How many hours can I take at CC?

[colt]

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Over the years I took 56 credit hours from a CC that transfered into a 4 year school to help finish my degree (128 credit hours total).

Now I want to take my pre-reqs for dental school and I'm wondering if I can do it at a CC?

I took bio 1 and 2 at the 4 year school so I still need chem 1/2, physics 1/2 and orgo 1/2. That of course totals up to 24 credit hours.

Can I take them all at a CC as a non-degree seeking student even though I've already taken 56 credit hours?

I guess another way of asking that is - if someone completes 2 years at CC, transfers, and then graduates from a 4 year school....are they REQUIRED to take their pre-reqs at a 4 year school if they later decide to go to dental school?

 

[colt]

Oh, and I graduate this semester so would it help if I told them NOT to transfer in some of the classes I previous took a CC, thus giving me more available credit hours before I get to 64 hours? Does that make sense?

I'm taking my classes at night from a small liberal arts college (working during the day) and they have a very limited selection of science classes at night.

 

[Regmata]

There are a few people on here that will tell you that you can get accepted while taking pre-reqs at a community college, in my opinion, they are a rare exception. If you really want to get into school, do not take your pre-reqs at a community college.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

I don't have stats to back up my claim but there seems to be a lot of people that did at least some prereqs at a CC, so I wouldn't call it rare. Ofcourse a 4yr is always better but how much it matters probably depends on the rest of your application. If your GPA is good and so is your DAT, then taking prereqs at a CC will likely not matter (except for the few schools that explicitly prohibit it).
Regarding the number of units you have, if you'll be graduating anyways then it won't matter if you have 100 or 1000 units from a CC. The units only matter for schools that set a minimum amount before you can attend and that should only apply to applicants that are admitted without graduating. You'll only get credit for x amount of units from your CC and then you add in the ones from your 4yr and you'll be well over the threshold for every school.

 

[Regmata]

When you are uninformed, you shouldn't be giving advice...

I don't have stats to back up my claim but there seems to be a lot of people that did at least some prereqs at a CC, so I wouldn't call it rare. Ofcourse a 4yr is always better but how much it matters probably depends on the rest of your application. If your GPA is good and so is your DAT, then taking prereqs at a CC will likely not matter (except for the few schools that explicitly prohibit it).
Regarding the number of units you have, if you'll be graduating anyways then it won't matter if you have 100 or 1000 units from a CC. The units only matter for schools that set a minimum amount before you can attend and that should only apply to applicants that are admitted without graduating. You'll only get credit for x amount of units from your CC and then you add in the ones from your 4yr and you'll be well over the threshold for every school.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Regmata- I'm giving advice based on my experience. Others on SDN that went to a CC have given similar examples. The OP can take from it what he wants. If you have some detailed knowledge you can share, than please do.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Ok let me clear things out for you guys.

1. Most schools do accept pre-requesites taken at community college.
2. You do not have to retake your pre-reqs at a 4 year institution if your credits tranfer to that particular university.
3. Most schools only accept a maximum amount of 60 credits from a CC out of the minimun of 90-120 (depends on the school)
4. If you go to CC for your freshman and sophmore year, I would recommend not taking more than 4 pre-requesites, and when you tranfer to a 4 year institution, finish your pre-reqs and take a lot of upper level science classes so the adcoms don't think you took most of your science pre-reqs at a CC.

You said you have to take chem1/2, phys1/2, and orgo1/2. If it was me, I would take them at a 4 year institution just to be sure. You already have alot of Community College hours in your application.

Fred 😛

 

[colt]

Thanks everyone for the info/advice.

Regarding the number of units you have, if you'll be graduating anyways then it won't matter if you have 100 or 1000 units from a CC. The units only matter for schools that set a minimum amount before you can attend and that should only apply to applicants that are admitted without graduating. You'll only get credit for x amount of units from your CC and then you add in the ones from your 4yr and you'll be well over the threshold for every school.

Ok, thank you. I would like to go to East Carolina and UNC has a limit of 64 credit hours from a CC - I assume ECU will be the same.

If this limit on CC credits only applies to people who haven't graduated, I should be fine. I assume they need this clause to keep people from taking the minimum 90 hours all from a CC.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Yeah, you'll be fine. I don't mean that the CC credit limit doesn't apply to you but that it doesn't matter to you b/c you'll have enough units from the 4yr. I think your right, that's their way to discourage people from transfering to d-school straight from a CC. Good luck.