Im finally a freshy!! Now I need help. :)

[jap41r]

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Hi, Im Jap. I just recently graduated from HS(enrolled 1 sem late) and now im enrolling for spring semester. I've taken college classes since my junior year in high school and now have 21 units overall with 3.4 gpa(is that bad?). So im currently enrolled at a local community college and im wondering what to take next. This is my final week for college (Damn Finals), high school and vocational school for medical assisting(YES!!), and I want to take some interesting class this spring. The question: Saying that I attend "CC", should I take more Science class or should just stick to GE. Here's the list of classes I've taken: 2 psych course (Gen and Human dev), 2 Bio (A&P and intro) 1 chem (intro) and Comm studies. No math because HSers was not allowed to take any math courses.

Anyways, im still thinking if I should go for Gen bio I, Gen Chem I, Math, Spanish this spring. I already registered but I could pull out if you guys think its a bad idea. I know, I know im just a fresh fish but any list of or advice "classes not to take when your attending CC" would be great. Thanks.


Oh yeah, Im transferring next year or year and half to a 4 year.

Thanks again.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

In general, it's probably best to do your med school prereqs at a 4-year institution rather than a CC. So I would personally advise you to hold off on Gen Chem until you transfer. Bio I think is okay to do at a CC if you plan on taking some upper-division bio courses at your 4-year. Math and Spanish are fine at a CC, and you could add like English or something to your schedule in place of Gen Chem. Otherwise, sounds like you're on a pretty good path. A 3.4 is not great (average GPA for med school matriculants is 3.6) but you have lots of time to raise it so just try to get mostly A's for the rest of your college years. The MA course was a good choice, you'll be able to get a lot of clinical experience in. In the meantime, you should start volunteering at an interesting place if you haven't already. Good luck, you're on the right track!

 

[Janieve]

Hi, Im Jap. I just recently graduated from HS(enrolled 1 sem late) and now im enrolling for spring semester. I've taken college classes since my junior year in high school and now have 21 units overall with 3.4 gpa(is that bad?). So im currently enrolled at a local community college and im wondering what to take next. This is my final week for college (Damn Finals), high school and vocational school for medical assisting(YES!!), and I want to take some interesting class this spring. The question: Saying that I attend "CC", should I take more Science class or should just stick to GE. Here's the list of classes I've taken: 2 psych course (Gen and Human dev), 2 Bio (A&P and intro) 1 chem (intro) and Comm studies. No math because HSers was not allowed to take any math courses.

Anyways, im still thinking if I should go for Gen bio I, Gen Chem I, Math, Spanish this spring. I already registered but I could pull out if you guys think its a bad idea. I know, I know im just a fresh fish but any list of or advice "classes not to take when your attending CC" would be great. Thanks.


Oh yeah, Im transferring next year or year and half to a 4 year.

Thanks again.

Congratulations on your graduation!

I agree with the other poster about taking your med school prereqs at a 4-year school. I'm co-enrolled at a CC myself, taking a bunch of classes required for my degree.

But I also saw a ton of freshman premeds burn themselves out their first year and give up, and you don't want that to happen. My advice is to pace yourself. Vary your schedule up. Try something new. Take a class you might not have ever taken. (I took an Anthropology class and fell in love; it's now my major. And last year, I took a class on "Understanding the International Experience", which was soooooo hard, but easily the best class I've ever had.) You never know what you might find!

It's okay to take your time. You don't need to focus on the sciences right away. In some cases, it might be better not to! Adjust to University and figure out what works for you before taking any prereqs, I say. If I'd started mine right away instead of taking a year to explore my interests and study habits, I probably would have a C-average for them right now. (It helped that I didn't decide to go for medicine until the Summer before my Sophomore year anyway, hahaha.)

Anyway, you enjoy your new life, okay? Don't push yourself too hard, and don't worry too much about building your application up right away. You've got a long time before you need to worry about it anyway, and that time is better spent rounding yourself out instead of your ECs and sGPA.

 

[Usernamed]

IMO, I think it's a bad idea to take any of the pre-req's for MD school at a CC. Also, I'd avoid taking any online or testing-out of any.

 

[Ativanigans]

Take all your genEd credits in CC and the premed requirements at your 4 year.

 

[tennisball80]

Do your science prereqs at a four year institution.

 

[bannie22]

the most helpful advice you can get:


get off sdn, and enjoy life.

 

[DocMcCoy]

I disagree with the posts telling you to take all of your pre-reqs at a four year. I'm sure they have good reasons though. Here are my thoughts. I did over half of my pre-reqs at CC. Is there a significant difference between the courses offered at a CC and a four-year? It is debatable. My GPA is actually slightly higher at my four-year than it was at CC and two of the hardest and most demanding courses I have ever taken were at CC (and subsequently two of my letter writers). It never came up at an interview, in fact the only comment made by one of my interviewers was that they like to see the transition, they just don't like to see when someone makes it to a four-year and then goes back to take prereqs at a CC.

Don't leave yourself with all of your pre-reqs and hard major classes when you get into your final undergraduate institution. You will be working your butt off wishing you still had room for a class or two that aren't quite as demanding. Stay on schedule, gen chem and gen bio are freshman classes, take them your freshman year.

This strategy worked great for me and got me a spot at the big show. Congratulations and good luck!

 

[Global Warming]

Don't be a statistic. Most of your pre-med buddies that are to your left and right won't be there in 3 years. Wait, but you're saying, "Global Warming is an idiot, these guys are standing right here". That's b/c you probably drop outta the pre-med race!

I'm studying for the MCAT currently and it is probably THE HARDEST thing I've had to do academically. Most days I study until my face turns numb. Don't ask me how, but it just does.