Community College

[BarkMeowKa]

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Hello All,

I am apologize if this question was asked on another thread. I have trouble finding old threads for some reason. But I wanted to know your thoughts about community college classes. I am graduating this spring and was going to apply during this cycle but still need to take a microbiology course for the pre-reqs. I was wondering if taking the course at a community college was okay or do the schools look down upon that it should be taken at my university. Should I take it at a state or university instead?

 

[tastrophe]

IMHO, taking it at a county/community college should be fine, but the golden rule is always: "call the schools you're interested in applying to and ask."

 

[bclover]

the golden rule is always: "call the schools you're interested in applying to and ask."

My experience correlates EXACTLY with the above. Most classes were fine from a CC (or at least those last 2-3 I needed), but some classes they want you to take from the 4 yr accredited university - call the school(s).

 

[Pomona2006]

I think it goes without saying that a 4-year college / university is preferable, but not always an option. I would agree that you should clear it with your schools first to make sure you won't be wasting your time. I know I'm a non-traditional applicant, so I am doing post-bac work at CC to get the remaining pre-reqs in. The schools I'm applying to have said that they don't prefer CC, but they "understand" if it is not possible for me to do the coursework at a 4-year institution. I am just making sure that I get all A's so that they don't have to doubt my competence. 😛

 

[cozycleo]

I was going to be getting my pre-reqs at a local CC, when I discovered that nearly none of the classes I needed worked with my schedule. No night classes whatsoever! I don't know what your schedule is, but for me as a non-trad this doesn't work. I even checked around with other local CCs and they were just as inflexible.

I originally wanted to go to the CC because I knew the vet school would accept those credits, but ultimately I have to go the local University anyway (at twice the price) because they were more flexible with my schedule.

Just something to be aware of. If you are able to attend during the day then no problems there. But if you're a 9 to 5-ver like myself, then be sure that the courses you need are actually available when you need to take them. Seems the science ones are the lease flexible from what I can tell.

 

[VAgirl]

I was going to be getting my pre-reqs at a local CC, when I discovered that nearly none of the classes I needed worked with my schedule. No night classes whatsoever! I don't know what your schedule is, but for me as a non-trad this doesn't work. I even checked around with other local CCs and they were just as inflexible.

I originally wanted to go to the CC because I knew the vet school would accept those credits, but ultimately I have to go the local University anyway (at twice the price) because they were more flexible with my schedule.

Just something to be aware of. If you are able to attend during the day then no problems there. But if you're a 9 to 5-ver like myself, then be sure that the courses you need are actually available when you need to take them. Seems the science ones are the lease flexible from what I can tell.

That's very interesting. In my experience, CCs have always been more flexible and cater more to people who have to balance classes around work schedules. How strange!

 

[cozycleo]

Yeah it really bothered me too. The only classes I could take were physics. The chem and bio classes were all during the day. I was pretty mad. I've been to CC twice before and never had this problem - course I wasn't trying to take science courses at that time either.

Even better, at the university, the classes I do need are held on the same days and times. I have to start my semester taking one class because of the scheduling. I'm thinking I pissed somebody off upstairs, and I haven't quite figured out how to please the school gods again.

 

[VeganChick]

I am also a non-traditional with a "traditional" job (until I left a year ago to work full-time at the animal hospital). Anyway, because I couldn't get all my prereqs at night, I used vacation time to take off during the day. This was, however, in summer when the classes were compressed. I would add up how many hours of vacation I had, how long the commute to and from work and the classes would be, and take vacation hours to correspond to that time. Plus, I would come in early and stay late. My boss wasn't thrilled but since I didn't want to stay there anyway, it didn't really matter to me.

 

[LVT2DVM]

I was going to be getting my pre-reqs at a local CC, when I discovered that nearly none of the classes I needed worked with my schedule. No night classes whatsoever! I don't know what your schedule is, but for me as a non-trad this doesn't work. I even checked around with other local CCs and they were just as inflexible.

I originally wanted to go to the CC because I knew the vet school would accept those credits, but ultimately I have to go the local University anyway (at twice the price) because they were more flexible with my schedule.

Just something to be aware of. If you are able to attend during the day then no problems there. But if you're a 9 to 5-ver like myself, then be sure that the courses you need are actually available when you need to take them. Seems the science ones are the lease flexible from what I can tell.

Wow! Really? its the exact opposite problem for me. I would like to take some more upper division BIO courses just to plump up my stats a bit and ALL the UD courses are offered 9-1pm, four days a week (ie you have to attend class for 50 minutes 4X a week).
My local CC offers a plethora of opportunites including, Org chem and Micro during the day and night with 2 separate labs sections. I wouldnt even mind going the the university and paying more but I cant leave work everyday to go to school for an hour. And of course I cant take online courses because the vet schools wont accept 'em. (Cur^sed)

 

[cozycleo]

Fortunately not long after posting in this thread, I looked into independent distance learning at the university, and I'm in luck there. I can get 2 of the 10 classes I need that way, and you do get full credit for completing them. That will be very helpful for me.

I have always been a big fan of CCs up until now. It has been royally frustrating for me. I've been hitting roadblock after roadblock with everything. Even financial aid is giving me problems! With 5 years of prior college experience under my belt, it is surprising to say the least.

Apologies to the OP. Didn't mean to hijack your thread.

 

[carrbear21]

As long as the classes transfer to the schools you are applying it doesn't matter. I had the same concern last year and talked with the admissions director at my IS schoo. He said it doesn't matter and they e-mailed me a list of local CC classes that transfer. I was able to get 4 of my last 5 from the CC. Cheaper and easier!

 

[Truth74]

You may also want to try online courses, if the school you plan to go to accepts them.

Illinois has been so cool about the online classes that I've taken. And I've taken a few from different colleges(all four year institutions). If only other vet schools were so progressive about distance learning.

 

[david594]

If only other vet schools were so progressive about distance learning.

Distance learning is the most inconsistent form of education you will ever come across. I spent 4 years working in the distance education department of my college and produced something like 25 courses in total and I can say that some were amazing and some were down right horrid.

On paper there is no difference between a distance ed course where a student has to be online to watch a course live and use a microphone to participate in live class discussions versus a course where a student is mailed 3 or 4 exams to told to just complete them and send them back within 4 months.

 

[Truth74]

I can definitely understand what you say about correspondence type courses. The courses that I have taken were not correspondence type courses. I have had assignments and weekly labs which were all online. I have had chats and discussions more than once a week. I have never had a course that did not require proctored exams (administered by my local cc testing center). All of the final exams were comprehensive. I have to admit that the majority of my online coursework is through Illinois and use the same instructors (from UIUC). The others have been through schools that have colleges of veterinary medicine.

I still have the textbooks and syllabi for each course to show what I have done.

Perhaps, I should have been more clear. I'm glad for online courses, because I would not have beeen able to complete the necessary coursework in a classroom. I have no use for correspondence work.

For clarification, I believe the school should give the student opportunity to prove which kind of course was taken. I can prove that my coursework was the same, (if not harder, because of the lack of the ability to ask questions right away.) if given the opportunity.