Much Help Needed Please

[CaliNative]

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Okay I am getting incredibly frustrated and I’m really confused about the situation that I am in.

I am 22 and just starting my undergrad. I’m starting at a CC and transferring to SDSU in 2 years most likely. I would do it sooner but they don’t take lower division transfers. I started college for the first time in 2002. Went for one semester, didn’t do well (every grade possible A-F). Decided to take some time off and get my priorities straight. I’ve got 3 questions. My first is, would schools concentrate on how poorly I did to start with or with the upward trend that is to follow?

On a separate note, do med schools look down on those who take their pre-reqs at CC’s? I know some don’t allow it, but I’m not sure which ones those are. I keep getting the runaround when I try to call and I’m getting frustrated. I’d just really like to be able to take them there at my CC. Not because they’re “easier” (which believe me, they’re NOT) but because once I get into my major, I won’t have time for anything else.

Here’s my biggest dilemma though. Six months ago I started running with the wrong crowd, got into some trouble with the law and I got convicted of a felony (non-violent nor a drug charge). It gets knocked down to a misdemeanor in six more months. Then I will (hopefully) be getting it expunged in early 2009 (right before I apply). So my question to anyone who might know: when they ask the question on the apps “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” what do I say? Because technically, I was convicted of one though it was dropped down. And if it gets expunged, I wouldn’t have to say anything about it. Is that correct? I’m just really frustrated because I really don’t want to go through all I’m about to start doing if I can’t make it to the end goal. Oy.

So thanks for reading this. Any input is appreciated. I put all this into one post because I didn’t think I needed to make separate ones. Thanks again.

 

[CaliNative]

Oh yeah...I'd ask my lawyer if I could get ahold of her.

Grrr....I'm banging my head against a wall over this.

 

[stinastina]

Oh yeah...I'd get ask my lawyer if I could get ahold of her.

Grrr....I'm banging my head against a wall over this.

I would take the pre-reqs at the 4 year college. What is your major ? And if your record is expunged, don't worry about it. Feel blessed you get a second chance.

 

[MinnyGophers]

If you do well starting now, and prove that you can make it, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to. I'm sure med schools will be able to look past what you used to be if you show them the new and improved version of you.

Good luck!

 

[CaliNative]

I would take the pre-reqs at the 4 year college. What is your major ? And if your record is expunged, don't worry about it. Feel blessed you get a second chance.

Yeah that's what I figured I should do. Just to be on the safe side. Might cause me to have to stay in undergrad for one more year. But what's one more year? I'm not in some big rush.

I'm majoring in either Biochem & Cell Biology or Human Biology at UCSD. (I messed up and put SDSU before.) Still not 100% as to which one yet.

And I know I am definately blessed. Not everyone gets a second chance.

 

[stinastina]

Yeah that's what I figured I should do. Just to be on the safe side. Might cause me to have to stay in undergrad for one more year. But what's one more year? I'm not in some big rush.

I'm majoring in either Biochem & Cell Biology or Human Biology at UCSD. (I messed up and put SDSU before.) Still not 100% as to which one yet.

And I know I am definately blessed. Not everyone gets a second chance.

You have a great attitude. One more year won't hurt you - this is your career, so if you have to pace yourself and you have the financial resources, take your time. Good luck.

 

[CaliNative]

You have a great attitude. One more year won't hurt you - this is your career, so if you have to pace yourself and you have the financial resources, take your time. Good luck.

Thanks. That's the way I see it as well. And yay, tomorrow isn't a holiday. Maybe I can get ahold of my lawyer.

 

[CaliNative]

If you do well starting now, and prove that you can make it, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to. I'm sure med schools will be able to look past what you used to be if you show them the new and improved version of you.

Good luck!

New & Improved? I like that. Kind of makes me feel like a cereal or something

 

[notdeadyet]

I would take the pre-reqs at the 4 year college.

Seconded.

OP- I went to a JC in California and was worried about how that would affect my chances at medical school. I talked to lots of premed advisors who all pretty much universally said it wouldn't be a big detractor, though more emphasis would be placed on my GPA at the UC (or the CSU, in your case).

But DO NOT take the entirety of your premed prereqs at the JC, if at all possible. The more prereqs you can take at a four year university, the better. If you absolutely have to take your prereqs at the JC, be sure to take upper division courses in Bio/Chem/OChem at the four year to show that you can handle it academicallly.

As per some medical schools not accepting Junior College courses, I've tried to find out if this is SDN pre-med rumor and am coming to the conclusion that it is. I have not been able to find a single medical school that flat-out will not take them in your situation. Some medical schools, like the oft-referenced Boston University says they do not take JC prereqs, but if you read the fine print, you'll see that this does not apply to JC students who transfer to four year colleges.

Best of luck!

 

[CaliNative]

But DO NOT take the entirety of your premed prereqs at the JC, if at all possible. The more prereqs you can take at a four year university, the better. If you absolutely have to take your prereqs at the JC, be sure to take upper division courses in Bio/Chem/OChem at the four year to show that you can handle it academicallly.

As per some medical schools not accepting Junior College courses.....I have not been able to find a single medical school that flat-out will not take them in your situation.

Thank you. That's where I would get confused. Since I am a Bio major, I have to take higher level Biology classes. And the way it works out, I'll end up doing OChem at the 4-year anyway. I'm doing General Chem, Calculus and maybe Physics at my JC. I guess we'll see how it works out. School hasn't even started for me and I'm already stressed.