Is it a good idea to take College Algebra at an accredited CC?

[Jikmik]

Hello, I am new to SDN and would like to know whether or not it would be a good idea for me to take College Algebra at a local accredited community college. I know that many will argue that it is wiser to take this course at a 4 year university, but first let me give you my scoop.

I graduated about a year ago from a private university with my B.S. in Finance. I earned a 3.599 GPA and only completed one pre-med science prerequisite, Bio I w/lab. I scored and A in both of these courses.

The pre-med prerequisites that I still need to take include; Bio II w/lab, Chem I & II w/lab, OChem I & II w/labs, and Physics I & II w/labs. In addition I will most likely opt to complete both Biochem and Genetics.

I plan on completing all of the above-mentioned courses at my local 4 year university, University of Colorado Denver, which is a great feeder school to their medical school.

The dilemma that I am currently faced with is that I have not completed my College Algebra course, which will prevent me from taking any classes past Bio II, but I would like to complete Chem I w/lab, Physics I w/lab, and Bio II w/lab this summer at CU Denver.

My goal is to try to use CU Denver to get my foot in the door at CU med, but I am aware that I should not put all of my eggs in one basket.

The community college that I plan on taking College Algebra at this month has an articulation agreement with every university in Colorado, but outside of Colorado the CC course may not look too good.

Do you fellow med/pre-med students suggest that I take College Algebra at the CC or at the university? Will it matter to med schools where I take this course, due to the fact that it is not a science prerequisite? Timing is very important to me and my family. Thank you for your replies.🙂

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[1TB4RKSB4CK]

There are a good amount of people who get accepted by taking just one CC course. I took 2 years of CC courses. I would just avoid taking classes such as Orgo or Physics at a CC as it may be frowned upon. Gen Chem and Biology is okay.

 

[Violagirl]

There are a good amount of people who get accepted by taking just one CC course. I took 2 years of CC courses. I would just avoid taking classes such as Orgo or Physics at a CC as it may be frowned upon. Gen Chem and Biology is okay.

I agree. 👍 I was at a community college too and took my math courses, from Algebra to Calculus I along with Gen Chem and Bio I so you should be ok to take your Algebra course at one as well. I definitely would also recommend waiting until you transfer to take Orgo and Physics at a university. Good luck! 🙂

 

[gettheleadout]

I would definitely go ahead and take the College Algebra course at the community college. The only importance of the "recognition" of the course by other schools is for it to enable you to take the higher level courses you need, and as you said the agreement with other Colorado schools makes this a perfect choice.

When you apply to medical school you will need to include a transcript from this community college, but as College Algebra is neither a prerequisite course nor a high level course, I would think it very unlikely anyone would bother to ask about you taking it where you will. If asked about it, the explanation "I needed to fulfill the math prerequisite to enroll at CU Denver and take the science prerequisite courses for medical school, and it was cheaper and more time-efficient for me to take it at a community college" sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Because you have already graduated, and because this course is a fairly irrelevant one with regard to medical school admissions, I would not worry about going from a 4-year to a CC (for one course) and then back to a 4-year as opposed to staying at the 4-year the whole time. Since you're not still enrolled, it's not as unusual for you to take a course elsewhere before returning, and with you reasons you have for doing so I think you are completely justified.

Best of luck.

 

[Mount Sinai]

I agree. 👍 I was at a community college too and took my math courses, from Algebra to Calculus I along with Gen Chem and Bio I so you should be ok to take your Algebra course at one as well. I definitely would also recommend waiting until you transfer to take Orgo and Physics at a university. Good luck! 🙂

Listen to this advice. i personally know people who are "premed" and have not taken a single science pre-req course yet...

 

[Celerity]

Yeah take it.
It gives you a great math foundation for Chem, Calculus and Physics that serves you well in coming years.
Calculus is like College Algebra on steroids

 

[Sephiroth]

Go ahead and take it if you need it. Most places require Calc 1 (or sometimes stats) as a math requirement), so you should do that at the University as well.

 

[Jikmik]

Thank you to all who have replied so far!

Due to the fact that college algebra is not a science prereq, many of you who responded suggest that the community college may be my best bet due to my circumstances.

I currently work as a banker full-time and have a wife and 6 week old son to provide for. If I take college algebra at my community college, I can save up more money to provide for my family while I attend the 4 year university his summer.

It comes down to the fact that I would like to attend an MD school, but I want to make sure that one community college class will not 'taint' my record. As a nontrad with a family, etc I don't think that I will have much trouble explaining my reasoning to an adcom, but am interested in hearing each of your individual replies.

Please continue to explain why you feel it is, or isn't, a good idea to take college algebra at a CC with my given situation.

Thank you all

 

[CopaceticOne]

Lower level math classes are pretty standard across most school in the material covered. You'll be fine with this class. I had no one bat an eye at my Calc I and II classes from high school & CC.

As everyone else has said, make sure to do Organic & Physics at a 4-year school. I'm not sure about Gen Chem & Gen Bio at CC vs 4-year.

 

[plumazul]

Thank you to all who have replied so far!

Due to the fact that college algebra is not a science prereq, many of you who responded suggest that the community college may be my best bet due to my circumstances.

I currently work as a banker full-time and have a wife and 6 week old son to provide for. If I take college algebra at my community college, I can save up more money to provide for my family while I attend the 4 year university his summer.

It comes down to the fact that I would like to attend an MD school, but I want to make sure that one community college class will not 'taint' my record. As a nontrad with a family, etc I don't think that I will have much trouble explaining my reasoning to an adcom, but am interested in hearing each of your individual replies.

Please continue to explain why you feel it is, or isn't, a good idea to take college algebra at a CC with my given situation.

Thank you all

Another idea is to go buy yourself some self help material and study it. Since you already have a degree, the rules that apply to UGs do not necessarily apply to you. You would enroll at the 4 year U as a non-degree seeking or advanced special student and at worst they may make you take a math placement test.

 

[Signifier]

I took calculus, general chemistry, general physics, general biology (all with lab), statistics and a wide variety of other courses at community college. I have interviewed at and I have been admitted to a variety of top schools.

It's usually best to do all your pre-reqs at 4 year schools. But from my example, you can see it's not going to kill you (if you do well in everything else).

 

[FattySlug]

I took calculus, general chemistry, general physics, general biology (all with lab), statistics and a wide variety of other courses at community college. I have interviewed at and I have been admitted to a variety of top schools.

It's usually best to do all your pre-reqs at 4 year schools. But from my example, you can see it's not going to kill you (if you do well in everything else).

Agree. 6 guys from my CC took all the prereq there and all are attending MD schools. Not top schools but they still get in.

 

[Jikmik]

Thanks for all of encouraging replies. I will most likely take college algebra at my local CC this Spring. That way I will be able to attend CU Denver in the summer and begin my Chem and Phyics coursework. My goal is to go year round until all of my prereqs are completed. I did this in undergrad and was able to complete my 4 year degree in just over 3 years.

 

[Jikmik]

Agree. 6 guys from my CC took all the prereq there and all are attending MD schools. Not top schools but they still get in.

It's not extremely important where I get accepted to MD school, just as long as I get accepted.

 

[Celerity]

Another idea is to go buy yourself some self help material and study it. Since you already have a degree, the rules that apply to UGs do not necessarily apply to you. You would enroll at the 4 year U as a non-degree seeking or advanced special student and at worst they may make you take a math placement test.

Plumazul has a great point.

Quoting Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting: "Why pay thousands to go to college classes when you can get an equal education for $30 in late fees at the local library."

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

It's not extremely important where I get accepted to MD school, just as long as I get accepted.

Like a boss 👍