Pre-reqs at community colleges

[VM3125]

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OK all - I know the controversial topic of taking pre-reqs at community colleges has been talked about quite a bit around here, but my question is specific to... who here has taken all their pre-reqs at a CC and where have you been admitted to, both MD And DO schools? Any insights would be appreciated!

 

[Slev]

OK all - I know the controversial topic of taking pre-reqs at community colleges has been talked about quite a bit around here, but my question is specific to... who here has taken all their pre-reqs at a CC and where have you been admitted to, both MD And DO schools? Any insights would be appreciated!

I took all my pre-reqs at CC and then some (2 years in high school before undergraduate, and then two years a while after graduating to do all the med school pre-reqs). You can check out my mdapps to see where I got in.... I'll be matriculating @ Hopkins.

I wouldn't consider my path to be the best option for most people. I was fortunate enough to have a good undergraduate GPA in a fairly intense major (electrical engineering) and didn't feel I needed to prove myself much more. I did, however, take some biochem at a university before applying to show I could handle it. I studied hard for the MCAT to not leave any doubts in adcom's minds about my CC classes.

 

[kinokoboy]

I spoke to 2 adcom people a couple of weeks ago (they're husband and wife) and they told me they're okay with cc credits if it's post-bachelor work. They told me they will mainly look at how you did in your undergraduate years and then factor in your cc classes.

 

[Only Zool]

I know a handful of folks who took prereqs at CCs. Here in Texas, all of our core classes offered at CCs, which include some med school prereqs, have a Texas common course number (TCCN). This is a system that not only ensures transferability of the courses to a 4 yr university, but also equivalency. Maybe that's why they didn't have issues? More students now than when I graduated from high school, at least in Texas, seem to be going to CCs for at least their core requirements. What's going to happen as college gets more expensive and taking prereqs at the CC level becomes more commonplace?

 

[VM3125]

I spoke to 2 adcom people a couple of weeks ago (they're husband and wife) and they told me they're okay with cc credits if it's post-bachelor work. They told me they will mainly look at how you did in your undergraduate years and then factor in your cc classes.

In my case, I started at a CC 9 years ago and then transferred into a 4 yr university, got a 3.7-ish cGPA. I did most of my pre-reqs at this CC 9 years ago and have only 3 more to go, which will be done at the same CC. I will then pursue upper level courses at the 4-yr university. Hopefully taking 8-12 credits + full time work + volunteering at a free clinic will show the ad comms that I can handle med school.

 

[kinokoboy]

^Ha!! I'm actually going to go down to working part-time so I can take 8 credits (o-chem I & phy II) and volunteer 3 hours a week at a hospital.

 

[MedPR]

OK all - I know the controversial topic of taking pre-reqs at community colleges has been talked about quite a bit around here, but my question is specific to... who here has taken all their pre-reqs at a CC and where have you been admitted to, both MD And DO schools? Any insights would be appreciated!

I retook about half of my pre-reqs at a CC over the past year. I'm applying this cycle, but I'll let you know if I get in anywhere (MD/DO).

 

[mapandterritory]

There are always exceptions, but medical schools in general still prefer to see most pre-reqs done at a four year school. But the rest of your application will add weight to their decision as well, and it probably won't matter nearly as much if you take higher level classes later on at a university.

 

[NightGod]

There are always exceptions, but medical schools in general still prefer to see most pre-reqs done at a four year school. But the rest of your application will add weight to their decision as well, and it probably won't matter nearly as much if you take higher level classes later on at a university.

It also matters where you are attending the CC classes, as well. IL and CA community colleges apparently rock, because I've heard multiple times that you're OK taking them there (I can speak for IL from personal experience, we actually do have really good schools, we also have agreements in place to ensure that the proper curriculum is being taught and guarantees that our classes will transfer to State four year schools). I've heard that Texas has a similar program in place, though I haven't heard how well that works if you are looking at attending anywhere but a Texas med school (but they've got their own admissions stuff down there as it is, as most people know).

 

[tigers2007]

Michigan has "MACRAO" (Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) and has articulation agreements between most CC's and Universities in the state. Not all, but most. I would fear that OOS med schools wouldn't even consider that meeting the MACRAO standards means the CC classes are up to speed. My U of M calc prof. also taught Calc at the CC nearby. Same guy, same class, same syllabus.