I'm seriously considering taking organic chemistry at a community college because of the teacher that teaches it at my 4 year university. Last semester I had general chemistry with this guy and he made life miserable for me. I ended up with a D and had to retake it this semester. I'm doing great in general chemistry now but I found out that the same guys is teaching organic chemistry. If I take it with him, it's already a foregone conclusion that I would do the same as when I had him for general chemistry possibly even worse. I talked to one friend I had who had the same teacher for the same course and even though she got a B in it with him, she would rather not take organic chemistry with him because she knows it'll be that much of a struggle to do well. I understand that there are schools that don't accept any community college prereqs but I'm thinking that this is really the only way for me because getting a decent grade at a community college is better than flat out failing it at a university. Next year is also my senior year so if I did bad in it, I wouldn't be able to retake the course. What do you guys think? The schools that I'm considering are USC, MidWestern (AZ), Temple, NYU, Pitt, Western, UOP, Howard, LLU, Meharry, UNLV and Roseman.
Prerequisite at Community College
- Thread starter OBI603
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Go for it. I'm just a commoner, but I think CC credits aren't as doom-and-gloom as they're made to be on here. If your app is decent, it won't kill you. It's just the handful of schools that have policy in place against them.
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Does he teach it in the summer also?
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How did he make your life miserable? Was he a bad professor, did he not like you, was he overly difficult, or was it something else?
If he didn't like you, its definitely reasonable to take the course somewhere else. But besides that, there must have been some people who got A's and B's, if it was me, I'd try to find out what those students did that got them A's and B's while I got a D.
My O-chem professor made my life miserable...it was the most difficult course I have taken yet...but I worked hard, by myself and with other students, I used other resources besides just my book, and I sought help from him directly whenever I could. I was able to pull out a solid B in both semesters, but was so well prepared for the DAT that I scored a 28 in the OC (My highest individual score on the test).
This was my story, I know you're situation is more than likely very different. But before you decide to take it at the CC, I think you should really determine whether or not it would be possible to get a B or higher in his courses. If it is, put in the work and do as best you can, it'll be worth it. If you don't think its possible, its better to get an A at a CC than a C, D, F, or W at your 4 year school.
I don't think it would be a huge deal to take orgo at a community college...but it is a pretty important upper level course, and I'm sure all schools prefer to see you take it at a 4yr university. How much of a difference it would make, I'm not sure. Maybe call a few schools up, explain your situation, and hear what they have to say?
If he didn't like you, its definitely reasonable to take the course somewhere else. But besides that, there must have been some people who got A's and B's, if it was me, I'd try to find out what those students did that got them A's and B's while I got a D.
My O-chem professor made my life miserable...it was the most difficult course I have taken yet...but I worked hard, by myself and with other students, I used other resources besides just my book, and I sought help from him directly whenever I could. I was able to pull out a solid B in both semesters, but was so well prepared for the DAT that I scored a 28 in the OC (My highest individual score on the test).
This was my story, I know you're situation is more than likely very different. But before you decide to take it at the CC, I think you should really determine whether or not it would be possible to get a B or higher in his courses. If it is, put in the work and do as best you can, it'll be worth it. If you don't think its possible, its better to get an A at a CC than a C, D, F, or W at your 4 year school.
I don't think it would be a huge deal to take orgo at a community college...but it is a pretty important upper level course, and I'm sure all schools prefer to see you take it at a 4yr university. How much of a difference it would make, I'm not sure. Maybe call a few schools up, explain your situation, and hear what they have to say?
I don't think he does.
There were a few people that got B's as I said my friend in my original post got a B but she was put off by his teaching and testing style that even she doesn't want to take it with him. Class averages were pretty bad as well in the low 60's range. It's funny that you mention the circumstance that he doesn't like me. I didn't allude to that in my original post but I personally never felt like I could come to him with questions. He's not a very warm guy and I don't expect my teachers to be warm at all but there was something definitely off putting about him in particular. There was a day where I ran into him in the hall said hi to him and he snubbed me. Didn't say a word. Looked right at me and didn't say anything. I was pissed. I mean he's the one that gave me the bad grade. If anything I should have been snubbing him but out of the kindness of my heart I didn't and I digress. I don't know. Maybe he's racist lol jk. Seriously though, him and I just don't mix when it comes to teaching styles / student learning styles.
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Yeah, my comment wasn't really to suggest just throwing in the towel easily. If you can, of course it's optimal to bust it out at the university. But I realize there are professors out there who are terrible teachers and on top of it decide to make people miserable for no reason. (Cross your fingers you don't encounter this in dental school....cause there's no other option there.)
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Yeah I've had one of these professors before...so I know your pain. If a professor isn't a good professor, its still possible to do well.
But if a professor doesn't like you, it becomes extremely difficult and often times is out of your control to receive the grade you actually deserve. Thats why I had suggested taking the course somewhere else if this was the case.
Sorry again about your situation!! I'd make sure to keep other bio/chem grades for other courses as high as you can so that if any admissions or interviewers bring up the D or the CC organic, you can explain this situation and be able to show them the good grades in the other courses (proving that you weren't slacking off, didn't get the material, etc) Good luck!!
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If and when you get accepted in ds will you have the option of which profs you can avoid?
The truth is, there are people in the class who got A's. No professor is going to not give out a single A. It will make him/her look bad. S/He is responsible for his/her students' learning (to a certain extent) and failing them all means that the professor didn't teach.
I think you need to seriously reevaluate your study habits and stop blaming the teacher. If you got a D at a university, what makes you think you are going to magically do better some place else? If you don't change anything, then you probably won't.
Getting a D doesn't mean that you have no shot at dental school. Plenty of students go on to do much better and get in. But they usually have to spend some time reflecting and figuring out what they need to do better be successful.
So, my advice is that you stop blaming the teacher and figure out what you need to do better in his/her class. Meet with students who were successful. Meet with the professor. Get a tutor if necessary.
It's only going to get harder in dental school.
I think you need to seriously reevaluate your study habits and stop blaming the teacher. If you got a D at a university, what makes you think you are going to magically do better some place else? If you don't change anything, then you probably won't.
Getting a D doesn't mean that you have no shot at dental school. Plenty of students go on to do much better and get in. But they usually have to spend some time reflecting and figuring out what they need to do better be successful.
So, my advice is that you stop blaming the teacher and figure out what you need to do better in his/her class. Meet with students who were successful. Meet with the professor. Get a tutor if necessary.
It's only going to get harder in dental school.
I had a course where I had the top grade (92% avg for the class) and get a A-, it was the highest mark given out (damn those professors who don't curve at all).
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Why can't you take the course at another close by 4-year university besides the one you are attending?
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Not trying to thread jack, but does anybody now if a state college that offers associates and four year degrees is looked at as the same as a community college??
I'm trying to take Orgo this summer and my 4 year uni doesnt offer summer A Orgo so was going to take it at a local state college...
I'm trying to take Orgo this summer and my 4 year uni doesnt offer summer A Orgo so was going to take it at a local state college...
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You forgot to use quotes here... Periopocket plagiarism
Well I did mention that I was doing way better in Chemistry 1 at my university with a different teacher. Just thought I'd mention that. There's not really a need to take it somewhere else.
