community colleges???

[iwantthis]

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😳the university I want to attend does not offer all of the pre-med classes i will need to take,(university of washington of tacoma) is it going to hurt to attend a community college, b/c i think that's the only option i have unless i travel... any suggestions😳

 

[LittleMama]

I think in some instances, it will hurt. It really depends on the school. I am taking my pre-reqs at a community college because it's cheap, and because I don't have a public state school within an hour's drive that I can go to.

I called my state medical schools, and I was told that it absolutely did not matter for those schools. However, I know it matters at the private med schools in my state. If you have some schools in mind already, I would call them to get their take on CC credit.

I plan to take upper level biology classes (Biochem, Genetics, Physiology, etc) at a university once I'm done with the pre-reqs just to show I can handle course material from a four-year.

I think if you take classes at a CC, you really need to do well, and you need to blow the MCAT away in order to show adcoms that you can handle a rigorous curriculum.

Just my two cents. Good luck! I suggest calling schools to find out what they think.

 

[Foghorn]

From the previous you started, that's one alternate path available prior to transferring into a 4-year university. Undoubtedly, you'll need to complete lower division prerequisites for your major at a CC prior to matriculating at a 4-year college. Some med-schools do stigmatize against prerequisites taken at a CC. Make sure you perform well in a science based curriculum at the 4-year institution to prove to ADCOMs you can handle the work.

First, look into prerequisites necessary for your major since that takes priority over premed coursework & is what will get you into the 4-year college. If you're going to be a science major, I would suggest doing 1 year Math, 1 year of Biology with lab & 1 year General Chemistry with lab at a CC for the pre-med coursework, saving Organic Chemistry & Physics for the 4-year college. Also, once you start a CC series of classes, complete the series because it'll save you bureaucratic problems of trying to find the equivalent or having to repeat it at the 4-year college.

Many 4-year universities also allow concurrent enrollment, meaning non-university students can petition to enroll depending on space availability. This is more expensive than a CC & most likely you'll pay a per unit fee that's equivalent to what university students pay. It's a good way to experience handling a full course load at a university if you're lucky enough to get all the classes & don't mind forking over the dollars. The nice feature of doing this is there's no question whether or not units will be transferable.

 

[S-Mart]

😳the university I want to attend does not offer all of the pre-med classes i will need to take,(university of washington of tacoma) is it going to hurt to attend a community college, b/c i think that's the only option i have unless i travel... any suggestions😳

I don't know why everyone's so down on CC's. I work my ass off in these classes. It's not like we use some special CC science textbook that only glosses over the facts. That, and our CC professors are actually paid more than our state school professors. I'm not sure why that's the case..... Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows why CC's - at least in this forum - seem to be looked down upon.

 

[CycleCA]

I don't know why everyone's so down on CC's. I work my ass off in these classes. It's not like we use some special CC science textbook that only glosses over the facts. That, and our CC professors are actually paid more than our state school professors. I'm not sure why that's the case..... Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows why CC's - at least in this forum - seem to be looked down upon.

I know you... I also went to Sac City and took lots of classes that were in no way "easy." I think that people look down on CC's because there's lots of people here that go to somewhat prestigious universities, and the "air" around that type of school is that CC's are inferior. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Foghorn]

Don't let it bother you. I have plenty of friends that 1st started at a CC and are doing quite well at university. A couple of them even earned full-scholarships for the next 2 years as long as they maintain a certain GPA. Heck, just a three weeks ago one friend got a 10K scholarship on a proposal that I helped her write last May. She wasn't expecting it and was completely shocked she got it. She found out when the financial aid office called her and started asking questions about what account to use in order to deposit some funds. She was going, "what money are you talking about, I don't know anything about any money." Then it finally clicked in her head that it must be from the proposal she submitted several months back. Anyway, when an individual graduates it's not going to say CC on the diploma, so all those who look down on CCs can suck it.

 

[LittleMama]

Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows why CC's - at least in this forum - seem to be looked down upon.

I wish schools weren't so down on CCs either (since I'm taking my pre-reqs at one now). One reason that was told to me by an admissions person was that the school did not believe that a CC course would be as rigorous as one taken at a 4-year university. I know that's bull, but there's definitely a perception that CC courses are not as difficult as university ones. Sucks, but that's life.

 

[Flopotomist]

I did my pre-reqs at CC, and managed to get into a US allopathic school, but it was definately more difficult. Some schools (Boston) won't even accept CC course work.

It can be done though. I saved tens of thousands doing courses in CC as opposed to doing a formal post-bacc.

 

[S-Mart]

😳the university I want to attend does not offer all of the pre-med classes i will need to take,(university of washington of tacoma) is it going to hurt to attend a community college, b/c i think that's the only option i have unless i travel... any suggestions😳

Sorry OP, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

 

[iwantthis]

Sorry OP, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

no it's cool, i was just wondering myself b/c i hear everyone else talkin about and this college bit is still new to me. so its all good...😉

 

[walrustooth]

Aside from the stigma/quality issue, I had a bad cc experience. I realize that there are some higher quality junior and community colleges but the one I chose is terrible.

The classes are easy but the students and instructors are out of control. Parking in downtown bad urban area, I'd feel safer in Bagdad. Some of the students bring beat boxes and break dance in front of the buildings. People are always yelling and cussing each other out. In fact, I witnessed a fist-fight last Friday. Its like a bad high school.

Classes were easy, only problem is that I don't feel very well prepared. I'm going to review the text books to supplement the bad classroom experience.

However some cc are great, like California system.

 

[efex101]

The reason adcoms prefer 4 year college versus CC is becuase the rigor of the courses and the competition you see at a 4 year colleg IS higher than at a CC. Now, sure, some CC's *are* rigorous but let us be honest...usually it is much easier to get into a CC than a 4 year college...

 

[efex101]

Hence the preferance...but courses undertaken at a 4 year

 

[S-Mart]

The reason adcoms prefer 4 year college versus CC is becuase the rigor of the courses and the competition you see at a 4 year colleg IS higher than at a CC. Now, sure, some CC's *are* rigorous but let us be honest...usually it is much easier to get into a CC than a 4 year college...

I don't think getting into a CC is hard. Anyone can do it. But at the same time, anyone can sign a transfer agreement and get into just about any UC. I got one to Davis.

 

[efex101]

I agree...but with 1000's of applications coming in and the numbers going up, adcoms still "prefer" courses from a 4 year college.

 

[lumanyika]

😳the university I want to attend does not offer all of the pre-med classes i will need to take,(university of washington of tacoma) is it going to hurt to attend a community college, b/c i think that's the only option i have unless i travel... any suggestions😳

I've known two people who made it into medical school after completing their two-year degree at a CC and transferring into a 4-year college for their Bachelors. another guy was an attorney and he took his pre-reqs at a local CC and is a MS2 now. many variables come into play, but ultimately you have to do well in whatever course(s) you take....and then seal it with a stellar MCAT score.

 

[lumanyika]

oh yeah in addition, my CC experience was far better than my 4-year experience. most of my CC profs--and instructors--were excellent in their delivery of the material most of which used the same textbook as the one at the state school nearby. i can honestly say that about 3/5 of my 4-year college profs sucked @ss.... too busy with their research, too many students in class ( i had to stand during my first few weeks in an Org. chem 1 class because of lack of seats); there was a lot of favoritism shown to the medical school students (this state school has that insane 6 year combined BS/MD program) in most of my science classes, the lack of a single black member of faculty within the school of biological studies (ok now I've really exposed the identity of the school ...too bad), the allegations of misappropriation of funds by the president 👎 ....i could go on, but we all know how devastating curple tunnel syndrome can be + you get my point lol. the "rigor" of the courses was a direct result of mediocre professors who brought 5%-10% to the table and demanded that the students come up with the difference. i didn't have a problem with this, but the apathy expressed by most of the faculty in all this was extremely demoralizing (woe unto Ye with weak resolve!). i ended up graduating with honors, and i'm still there pursuing my PhD hoping to change the racial demographics aforementioned....what can i say I'm a glutton for punishment (sic). The student/faculty relationship at the graduate level is completely different though (the night and day kind of difference).

@ efex: I think the location of a school, and the conduct of the students outside of the classrooms has nothing to do with its academics. blacklisting a school because you saw a fist fight and heard some cussin' is hardly an argument to make in disfavor of the academic rigor within a particular school. just take a look at Howard university or Columbia university (in NY) for instance.if i was to use their location as a yardstick for academic rigor I'd fail miserably, and probably miss out on a lot.

 

[efex101]

Hey, I never said anything about location or student conduct..not sure where this is coming from....I am just saying that for the most part adcoms DO indeed prefer courses to be from a 4 year...fair or not this is the way it is.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I did my pre-reqs at CC, and managed to get into a US allopathic school, but it was definately more difficult. Some schools (Boston) won't even accept CC course work.

It can be done though. I saved tens of thousands doing courses in CC as opposed to doing a formal post-bacc.

Yeah, I have a non-trad classmate (who occasionally posts here) who did all his postbacc stuff at a community college, and he's here. Sure, adcoms might not like it as much, but it's not necessarily an insurmountable obstacle (well except maybe at Boston College).

If you have a 4 year public university near you, great, do that. But if you don't, or if the schedule there doesn't work, take the cc classes and do really well.

 

[DrMidlife]

I don't want to say anything that's going to de-motivate or marginalize anybody who has been, is now, or will be going to a community college. I did a semester at a stellar CC across the street from an intimidatingly prestigious, Nobel-dripping research university, and I benefited greatly and am quite proud of my time there. There are quite certainly many instances of community colleges that offer better preparation for medical school than many instances of 4yr universities. But if you do your prereqs at a CC, and you don't also do upper div science (micro, biochem, genetics, immunology, neuro, etc.) at a 4yr school, then you should expect to compensate by doing biomed research, or doing graduate work, or otherwise demonstrating that you're not going to drop out as an MS1 when you have thick&chewy biomed coming at you through a 2 foot wide firehose with enough force to blow a hole through six feet of steel-reinforced concrete.

I also don't want to offend anybody who is getting their bachelors degree at a satellite or branch campus of a 4yr university that grants degrees on behalf of its main campus. There are some great branch campuses, like in Massachusetts and Florida. I'm NOT talking about the CSU system (either one). But for what it's worth, if your campus doesn't offer a chem, bio or physics degree (which UW Tacoma doesn't), or (since we're talking about Washington state) if your campus doesn't offer letter grades (as with Evergreen), and you ALSO don't plan on doing a stellar mettle-proving years-long extra-curricular like publishing biomed research or joining the Peace Corps or getting a PhD, in addition to your arguably questionable undergrad work, and you want to go to medical school, WHY DID YOU PICK THAT SCHOOL?!?!? WHY ARE YOU STAYING AT THAT SCHOOL?!?!? People who get into medical school from Evergreen or from a "night-degree" school are anecdotes. Right? Premeds don't pick those schools unless they are gluttons for punishment. I don't want to get into med school DESPITE my transcript - I want to get in BECAUSE of it.

Lastly, I'm not interested in arguing about whether the medical school admissions process should be changed. If you want to take that on, you really don't have time to go to medical school, and results (if any) might occur in time for your grandkids to benefit.

But seriously, if you want to compete with the other 42,000 applicants per year, knowing that 24,000 aren't getting in, and that 32,000 are reapplicants, and that your app will be evaluated by exhausted volunteers with more of an eye for efficiency than for fair and comprehensive appreciation of individual worth and merit, and this is not that different for DO anymore, how much of an uphill climb do you want to take on? You take the freaking high road or you take your chances.

Take with a bucket of salt. Love and kisses,
Dr. M.

 

[iwantthis]

I don't want to say anything that's going to de-motivate or marginalize anybody who has been, is now, or will be going to a community college. I did a semester at a stellar CC across the street from an intimidatingly prestigious, Nobel-dripping research university, and I benefited greatly and am quite proud of my time there. There are quite certainly many instances of community colleges that offer better preparation for medical school than many instances of 4yr universities. But if you do your prereqs at a CC, and you don't also do upper div science (micro, biochem, genetics, immunology, neuro, etc.) at a 4yr school, then you should expect to compensate by doing biomed research, or doing graduate work, or otherwise demonstrating that you're not going to drop out as an MS1 when you have thick&chewy biomed coming at you through a 2 foot wide firehose with enough force to blow a hole through six feet of steel-reinforced concrete.

I also don't want to offend anybody who is getting their bachelors degree at a satellite or branch campus of a 4yr university that grants degrees on behalf of its main campus. There are some great branch campuses, like in Massachusetts and Florida. I'm NOT talking about the CSU system (either one). But for what it's worth, if your campus doesn't offer a chem, bio or physics degree (which UW Tacoma doesn't), or (since we're talking about Washington state) if your campus doesn't offer letter grades (as with Evergreen), and you ALSO don't plan on doing a stellar mettle-proving years-long extra-curricular like publishing biomed research or joining the Peace Corps or getting a PhD, in addition to your arguably questionable undergrad work, and you want to go to medical school, WHY DID YOU PICK THAT SCHOOL?!?!? WHY ARE YOU STAYING AT THAT SCHOOL?!?!? People who get into medical school from Evergreen or from a "night-degree" school are anecdotes. Right? Premeds don't pick those schools unless they are gluttons for punishment. I don't want to get into med school DESPITE my transcript - I want to get in BECAUSE of it.

Lastly, I'm not interested in arguing about whether the medical school admissions process should be changed. If you want to take that on, you really don't have time to go to medical school, and results (if any) might occur in time for your grandkids to benefit.

But seriously, if you want to compete with the other 42,000 applicants per year, knowing that 24,000 aren't getting in, and that 32,000 are reapplicants, and that your app will be evaluated by exhausted volunteers with more of an eye for efficiency than for fair and comprehensive appreciation of individual worth and merit, and this is not that different for DO anymore, how much of an uphill climb do you want to take on? You take the freaking high road or you take your chances.

Take with a bucket of salt. Love and kisses,
Dr. M.

whats an anecdote???

 

[DrMidlife]

whats an anecdote???

Anecdote: An outlier data point that makes an interesting story but is not representative of likely events. Not likely to be repeated.

For example, more than one GPA-less Evergreen grad has gone on to medical school. Does this mean you can go to Evergreen if you want to go to medical school? Yes. Does it mean you should? Yours to decide.

I'm trying not to directly pick on your school, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

 

[iwantthis]

Anecdote: An outlier data point that makes an interesting story but is not representative of likely events. Not likely to be repeated.

For example, more than one GPA-less Evergreen grad has gone on to medical school. Does this mean you can go to Evergreen if you want to go to medical school? Yes. Does it mean you should? Yours to decide.

I'm trying not to directly pick on your school, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

thanks for that, you know breaking it down and all..........😉

 

[Beau Geste]

My anecdote...

See my mdapps for my experiences. I took my pre-reqs at a CC and just got accepted to CCOM.

 

[DrMidlife]

My anecdote...

See my mdapps for my experiences. I took my pre-reqs at a CC and just got accepted to CCOM.

Not that my definition of non-anecdotal success (below) means doodoo, but you clearly proved your academic mettle above and beyond the rigors of a CC - WAY above. You're not an anecdote: you clearly worked your fanny off to succeed by conventional measures, and you're a classic American success story. (Congrats, by the way.)

But if you do your prereqs at a CC, and you don't also do upper div science (micro, biochem, genetics, immunology, neuro, etc.) at a 4yr school, then you should expect to compensate by doing biomed research, or doing graduate work, or otherwise demonstrating that you're not going to drop out as an MS1 when you have thick&chewy biomed coming at you through a 2 foot wide firehose with enough force to blow a hole through six feet of steel-reinforced concrete.

I'm not at all trying to say that CC prereqs are a dealbreaker. I'm advising very strongly against the OP's choices of schools. If you know at the outset that you're aiming for med school, don't choose a satellite univ. campus that doesn't offer science, which forces you to take your prereqs at a CC. With that kind of prep, you're not getting into med school, and if you're an anecdote who does, you're not ready to succeed there.

(Add salt here.)

 

[Chodan]

All I know is I talked to the Dean of Admissions at a nearby school and he said that community college credits would be summarily dismissed and severely weaken my application. So, I quit my job to go to school full-time at the local university.

 

[notdeadyet]

Some schools (Boston) won't even accept CC course work.

Myth. Boston will not allow you to complete prereqs at a junior college while enrolled in a 4 year college or immediately after. They have no problem with accepting folks who transfer from a JC to a four year school. This has been discussed ad naseum.

Every time this issue comes up, I ask for anyone to provide a link to a school's policy that states that they do not accept junior college credit and no one's been able to do so.

 

[notdeadyet]

JC folks also need to keep in mind that there is a huge difference in the quality and perception of quality of JCs from state to state. The California community college system is viewed much higher than a lot of states because in California it is a must; the UC and CSU system doesn't have capacity for half the qualified applicants. In some states, the JC system is very weak. Med schools know this.

FWIW, I came via the JC system (in California) and applied very widely (didn't have my MCAT in hand) to 37 schools across the country, public and private, urban and rural. I talked to admissions at each of these schools and none claimed they had a problem with it. Received 5 interviews (including UCSF) and 3 acceptances and that was with an 8 in Bio on the MCAT.

It's very do-able. A few schools may not like it, but it will be a few and they can hang.

 

[wowitsmike]

when i will apply i will have taken all my pre-req's except two upper-level bio's at a CC...i have really enjoyed the experience...i find its easier to get help when its needed...i find that most of the professor's are more invested in your learning that at state university and they are more accessible...i have a friend taking orgo with 200 other people and he's not doing so well while im in a class with 20 others and making an A....and of all the professors i have had, only two have not been Phd's...personally, i have found the experience rewarding and feel like i have gotten way more out of the classes than i could have had i been in a class of 200 people...

 

[PTtoMD]

I agree with the CC fans. It is not a deal breaker. There are lots of success stories that come out of CC's. One reality is cost. If you are a non-trad with a lot of undergrad debt, a family, a home and the impending loans of med school, it is perfectly acceptable to choose a CC for pre reqs. Ad COms have to have a human side as well.

I have mentioned before...i know it is a different ball game but i went through this with PT school. IT was extremely competetive at the time I was applying. I had a BA in another field and had to do 2 years of pre-reqs to apply for PT. I was told by everyone NOT to do a CC as the grades were looked down upon. I went anyway to avoid further debt. I worked my butt off, had fabulous professors mostly with PhD's, small classes, great labs and ended with a very strong GPA. I got into nearly every school that I applied to (not BU!) and was never criticized or taken less seriously for my CC choice.

I guess there is no right answer to this timeless question. It will always be debatable. People inherently like to advocate for their own choices. Perhaps it makes us all feel better! If you are spending $500 a credit at a private school for pre-reqs, you obviously think this is a great option. If you are saving your $ for med school and family and can't afford further debt and choose a solid CC, you must feel this is a great option. Good Luck to all!

 

[gman33]

Is CC a deal-breaker for your app? Obviously not, since there are people out there who started in CC and got into med school.

Is it the best way to make your app competitive? I would say not.

If you can take all your pre-reqs at a 4 year school, that is the best way to go. If money/time/location make cc your only viable option, then do really, really well, get a high MCAT and hope for the best.

One thing I didn't see discussed was the curve and grading in science classes. The exact same material may be covered, but in curved classes, if the students around you aren't as academically gifted your grade will automatically be higher. I know this because I've taken classes at an IVY as well as a few state schools. It was much easier to get an A at the state school. I think the same logic applies to 4 yr vs. cc.
Adcoms know this and it gets factored in somewhere.

 

[notdeadyet]

One thing I didn't see discussed was the curve and grading in science classes. The exact same material may be covered, but in curved classes, if the students around you aren't as academically gifted your grade will automatically be higher. I know this because I've taken classes at an IVY as well as a few state schools. It was much easier to get an A at the state school. I think the same logic applies to 4 yr vs. cc.

This is sort of the main point. Some classes at ivies have crippling curves. Others have really soft inflation. It varies by school, by department, by course, and by professor. Same with state schools. Same with JCs.

The MCAT is the only true equalizer. Before that, it's the hoops you have to jump through. Where you get your degree (or do your prereqs) is a much smaller factor than anyone makes it out to be.

 

[S-Mart]

Is CC a deal-breaker for your app? Obviously not, since there are people out there who started in CC and got into med school.

Is it the best way to make your app competitive? I would say not.

If you can take all your pre-reqs at a 4 year school, that is the best way to go. If money/time/location make cc your only viable option, then do really, really well, get a high MCAT and hope for the best.

One thing I didn't see discussed was the curve and grading in science classes. The exact same material may be covered, but in curved classes, if the students around you aren't as academically gifted your grade will automatically be higher. I know this because I've taken classes at an IVY as well as a few state schools. It was much easier to get an A at the state school. I think the same logic applies to 4 yr vs. cc.
Adcoms know this and it gets factored in somewhere.

This is why our school doesn't curve. A>90% etc... so you could be in a class of *****s, but that doesn't mean you've got an A. You still need to work. This also means that I don't have to out-compete anyone or deal with those cutthroat if-you-don't-know-I'm-not-gonna-tell-you type people.

 

[PTtoMD]

I heard something recently and am curious if there is truth to the statement. A volunteer at my hospital who was applying for med schoold straight out of Columbia U. with a Biomed degree and straight A's (more or less, the type of person that i find very intimidating as a competing med school applicant), told me that med schools look questionably on Ivy league school applicants with straight A's because it is believe that professors do grade inflation in an effort to make their students (and therefore their teaching) look more impressive. She was truly concerned about this.......I thought it sounded crazy but hey if there is some truth then both the top (Ivy) and the bottom (CC) of the academic food chain have to prove themselves through means other than grades!

 

[AKN]

I've had AdComs staff from both USF and from the not-yet-opened UCF tell me that CC will make my application "less competitive." Since I have a family to provide for and the nearest uni is 90 minutes away, I suppose I'll have to stay less competitive 🙁
When I heard back from USF, I looked into transferring to the uni anyway. For spring semester, they are only admitting returning students thus far. One of the classes I need is already closed. Another is at 11 MWF with the lab on Thursday afternoon. It would be impossible to work with a schedule like that
So, I will take Phy II, Chm II & Bio II at the CC on Monday/Wednesday (start at 8 am, finish at 9 pm). I can still work 3.5 days per week.
I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot. But, feeding the kiddos takes precedence over med school. Hopefully at least one AdCom will understand 😳

 

[cottoncandi]

Hi AKN- I completely understand your situation. I am in the military in a isolated area- the ONLY option I have is to attend the local community college. I have earned a B.A. and a Master's degree- but want to pursue my lifelong dream of being a doctor. I work full time, have two kids and a husband- I cannot travel 90 miles to go to a university that only offers the classes I need during the day...when I work.
I have to say- my Chemistry teacher is awesome- his class is harder than some of my Master's classes- not because of the material- but his attention to detail. I have no worries about the quality of education I am recieving right now. If I could go to a 4 year, I would have- but am glad I couldn't. 😉 It is really encouraging to read the success stories of the former CC students who still made it into med school-- thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[McSnappy]

Hey folks, I am non-trad who had a business deg, went to CC for my pre-req's, scored ave on the mcat and got in.
The key will be:
1. getting A's and maybe one B. (Me) my BS grades were weak and barely average, but did show a steady increase in GPA (like from a cellar level)
2. LORs. I went to the hospital of my med school, made exceptional contacts (influence), shadowed, got to know them and got stellar LORs (personally, I think this was the difference)
3. Personal statement and entire submitted application should be read and re-read for all errors in grammer and meaning by someone with a doctorate or masters in English at the least and then by people who are within the med school application arena. Make it clean, readable and consistant.
4. practice interviewing and rock them with honesty, compassion and ability to work in pressure situations.

you can do it

 

[shaggybill]

Myth. Boston will not allow you to complete prereqs at a junior college while enrolled in a 4 year college or immediately after. They have no problem with accepting folks who transfer from a JC to a four year school. This has been discussed ad naseum.

Every time this issue comes up, I ask for anyone to provide a link to a school's policy that states that they do not accept junior college credit and no one's been able to do so.

UNC-Chapel Hill wrote me in an email that they don't accept pre-req's from a CC. It's not listed on their website (or wasn't at the time I asked).

 

[Dabears]

this is right from U of Chicago Pritzker
Q. Can I take my prerequisites at a community college?

A. Generally speaking, community college courses are not viewed as having a similar level of rigor as the courses provided at four-year institutions. There are certainly many reasons to pursue your first two years of coursework at a community college prior to transferring to a four-year institution. Should you choose to do so, we would recommend either holding off on taking your prerequisite science course until you transfer to the four-year institution, or taking introductory level science courses at the community college and then planning to take upper-level science courses at the four-year institution.

 

[notdeadyet]

this is right from U of Chicago Pritzker
Q. Can I take my prerequisites at a community college?

A. Generally speaking, community college courses are not viewed as having a similar level of rigor as the courses provided at four-year institutions. There are certainly many reasons to pursue your first two years of coursework at a community college prior to transferring to a four-year institution. Should you choose to do so, we would recommend either holding off on taking your prerequisite science course until you transfer to the four-year institution, or taking introductory level science courses at the community college and then planning to take upper-level science courses at the four-year institution.

Yes, I contaced U of Chicago too. They accept prereqs at community colleges, but do not recommend them. This is probably the policy at most medical schools. I would not take prereqs at a community college unless I needed to. But many folks need to.

 

[notdeadyet]

UNC-Chapel Hill wrote me in an email that they don't accept pre-req's from a CC. It's not listed on their website (or wasn't at the time I asked).

Good to know about UNC. I didn't apply there, so it's the first I heard of it.

 

[efex101]

Again, it is best to contact ALL schools you are interested in and asking them directly. Like some have said CC's courses are NOT a deal breaker *but* some schools do not look favorably upon them. This process is not cheap and it behooves you to research which schools these are so you are NOT wasting your time. Schools that do not take CCs are not doing this to spite you, but because there are THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS that are highly competitive and hence some parameters are set.

 

[DrLuv]

Woah. I know this topic is done and over with. But. I'd like to point out (for future reference) that while it is true that students from the Evergreen State College (me) may have an upward battle with some AdCOMs, many med schools look favorably upon our interdisciplinary education and its transcript. Like for example, an admissions adviser from UW told me that if it were up to her, all matriculants would be from Evergreen. The truth is, only 1 to 5 greeners apply to med school every year and because we're not well versed with tests, we tend to score lower on the MCAT. That is the MAIN reason Evergreen students have a hard time.

 

[Doctor Doogie]

Better if u take them at a four year university.

 

[atomi]

is it going to hurt to attend a community college,

No. But make sure you explain that it was your only option.

 

[Boogsie]

I took two classes at a community college because it was so much cheaper...saved me about $2,000. I was asked at one interview why I did this and I said point blank.. because of the cost. The interview said she would have done the same thing. I think they understand how much it cost to get these prereqs done, and when you aren't in college anymore, its even harder.

If you have a specific school in mind, then talk to the head of admissions and see what s/he has to say about it.