Continue at JC or CA state school?

[cens983]

---

Members do not see this ad.

After searching SDN, it appears to me that having any pre req credits done in a community college could hurt me for med school admission:however, here is my situation:

Should I stay in my community college then transfer to UC Davis as a junior OR should I transfer to a small state school (Cal State East Bay) as a lower division transfer this fall to do four years there?

In terms of themed school admission process, which would be a better option? Any other options? Any advice is greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[Brent8927]

Personally I'd wait out for UC Davis, but I thought it is a really nice school so I'm biased... Cal State Hayward/East Bay (I liked the Hayward name more...) is nice as well, but the caliber of students/professors/programs isn't going to be the same as at Davis.

Overall, I'd go where you'll be happiest. Consider location, school size, prestige, programs offered, etc.

 

[JJMrK]

I think I'd try to take most of my prereqs at a 4 year institution if I were you. Why can't you transfer to Davis now? In all likelihood you'll spend more than 2 years at Davis anyway, even transferring in as a junior.

 

[HopefulOncoDoc]

Maybe you can go to CSU East Bay and then transfer to UC Davis? I went to CSULB out of high school and transferred after two years to UC Irvine.

 

[Appless]

I would transfer to UC davis over a state school. Your opportunities will greater at a UC then a state. Also you should be able to either school at the same time. We would need some more info about your backround to give a better answer, such as major, why you cant transfer to both at the same time, etc...

 

[cens983]

Thanks for the quick responses. Here some background information.

I am going to major in biology. My transcript looks pretty broken because I have many withdrawals because of work, but my GPA is about 3.5 with an upward projection. I finished all my GE (history,art etc.), I am currently in calc 1, and I will begin the science sequences (bio, physics, chem) next semester. I would like to go to a CA med school; however, any state will do including DO.

As for applying to UCD, I would have to apply for the fall 2010 because it is too late for fall 2009, and they dont accept spring or winter admits. My original plan was to transfer fall 2011 through UCD's Transfer Admission Guarantee program until I found out about this whole taking classes at a community college. I spoke with a prehealth advisior from UCD, and he told me that taking classes such as calc, ochem, etc. at a community college might make me less competitive for med school admission. Considering this I would have to taken even more classes at my CC until fall 2010.

I hope that clarifies things. Thanks.

 

[Appless]

Its not ideal to take all the pre med reqs but to transfer you shouldnt need more then 1 year of bio, 1 year of gchem, 1 year math, and 1 year of eng to transfer. Thats all UCI wanted from me when i transferred. Also remember that you are a bio major, so while taking more med reqs isnt the greatest idea while at a CC, you will have ample time to prove you can handle upper div science classes with "normal" students. If you can get all As in upper div classes like bio chem, genetics, cell bio, etc etc while at UCD, then you will be fine. Often times counselors dont even know what is going on themselves.