Community college prereqs

[letsrun4it]

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First, I'm so sorry for asking a question I know has been asked before but I promise I searched and couldn't find it. I'm asking specifically for DO schools:

I have a 3.2 with a 3.4 science (bunch of low level math in there) BA in General Studies and am about to start a post bacc. I live quite a distance from the University of Washington which is my nearest 4 year college, is taking the prerequsites at a community college gonna put me at a significant disadvantage?

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

 

[Jamers]

First, I'm so sorry for asking a question I know has been asked before but I promise I searched and couldn't find it. I'm asking specifically for DO schools:

I have a 3.2 with a 3.4 science (bunch of low level math in there) BA in General Studies and am about to start a post bacc. I live quite a distance from the University of Washington which is my nearest 4 year college, is taking the prerequsites at a community college gonna put me at a significant disadvantage?

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

Well, I didn't take all of my pre-reqs at a community college but I did take physics one and two along with the labs. It seemed fine for my application, seven interviews and I was only asked about it once to which I replied that it was of the same caliber as my four year institution otherwise they would not have let me take it.


P.S. what excuse a random question but what exactly is "general studies"?

 

[OnMyWayThere]

You'll be fine...

 

[pnoyboldstar]

do you go to pierce??

 

[nerdgrrl]

First, I'm so sorry for asking a question I know has been asked before but I promise I searched and couldn't find it. I'm asking specifically for DO schools:

I have a 3.2 with a 3.4 science (bunch of low level math in there) BA in General Studies and am about to start a post bacc. I live quite a distance from the University of Washington which is my nearest 4 year college, is taking the prerequsites at a community college gonna put me at a significant disadvantage?

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

I have no answer to your question. However, don't forget that Math doesn't go in your science GPA for DO schools. That killed mine!!

 

[OSUdoc08]

First, I'm so sorry for asking a question I know has been asked before but I promise I searched and couldn't find it. I'm asking specifically for DO schools:

I have a 3.2 with a 3.4 science (bunch of low level math in there) BA in General Studies and am about to start a post bacc. I live quite a distance from the University of Washington which is my nearest 4 year college, is taking the prerequsites at a community college gonna put me at a significant disadvantage?

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

Medical schools accept community college credits, but you are expected to make higher grades. (i.e. a B in a community college course would = a C in a university course --> this is not how it appears on your transcript, but the admissions committees will often have a bias in this regard.)

 

[HunterGatherer]

took some of my pre-reqs at a CC. This was not questioned in interviews.

 

[HunterGatherer]

first thing they see is the GPA. this is most important. Taking a few classes at a CC is not going to be a problem.

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

 

[letsrun4it]

P.S. what excuse a random question but what exactly is "general studies"?

General Studies is simply taking 60 upper division credits of any kind. I was well into the Exercise Science major and then a major back injury forced me to be away from school so I finished with a couple correspondence courses instead of waiting to be ready to go back to school, as it wasn't a sure thing I'd ever be able to.

 

[jason3278]

I have no answer to your question. However, don't forget that Math doesn't go in your science GPA for DO schools. That killed mine!!

It'll help mine!! 🙂

 

[letsrun4it]

Wow I just did some calculations of my gpa and my goodness I see why people retake classes. If you replace 5 credits of C with 5 credits of A it makes a huge difference. It would take a bunch of new classes to make up for a retake as far as gpa goes.

 

[JimmyG]

I just took Microbiology at our community college this past fall and really enjoyed the smaller classes, my professor, and the way he related the material to medicine (most of the other kids in my class were nursing, dental assist., etc.) I feel all these aspects made it interesting and helpful in my getting 99% in the class! I began looking at CC for all my pre-reqs.. Then I talked to the pre-med advisor at the 4 year college and he said "no more community college classes..they will not be looked highly upon". My husband thinks my 4 year college just wants the money. I am now enrolled at the university rather than the CC, just in case. But I would prefer to be at the CC...

Honestly, a class is a class, right?? My micro class was taught by a professor that also teaches at the university. What is the difference? Rigged if you ask me... 😕

 

[nomorelaw]

I am in a similiar situation. I am taking my pre-reqs at a CC, too. My sister-in-law is the head of her school's pre-med board and she recommended taking classes at a CC. Several friends who are MD/DO/DDS/DPM say take them at a CC b/c of cost, schedule, etc. I guess it depends on the school. Good luck.

 

[letsrun4it]

I think its pretty stupid to be against cc classes, sure it might be easier to get better grades but we all have to take the MCAT and there is no faking that.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

We have to also remember that there are thousands of 4 year schools in this country. The quality of these schools ranges very broadly. The same goes for CCs. Although, in general 4 year college classes are more intense than CC classes, there are many colleges where the classes are just as easy as the worst CC.

In the end, the only thing that really matters is your GPA and your MCAT score. If you got a 4.0 at the 4-year University of We-Give-Everyone 4.0's, med schools will look more at that 4.0.

Life sure isn't fair, is it?

 

[HunterGatherer]

grade inflation, having the ability to choose the easy professor, and then there are those students that complain about every single lab, quiz, exam, and final grade to boost their GPA .3 points...No point in complaining about someone taking classes at a CC especially when everyone has to take the MCAT.

 

[cosmicstarr]

I agree with some others above. I don't see why taking courses at a CC is such a negative. The MCAT is the big equalizer anyways.

I just finished a Microbio class at a local CC and loved it. I loved that there were only 16 people in the class and the interaction with the instructor (who has a PhD) was great! This class was just as rigorous as any bio class I took as an undergrad at UC Irvine. Also, unlike other science classes I took in the past, this class had no curve. It was all straight scale grading, and only one person had an A going into the final, so CC classes are not always easier!

 

[mastamark]

k

 

[mastamark]

I just took Microbiology at our community college this past fall and really enjoyed the smaller classes, my professor, and the way he related the material to medicine (most of the other kids in my class were nursing, dental assist., etc.) I feel all these aspects made it interesting and helpful in my getting 99% in the class! I began looking at CC for all my pre-reqs.. Then I talked to the pre-med advisor at the 4 year college and he said "no more community college classes..they will not be looked highly upon". My husband thinks my 4 year college just wants the money. I am now enrolled at the university rather than the CC, just in case. But I would prefer to be at the CC...

Honestly, a class is a class, right?? My micro class was taught by a professor that also teaches at the university. What is the difference? Rigged if you ask me... 😕

I get the same crapola from my school. Do you go to a smaller private university? They tend to try and force you to take classes there. I changed my major completely after I was told by my pre-med advisor that the only way I would get into any kind of med school is to major in Biology. Then telling me that my SAT scores were too low for med school . All I did was laugh change my major to psych which is enjoyable and take my med school pre-recs at the local CC its almost a thousand dollars cheaper per class. the environment is more condusive to learning for me because of smaller classes. I called CCOM and asked whether some kind of penalty is placed on taking CC classes, they said absolutely not. As long as the classes are at college level and not remedial.

 

[letsrun4it]

If you're comparing CC to private/out of state school the difference is enormous. $324 for a 5 credit class. As a career changer its so easy to explain: Why didn't I do my prereqs at a major university? Because I WORK!!!!

Seriously...this probably belongs on the postbacc thread but if I ever get on an ADCOM I'm letting everyone in who worked full time and got 3.0+ that is far more impressive than 4.0 to me.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I get the same crapola from my school. Do you go to a smaller private university? They tend to try and force you to take classes there. I changed my major completely after I was told by my pre-med advisor that the only way I would get into any kind of med school is to major in Biology. Then telling me that my SAT scores were too low for med school . All I did was laugh change my major to psych which is enjoyable and take my med school pre-recs at the local CC its almost a thousand dollars cheaper per class. the environment is more condusive to learning for me because of smaller classes. I called CCOM and asked whether some kind of penalty is placed on taking CC classes, they said absolutely not. As long as the classes are at college level and not remedial.

I have a similar situation with my major and premed stuff - my advice to you guys DON'T BELIEVE IT. It's like the whole thing that say " oh you're gonna be a doctor, shouldn't you be at the library instead having a good time after an exam?". It is NOT true that adcoms look at a C at Univ equal to B in CC as someone stated above. Even if some adcoms say they care, trust me - when you send in a presentable application - they won't say, " but let's not accept him / her because the classes were from a CC". They know that the classes are just as hard - many teachers share 1 syllabus with the 4 year university they also teach at. Adcoms know this (most are teachers anyway). Enjoy the small classes, the cheaper tuition and the free time you have in undergrad 👍

 

[rahulazcom]

Medicine is a second career for me. I had to go back and take pre-req's and the only schools that worked with my job schedule were CC's. I couldn't take my pre-reqs at night because the local big university didn't offer them. Furthermore, I saved a lot of money too. I was never asked about my CC classes at AZCOM. I think taking classes at CC is even less of an issue if your MCAT is high because then it shows you obviously learned something from those CC classes.

Admissions is different at every school. Each school has their own quirky admissions policies. For example, AZCOM loves high MCAT scores. You could have a low GPA and a high MCAT and get into AZCOM no problem. I know AZCOM doesn't really frown upon CC work. However, it wouldn't suprise me if other DO schools were selective regarding where you took your pre-requisite classes. The best thing to do is call the school you are most interested in attending and speaking to their admissions director or counselor. Obviously, every school prefers you do your pre-req's at a 4 year university. That's the safe and proper thing to say. But you can judge by their tone whether it's a big issue to them. Some adcoms will be adamant about you taking your pre-reqs at a 4 year university and others will give you the impression they don't really care.

 

[letsrun4it]

Yea like others have said...if you have the MCAT score to prove you know the stuff (say a 9 on the sciences) then the only matter they probably care about is their own admissions stats.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Yea like others have said...if you have the MCAT score to prove you know the stuff (say a 9 on the sciences) then the only matter they probably care about is their own admissions stats.

Are you responding to your own original question?

 

[letsrun4it]

Are you responding to your own original question?

Haha no..took me a minute to get why you were asking that.

I was responding to the person who took the cynical route that all that matters is gpa/mcat anyway.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Haha no..took me a minute to get why you were asking that.

I was responding to the person who took the cynical route that all that matters is gpa/mcat anyway.

😀

 

[cosmo]

First, I'm so sorry for asking a question I know has been asked before but I promise I searched and couldn't find it. I'm asking specifically for DO schools:

I have a 3.2 with a 3.4 science (bunch of low level math in there) BA in General Studies and am about to start a post bacc. I live quite a distance from the University of Washington which is my nearest 4 year college, is taking the prerequsites at a community college gonna put me at a significant disadvantage?

If I ended up with a 3.4 cum, 3.6 science that makes me competitive from what I've seen but what if I go community college route?

Thanks!

I took every single science pre-req at a CC. It wasn't an issue.

 

[DiverDoc]

I took every single science pre-req at a CC. It wasn't an issue.

Ditto