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junior college standing.
Started by dgarchow
You can take from this what you will...
When reviewing applications before interviewing, one of the things we always do is look for discrepancies. GPA & grades in certain classes vs. number of times taking a class. To be honest, those do have some influence on what we may think before your interview.
Everyone can understand that a person may want to take a few credits here & there at a CC to get ahead & have time for other classes or a lighter class load. The problem comes when we have to look hard to figure out which school is granting you a degree. If it looks like you have a ridiculous amount of credits at a CC, it is pretty easy to decipher if someone was doing it for a grade boost.
-Kritter
When reviewing applications before interviewing, one of the things we always do is look for discrepancies. GPA & grades in certain classes vs. number of times taking a class. To be honest, those do have some influence on what we may think before your interview.
Everyone can understand that a person may want to take a few credits here & there at a CC to get ahead & have time for other classes or a lighter class load. The problem comes when we have to look hard to figure out which school is granting you a degree. If it looks like you have a ridiculous amount of credits at a CC, it is pretty easy to decipher if someone was doing it for a grade boost.
-Kritter
In general, what number of credits are deemed "ridiculous"? I am not trying to bother anyone but successful transition to medical school is deeply important to me, and I believe anything worth doing is worth doing right (pardon the overt corniness
). So, understandably I'd like to have the most accurate information possible. I intend to finish an associate's degree (roughly 70 credits) then transfer to complete undergrad work.
). So, understandably I'd like to have the most accurate information possible. I intend to finish an associate's degree (roughly 70 credits) then transfer to complete undergrad work.
I earned my two year degree at a CC and then went to a four-year school for my BA. I think I may have around 100 credits from the CC. I took classes there almost every semester after I graduated. I didn't have any problems at my interviews because of it. But then again, I didn't apply to Harvard. 🙄 I also don't know how many interviews/rejections I would have ended up with because I withdrew from the majority of the schools after my first acceptance. 
😀
😀To clarify on my ridiculous number comment...I mean that if you are say a Bio major, the vast majority of your required classes for that major (& probably pre-reqs) should come from the college/university that will be granting you a BA/BS.
It just looks a little funny if a person is a Bio major, yet takes all their pre-reqs at a school w/ less standards
It just looks a little funny if a person is a Bio major, yet takes all their pre-reqs at a school w/ less standards
I was a bio major and all my bio classes were from the school I got my BA at. I took physics there too. My chemistry was the only pre-req I took at the CC. So, I guess that may be the reason that there wasn't an issue.🙂
I have a ridiculous amount of credits at a CC. Was I doing it for a grade boost? Better tell the schools I got into. 🙄
That's impossible. Universities have residency requirements for both the general degree requirements and major requirements. You cannot take most of your major classes at ANY school and then transfer to another school and complete a major with just a few classes anywhere that I know of.
I took Gen Chem I & II, BIO I & II, and Writing I & II at a junior level community college. I almost took Physics I & II at the CC, but the instructor was bad at teaching. I now wish I had, because the professor I had for Physics I at the university was WORSE. Everyone I talked to who had other professors said every physics prof at the university was bad at teaching.
Anyway, this never even came up in my interviews nor do I think it hurt me. Also, I called KCOM before I started at the CC to ask if it would hurt. They said that it wouldn't because they were North Central accredited. That's really all they care about, whether or not the CC is accredited with a "regional" accrediting association.
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No one mentioned anything about my CC credits either, however in my case most of my CC classes were creative writing or stained glass or something like that. 🙄 But, I still really don't think it matters. However, this one of those topics that seems to be constantly debated on SDN. I guess it really depends on the schools and the individual situation. Who knows though...😕
No one mentioned anything about my CC credits either, however in my case most of my CC classes were creative writing or stained glass or something like that. 🙄 But, I still really don't think it matters. However, this one of those topics that seems to be constantly debated on SDN. I guess it really depends on the schools and the individual situation. Who knows though...😕
You guys can all continue to debate this topic, but I can tell you for a fact that interviewers do talk about things like this as I have been in on these conversations countless times now. You can choose to listen to someone who knows that this can be a topic or not...it has no bearing on my future.
My whole point is that it is fairly easy for people to see if you have an artificial elevated GPA. Sure...some people have lots of credits at a CC & this generally doesn't come up in the interview, but people notice. I have nothing against CC's as they are a great option for some people, but it is different & easy to tell if people are using CC's to raise their GPA (don't pretend that this doesn't happen b/c we all know people who have done it).
LOL! I have absolutely no desire to debate this topic.
It is just one that keeps coming up. From what you are saying, if you take classes at a CC and transfer then that seems to be ok, but when you take extra classes at a CC to inflate their GPA, then that is not. The latter scenario is really the issue. I would imagine that would be very obvious and would not look good. OK, got it.😀 👍
I don't see how someone would use a CC to raise their GPA. My CC classes were much more challenging than my university classes. Why don't you explain how so many of us got into med school with a lot of those grade boosting CC classes padding our GPA's?
you may be the exception. its not hard to realize most CC classes will be much easier than university classes. This is also true of university branch campuses.
I've seen other people posting on here that say the same thing. I also know plenty of people who have gone to CC's that had the same experience. It is not hard to understand why CC classes are more challenging. CC lab instructors are more educated than the GA lab assistants at universities. Also, smaller class size, and less research duties to keep them busy allow CC instructors to not only care enough about their students to teach them right, but also gives them time to give more thorough exams and assignments instead of simple multiple choice exams.
Come on now, if this were the case & the education was better than at a university...Why wouldn't it be the CC handing out the degree that matters??Many of us went to small liberal arts colleges. I never had a TA or anyone other than a Ph.D instruct any of my classes or labs in undergrad so your theory about smaller classes & more caring instructors fails. No one has said any less of you b/c you went to a CC. I can gaurantee you that you have less debt than I do for just that very reason. I am, however, willing to deal with that debt b/c I had excellent professors, no TA instructors, & no classes over 40 people after first semester.
To dgarchow,
I was just trying to give you the opinion and viewpoint of someone who has interviewed many applicants & heard many conversations involving this very topic. CC's are neither all bad (i.e. cheap) nor all wonderful (i.e. jkhamlin's posts). Some people (jkhamlin) have this inferiority complex about having attended a ju-co. If you want more info than I posted here, I would be happy to answer you via PM about some of the different attitudes I have witnessed by members of admissions.
I was just trying to give you the opinion and viewpoint of someone who has interviewed many applicants & heard many conversations involving this very topic. CC's are neither all bad (i.e. cheap) nor all wonderful (i.e. jkhamlin's posts). Some people (jkhamlin) have this inferiority complex about having attended a ju-co. If you want more info than I posted here, I would be happy to answer you via PM about some of the different attitudes I have witnessed by members of admissions.
It is truly astounding to me how an internet discussion board can turn into a warzone simply on difference of opinion. I appreciate your civility and direct answers to my questions. I will surely PM you sometime soon for some more detailed questions. I also appreciate your offer for help. All the information you provide will be treasured and acted on.
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