Community College to Medical School...possible?

[Anatoxin-a]

Hello,

Sadly, I had to attend community college due to financial reasons. However, I started at community college after I finished 11th grade and transferred two years later to U.Va. I'm not part of a minority and I am young 20s. I had a 4.0 at community college, was part of the honor society, first recipient of scholarship, and was involved briefly with American Red Cross club. During those two years, I worked 25+/wk as a barista and was active in my church. I also worked as a private tutor year-round for 2.5 years and tutored chemistry, ochem, and mathematics.

At cc, I took: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Psychology, Calculus

Starting at U.Va, all I have so far is 150 hours volunteering in the U.Va ED and have yet to see the harsh blow my GPA will take. I plan to be a bchem major, but hear a lot of negative feedback...So I am expecting the worst GPA wise.

At U.Va, I plan to take: Physics, Biostatistics, Sociology, Cell Biology, Biological Chemistry, Genetics - as well as other public health classes and advanced chemistry classes etc.

I have applied to - and will hopefully get into - a research group at U.Va.
I will continue volunteering at the hospital.
Come fall, I also hope to apply to work as a transfer peer advisor and for the university grounds services as well as look into a club or two to join.

I have not taken the MCAT, but have slowly started studying for it. I am a terrible standardized test taker 🙁

I know I need to take at least one gap year and hope to work as a scribe during that time and perhaps volunteer during any free time. I would rather not take a second gap year since I'm a little too excited to start medical school, which I'm not even sure I can actually start.

I don't need a fancy Ivy League. I'd love to go to UVA Med or MCV (In-state tuition! and great schools tbh), but don't mind going out of state (which is more competitive and expensive).

Because I came from a cc and have barely any extracurriculars compared to other applicants, do I still have a chance at medical school? Anyone successful in attending medical school after starting at cc?

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[morejedi]

My friend with a 3.95 and 315 who's a transfer applied this most recent cycle and got into UCLA, USC, Cornell, and a few other schools.


It's definitely possible, the thing that makes it look suspicious is if you were to take all your pre med classes at the CC and none at the university you transfer to.

 

[Goro]

The CC-> UG -> MD is certainly a viable path. The bias against CC coursework is a lot of hype on SDN. It's best to take the weeding courses while at UG, because med schools expect some rigor. Other than that. just check MSAR as to what schools do and do not allow CC coursework.

Hello,

Sadly, I had to attend community college due to financial reasons. However, I started at community college after I finished 11th grade and transferred two years later to U.Va. I'm not part of a minority and I am young 20s. I had a 4.0 at community college, was part of the honor society, first recipient of scholarship, and was involved briefly with American Red Cross club. During those two years, I worked 25+/wk as a barista and was active in my church. I also worked as a private tutor year-round for 2.5 years and tutored chemistry, ochem, and mathematics.

At cc, I took: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Psychology, Calculus

Starting at U.Va, all I have so far is 150 hours volunteering in the U.Va ED and have yet to see the harsh blow my GPA will take. I plan to be a bchem major, but hear a lot of negative feedback...So I am expecting the worst GPA wise.

At U.Va, I plan to take: Physics, Biostatistics, Sociology, Cell Biology, Biological Chemistry, Genetics - as well as other public health classes and advanced chemistry classes etc.

I have applied to - and will hopefully get into - a research group at U.Va.
I will continue volunteering at the hospital.
Come fall, I also hope to apply to work as a transfer peer advisor and for the university grounds services as well as look into a club or two to join.

I have not taken the MCAT, but have slowly started studying for it. I am a terrible standardized test taker 🙁

I know I need to take at least one gap year and hope to work as a scribe during that time and perhaps volunteer during any free time. I would rather not take a second gap year since I'm a little too excited to start medical school, which I'm not even sure I can actually start.

I don't need a fancy Ivy League. I'd love to go to UVA Med or MCV (In-state tuition! and great schools tbh), but don't mind going out of state (which is more competitive and expensive).

Because I came from a cc and have barely any extracurriculars compared to other applicants, do I still have a chance at medical school? Anyone successful in attending medical school after starting at cc?

 

[Kingpenguin41]

I went to a cc... GPA of 3.5, mcat 516, and I got in


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Of course you can get into med school after attending a CC and then a university. Be sure to demonstrate the ability to succeed at the univ level by taking some BCPM classes at your univ.

I'm guessing that you went to a VA CC? If so, they and CA CCs are known to be very good.

plan to be a bchem major, but hear a lot of negative feedback...So I am expecting the worst GPA wise.

Uh, then rethink your major. What else do you really like that won't impact your GPA like that?

Seriously, think ahead a year or two. If your GPA takes a hit, then you've just created the perception that you can't handle university level work and if the hit is bad enough, you may not get into med school. At that point, you'll be hitting yourself on the head thinking, "why the hell did I major in bchem, when I could have majored in _______ and now have a 3.8+"


Edit: I would like to add... you mentioned graduating after the 11th grade and going to a CC for financial reasons. Any high school student reading this and considering graduating after 11th grade and heading to a CC should instead, finish 12th grade at his high school, get the best GPA and ACT/SAT, and then follow the money with a very large merit or full ride.

 

[coralista]

Yes, of course it's possible for you to succeed, and many have done it after starting at a community college. Have faith and confidence in yourself, and after all is said and done and the time comes for you to apply, you will have a unique perspective and distance travelled to offer. This video from the UC Davis Pre-Health & Pre-Medical National Conference in 2014 features a medical student at UCSF who did just that and details the potential challenges and his recommendations for success. Best of luck!

 

[Goro]

My learned colleague is spot on as usual...I had a typo in my post, to which he was responding (correctly to). I have since fixed my post.

I will respectfully and mildly disagree with my esteemed colleague from West of St. Louis on this. Both the premeds who seek information and the responses on SDN are far too crude and absolute while in actuality, as in most things for medical school admission, have to be more nuanced and applied to your specific overall record as an applicant. Remember that any individual medical school, at least 80% of applicants are rejected pre-interview and under 5% are ultimately accepted, so competition is at an Olympic class level. Medical schools, especially the private ones will take into account the selectivity of your UG institutions , so CC generally do little to enhance your record (see below for comments directly from medical schools on CC ). Having said that, for most traditional applicants, 50% of whom are biological sciences major of some kind, CC followed by 4 year with significant upper-level bio coursework is a reasonable path to take. If you do take the CC route with other kinds of majors, it is important to plan when and where you take your coursework so it can be seen as having a solid science background making your academically qualified for medical school.

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SUNY Upstate College of Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions | College of Medicine | SUNY Upstate Medical University
“Applicants should avoid taking more than one or two prerequisite science courses during the summer and avoid taking them at community colleges.”

Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Medical Program Admissions Requirements | Icahn School of Medicine
Q: Can I take my courses at a community college, or must I take them at a four-year college or university?
A: We have no requirement about where you take courses, though the Committee on Admissions does take that into consideration in evaluating your application.

Johns Hopkins Medical School
Prerequisites and Requirements| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine M.D. Admissions
The School of Medicine accepts prerequisites completed at the community college level. In order to be competitive in the selection process, we encourage prospective applicants with community college prerequisites to supplement these courses by taking advanced courses in related subjects at their four year institution.

University of Florida College of Medicine
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions » Medical Admissions » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Q: Can I take the prerequisite courses at my local community/junior college?
A: In order to create the most academically competitive application you should take all prerequisite courses at the most competitive bachelor’s degree granting institution where you can gain entrance. You should try to complete your pre-requisite courses at a four-year institution

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
https://www.einstein.yu.edu/educati...pplication-procedure/course-requirements.aspx
Whereas course work at a four-year college or university is our benchmark, if a student chooses to meet a competency component via an alternate route such as through laboratory experience, through an advanced placement course, a course taken at a community college, a course taken abroad (during a semester abroad for which the undergraduate U.S. degree-granting institution gives credit, or for which AMCAS will verify and report the grade), or an online course, he or she should seek guidance from his or her advisor to ensure that the option meets the above guidelines as well as the rigorous academic standard required by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.


George Washington University
M.D. Program Frequently Asked Questions | The School of Medicine & Health Sciences | The George Washington University
Do you accept community college credits?
Yes. The Committee on Admissions does accept coursework taken at a community college; however, it is preferable to have the pre-medical coursework taken at a four-year college or university.

Florida State University College of Medicine
http://med.fsu.edu/?page=mdAdmissions.admissionRequirement
Listed below is the pre-requisite coursework required for all matriculates to the FSU COM. Advanced Placement, CLEP, and dual enrollment credits fulfill the course requirements. However, courses taken in a traditional classroom at a four-year institution are considered to be more academically competitive.

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Requirements | Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Two pre-requisite science courses can be fulfilled with AP credits, community college courses or through a study abroad program.

Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine
How Do I Apply?
Policy on AP Credits, Credits by Exam, and Dual Credit
We generally prefer that applicants take the prerequisite courses at 4-year accredited colleges and universities rather than utilize advanced placement credits, credits by exam, dual-credit, pass/fail course work or community college courses. We do not dismiss these credits; and, if they have been taken, we will accept them toward meeting the prerequisites. In fact, if an applicant has placed out of a required level course, we will also accept another course in that discipline at the same or higher level. Again, our preference is that applicants take graded courses at 4-year institutions, particularly the prerequisites in the biological sciences and the chemistry series.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/faq/#q43
Are community college classes accepted as prerequisite course credit?
They may be, but the Admissions Committee generally expects students to complete all prerequisite courses at a four-year undergraduate institution.

Yale
https://medicine.yale.edu/education/admissions/apply/premed.aspx
Pre-medical courses must be completed in a U.S., U.K., or Canadian college or university. U.S. Community College courses are acceptable, provided that the courses include laboratory work and are comparable in content to courses at four-year colleges, universities, or institutes of technology.

Weill Cornell
Medical Education at Weill Medical College of Cornell University | About Us
Can I take my prerequisite courses at a Community College?
It is not recommended.

 

[Anatoxin-a]

Uh, then rethink your major. What else do you really like that won't impact your GPA like that?

Seriously, think ahead a year or two. If your GPA takes a hit, then you've just created the perception that you can't handle university level work and if the hit is bad enough, you may not get into med school. At that point, you'll be hitting yourself on the head thinking, "why the hell did I major in bchem, when I could have majored in _______ and now have a 3.8+"

Thanks for the advice! I have definitely been wrestling with the possibility of changing majors in my mind. However, my pre-health advisor says that I need to take upper level science classes at UG to prove myself and my science GPA. The classes I would take would set me up for a b.chem major pretty nicely AND I just love chemistry and find excitement to take those classes rather than being a psych or anthro major as pretty much ALL my pre-med peers are. I feel like that's a cop out...

And yes, I went to a VA CC. Apparently, our ochem class was harder than VCUs... all the VCU students who thought it would be easier dropped. Who knows if that will help me out in the end.

 

[Anatoxin-a]

Of course you can get into med school after attending a CC and then a university. Be sure to demonstrate the ability to succeed at the univ level by taking some BCPM classes at your univ.

I'm guessing that you went to a VA CC? If so, they and CA CCs are known to be very good.



Uh, then rethink your major. What else do you really like that won't impact your GPA like that?

Seriously, think ahead a year or two. If your GPA takes a hit, then you've just created the perception that you can't handle university level work and if the hit is bad enough, you may not get into med school. At that point, you'll be hitting yourself on the head thinking, "why the hell did I major in bchem, when I could have majored in _______ and now have a 3.8+"


Edit: I would like to add... you mentioned graduating after the 11th grade and going to a CC for financial reasons. Any high school student reading this and considering graduating after 11th grade and heading to a CC should instead, finish 12th grade at his high school, get the best GPA and ACT/SAT, and then follow the money with a very large merit or full ride.

I will add to your advice to high schoolers.... my mom is middle class and makes enough money that the government gave my siblings nothing for college. However, we didn't get any of her money for school. So you can't always ride the merit or full rides to college...

 

[Anatoxin-a]

My friend with a 3.95 and 315 who's a transfer applied this most recent cycle and got into UCLA, USC, Cornell, and a few other schools.


It's definitely possible, the thing that makes it look suspicious is if you were to take all your pre med classes at the CC and none at the university you transfer to.

What other stats did your friend have? Did they take a gap year and what was their major?

 

[morejedi]

He did take a gap year. He worked with a physician as scribe and research assistant. I don't think he has any publications, decent ECs, nothing spectacular. He was a psychobio major.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

I will add to your advice to high schoolers.... my mom is middle class and makes enough money that the government gave my siblings nothing for college. However, we didn't get any of her money for school. So you can't always ride the merit or full rides to college...

You may not have applied to the schools that would have offered you merit for your stats. What were your stats?

I look at it this way...a successful premed usually (not always) has the stats that are high enough to get good merit somewhere. It may not be to the school of your dreams, but it your goal is med school, then a dream school isn't necessary. For those who don't have the stats for merit, but are strong enough students to be a successful premed, then the CC to univ route can work if that's all you can afford.

What is paying for UVA now?

 

[Anatoxin-a]

You may not have applied to the schools that would have offered you merit for your stats. What were your stats?

I look at it this way...a successful premed usually (not always) has the stats that are high enough to get good merit somewhere. It may not be to the school of your dreams, but it your goal is med school, then a dream school isn't necessary. For those who don't have the stats for merit, but are strong enough students to be a successful premed, then the CC to univ route can work if that's all you can afford.

What is paying for UVA now?

Had a 4.4 cGPA in high school, average ECs...but my mom was SET on me going to cc when I was in 10th grade. When I mentioned to apply elsewhere, she said no. So I thought I would just go early and get it over with sooner. I've saved up a lot of money from working so that along with student loans will have to get me through UVA.

 

[Anatoxin-a]

He did take a gap year. He worked with a physician as scribe and research assistant. I don't think he has any publications, decent ECs, nothing spectacular. He was a psychobio major.

That's super encouraging to hear! I want to work as a scribe during my gap year so knowing that he was successful in doing so is helpful.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Had a 4.4 cGPA in high school, average ECs...but my mom was SET on me going to cc when I was in 10th grade. When I mentioned to apply elsewhere, she said no. So I thought I would just go early and get it over with sooner. I've saved up a lot of money from working so that along with student loans will have to get me through UVA.

What was your SAT or ACT?

Perhaps if your mom knew that you'd get a free ride somewhere with your stats, she would have been more open.

 

[Neuro244]

In regards to this thread, if I majored in Psychology and received my B.A. from a 4 year university, but took 99% of my pre-med prerequisite courses (Gen chem/O chem/Physics I and II/Biochemistry/Gen Bio) except for calculus, which I took at the university level, how would this look in the eyes of admission committee members?

I took it at the CC level due to financial reasons and had a cumulative GPA of 3.76 (from 5 community colleges belonging to 1 district) and a cumulative GPA of 3.60 (from 1 community college from a different district), making it a total of 6 different community colleges.

Also, if you took your classes at 6 different community colleges, would adcom members question you about that as well? For 2 of the schools however, I only took 1 class at each location. 1 of them I got a W (first and ONLY W) in, and the other school I received an A in. Thus, the majority (99%) of the classes I took at the CC level came from 4 CC's.

 

[trobinsonmd]

Hello,

Sadly, I had to attend community college due to financial reasons. However, I started at community college after I finished 11th grade and transferred two years later to U.Va. I'm not part of a minority and I am young 20s. I had a 4.0 at community college, was part of the honor society, first recipient of scholarship, and was involved briefly with American Red Cross club. During those two years, I worked 25+/wk as a barista and was active in my church. I also worked as a private tutor year-round for 2.5 years and tutored chemistry, ochem, and mathematics.

At cc, I took: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Psychology, Calculus

Starting at U.Va, all I have so far is 150 hours volunteering in the U.Va ED and have yet to see the harsh blow my GPA will take. I plan to be a bchem major, but hear a lot of negative feedback...So I am expecting the worst GPA wise.

At U.Va, I plan to take: Physics, Biostatistics, Sociology, Cell Biology, Biological Chemistry, Genetics - as well as other public health classes and advanced chemistry classes etc.

I have applied to - and will hopefully get into - a research group at U.Va.
I will continue volunteering at the hospital.
Come fall, I also hope to apply to work as a transfer peer advisor and for the university grounds services as well as look into a club or two to join.

I have not taken the MCAT, but have slowly started studying for it. I am a terrible standardized test taker 🙁

I know I need to take at least one gap year and hope to work as a scribe during that time and perhaps volunteer during any free time. I would rather not take a second gap year since I'm a little too excited to start medical school, which I'm not even sure I can actually start.

I don't need a fancy Ivy League. I'd love to go to UVA Med or MCV (In-state tuition! and great schools tbh), but don't mind going out of state (which is more competitive and expensive).

Because I came from a cc and have barely any extracurriculars compared to other applicants, do I still have a chance at medical school? Anyone successful in attending medical school after starting at cc?

I love it when I seeing people trying to get into med school from CC because that's exactly what I did... I went to a SoCal cc for two years and did pretty well, then transferred to UCLA for undergrad and did even better. I'm weird, but I felt like UCLA was easier than community college because of the generous curves... i was a biochem major in community and switched to public health... best decision of my life and I highly highly highly recommend you change your major out of the biological sciences if that's what you are in now because as a CC applicant, it is critical to have a high GPA... on the other hand, you do not want med schools to think you cannot handle high rigor courses, so sprinkle in a few upper division bio electives that sound easy based on what ppl at school say... wrt the mcat, anyone can do well if they put in enough time. it is not about content as much as it is about learning how to comprehend and take the exam. If you don't read, start reading some high level books to improve your reading skills. I graduated after another 2 years from UCLA, got 12 interviews, and landed at a top 5 med school in NYC