OCHEM II at CC?

[Infiltrat0rN7]

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I've taken Ochem I at my community college. I did well, and the prof. there is excellent, and would love to take Ochem II with him as well as I feel I have a pretty good grasp on the material and his teaching style suits me well.
However, I was told not to take Ochem II here. I'm transferring to a 4 year uni. in one semester. My plan was to take Ochem II here and take biochem and other upper level courses at the 4 year institution. Is this bad? I started off at the CC for financial reasons, and I fear my chances will be affected if I take said course here.
Any help/personal experience with this would be appreciated.

 

[dejadr]

I say go for it. I took all my prereqs at CC. I already have BS and a couple of grad degrees, so I didn't feel the need to prove that I could handle courses at a 4-year institution. With that said, because some schools require biochemistry, I will take it this summer at a 4-year univ b/c it isn't offered at CC. Otherwise, would still enroll. CC is 70% cheaper and I have found the expectations very high and the teaching excellent. My opinion of course.

 

[Wheatthins]

+1 for dejadr's comments.
After being out of school for 15 years, I did my O chem at CC. Easy to understand/ explain why (kids/ work). Still have state school undergrad.

I'll mention it here if it comes up in interviews this summer.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Take it at the CC if you'll be a transfer student. Nobody will say "well, if only this o.chem 2 was at a four year, they'd be medical school material." Do well in upper division at the four year and you'll be set.

 

[Gliabelle]

IMO the only reason not to take a course at CC is if the classes at that CC are substandard and won't prepare you adequately for your upper-division classes at university. Some CCs suck, others are excellent, so if your research shows that the class will prepare you, go for it.

 

[Infiltrat0rN7]

Thanks everyone for your input. I do feel the ochem class is excellent here (the one taught by my prof.), therefore will go ahead and take ochem II at my CC before I transfer.

 

[GUH]

Don't know how it works for MD schools, but I retook both semesters of orgo at a CC after bombing it the first time at my 4-year undergrad school and did fine at DO schools this cycle. Never took any upper div science either.

 

[Bamfu]

I did all my pre-reqs at a CC after getting a completely unrelated degree at 4-yr. Nobody ever asked me about it, and I was accepted.

Just make sure credit transfers to your 4-year institution so you can get your degree!

 

[Deekle]

+1 for did Gen chem 1&2 and Ochem 1&2 at a CC before transfer to a 4yr. I'm now finishing up year one of med school. Never came up in interviews.

 

[Temperature101]

Don't know how it works for MD schools, but I retook both semesters of orgo at a CC after bombing it the first time at my 4-year undergrad school and did fine at DO schools this cycle. Never took any upper div science either.

Would you mind sharing your stats? because people in the DO forum are telling me to retake Biochem and Genetics because I have C and B- respectively on them even if my sGPA is 3.35. I also took some of my prereqs at a state college and I am afraid that the grade in biochem will be an issue for adcoms...

 

[Deekle]

What was your major in the unrelated degree and how well did you do?



There is a perceived/assumed difference in (A) taking prereqs at a CC followed by a transfer to a 4 year institution over (B) taking a 4 year degree following by a DIY postbacc at a CC.

(A) is typically perceived as better than (B)

I am trying to gather some anecdotal information and insights on this perception.

True to some extent. It really depends on circumstances. When you prereq at CC an then xfer to a 4yr, if you're in a science major, you take some higher lvl science courses, which show whether or not you can hack it. The other way around may be interpreted as you couldn't hack the 4yr so went "down" to the CC level. Depends on the state too. In IL for example, the CC's and state schools have a reciprocity deal such that most of the classes from CC are considered equivalent to 4yr and are transferrable.

 

[Bamfu]

What was your major in the unrelated degree and how well did you do?.

Sorry, I forgot about this thread.

I was a music education major and had a 3.97 GPA. 4.0 post-bac @ CC.

edit: They DID ask me about my undergrad degree, which I was more than happy to talk about. They never asked me about where I went to school, though.

 

[RockChalkJayDoc]

I did all my pre-reqs at a CC after getting a completely unrelated degree at 4-yr. Nobody ever asked me about it, and I was accepted.

Just make sure credit transfers to your 4-year institution so you can get your degree!

Same here. I took every single pre-req at my CC after doing my undergrad in mass communications. I got an interview, and am in a post-bacc program. I start med school next Fall 2014. Just do your best, and forget the rest. It's all good! Good luck!

 

[RockChalkJayDoc]

What was your major in the unrelated degree and how well did you do?



There is a perceived/assumed difference in (A) taking prereqs at a CC followed by a transfer to a 4 year institution over (B) taking a 4 year degree following by a DIY postbacc at a CC.

(A) is typically perceived as better than (B)

I am trying to gather some anecdotal information and insights on this perception.

I would definitely say that is the "common knowledge" that gets thrown around. I can only speak for myself. I took all pre-reqs at a CC after undergrad. DIY style. Worked for me. Every school is different. All I can say is if you are going to take your classes at a CC, then you better ace everything. Don't leave any doubt. That's what I did, and I'm wher I need to be. Good luck!

 

[Quizlet04]

I am going to dissent a little. My ochem II class, taken at a traditional 4 year institution. was amazing. It dragged me kicking and screaming through all my old mechs, then gave me the newer ones (pericyclics, EAS) to work with. It can be your best review tool for ochem.

 

[GUH]

Would you mind sharing your stats? because people in the DO forum are telling me to retake Biochem and Genetics because I have C and B- respectively on them even if my sGPA is 3.35. I also took some of my prereqs at a state college and I am afraid that the grade in biochem will be an issue for adcoms...

Sorry for the late response
3.73 non-Science GPA
3.41 sGPA
33R (BS was 12)
Never took Biochem or Genetics and I'm glad I didn't because I probably wouldn't have gotten A's in those. CC ochem covered MCAT material just fine.