Community College or University???

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

sistermike

Senior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2002
Messages
341
Reaction score
0
Ok I know I am a 'youngin' still because I am just graduating high school. But the big decision of what college to goto is hanging over my head. The school I want to goto is Central MIchigan University ( a very respectable university in Michigan) and they have a fantastic pre-med program and this year they are completing the construction of a multi-million dollar state of the art health care facility. And I would be getting scholarships from them but I would still be stuck taking out about $4,000 in loans a year, and I am sure I would take out more than that my junior and senior year.

Or I could goto a community college that has a great reputation and it has a good pre-med transfer program to central. But I wouldn't have any kind of chance to do research and what not.

Anyways.. my question is, if you had the chance to save $10,000 a year and goto a community college, instead of heading off to a university, would you??
 
So there is no doubt that adcoms pay attention to where you went to school...e.g. 3.4 GPA from Harvard is viewed differently than 3.4 at a CC.
That being said, if money is tight do your best with what you have. If you can only afford to go to CMU for two years then make sure you kick ass in all your CC classes and maybe try to get in some research or a really good volunteer projects during the summers before and after your first year at CC. Transfer to CMU and take your upper level science courses. And get good EC's and LORs.
Now, I know a lot of people are going to say that it is best to take your basic science prereqs at a university. HOWEVER, if you do as ascribed above and do well in upper level sciences courses at CMU I think you will have proven your abilities.
But one think to think about is that what you may spend on tuition in indergrad is but a DROP IN THE BUCKET when it is all said and done. So, if you have to means GO TO CMU!
 
How is it that you would be saving $10,000 a year, and not just the $4000 in loans?

If you're really interested in the four-year university, then you should go there! You'll have a great time and be exposed to all sorts of new things.

I'm attending a community college right now myself, where I'm taking some pre-med classes. I've also gone to a four year school. Some community colleges really are great, and they have their advantages, but I think medical schools are becoming more skeptical of applicants who've attended them. Not all schools feel this way, and you have to wonder about any school that has a black and white policy about such a thing, but still, you should be sure to check with any medical schools you think you'd eventually want to apply to.

If having a four-year college experience is something you really want, then you should do it, so that later you don't feel like you missed out.

Good luck!
 
I may be the only one who thinks this, but like the old saying goes... you often get what you pay for. Although it may seem like a lot of money now, you are making an investment in your future. Although a four year school or a brand name school will be more money than a CC or a Podunk U, that investment can pay off many times throughout your life.

Many people argue that you get the same education at any school because they offer the same classes and read the same books. To some extent this is true, but school is more than just classes. It is also about the other opportunities that it affords you. Living with your peers and learning to work together, research, extracurriculars, service opps. I did most of my learning from other students, not the text book. The text book just taught a common language. This is especially true when you have focused educational goals (as it appears you do). The lower on the hill you start the journey, the harder and farther you have to climb to get to the top.

I can't really comment on the school (CMU) you've mentioned, but ask yourself... is the cost difference worth it? It's not going to offer the wow factor of UM or Harvard, but will it get you where you want to go. Look into the opportunities... the legitimacy of the program in the eye's of adcoms. Randomly call a med school you are interested in and ask... what do think about CC vs. CMU? Ask CMU what is the acceptence rate to med school from CMU and where they went.

An added note, some schools stress the importance of taking premed courses at a four year university. Check the schools you are interested in before making your decision.
 
I went to a community college & graduated with an assoicates degree (paid for it all myself). I left the community college with over a 3.9 GPA, a positive experience & several scholarship offers. I went on to do very in a large University school and this fall I will be starting Harvard Medical School, so I guess I'm trying to tell you that community colleges can and do lead to great things.

Best of luck!!
 
Top