Med School admissions with a community college background

[Fakhter]

I've researched this forum and have read similar threads in relation to my topic. The million dollar question, "does having a community college background hurt my chances?" Although those threads had useful information they were irrelevant to my particular interests. The first reason why is, they were outdated. The date matters because times are tough now and CC seems to be the economical decision. The second reason is 95% of the posters had no CC background. So their posts were purely opinionated. So did you have a CC background and had no trouble getting into med school? Or did you know anybody that did? Please share..... thank You

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[brokeninnosense]

I'm interested in knowing this too. I hope you get helpful answers!

 

[Slowpoke]

2 years of CC
transferred
3 years at a local uni
will be attending an MD med school in August.

Is there anything you would like to know specifically?

edit: also have a couple of friends who will be attending or are attending a medical school with a CC background. One of which is also on SDN and could definitely PM her here to give more insight! She is finishing up her first year at a California MD school.

 

[thlaxer]

I met a couple of students from CCs at second look weekends. They seemed to have very successful cycles. There's also a few people on here from CCs whose MDapps profile shows multiple acceptances. So being from a CC isn't a deal breaker for med school admissions.

I do think that there still is some stigma attached to CC courses though as some schools say on their websites that they'd prefer that your prereqs are from four-year colleges, etc.

 

[Lil Mick]

CC background here (started college young): 12 interviews offered, 10 interviews attended, 6 acceptances for MD/PhD

It's not which opportunities you had. It's what you did with those opportunities that counts.

 

[Kzoo Kid]

2 years of CC here. Then transfer to university. Admitted MD this cycle. I think my time at CC actually helped get me in. I was in an honors program and had the director write a LOR for my AMCAS. Also, AMCAS doesn't distinguish between CC and university grades, only between yearly GPAs. The high marks for 75+ CC credits definitely helped boost my overall GPA. You will need to demonstrate to admissions that you can hack it in an intense academic environment, though. But as long as you transfer and perform well at an established college/university, your time at CC probably won't be held against you. Good luck 😀

 

[Slev]

I probably have you all beat. 2 years of CC followed 3 years of university... and then 2 more years of CC after undergrad. Maybe it kept me from getting interviews at a few schools (I'll never know) but I got into the schools I wanted to so who cares.

 

[Fakhter]

2 years of CC
transferred
3 years at a local uni
will be attending an MD med school in August.

Is there anything you would like to know specifically?

edit: also have a couple of friends who will be attending or are attending a medical school with a CC background. One of which is also on SDN and could definitely PM her here to give more insight! She is finishing up her first year at a California MD school.

Where did you take your perquisites, at the cc or uc?

 

[Slowpoke]

Where did you take your perquisites, at the cc or uc?

For California CC's you have to take specific classes to be eligible to transfer to particular UCs (and CSUs). I fulfilled all the requirements to transfer to any UC, which included all the pre-reqs except 1 year of physics and upper div biology. Both of which I finished up after transferring. I did mediocre doing my CC years (3.35), but eventually buckled down and did very well at the uni (3.86, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa and Honors)