Question regarding pre-reqs

[drusillaaw]

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Hi everyone,

I know there has been many topics on this subject (I've done a search), but I've seen somewhat mixed things and wanted to know if anyone had any experience on how taking 1-2 pre-reqs at a community college would affect an MD application. I especially wanted to ask other nontraditional applicants, since it seems like adcoms might be more understanding about personal/scheduling constraints for nontrads.

I graduated from an Ivy League University 3 years ago with an engineering degree, where I completed almost all my prereqs. My GPA is around 3.9 (BCPM GPA is probably a little higher). I now work full time and as a result I might have to take the organic chem lab series at a community college, where they offer it at night. (I've already taken organic chem undergrad, so it would be just the labs, and maybe an English class).

It seems like this should not hurt much, based on an otherwise strong academic record and adcoms being more understanding about personal constraints for nontrads. Does anyone know if this is right?

Also, are there schools that categorically do not take community college credits, regardless of circumstance?

Thanks!

 

[packofneurons]

Hi everyone,

I know there has been many topics on this subject (I've done a search), but I've seen somewhat mixed things and wanted to know if anyone had any experience on how taking 1-2 pre-reqs at a community college would affect an MD application. I especially wanted to ask other nontraditional applicants, since it seems like adcoms might be more understanding about personal/scheduling constraints for nontrads.

I graduated from an Ivy League University 3 years ago with an engineering degree, where I completed almost all my prereqs. My GPA is around 3.9 (BCPM GPA is probably a little higher). I now work full time and as a result I might have to take the organic chem lab series at a community college, where they offer it at night. (I've already taken organic chem undergrad, so it would be just the labs, and maybe an English class).

It seems like this should not hurt much, based on an otherwise strong academic record and adcoms being more understanding about personal constraints for nontrads. Does anyone know if this is right?

Also, are there schools that categorically do not take community college credits, regardless of circumstance?

Thanks!

You should be fine. One of my friends who was recently accepted to U of M medical school took 2 premed reqs (physics 1+2, if I recall) at a community college over the summer, and she said they didn't question her about it.

Also, I took gen chem at a community college - I have yet to apply, but I'm hopefully assuming it may not come up in the interviews. I think it's only a problem you take the majority premed courses at a community college.
I'm sure you will impress schools with your GPA at an ivy league.

As for schools that accept you or deny you based on what you took at a community college, I am unsure.

 

[airca12]

Since you have an excellent GPA from an ivy league, I think taking a couple prereqs at CC will not be an issue for you. However, I do believe there are some schools that plainly reject CC prereqs. I want to say off the top of my head that Case Western is one of those schools. Not 100% positive, but I know there are some out there. You can find that info directly on the school admission websites (often in the FAQs section) or by directly contacting the schools that you are interested in.

Best of luck to you.

 

[drusillaaw]

Thanks to everyone! Good luck to all of you as well.

 

[sarahg]

I can't speak for the adcoms, but this is a concern of mine too (I decided to be premed as a senior in college and will have to take most of my prereqs postbacc -- and I have no money saved and will have to live on loans or with parents if I can't take my prereqs at a CC) so I've been researching the forums on this subject.

Basically I've found that CC credits can count against you if:
-You go to a tough undergrad institution and take your prereqs at a CC during the summer. It looks like you're purposely trying to avoid hard classes and save your GPA.
-You take the majority of your prereqs at a community college, especially if you don't have a great undergrad GPA. You need to be able to prove at some point that you can handle a tough 4-year courseload.

Since you're out of college and working full time, obviously the first doesn't apply to you -- there are clear reasons that you're using a CC rather than a four year university. Having a 3.9 GPA in engineering from an Ivy and higher in your prereqs proves that you can handle med school courseloads. So I highly doubt that they'll count a couple of community college lab courses against you.