Pre-Optometry Classes -- Does it matter where you take it?

[icu]

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Hi everyone,

I graduated from a 4-year university (pretty decent, top 50 school) with most of my pre-optometry requirements but I didn't finish them. Now, I am looking at going back and finishing but since I went to a private university, it is VERY expensive now that I do not have my scholarship and financial aid. Does it matter if I take some classes at a community college? The ones I have left to finish are Physiology, Anatomy, Statistics (I did Calculus I in the university), and Microbiology. I am looking at other universities closer to me but they are still all very expensive. I have not gone to any CC before and I have no idea what the comparison is, in terms of how the lectures are and the content of the lessons. Would I be at a disadvantage come time to apply in a year?

Thanks all!

 

[al-majhul]

Hi everyone,

I graduated from a 4-year university (pretty decent, top 50 school) with most of my pre-optometry requirements but I didn't finish them. Now, I am looking at going back and finishing but since I went to a private university, it is VERY expensive now that I do not have my scholarship and financial aid. Does it matter if I take some classes at a community college? The ones I have left to finish are Physiology, Anatomy, Statistics (I did Calculus I in the university), and Microbiology. I am looking at other universities closer to me but they are still all very expensive. I have not gone to any CC before and I have no idea what the comparison is, in terms of how the lectures are and the content of the lessons. Would I be at a disadvantage come time to apply in a year?

Thanks all!

icu, it should be absolutely fine for you to take those final pre-reqs at a community college as long as the articulation agreement between the community college and the schools you apply to honor those classes. Like you, I graduated from a 4-year univeristy and still had to take anatomy and physiology and even an english class at a community college after i had graduated in order to meet the pre-reqs for my schools. Just ask the schools you apply to if they'll accept "Class X: with such-and-such course description from school Y."

I'll tell you, I went from UCLA to a community college near my home and the difference is staggering. The community college reminds me more of high school in terms of both lectures and content, but it was still accepted by all the schools I applied to. As to whether or not this puts you at a disadvantage when you apply, it shouldn't, not in terms of the application process -- the only disadvantage may be that you might not learn the material as well as you should for optometry school (unless you apply yourself more than I did, but I didn't have to do much work to get a good grade in the class, so I had little motivation).

 

[icu]

icu, it should be absolutely fine for you to take those final pre-reqs at a community college as long as the articulation agreement between the community college and the schools you apply to honor those classes. Like you, I graduated from a 4-year univeristy and still had to take anatomy and physiology and even an english class at a community college after i had graduated in order to meet the pre-reqs for my schools. Just ask the schools you apply to if they'll accept "Class X: with such-and-such course description from school Y."

I'll tell you, I went from UCLA to a community college near my home and the difference is staggering. The community college reminds me more of high school in terms of both lectures and content, but it was still accepted by all the schools I applied to. As to whether or not this puts you at a disadvantage when you apply, it shouldn't, not in terms of the application process -- the only disadvantage may be that you might not learn the material as well as you should for optometry school (unless you apply yourself more than I did, but I didn't have to do much work to get a good grade in the class, so I had little motivation).

Hi al-majhul, thanks for the very inciteful response. Definitely gave me a lot to think about! I will definitely look more into this before I enroll at the local CC.

 

[JennyJet]

Hi everyone,

I graduated from a 4-year university (pretty decent, top 50 school) with most of my pre-optometry requirements but I didn't finish them. Now, I am looking at going back and finishing but since I went to a private university, it is VERY expensive now that I do not have my scholarship and financial aid. Does it matter if I take some classes at a community college? The ones I have left to finish are Physiology, Anatomy, Statistics (I did Calculus I in the university), and Microbiology. I am looking at other universities closer to me but they are still all very expensive. I have not gone to any CC before and I have no idea what the comparison is, in terms of how the lectures are and the content of the lessons. Would I be at a disadvantage come time to apply in a year?

Thanks all!

I also had a similar situation. I graduated from a 4-year university, but took anatomy, physiology, ochem, biology and biochem at community college. Before enrolling I would look up the course description and contact the opto schools you are applying to verify if the courses are acceptable. I emailed UCBSO all the course descriptions and got the OK. If you are applying to SCCO, definitely contact them before enrolling. During the application process, I found out that some of university classes were not acceptable.

I also was concerned about whether community college classes would be worth less than university classes in the eyes of opto admissions. The admissions advisor at UCBSO said that it didn't matter very much. However, he did say that getting a B in a community college course versus getting a B at university might put the applicant at a slight disadvantage (e.g. 2 applicants are pretty much equal except one took community college courses and the other has university courses.)

Hope this helps!

 

[icu]

Thanks for the input JennyJet. I started contacting schools to make sure...right now it's looking good so I will save thousands of dollars 🙂

I also had a similar situation. I graduated from a 4-year university, but took anatomy, physiology, ochem, biology and biochem at community college. Before enrolling I would look up the course description and contact the opto schools you are applying to verify if the courses are acceptable. I emailed UCBSO all the course descriptions and got the OK. If you are applying to SCCO, definitely contact them before enrolling. During the application process, I found out that some of university classes were not acceptable.

I also was concerned about whether community college classes would be worth less than university classes in the eyes of opto admissions. The admissions advisor at UCBSO said that it didn't matter very much. However, he did say that getting a B in a community college course versus getting a B at university might put the applicant at a slight disadvantage (e.g. 2 applicants are pretty much equal except one took community college courses and the other has university courses.)

Hope this helps!

 

[Nanoosa7]

If you are applying to SCCO, definitely contact them before enrolling. During the application process, I found out that some of university classes were not acceptable.

Which university classes did SCCO not accept? Why wouldn't they accept classes from a 4-year university?

 

[smith351]

I was wondering that too because I plan to apply there and will be taking my pre-reqs at a community college. That worries me since it's my first choice school.

Which university classes did SCCO not accept? Why wouldn't they accept classes from a 4-year university?