Is this a bad idea?

[Jack-of-all-trades]

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Hello everybody. I am currently in a highly competitive adn nursing program at a community college. The community college I attend offers a rn-bsn degree on campus from a university that i am going to attend after the adn program. However, I am sure though that i would like to go to medical school after nursing school.

Right now it is my plan to take my pre reqs at the community college while I am finishing my bsn. This would be the best option for me because I plan on working at a local hospital while I am finishing my bsn and pre reqs.

Is this a good idea or will taking pre reqs at a community college look bad even if i have a good reason for doing it? I have emailed a couple of medical schools that I am interested in and they said it was acceptable but I still get the feeling that it is not recommended. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance for all responses

 

[GreenDuck12]

Generally speaking, community college classes are fine to take before switching to a 4 year university or after completing a 4 year university degree. Taking community college classes while being enrolled in a 4 year university may stand out as you "avoiding the rigor of the 4 year school." Some schools state that pre-med classes must be completed at a 4 year university, others accept them on a case by case basis, and others accept all classes. I would get a copy of the MSAR and take a look at what schools in your area accept and then make your decision.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Generally speaking, community college classes are fine to take before switching to a 4 year university or after completing a 4 year university degree. Taking community college classes while being enrolled in a 4 year university may stand out as you "avoiding the rigor of the 4 year school." Some schools state that pre-med classes must be completed at a 4 year university, others accept them on a case by case basis, and others accept all classes. I would get a copy of the MSAR and take a look at what schools in your area accept and then make your decision.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the response. It was very helpful. Anybody have any more advice?

 

[gyngyn]

I do not recommend a vocational degree for those interested in medicine.

 

[Stagg737]

Thanks for the response. It was very helpful. Anybody have any more advice?

Try to avoid taking upper-level pre-reqs at a CC. Classes like cell bio or gen chem are fine, but try and take the more advanced pre-reqs like genetics or biochem at a 4 year school. O-chem is borderline. Some people say it's fine to take at a CC, I personally don't think it is, but ymmv. Either way, try and take your advanced courses at a school where their validity isn't going to be questioned by adcoms. An A in biochem is pretty meaningless if it's taken at Podunk CC.

 

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Thanks for all responses so far

 

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Is there anybody who done anything similar to this or has taken pre reqs at a community college that can give any advice?

 

[esob]

CC classes are OK if you nail the MCAT. If you do well on the MCAT it looks like you learned the material. If you do poorly however and you got good grades in your CC classes, then it looks like you just got easy classes.

 

[aformerstudent]

Two things.

1. If you're thinking MD, you have to stop talking nursing.

2. You're entering one of the most competitive application processes. Do you feel your CC work is going to help you be more competitive?

 

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Two things.

1. If you're thinking MD, you have to stop talking nursing.

2. You're entering one of the most competitive application processes. Do you feel your CC work is going to help you be more competitive?

Thanks for the reply

1. I know nursing is not the best route for medical school but I am already in nursing school and I do not want to drop out.

2. I know community college will not be very competitive but it might be my only choice so thats why I want to find out information on it

 

[Goro]

Thanks for the reply

1. I know nursing is not the best route for medical school but I am already in nursing school and I do not want to drop out.

2. I know community college will not be very competitive but it might be my only choice so thats why I want to find out information on it

You need to be aware that not all MD schools accept CC credits for pre-reqs. Invest in MSAR Online to find out which ones do and don't (the no rhyme nor reason to it, either).

 

[Jack-of-all-trades]

You need to be aware that not all MD schools accept CC credits for pre-reqs. Invest in MSAR Online to find out which ones do and don't (the no rhyme nor reason to it, either).

Thanks for the response. I'll look into it

 

[mastoidprocess]

Thanks for the response. It was very helpful. Anybody have any more advice?

If you want to take the long route and gain a good deal of experience in a different side of medical care than studying medicine and working as a physician, by all means go ahead. I worked in EMS for 9 years prior to starting medical school, got a bachelors, then finished up pre-reqs in CC, and then got a masters of science. There's plenty of paths to getting into medical school if that's your goal.