"Horror"

[sciencebooks]

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Hello... So it's only two days into my summer course and already, a "horror" professor dilemma.

As a quick background, I attend a university, but am enrolled in a summer gen chem 1 course as a CC. Yes, I know, I know, but I honestly couldn't swing it (cost-wise***) at my university, and this was the most resonable (read lowest) to take there.

Anyway, I knew from the beginning that I'd have to self-study a bunch at the end to prep for organic chem in the fall (my uni's path goes gen 1, organic 1, organic 2, gen 2)... But then yesterday, I walk into the class and it's a disaster. The teacher was rude beyond belief, scatter-brained, didn't even share his name or a syllabus, kept us in a classroom while the fire-alarm went off for a good ten minutes until somebody came and kicked us out (apparently it WASN'T a drill). Yeah, disaster.

*EDIT* Sorry accidently posted early.

I decided to look him up on Rate My Professors and nobody had ANYTHING nice to say. NOTHING. Not even that he's hard, but just that's he's beyond unqualified and ridiculous. I can post the links if anyone's interested.

Does it sound like I should try switching campuses or courses at least (even if it does mess up my "plan"). I'm just not willing to risk a poor grade or even a W from a CC, but then again, I'm not sure if the course would seem okay in comparison to my experience at my uni.

I'm thinking switch ASAP. Any opinions?

***PS. Sorry for the ramble, and asking a bunch of non-sense questions. I surf the site on occasion, but read that us lower-classmen should stay off to avoid going insane, haha. Plus, I feel my advice isn't so solid just yet, 😉.

 

[maxx52188]

Hello... So it's only two days into my summer course and already, a "horror" professor dilemma.

As a quick background, I attend a university, but am enrolled in a summer gen chem 1 course as a CC. Yes, I know, I know, but I honestly couldn't swing it (cost-wise***) at my university, and this was the most resonable (read lowest) to take there.

Anyway, I knew from the beginning that I'd have to self-study a bunch at the end to prep for organic chem in the fall (my uni's path goes gen 1, organic 1, organic 2, gen 2)... But then yesterday, I walk into the class and it's a disaster. The teacher was rude beyond belief, scatter-brained, didn't even share his name or a syllabus, kept us in a classroom while the fire-alarm went off for a good ten minutes until somebody came and kicked us out (apparently it WASN'T a drill). Yeah, disaster.

*EDIT* Sorry accidently posted early.

I decided to look him up on Rate My Professors and nobody had ANYTHING nice to say. NOTHING. Not even that he's hard, but just that's he's beyond unqualified and ridiculous. I can post the links if anyone's interested.

Does it sound like I should try switching campuses or courses at least (even if it does mess up my "plan"). I'm just not willing to risk a poor grade or even a W from a CC, but then again, I'm not sure if the course would seem okay in comparison to my experience at my uni.

I'm thinking switch ASAP. Any opinions?

***PS. Sorry for the ramble, and asking a bunch of non-sense questions. I surf the site on occasion, but read that us lower-classmen should stay off to avoid going insane, haha. Plus, I feel my advice isn't so solid just yet, 😉.

For myself, when I comes to the core classes, especially the BCMP classes, I make sure the professors are good...not necessarily easy, but good at teaching.

 

[sciencebooks]

For myself, when I comes to the core classes, especially the BCMP classes, I make sure the professors are good...not necessarily easy, but good at teaching.

That's EXACTLY how I was putting it to my family (who can only relate so much). HARD I can deal with because I'm disciplined enough to bust my butt when it comes down to it, but if a teacher's just a "douche" (as I honestly think one of the reviews put it) and half his class tends to drop, clearly there's something missing in the teacher there. I feel like those classes tend to be such toss-ups.

I'm rambling, but thanks for that reinforcing statement. Making some calls in the morning, I suppose.

 

[getright]

I wouldn't risk it, so I'd drop.

 

[Squeal]

Yeah drop it. No use in risking your GPA over something like this that you can't control.

 

[sustentacular]

Does it sound like I should try switching campuses or courses at least (even if it does mess up my "plan"). I'm just not willing to risk a poor grade or even a W from a CC, but then again, I'm not sure if the course would seem okay in comparison to my experience at my uni.

I'm thinking switch ASAP. Any opinions?

I think you should drop it. Also, just an FYI med schools may not accept pre requisite classes from a community college if it is not a 4 yr degree granting institution (or however it's phrased).

 

[softmed]

Also, just an FYI med schools may not accept pre requisite classes from a community college if it is not a 4 yr degree granting institution (or however it's phrased).

I really, really doubt that will be an issue. I didn't apply to that many schools, but I didn't see mention of this anywhere and before your post I've never heard of a school not accepting credits from CC. If someone will provide an example I will retract my statement.

The only way I know it would probably be an issue is if you took more than a handful of your prerequisites there. Especially if they were classes like organic chemistry, which are considered more difficult. Or if you were inconsistent with your grades depending on whether you took courses at CC or a 4 year school. Then it might raise a red flag.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

I had a similar experience. I had to take Chem 1 at a CC( concurrently while at my uni) because i was in the middle of the math requirement needed to take chem at my uni( switched majors) and if i didnt take it then, i would have had to push everything back a year.

Long story short, this guy was the chair of the Chem department here and he was really old. Im not saying he wasnt knowledgeable, its just that he was soo scatter brained. It was a 4 hour lecture/lab twice a week. He spent most of the class talking about random stories that had no relevance to the topic. He would jump all around in what he was teaching ( no structure/PP/ just him and a board). He would teach us really easy concepts and then give us study guides one class before the test that were harder than anything we covered and then the test would be like those guides.

It was just horrible. I did that while working 1 full time job, 1 part time job and 14 credits at my uni. All while driving an hour to everything ( jobs schools home). I am more than happy with my B in that class. I made up for it with an A at my uni in Chem 2.

Long story short..........dont waste your time.

 

[sustentacular]

I really, really doubt that will be an issue. I didn't apply to that many schools, but I didn't see mention of this anywhere and before your post I've never heard of a school not accepting credits from CC. If someone will provide an example I will retract my statement.

The only way I know it would probably be an issue is if you took more than a handful of your prerequisites there. Especially if they were classes like organic chemistry, which are considered more difficult. Or if you were inconsistent with your grades depending on whether you took courses at CC or a 4 year school. Then it might raise a red flag.

"May I take my required courses during the summer?
It is preferable that required courses be taken during the regular academic year at a rigorous level at a four year college or university"

That's from the UMASS website. I saw it on a few others that I'm not going to bother to find right now. Bottom line is it's up to the applicant to check with each school they're applying to to see if your coursework meets their prerequisite requirements.

 

[Hope0913]

Hello... So it's only two days into my summer course and already, a "horror" professor dilemma.

As a quick background, I attend a university, but am enrolled in a summer gen chem 1 course as a CC. Yes, I know, I know, but I honestly couldn't swing it (cost-wise***) at my university, and this was the most resonable (read lowest) to take there.

Anyway, I knew from the beginning that I'd have to self-study a bunch at the end to prep for organic chem in the fall (my uni's path goes gen 1, organic 1, organic 2, gen 2)... But then yesterday, I walk into the class and it's a disaster. The teacher was rude beyond belief, scatter-brained, didn't even share his name or a syllabus, kept us in a classroom while the fire-alarm went off for a good ten minutes until somebody came and kicked us out (apparently it WASN'T a drill). Yeah, disaster.

*EDIT* Sorry accidently posted early.

I decided to look him up on Rate My Professors and nobody had ANYTHING nice to say. NOTHING. Not even that he's hard, but just that's he's beyond unqualified and ridiculous. I can post the links if anyone's interested.

Does it sound like I should try switching campuses or courses at least (even if it does mess up my "plan"). I'm just not willing to risk a poor grade or even a W from a CC, but then again, I'm not sure if the course would seem okay in comparison to my experience at my uni.

I'm thinking switch ASAP. Any opinions?

***PS. Sorry for the ramble, and asking a bunch of non-sense questions. I surf the site on occasion, but read that us lower-classmen should stay off to avoid going insane, haha. Plus, I feel my advice isn't so solid just yet, 😉.

All of that combined = RUN while you still can! Don't even risk it, its just not worth it.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

All of that combined = RUN while you still can! Don't even risk it, its just not worth it.

👍

I never take a professor who seems like he's going to make your life worse.

 

[foofish]

Another vote for switching classes ASAP.

You're paying the money to take the course and it's a prereq--you owe it to yourself to take it with a professor who will actually teach. I think you have the right spirit (not switching because he's hard but rather because he's bad). Remember that gen chem is the basis for orgo, pops up in bio, and is a large portion of the MCAT...and in terms of med school, gen chem is certainly more useful than orgo in terms of basic science you actually use.

 

[maxx52188]

"May I take my required courses during the summer?
It is preferable that required courses be taken during the regular academic year at a rigorous level at a four year college or university"

Man FUCK that. That **** pisses me off. I dont go to a CC cause it's easy (Which its not, Santa Rosa Junior College if you're wondering), I go cause I cant afford 5 years at a Uni. FUCK those bastards.


Sorry, end of rant.

 

[foofish]

Man FUCK that. That **** pisses me off. I dont go to a CC cause it's easy (Which its not, Santa Rosa Junior College if you're wondering), I go cause I cant afford 5 years at a Uni. FUCK those bastards.


Sorry, end of rant.

It's common and perfectly fine for people on the path to med school to start at a CC, it's just recommended that applicants take as many premed prereqs at a 4-year university. I think the OP's post explains why--it's not necessarily a judgement that the classes are too easy, but just that sometimes the faculty aren't as well-qualified. It's the same reason med schools don't like summer courses at 4-year schools either, because those classes are less regulated and aren't always taught by regular faculty (i.e. might be taught by less-qualified instructors than the fall/spring classes). E.g. I went to an Ivy for undergrad, and at least half the summer courses were taught by faculty from local state and private colleges...and med schools dislike those classes just as much as CC courses, it's equal opportunity distrust. 😉

 

[sciencebooks]

I really, really doubt that will be an issue. I didn't apply to that many schools, but I didn't see mention of this anywhere and before your post I've never heard of a school not accepting credits from CC. If someone will provide an example I will retract my statement.

The only way I know it would probably be an issue is if you took more than a handful of your prerequisites there. Especially if they were classes like organic chemistry, which are considered more difficult. Or if you were inconsistent with your grades depending on whether you took courses at CC or a 4 year school. Then it might raise a red flag.

That was also what I was told from my advisors (which yes, I know they're not always the BEST source of info, 😉). Of course, it's ideal not to take any courses anywhere else, but after this, the rest will be at home... Unless it's like speech or something.

 

[sciencebooks]

PS. Thanks everyone. I'm going to the local campus today to switch it around (hopefully). If the prof. at the other campus is full, I suppose I'm rearranging my fall. Not worth the risk.

 

[softmed]

"May I take my required courses during the summer?
It is preferable that required courses be taken during the regular academic year at a rigorous level at a four year college or university"

That's from the UMASS website. I saw it on a few others that I'm not going to bother to find right now. Bottom line is it's up to the applicant to check with each school they're applying to to see if your coursework meets their prerequisite requirements.

My point is that I don't think any schools reject CC credits. They look at it more on a case by case basis. The only exception may be online classes or classes from a non-accredited school.

 

[Kimaris]

My point is that I don't think any schools reject CC credits. They look at it more on a case by case basis. The only exception may be online classes or classes from a non-accredited school.

http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/faq.html#q11

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.

From what I understand most schools will take CC classes but they'll expect higher grades from you in the classes that you take. You'll also have to prove you can handle upperlevel classes. I'd imagine getting a "C-" in a BCPM class would be a big no-no.

 

[ScronCron]

I wouldn't worry about taking gen chem at a CC. Especially if you're going to take orgo the following year at your university, it'll be a non-issue.

Don't put up with a class where your education and grade will be at the mercy of an unreasonable prof. It's your education and money from your wallet. See if you can switch classes or take it at another CC (if there's another one nearby).

 

[mspeedwagon]

This is the case. Being a former MA resident (and having a number of friends that attend UMass Medical School), I know for a fact that UMass will accept community college classes. A few of the kids I know that attend have a couple of cc classes even though they attended four year schools.

A lot of schools will say that they prefer classes be taken at 4 yr schools, but to my knowledge, there are no schools that will flat out reject classes taken at a cc. The more classes you take at a cc though, the more emphasis you are putting on your MCAT.

My point is that I don't think any schools reject CC credits. They look at it more on a case by case basis. The only exception may be online classes or classes from a non-accredited school.

 

[wagmanager]

so with all this mass bashing of CC by adcoms, can one assume that the worst 4 yr college(whatever that maybe ) is still more rigorous than the best CC (whatever that may be)?. I don't think so.

 

[VTBuc]

Generally isn't full-time tuition at a university the same regardless of the # of credit hours? How would taking a pre-req at a CC be more cost efficient?

 

[Kimaris]

Generally isn't full-time tuition at a university the same regardless of the # of credit hours? How would taking a pre-req at a CC be more cost efficient?

Tuition at my local CC is about 300 bucks a credit. so thats 1,500 a semester or 3,000 for a year. Thats WAAAAY cheaper than a regular state university.

 

[VTBuc]

Tuition at my local CC is about 300 bucks a credit. so thats 1,500 a semester or 3,000 for a year. Thats WAAAAY cheaper than a regular state university.

Does your uni charge by the credit if you're full-time, though? The way mine works is anything over 12 credits costs the same, whether it's 13 or 23 credits.

 

[sciencebooks]

Generally isn't full-time tuition at a university the same regardless of the # of credit hours? How would taking a pre-req at a CC be more cost efficient?

My university charges per credit hour. Increasing from 13 credit hours in the fall to 17 in the winter increased my tuition by about a grand, so appx. $250 a credit hour. With fees and all, one summer course (5 credit hours) would have run $1,700 (probably thanks to our constant tuition increases and fluctuations) which my family just couldn't swing. And I must say, even if my uni didn't charge by credit hour, I wouldn't have had the money (or the desire) to go full time during the summer.

Though, none of this is to argue against your points. I really wish my uni charged like this!