Question for med students

[alexhaxton]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Finishing up high school and deciding on everything. Is it an ok route to go to a CC then enter a pre-med track at a university?
Was thinking of going into Georgia Perimeter College then transferring to pre-med at University of Georgia (UGA). I homeschooled last 2 years of high school (this is my last year, senior right now, transfer all my work to an institution to get checked and credited). Was wondering if entering a CC would make undergrad longer? Since I know Pre med classes are recommended to be taken in a 4 year college instead. I was thinking itd be better to go into a community college to get into a better school like UGA? then going for all 4 years to something like north georgia college.
Id really like to shoot for Emory Medical (short drive away)

 

[GenSurgChick]

As a community college grad, a UGA grad, and a soon-to-be med school grad I think I can speak with some credibility on this topic. Granted I was sort of a nontrad when I applied to UGA and med school, but I think my experience can help.

If you choose to go to a community college and transfer to UGA, it is very important that you get a 4.0, or as close as possible, at the community college if you intend to apply to med school later. UGA will likely accept most or all of your credits from GPC, that is not the issue. Later on a med school will look at where you did your work, and when they see it's from a CC, they are going to be less forgiving of mediocre grades. However, all of the med schools where I applied would accept CC credit IF it was accepted for transfer credit by a four-year university.

Entering a CC will only make your undergrad longer if your credit does not transfer well to the four-year institution, or if your transfer credits do not match your degree requirements. When scheduling courses at the CC, you should look at degree requirements for UGA and plan courses that will transfer as equivalent to the UGA courses you will need for your degree.

UGA does not have a pre-med major per se. Or at least they didn't when I graduated in 2001. The way it works there is that you major in whatever you want to, but you coordinate with the premed advising office to meet the entrance requirements for medical school. They also help you figure out where those requirements would overlap with courses you need for your major, so you don't end up taking a lot of extra coursework if you can avoid it.

My opinion (just opinion!) is that if your sights are set on Emory, it would be better for you in the long run to ace two years at a CC and transfer to an institution like Emory or UGA for your undergrad, rather than do four years at North Georgia College. The med school at Emory seems to have at least some preference for UGA grads in admissions. If you are looking at Mercer or MCG for med school it may matter less. Med school admissions are multifactorial, and where you go to undergrad is just one piece of the puzzle. You will need to get good grades wherever you go, do well on your MCAT, be involved in extracurriculars and/or research, and get good letters of recommendation down the line. Good luck with everything!

 

[alexhaxton]

As a community college grad, a UGA grad, and a soon-to-be med school grad I think I can speak with some credibility on this topic. Granted I was sort of a nontrad when I applied to UGA and med school, but I think my experience can help.

If you choose to go to a community college and transfer to UGA, it is very important that you get a 4.0, or as close as possible, at the community college if you intend to apply to med school later. UGA will likely accept most or all of your credits from GPC, that is not the issue. Later on a med school will look at where you did your work, and when they see it's from a CC, they are going to be less forgiving of mediocre grades. However, all of the med schools where I applied would accept CC credit IF it was accepted for transfer credit by a four-year university.

Entering a CC will only make your undergrad longer if your credit does not transfer well to the four-year institution, or if your transfer credits do not match your degree requirements. When scheduling courses at the CC, you should look at degree requirements for UGA and plan courses that will transfer as equivalent to the UGA courses you will need for your degree.

UGA does not have a pre-med major per se. Or at least they didn't when I graduated in 2001. The way it works there is that you major in whatever you want to, but you coordinate with the premed advising office to meet the entrance requirements for medical school. They also help you figure out where those requirements would overlap with courses you need for your major, so you don't end up taking a lot of extra coursework if you can avoid it.

My opinion (just opinion!) is that if your sights are set on Emory, it would be better for you in the long run to ace two years at a CC and transfer to an institution like Emory or UGA for your undergrad, rather than do four years at North Georgia College. The med school at Emory seems to have at least some preference for UGA grads in admissions. If you are looking at Mercer or MCG for med school it may matter less. Med school admissions are multifactorial, and where you go to undergrad is just one piece of the puzzle. You will need to get good grades wherever you go, do well on your MCAT, be involved in extracurriculars and/or research, and get good letters of recommendation down the line. Good luck with everything!

Wow. Awesome response. Thanks A LOT! for the advice. Ive been on relief work trips that aren't medically related (living in the deserts bringing food etc) in the past but I guess I should do some medical volunteering and maybe medical relief trips when im in College. I want to do plastic surgery and be able to do reconstructive with organizations like Operation Smile. So of course getting into a state medical school is very important for me so my loans can be as little as possible so I can do work most of the time for these organizations. Also when I was just 1 year old I was electrocuted and they didnt think I would ever be able to use my left hand. The best plastic surgeon in scandanavia flew in and its as if I never had anything done with my left hand. No differences at all between either hand. Another inspiration. lol here I go on another tangent. Whenever I start talking about it I just keep on going. Thanks again. I will check on the credit transferring to UGA.

 

[erin682]

Just so you know Emory is not a state school. It is most definately private and costs quite a lot. Mercer is also private but not quite as expensive. The only state school in GA is mcg which is much much less expensive than Emory or Mercer.

 

[Brainsucker]

Also, plastics residencies are very competitive. You'll want to pick the school that has the best record of matching students even if it's more expensive. I realize you want to have a low debt load, but do a few cosmetic jobs in between saving the world and you should be able to pay the bills and live well.

One point about transfering classes is that it's good to take a more advanced bio course, etc at UGA or Emory in addition to the CC course.

 

[GenSurgChick]

One point about transfering classes is that it's good to take a more advanced bio course, etc at UGA or Emory in addition to the CC course.

I agree with this 100%, also would suggest taking organic chem at the four-year school.

 

[alexhaxton]

Just so you know Emory is not a state school. It is most definately private and costs quite a lot. Mercer is also private but not quite as expensive. The only state school in GA is mcg which is much much less expensive than Emory or Mercer.

Yeah I know it costs a lot. But whatever I can do to lessen my loans will be good. I checked out MCG. Couldnt believe how cheap it was.

 

[alexhaxton]

Also, plastics residencies are very competitive. You'll want to pick the school that has the best record of matching students even if it's more expensive. I realize you want to have a low debt load, but do a few cosmetic jobs in between saving the world and you should be able to pay the bills and live well.

One point about transfering classes is that it's good to take a more advanced bio course, etc at UGA or Emory in addition to the CC course.

Thanks. Emory is definently my top choice and I know I can do it. I understand it'll be very expensive but whatever I can do before it to lessen my debt always helps 🙂

OChem at UGA 🙂 Got it

 

[closertofine]

Thanks. Emory is definently my top choice and I know I can do it. I understand it'll be very expensive but whatever I can do before it to lessen my debt always helps 🙂

OChem at UGA 🙂 Got it

no hard and fast rule, though...I took first semester of OChem at Georgia Perimeter (wow, a lot of us here!), and then second semester at UGA...and it all worked out in the end...got into the school I wanted, etc. PM me if you have any questions...good luck!

 

[logos]

Just make sure you get to the university at some point and it should be ok. Also, make sure you take at least some of your prereqs there, just to show you can hack it.

 

[alexhaxton]

Thanks closertofine. Thanks logos. Definently take some of my prereqs at the uni.