I really needed to learn it, not just 60% of it. And I felt I could learn better at the community college. Some people can flourish in a class of 1200. I can't.

 

[duho.O]

i spoke to an admissions person at USC. if you're taking classes at a community college, it should not be any courses that are required for dschool. i'm assuming that means the same thing as taking classes for credit. if you're just taking it to learn then that's fine. my friend who goes to Tufts did that and i'm doing that as well.

 

[PChemGrad]

I took all of my pre-reqs at a Junior College and I got into 3 schools so far. I found the classes at the JC a lot harder than when I transfered to a 4 year University. I learned soo much more at the JC that I was ahead of the class when i took a graduate level O-Chem class, I had a easy time in that class. Yes there are some easy community colleges, and some hard community colleges. I went to a hard one. I know several other dentist who went to the same Junior College as I did and when they transfered to a major UC they said it was cake. Which I felt was true.
If I was to leave dental school and become a teacher I would teach at a Community College, where the instructors are paid to teach, not do research. Where all they have to worry about are the students.

I got into USC and they didn't say anything to me about redoing my pre-reqs.

 

[jim85213]

The problem with community college is that it doesn't simulate dental school. If you are going to NYU you are going to have 300 people in your class not 20-30. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to deal with a large class size in undergrad than being screwed in Dental school? And from my personal experience, it is soooooo much easier to get an A at community college than it is at a university. The reason is because they still curve and while i'm sure people may learn a lot, it takes a lot less to get an A in the class because many people around you are only there because their parents are making them go and with a smaller class size there is much less of a chance for many people to do well on the tests. Whereas in a university the curve is usually set very high because your class has 500 people and the ones who fail drop and so the curve gets even higher....

Did you ever attend a community/junior college?

 

[Snahster]

Did you ever attend a community/junior college?

Yes I went to a community college for an entire semester. I got straight A's and it was as easy as high school. When I went to my university I studied the same yet my grades were B's...after that B semester I had to study a loooooot harder than I ever had to in community college to get that A. I'm not saying you can't learn a lot in community college but I think the amount of effort you need to put in to get that A is a lot less at CC. You spend more time studying at a university to get that A and therefore you probably understand the material a whole lot better after the class because you studied your ass off. And about my comment that most people are there because their parents force them was just my case. Yes there were people like me who were spring-admits to their university and were at the CC to learn but the MAJORITY of my class didn't give a crap about anything.

 

[lgwdnbdgr]

Hi guys! I was wondering if it would be beneficial to my application to take some bio classes at a community college (classes that aren't prereqs for dental school) because I am taking some time off. Would this be helpful in terms of boosting up my gpa, or would dental schools not be too fond of this, since they are from a community college? Thanks!

No school will mark you down for taking those classes instead of doing nothing. I doubt it will help much for your GPA -- if you already have a four year degree, you'll need a LOT of credits to move the GPA by much. Worst case scenario, though, it will show adcomms that you are committed to learning and that you continued to take classes even when you "didn't have to."

Short answer: as long as you do well, it can't hurt.

 

[jim85213]

Certain schools DO NOT accept community college courses. For example TUFTS! I took 1 class a community college and they even offered me an interview. Then when I inquired about their community college course policy they told me that if I interviewed and was accepted, I would have to repeat that course at a 4 year institution. So beware. Some schools don't accept them and will waste your time and money.

Tufts is the only school i found that did not take community college courses. And, i dont think it could hurt. Extra bio courses could only help you in dental school. I went to community college for my first 2 years of college and took all my dental school prereqs at my community college. I've found teachers at community college tend to be much more interested in interacting with students making the courses much more beneficial. (while at community college i was tutoring friends over the internet from Wake and Maryland in organic chem because i had a fantastic teacher and actually understood the material). But, anyway 65 credits at community college and i got into my first choice school 🙂

Tufts accepts CC classes but not those that are prerequisite courses. This is from their website in the paragraph directly below the list of required courses....

"All pre-requisite coursework must be completed at an accredited 4 year college/university. Community college coursework is not accepted."

I could totally be misinterpreting this so correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Pelotari]

(snip)...every year more and more dental schools refuse to accept credit from there.

I don't know about the above... Is there any hard proof in your statement? Other than Tufts, which other school has published a policy requiring that all pre-requisites be taken at a 4-year school?

I have posted the following question before in this very forum, and the only response I received were crickets chirping. Let me try again...🙂

How come a LOT of students (and I mean a LOT) go to CC's and then transfer to a 4-year school after their sophomore year? These are the same people that end up applying to Dental school (or Med school, or Pharm. school, or ...). If professional schools were to blindly discriminate against these people based on their CC transfer credits, then people like me wouldn't have a prayer of becoming DDSs/DMDs, MDs, etc.



Can someone provide a possible explanation to this misterious CC credit hours / Health Profession correlation? How come there are still people with CC classes being accepted into professional schools?

 

[Pelotari]

Yes I went to a community college for an entire semester. I got straight A's and it was as easy as high school. When I went to my university I studied the same yet my grades were B's...after that B semester I had to study a loooooot harder than I ever had to in community college to get that A. I'm not saying you can't learn a lot in community college but I think the amount of effort you need to put in to get that A is a lot less at CC. You spend more time studying at a university to get that A and therefore you probably understand the material a whole lot better after the class because you studied your ass off. And about my comment that most people are there because their parents force them was just my case. Yes there were people like me who were spring-admits to their university and were at the CC to learn but the MAJORITY of my class didn't give a crap about anything.

I have classmates that took Org. Chem I at the local CC and then took Org. Chem II at the 4-year school (down the road from each other). Their general feedback: the classes at our CC were a LOT more difficult than that of the 4-year school. Same situation for Bio I and II.

In my humble opinion, it all depends on how much you want to get out of your classes. If your goal is to learn and get ready for Dental School, you should be able to do that regardless of where you go. It is all up to the individual.

 

[purduephigam]

I haven't read but half of the responses to this subject, but wanted to go ahead and post my opinion to this topic anyway. I, unfortunately, am not fond of community college coursework. Anyone can get an A in these courses because there is little or no competition, and/or the professor or curriculum at the school does not push the student.

A state/private school will truly test yourself as a student. I have a very difficult time believing that community colleges give you the same learning experience as your state or private school. All you CC go-ers feel free to disagree with me, but it is my understanding that staters are much more challenging. Sadly enough, applying to dental school seems to be all about numbers these days; so I suppose CC coursework would be fine in terms of getting into dental school. However, be prepared for a rude awakening during dental school. I know for a fact the work load between state schools and community colleges is like night and day.

 

[Ex_EE]

It is all a matter of where you go. I took A&P at a community college and had to study a ton for the class. I just took genetics at the state school, and went to class only one time in addition to test days. My only bio experience for the DAT was at a CC and I got a 22 in the bio section on the dat with my only review being reading the kaplan book. I had great teachers at the community college. Just like any school it is a matter of which one you go to. For example my A&P teacher used to teach at UC Berkley. She taught our CC class the same we she taught it there.

 

[Turnerjo13]

I know that OHSU doesn't allow any pre-req to be take at At Community colleges. Also they are not even allowing the 100 level gen chem class at my school at as a pre-req (200 gen chem only). In general they are upping the minimum standards for the pre-reqs and the number of pre-reqs because of the increasing number of applications and competition. Also some undergraduate institutions are not allowing cc classes for transfer credits. At my state school they won't accept o-chem from a cc for transfer credits.

 

[Dr IWannaBe]

I took Gen Chem I at a state university during the summer and I got an A in the lecture and the lab, but I took Gen Chem II at a CC and found that it was very hard and ended up with a B in the lecture and the lab. Now granted, the same semester I also took Bio I w/lab (2 A's) and worked full time (with a wife and 3 kids!) So...it all depends on the school and the professor! Many times professors are out to prove that their class will not be a cakewalk and their classes end up being one of the hardest.

 

[shuna]

Most of my credits are from a cc- I went for 2.5 years to NYU lol

 

[rollingstones]

can someone please organize a list and tell us which schools don't honor the pre-req classes taken at community college?
Thank you very much !!

List: Tufts,

 

[litldime]

actually in my area, tx, some teachers teach over the summer at cc while they are actually professors at 4 yr institutions. I personally don't think cc can be knocked down b/c schools are different- some easy, some hard. As for the question about why some people go to cc for a year or two or whatever- did it ever occur that not every one can pay for a 4yr institution all 4 yrs... the difference in funds are tremendous...a science lab at cc is roughly around $300 while at my school its $1000 over the summer...this is from my experience so i obviously didn't take it at my school.. Money talks!
-ld

 

[Pelotari]

I haven't read but half of the responses to this subject, but wanted to go ahead and post my opinion to this topic anyway. I, unfortunately, am not fond of community college coursework. Anyone can get an A in these courses because there is little or no competition, and/or the professor or curriculum at the school does not push the student.

A state/private school will truly test yourself as a student. I have a very difficult time believing that community colleges give you the same learning experience as your state or private school. All you CC go-ers feel free to disagree with me, but it is my understanding that staters are much more challenging. Sadly enough, applying to dental school seems to be all about numbers these days; so I suppose CC coursework would be fine in terms of getting into dental school. However, be prepared for a rude awakening during dental school. I know for a fact the work load between state schools and community colleges is like night and day.

Sure, buddy. Of course you can say this with total conviction because of your vast experience taking courses at a CC.

Pa-leeeeeez...😴

 

[purduephigam]

Sure, buddy. Of course you can say this with total conviction because of your vast experience taking courses at a CC.

Pa-leeeeeez...😴

I won't waste my time arguing this because this thread is going nowhere. But to say that CC courses actually hold a candle to state or private schools is completely rediculous. Forgive me for being one-sided.

 

[Ex_EE]

I won't waste my time arguing this because this thread is going nowhere. But to say that CC courses actually hold a candle to state or private schools is completely rediculous. Forgive me for being one-sided.

Come back when you have nearly 200 credit hours of state university/CC credit and can really form an educated opinion.
It's also nice to know that Purdue taught you how to spell ridiculous.

 

[CSI Dentist]

lol...................

looking back if I could have done it I would have taken everything at a CC and been in dental school by now!

 

[jim85213]

can someone please organize a list and tell us which schools don't honor the pre-req classes taken at community college?
Thank you very much !!

List: Tufts,

Boston University

 

[Pelotari]

Come back when you have nearly 200 credit hours of state university/CC credit and can really form an educated opinion.
It's also nice to know that Purdue taught you how to spell ridiculous.

 

[ibwhoa]

Previous Post: I haven't read but half of the responses to this subject, but wanted to go ahead and post my opinion to this topic anyway. I, unfortunately, am not fond of community college coursework. Anyone can get an A in these courses because there is little or no competition, and/or the professor or curriculum at the school does not push the student.

I disagree and doubt you have ever been to community college. If you take low level courses yes they can be easy and not much class competition. But, the same can be said for low level courses at a University. (Anyone ever taken Rocks for Jocks?) Once you get into real courses such as Intro Chem, Orgo, Physics, Calculus and such it is very challenging. The majority of my classmates are all accepted to Dental, Medical, pharmacy, and vet. I graduated from a top 30 university after trasnferring from CC and found it more difficult than CC only because the teachers ignored me and the class, wouldnt meet with us outside of class, and wouldnt return assignments. The test however were about the same in difficulty as CC where teachers kept between 4 and 6 office hours a day so constant help was available. Needless to say i had an excellent CC experience and a horrible University one. But if you go to a decent CC and arent taking joke courses then you will not find them to be easy A's.

Professional schools dont like it when you pick up required courses over the summer at CC while attending a regular university. Not so much because its CC, but becasue you are only taking 1 course at a time which makes it much easier to pass difficult courses. But if you must attend CC because of money issues than it wont hurt you in the least like i said before i can name 20+ CC students who you'll be calling doctor in 4 years including myself 😉

And regarding OP taking additional coursework at CC will only improve your chances at getting into dental school because you are demonstrating your desire to learn. And, taking them at CC will probably make you better at them then if you picked up winter courses at a university since teachers actually care about you at CC.

 

[ibwhoa]

Boston does accept CC credits. I have an interview there in 2 weeks.

 

[Mcglock]

I won't waste my time arguing this because this thread is going nowhere. But to say that CC courses actually hold a candle to state or private schools is completely rediculous. Forgive me for being one-sided.

I don't see how you can make a statement like that when you've never taken a CC class. You have no basis for comparison. In reading some of your posts on other threads, it seems like you don't think most Universities even hold a candle to Purdue.

 

[dentstd]

Stay AWAY from community college courses if you can!!!! No one needs a basis for comparison! There's a stigma against CC students, because the conception is that they're inferior or ******ed. Regardless of the validity of this view, it exists and it's an unneeded obstacle.

Dentistry isn't yet medicine, and you may be able to get away with it. But why must you put yourself in a position to have to get away with anything? Treat your mind with a quality education. The mind is a beautiful thing!

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

You're more competitive if you take your pre-reg courses at a respectable university.

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

Stay AWAY from community college courses if you can!!!! No one needs a basis for comparison! There's a stigma against CC students, because the conception is that they're inferior or ******ed. Regardless of the validity of this view, it exists and it's an unneeded obstacle.

Dentistry isn't yet medicine, and you may be able to get away with it. But why must you put yourself in a position to have to get away with anything? Treat your mind with a quality education. The mind is a beautiful thing!

How? dentists are doctors; they check up patients and hand out prescriptions. Oral surgeons are dentists, and they can move your whole entire jaw around and do all kinds of reconstruction; they're bada$$ doctors. I believe my school is called the School of Dental Medicine😀

 

[dentstd]

How? dentists are doctors; they check up patients and hand out prescriptions. Oral surgeons are dentists, and they can move your whole entire jaw around and do all kinds of reconstruction; they're bada$$ doctors. I believe my school is called the School of Dental Medicine😀

uh huh

 

[kappa505]

I dont understand why so many people are confused about what "things" schools accept. I researched all of my schools before applying to make sure that I knew what they would accept and what they wouldnt. Is that to much for some people to do on their own?

 

[Kavidee]

Though I already have my degree, I'm gonna take those extra bio classes to boost my gpa...I figure it can't hurt since I'm just waiting around to be accepted anyway!

 

[dds_sdc]

ive only taken 2 classes at CC.. but they were nonscience classes. i wouldnt say it was the EASIEST (maybe bcoz it was during the summer and they were cramming in all these papers and books in just 3 weeks). and i wouldnt say it was the hardest. i think it all depends on the professor.

but i do have LOTS of friends in at CC. and in their microbiology lab.. they had 2 weeks to identify 1 UNKNOWN bacteria..

at my 4 year school. we had 2 weeks to IDENTIFY 3 UNKNOWNS.
so you decide for yourself which one is harder.

i think at a 4 year school u do a lot of "learning the material on your own" (or at least this is what i experienced) anyone beg to differ?

but i do have to agree that CC is NOT as easy as EVERYONE makes it seem. i stopped goin to my english class at CC, (forgot they counted attendance).. but doing the reading on my own was a lot harder than i expected. and there was DEF. MORE work than i expected. ended up with a B... and all my friends from my 4 year school were like, "how did u end up with a B in ENGLISH.. a NONSCIENCE CLASS.. AND at a CC?!?"
lol. i was like.. "it was a lot of work. and it was summer. wah else is there to say?!"lol

and needless to say, that B from CC is my lowest grade thus far.