How community college is perceived at med schools

[chasingzion]

So, I've been hearing that med schools look down at students coming from community colleges is this true? And that some wont even accept a class frok community college.

I go to Valencia College in Orlando.
(Up until a couple of years ago they were officially called valencia community college) now its just Valencia College im not sure if that means they are no longer a community college, idk.

Anyway, they have bachelor programs at my school so if I apply to med schools right out of Valencia does that this mean I won't be taken seriously?

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[Being]

The more rigorous and prestigious your college the better, but you can still do fine with a degree from a CC. You will need to crush the MCAT to show that yes, you really do have a strong grasp of the material.

 

[Espadaleader]

Medical schools don't like community colleges. Hopkins will finally accept community college credits for the 2015 cycle. While Hopkins was the only school that had a "no-tolerance" policy, it is understood that you will take upper levels at a 4 year university. If your school has BA/BS programs then your fine. Its not a community college.

 

[Goro]

Concur 100% here. There is no rhyme nor reason to which schools accept CC credits, and which don't. But here's the take-home:

CC-> 4 year school? OK

Non-trad doing GPA repair or getting pre-reqs? OK

Student at 4 yr school trying to evade difficult weeding courses? Not OK.

MSAR Online is your friend.

a few schools simply will not accept a CC course. However many have recommendations that lean against with a few examples at the bottom:

While many successful applicants have done so via CC, those tend to be traditional students who follow the community college with another two years at a four-year school. Nontrads typically dont have that followup as support.

Can it be done? yes.
Will it make you less competitive? yes
Is is better to go to CC than not go at all? yes

Logistics of life, family, job, scheduling, finances, sometimes make CC the only choice for nontrads.


Einstein
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 either seek guidance from an academic 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.


SUNY Upstate
Can I attend a community college to complete my pre-requisites?

Admission to medical school is very competitive. In 2012, we received 4,854 applications for 160 available seats. In order to make your application as competitive as possible, the Admissions Committee strongly recommends that all science pre-requisites be completed at a competitive four year college or university.

 

[MrLogan13]

I have four friends who are in medical school, they went to community college with me. YMMV.

 

[Espadaleader]

Also, there is a HUGE difference between the person who took pre-reqs at a CC but took upper levels at a 4 year. If you took BIO and Gen CHEM at a CC and took Genetics, Biochem, Physics, and Orgo no one will care.

 

[QofQuimica]

I've explained this before on other threads, but the problem with CCs from the med school admissions standpoint isn't that they have the word "community" in them, or that they're two years instead of four. The problem with them is that they're not selective in admissions. Anyone who has a HS diploma can show up to a CC and register for classes. So the perception then of CC courses is understandably that they are less rigorous than the courses offered by schools that do screen for admissions.

If you're going to go to Valencia, you should apply for their honors college, which is selective. But in terms of strengthening the perception of the academic rigor of your premed studies, it would be better if you went to UCF, either for the whole four years or after your AA. If you can get into the regular university program, great. If you can get into their honors program, which is even more selective, that's even better. If you maintain a 3.8+ GPA throughout four years in the UCF honors program, you will have more than proven your ability to succeed in a rigorous academic environment. (FWIW, they do let some people transfer in from Valencia if they do well in the CC honors program.)

 

[MrLogan13]

One was a "traditional" student who did two years at the community college and transferred to a university (she was a legal secretary for ~20+ years), the other three already had a Bachelors Degree and did their pre-reqs as postbacc courses at the community college. Two of those are attending osteopathic schools, and the other one is going to USC medical school.

Were these "traditional" students who went to CC then directly on to 4 year schools?

 

[chasingzion]

Valencia student transferred to UCF , now off to Harvard Med

http://news.valenciacollege.edu/val...eed:+valencia-college+(Valencia+College+News)

 

[QofQuimica]

Valencia student transferred to UCF , now off to Harvard Med

http://news.valenciacollege.edu/valencia-today/perseverance-pays-off-valencia-grad-heads-to-harvard-medical-school/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: valencia-college (Valencia College News)

You see my point. 🙂

 

[Symmetry11]

I have four friends who are in medical school, they went to community college with me. YMMV.

What was your MCAT score?

 

[adenine]

I went to community college and I was accepted at 3 medical schools. Get good grades, get involved in extracurriculars (work, clubs, volunteer work, leadership stuff, etc) and get your bachelor's. You'll be fine - admissions committees are interested in more than your alma mater. If you're interested in pedigree, then go to a school with a name. If you want to be a doctor, just do your thing.

 

[jt66250]

It depends on where you are. Here in Texas, a few of the med schools embrace CC students. The actively recruit students from CC to help get them on the right path once they go to their 4 yr school and into the application process. In Texas, the 100-200 level classes in CC are congruent with most of the state schools, even the course numbers are the same on many of them. In the CC I attend, they designate which classes are for certain majors, and if you follow those classes, you will likely be on par with 4 yr school students.