community college pre-meds

[CH3CH2OH]

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hi guys, this is my first post on this site (which btw, i think is really great; not the post, the site 😉

now, to the question: i am currently in a community college (long story, but basically going to a cc was my only option - not b/c of bad hs record though). i have a high gpa and i'll be transferring to a very good 4-year school next fall. i want to start med school right after i graduate, so i plan to take the MCAT next april and apply in june. i've taken all my pre-med pre-reqs in a CC (i'm a bio major so these r my lower-dev requirements), no research so far, again, can't do research in a CC. also, is it too bad if some of my LORs are from my CC professors? (the non-science one will almost certainly have to be from a CC professor, and probably one of the sci ones - from my ochem instructor). so, what do u guys think? do i have any chance? am i gonna be better off just taking a year off and strengthening my application. i'd really like to hear from ppl with similar experiences, and from everyone in general.

thanx a 10^6

 

[phar]

Yes, you have a chance. You must do this though. Take advanced science classes at a 4-year college so that you can show them that you can do well at the "college-level". Since you plan to apply next summer, take as many hours as you can handle next fall and spring. Do well in those classes.

 

[Rhiana]

You shouldn't have a problem with your plan. i did CC, took my O-chem there too, transferred to a UC and did fine. Two of my LOR's were from CC instructors. It can be done and any advisor who tells you it can't is full of it.

 

[souljah1]

welcome to sdn,

i took all of my premed classes at cc and transferred to four year university. two of my LORs were from cc professors. i didn't get any strange vibes on interviews or anything. you should be fine.

 

[md_student2b]

I too transferred from a CC after completeing all my pre-med reqs there and did the same thing, took the MCAT my junior year. Everyone's post so far is very valid in my opinion, but I would add that it would be in your best interest to also do some research or volunteer work at your new school. That way, you can get additional LORs from a PI or volunteer coordinator. Are you going to graduate from your CC with an Associates degree? I did and it opened a few avenues of discussion (all positive) during my interviews. Best of luck, and congratulations on your acceptance to "a very good 4-year school".

 

[CH3CH2OH]

thanks a lot for the very encouraging replies guys, i guess i just really needed to hear that😍

no, i won't be graduating with an AS degree since it requires some additional course work that i have absolutely no time to take and don't need for transfer...can it be useful for someone who is going to get a BA later though?

 

[granola]

Hi Everyone,

this is also my first post and glad I found SDN. It's full of helpful info!

I'm kind of in the same boat as CH3, only difference is, I'm not headed to "a very good 4-year school". I'm headed to an average state univ but I know that your undergrad school doesn't really play a large role in getting accepted to med school. It's what you do that matters (EC, gpa, mcats) right????

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

I'm kind of in the same boat as CH3, only difference is, I'm not headed to "a very good 4-year school". I'm headed to an average state univ but I know that your undergrad school doesn't really play a large role in getting accepted to med school. It's what you do that matters (EC, gpa, mcats) right????

no, it really shouldn't matter...of course, a more "elite" school will give you a bit of recognition, but it's a matter of how well you portray yourself and how much your application stands out...with that being said, yes, make sure you do very well at your state university, do some kick butt EC's, and break 30s on the MCATs. remeber though, try to avoid being the typical applicant in terms of EC's. do things you really enjoy, and make your application stand out as unique to the adcoms when they have to review thousands of applications...

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

to the OP:

i'm a transfer student too and most of my LOR's are coming from the CC professors. i don't know about your story, but my LOR's are going to be fantastic. you haven't transferred yet, so you are yet to see how impersonal many of the university classes really are. at the CC, i never had a problem getting to know my professors...they sincerely valued the hard work we as students put in. these CC professors know me for me, and they know exactly why i'm going to make a wonderful physician in the future...that is precisely what they need to convey in the letter. don't feel bad about getting letters from CC professors...however, make sure you try to get at least 1 or 2 from the university, just for the sake of having them under your belt...

 

[2ndave]

You can definitely do it. Don't let anyone discourage you, either. It's great that you'll be transfering to a four year school, but if you feel like you've gotten a good education at the community college too, be sure you make that known when you talk to people, including when you apply to medical school.

I go to a cc too, where I've been taking all my science classes as a post-bacc student. A few years ago I graduated from a very good liberal arts college, so I think I can make a pretty fair comparison. I have to say, for a person who used to make all the wrong assumptions about cc's, I've been amazed at the quality of the education there. I've gotten to know almost all my professors really well, and they've been completely accessible. My classes have been very challenging too. We use the same textbooks as students at four year schools, we do the same problems, our tests are just as hard (I've checked), and the grading is equally tough...as far as I can tell, at least at my school, the only difference is that it's cheaper, and the students come from all walks of life.

There are a lot of people who assume cc's are easy though. Unfortunately, I think they crop up pretty often on adcoms, so you'll have to show them somehow that you ARE prepared. The MCAT will be important, and so will your grades at the four year school. But you can definitely do it! You have just as much right to be proud of your education so far as any student at any four year school--don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Good luck!

 

[TransferPreMed]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I'll be starting my second year at my CC in the fall and I'm taking Physics this summer. I hope the fact that I'm in a nationaly regarded honors program at my school will help. All of my science and my courses here are honors courses (except Physics). I'm looking to transfer to Cornell, University of Rochester, NYU, SUNY Stony Brook, or I'm not sure. Either for biology (neuroscience or genetics) or Biology and Society (like bioethics). Many people from my school have transferred and then gone on to med school. I'm going for the AS degree because my advisor/mentor tells me that is easier to transfer my credits, so I definitely transfer with junior status. Most schools take your credits as a package when you transfer with an AS or AA degree. And since my school has articulation agreements with the schools I'm thinking of transfering to that makes it easier with the degree too. I'd say definitely look into volunteering at a local hospital. I'm doing that and yeah it is boring at times but it has reaffirmed my desire to continue doing what I'm doing and the exposure is great. Don't rule out research because you're at a CC. Many studenst in the science division at my CC do research. It doesn't have to be anything big and it doesn't have to be conducted in the school necessarily. Sometimes the simplest experiments work the best. Somone did something with plants and pH levels, somone did something with fruit fly breeding, one girl did something carried out at the vet office she worked at, and I'm working with a prof a different school. There's the Beacon Scholar Competition every year for students at 2 year schools where you submit research or research papers.

Good luck.