Community College Sciences

[Duysal]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi Everyone,

After reading the sticky thread about stuff every new member should read before posting, I searched for the answer to my question but still haven't found a definitive answer. I know I can't be the only one in this situation.

I got my B.S. in 2005, then went back to school part-time at a different 4-year insitution to redo some of my pre-dent sciences. Now I have all the dent school pre-reqs, and all are from a 4-year institute. No problem, right? Well, I want to take a few more sciences because so many of the schools I am appling to have extra "recommended" classes, that will of course affect, even just a little, their decision to perhaps consider me for their school.

So, the problem is, because I just started working full time the only place I've found that offers the anatomy and phys, genetics and micro I want/need at a time I can actually manage is a community college. I would get them all out of the way in a year, and I can be sure that I will do well in them. I am just so worried about whether dental schools will ever consider these classes with the rest of my courses.

Will they think it's too easy? Or will they consider that I got high grades in them, which will balance out their community college factor? Will they note that these are just recommended classes taken at a CC, and not the core prepredental sciences, or will they treat it the same way as if I had done my most important coursework at a CC?

I am trying to transfer the CC credits to one of my four-year schools, but if the dean says "no" then all I have is the CC transcript. Will dental schools be turned off?

Also, if everything from my one-year of CC IS transferred as would be ideal, what if I want to take art/sculpture/other manual dexterity stuff at the CC? Should I limit the CC time to one year and just do art as a hobby? My dean won't allow more than one year's worth of transfer classes, if any at all.

I would really appreciate any insight people may have about this issue, whether it's happened to you or not.

Thanks!!!!

 

[billermo]

Hi Everyone,

After reading the sticky thread about stuff every new member should read before posting, I searched for the answer to my question but still haven't found a definitive answer. I know I can't be the only one in this situation.

I got my B.S. in 2005, then went back to school part-time at a different 4-year insitution to redo some of my pre-dent sciences. Now I have all the dent school pre-reqs, and all are from a 4-year institute. No problem, right? Well, I want to take a few more sciences because so many of the schools I am appling to have extra "recommended" classes, that will of course affect, even just a little, their decision to perhaps consider me for their school.

So, the problem is, because I just started working full time the only place I've found that offers the anatomy and phys, genetics and micro I want/need at a time I can actually manage is a community college. I would get them all out of the way in a year, and I can be sure that I will do well in them. I am just so worried about whether dental schools will ever consider these classes with the rest of my courses.

Will they think it's too easy? Or will they consider that I got high grades in them, which will balance out their community college factor? Will they note that these are just recommended classes taken at a CC, and not the core prepredental sciences, or will they treat it the same way as if I had done my most important coursework at a CC?

I am trying to transfer the CC credits to one of my four-year schools, but if the dean says "no" then all I have is the CC transcript. Will dental schools be turned off?

Also, if everything from my one-year of CC IS transferred as would be ideal, what if I want to take art/sculpture/other manual dexterity stuff at the CC? Should I limit the CC time to one year and just do art as a hobby? My dean won't allow more than one year's worth of transfer classes, if any at all.

I would really appreciate any insight people may have about this issue, whether it's happened to you or not.

Thanks!!!!

Have you already submitted your AADSAS? If so, I doubt the adcoms will even know you are taking classes at CC until you do your transcript update in January. Hopefully, you'll already be accepted Dec 1! Usually, it's not recommended to take any CC credits unless it's your only option. Since your prereqs are from a University you should be okay. I would take anatomy, histo, and micro if possible. Some art classes would be okay to enhance your manual dexterity. I took a ceramics class at CC. Not sure how much genetics will help out. Spend some time studying Dental Anatomy.

 

[wimmcs]

I graduated w/2 non-science undergrad degrees a few yrs ago. I took ALL my pre-req classes from a CC and 4 other science classes at a state univ.(since they were not offered at my CC) and I got in no problem at all.

I was never asked about this during any of my interviews and I got into some very good schools. (UWash, Iowa, Louisville and AZ). Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions and good luck!!

 

[Clovers]

I graduated w/2 non-science undergrad degrees a few yrs ago. I took ALL my pre-req classes from a CC and 4 other science classes at a state univ.(since they were not offered at my CC) and I got in no problem at all.

I was never asked about this during any of my interviews and I got into some very good schools. (UWash, Iowa, Louisville and AZ). Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions and good luck!!

Were your GPAs from you 2 non-science undergrad degree above a 3.0?

Duysal, adcom would question why you're taking courses at CC if your GPA from undergrad is low. They might think you're trying to take the easy way out by taking courses at CC. But if you have a good GPA from your 4 year then they won't question.

 

[Duysal]

I am takind the CC classes because they are offered at a time (evenings, weekends) when I am not working (I work full-time as a dental assistant). My 4-year GPA is 3.5; Science is 3.3. The CC choice is purely a matter of convenience and cramming everything in before my personal application goal date: June 2007. I forgot to mention that I am planning to matriculate in 2008.

Were your GPAs from you 2 non-science undergrad degree above a 3.0?

Duysal, adcom would question why you're taking courses at CC if your GPA from undergrad is low. They might think you're trying to take the easy way out by taking courses at CC. But if you have a good GPA from your 4 year then they won't question.

 

[Duysal]

My goal is to take these classes to learn, rather than to boost my gpa. I wish I could take the classes at a four-year here in New Orleans, but most of the schools in this city have dramatically reduced their programs, and night classes in sciences are out of the questions for them. Since I work FT as a dental assistant, I also replied to another post below about this.
I really did the best I could to finds classes that would fit my schedule AND be considered extra sciences to round out the application. I am planning to matriculate in 2008.

The good news is that Tulane (my second four-year school) may agree to transfer the CC credits, meaning they would show up on my Tulane transcript (but I would still have to submit the CC transcript to dent schools to show the grades received). Showing dental schools that my CC classes are accepted as transfer credits my a 4-year is a good thing, right?

PS. I am really new to this: what is PM? And what is adcom? Thanks! 🙂

Have you already submitted your AADSAS? If so, I doubt the adcoms will even know you are taking classes at CC until you do your transcript update in January. Hopefully, you'll already be accepted Dec 1! Usually, it's not recommended to take any CC credits unless it's your only option. Since your prereqs are from a University you should be okay. I would take anatomy, histo, and micro if possible. Some art classes would be okay to enhance your manual dexterity. I took a ceramics class at CC. Not sure how much genetics will help out. Spend some time studying Dental Anatomy.

 

[Duysal]

My overall GPA from the two 4-years is 3.51, science is 3.31 (are math classes used in the science gpa calculation? I hope so). Would you say those are on the average-to-low end of spectrum? I have looked at so many stats I don't even know any more.

I am taking the classes not to boost my gpa, but to learn and to round out my application. Also, does the AADSAS calcualte the science GPA or do you do it, and submit it? I've never seen an application before.

Thanks!

Were your GPAs from you 2 non-science undergrad degree above a 3.0?

Duysal, adcom would question why you're taking courses at CC if your GPA from undergrad is low. They might think you're trying to take the easy way out by taking courses at CC. But if you have a good GPA from your 4 year then they won't question.

 

[Clovers]

My overall GPA from the two 4-years is 3.51, science is 3.31 (are math classes used in the science gpa calculation? I hope so). Would you say those are on the average-to-low end of spectrum? I have looked at so many stats I don't even know any more.

I am taking the classes not to boost my gpa, but to learn and to round out my application. Also, does the AADSAS calcualte the science GPA or do you do it, and submit it? I've never seen an application before.

Thanks!

You have a good GPA from your 4 year so it is perfectly fine to take some classes at a JC. Your GPA is in the high end.

 

[Duysal]

I graduated w/2 non-science undergrad degrees a few yrs ago. I took ALL my pre-req classes from a CC and 4 other science classes at a state univ.(since they were not offered at my CC) and I got in no problem at all.

I was never asked about this during any of my interviews and I got into some very good schools. (UWash, Iowa, Louisville and AZ). Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions and good luck!!

Hi,

What does PM mean? And adcoms? Sorry, this is all a bit new to me 🙂 . Thanks!

Duysal

 

[54807]

I have taken soooo many courses from a community college and I will be pissed if it holds me back. I didn't go there for the easy way out. I just happen to have an interest in accounting, so I took 2 courses there. I wanted to take upper division physiology courses, so I took the intro physiology courses at a community college because they're offered at night. My school's general education offering for music is really limited so I took Rock and Roll at the community college. I couldn't get into the sophomore physics course as a freshman so I went to the community college for that class. I've got over 60 units of cc coursework that I've accumulated by attending night and weekend school on top of my 4 year degree courses.

Does that make me a slacker, definetly not. These cc courses were like my 21-24th unit every semester.

Stop worrying about what the admissions committees will say. Just back up those gen bio grades at the community college with As at the University in biochem or something like that. You will do great.

And I think it would be total bs for a school to not accept a student simply because they took their prereqs at a community college. Talk about unfair and intolerant. Community college is usually cheap and allows some people to take college coursework that would normally be unavailable to them at an expensive university. Not to mention scheduling options that can be VERY convenient to non traditional students.

Just my opinion on the whole thing.

 

[54807]

Hi,

What does PM mean? And adcoms? Sorry, this is all a bit new to me 🙂 . Thanks!

Duysal

Hey

PM - Private Message...like SDN email kinda, you have an inbox and can write messages to other members for, you guessed it, private messages! Just click or hover (cant remember) over someone's screen name and the option to send privvate message should come up...I think, i can't remember, it's been awhile and it's really obvious when you see it
ADCOMS - ADmission COMmittee...or close enough

it took me awhile also!!

 

[busupshot83]

It seems a lot of people on SDN still believe that taking prereqs at CCs will "hold them back." This is completely false. The ONLY thing that will hold you back are low grades and/or a low DAT score. Adcoms know that in the real world, many people have hectic schedules that prevent them from going to a four-year university to complete certain courses. Therefore, as long as you perform well in the required classes, you will be fine. A moderator should really compile a list of pre-dental rumors (including this one) and create a sticky post.