Premed Curriculum

[Panchicu]

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I have a B.S. social sciece from Cornell U (3.0 gpa) and decided to become a doctor. I have
finished half of my premed courses (all A's) at a local community college. My wife is active Air
Force and we will be transfering to Hawaii and I will have to finish the rest of the courses at
another school. Will this hurt? Or should I stay behind and finish everything in one school??? I
am also concern because if I take half of my premed courses in one place, and half in another
university, the Premed commitee may be reluctant to write an otherwise complete and
wholesome letter of recommendation. Any thoughts?


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[galadriel]

Medical schools in general are loathe to condsider courses taken at community colleges as at the same competitive level at 4 year colleges. If you go to Hawaii, don't take any more comm college courses now. In Hawaii, your only choice is the University of Hawaii.

 

[galadriel]

At the U. Hawaii Manoa, the premedical advisor is:

Lynne M. Higa
808 956 8646
FAX: 808 956 9796
Email: [email protected]

Get in touch with her right away. Tell her what you want to do. Ask her what application a postbac student must use. etc.

I am Cornell, Ag.49

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[galadriel]

Another afterthought. Before you leave San Antonio, try to arrange to get some letters from the faculty at the comm college. Let them know where you are going. They may not want to hand you the letters to bring yourself. In that case, tell them you may ask them to send them to the premed office at U. Hawaii after you get there. This is something else you ought to discuss with Lynne Higa before you actually move.
If in the end your wife is stationed somewhere else, let me know. I will see what colleges are nearby and who the advisor is. But remember, 4 year colleges only from now on. [email protected]

 

[jjmurphy]

I just had to respond to yet another opinion regarding just how much med schools look down upon courses taken at community colleges. I took all but two of the required science courses at a community college and, so far, I have four interviews from the seven schools to which I've applied. In my estimation, an organic class is an organic class. The thing to concern yourself with is how well that course or instructor prepares you to take the MCAT. I felt very prepared, did well in my courses, and it's clear that MCV, GW, UVA and Georgetown aren't holding my comm. college courses against me. Those of us who have to take post-bac courses are often concerned with cost, especially when you add in application fees, etc. Community colleges offer us a cost-effective way to begin the arduous journey to medical school often made more arduous by people who imply that you are somehow an inferior candidate if you choose to go this route.