Should I Take Community College Courses? (I'll be bored over summer)

[thegame2388]

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I mean, I get off June 12. I'll be done with Freshman year and I kinda want to boost my GPA with a few classes over at the community college. Nothing too serious, maybe take a few political science courses that I enjoy (I'm a big political junkie) and other stuff.

Would that look bad? Thanks,

 

[alanan84]

I can't see how it would look bad. Personally I like community colleges more than universities. I like the smaller classes and I feel like I learn more. (If I get a competent professor) Luckily I've had great professors at the CC level and have acutally really enjoyed it.

 

[doc3232]

I mean, I get off June 12. I'll be done with Freshman year and I kinda want to boost my GPA with a few classes over at the community college. Nothing too serious, maybe take a few political science courses that I enjoy (I'm a big political junkie) and other stuff.

Would that look bad? Thanks,

You said that you want to boost your GPA, D-schools will recognize why and where the "boost" came from. Some schools separate your university GPA from your CC GPA if you transfer during those 4 years.

GOOD LUCK
😀😀😀

 

[thegame2388]

I don't want to transfer at all. I mean, I'm currently attending UCSD and my GPA (as a freshman) is like a 3.1 and I want to boost it up with CC classes over the summer. That's all. I just don't want them to hold some grudge against me, or bring it up during the interview or even REJECT me because of the route I took.

 

[doc3232]

I don't want to transfer at all. I mean, I'm currently attending UCSD and my GPA (as a freshman) is like a 3.1 and I want to boost it up with CC classes over the summer. That's all. I just don't want them to hold some grudge against me, or bring it up during the interview or even REJECT me because of the route I took.

sorry I wasn't clear. I was just giving an example. I know you can get an A in UCSD, just do it there. Work hard and you get it. IMO, they will recognize where you took it and will wonder why you didn't take it in UCSD. They wont hold a grudge.
😀😀😀😀

 

[Blarelli]

Why not? I'm taking Fly Tying and Casting.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

If your GPA is 3.1 at UCSD, you need to take summer classes there to improve on that. Although the CC classes will improve your overall, dental schools will also be looking at breakdowns of your GPA by school attended. To increase your acceptance chances, you should work on the univeristy GPA.

 

[yorkiepoo]

Why not just take some easier classes at UCSD over the summer? Like Spanish or Art.... or take a pre-req.. get Orgo out of the way and free up some time for next year to take some art classes to boost your GPA.

 

[thegame2388]

The reason it's MUCH harder to do UCSD is because I don't live in San Diego. I live about 1 hour north, both my parents work, have to pay for housing all over again (and it's really expensive), and I'll be all alone. I prefer CC because it's easier on my schedule, about 10mins from home.

 

[alanan84]

The reason it's MUCH harder to do UCSD is because I don't live in San Diego. I live about 1 hour north, both my parents work, have to pay for housing all over again (and it's really expensive), and I'll be all alone. I prefer CC because it's easier on my schedule, about 10mins from home.

Exactly, thats why I've taken classes at a CC. Honestly it's not going to make a huge difference to an adcom committee. At least thats my opinion. The key is to ace your science classes and then smoke the DAT. If you do that, I really have a hard time believing they are going to care about a couple classes at a CC.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

If taking one at UCSD is not an option, than yes take something (non-prereq) at a CC near your parents. Taking some extra fun classes is certainly good for the mind. But don't rely on that to improve you odds much at dental admissions, if any.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Exactly, thats why I've taken classes at a CC. Honestly it's not going to make a huge difference to an adcom committee. At least thats my opinion. The key is to ace your science classes and then smoke the DAT. If you do that, I really have a hard time believing they are going to care about a couple classes at a CC.

This is true, but has the OP really smoked his science classes? GPA is 3.1. CC credit isn't a joke, but having a below average GPA at your univeristy hurts your CC credibility. And if you want to gamble that you will smoke your DAT, that's kind of like hoping for your final exam to save you in a class.

 

[thegame2388]

Well, I've only had two quarters of classes done with B's in Chem (only science class taken so far) and two C's in Calculus (but I'm done with that crap now). I don't want to do ANY prereqs @ CC. I know that looks bad, which is why I made sure to point out that my classes @ CC will be strictly "fun interest" classes like PoliSci or something else. The point I'm making is that, yes, it's an essential GPA boost, but they're all gonna be NON-science anyway. Maybe I'd take like 3-4 classes @ CC to get like a GE or two out of the way, or even for PURE FUN. I'm a human biology major so PoliSci isn't exactly prereqs for anything.

 

[alanan84]

This is true, but has the OP really smoked his science classes? GPA is 3.1. CC credit isn't a joke, but having a below average GPA at your univeristy hurts your CC credibility. And if you want to gamble that you will smoke your DAT, that's kind of like hoping for your final exam to save you in a class.

Haha, nice, I've hoped for my final to save me in class a couple of times. As you probably know, it didn't work out to well for me. Well, as a Biology major I think he'll have plenty of classes to gain some credibility with. I'm really in the same boat, well, probably worse off. I'm relying on solid upper level Bio grades to offset some classes taken at a CC. I've even taken some prereqs at a CC. The admissions committee has told me it puts my application at a "slight disadvantage" but that A's in upper level Bio and Biochemistry courses would help. Who knows? I may have to do some post-bac work.

 

[thegame2388]

Well that's because you chose to do prereqs @ CC. I'm not even talking about that, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

 

[alanan84]

Well that's because you chose to do prereqs @ CC. I'm not even talking about that, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Exactly, but think about what I'm saying. If I've spoken with a couple schools about taking the prereqs at a CC and they've just said it puts me at a slight disadvantage then what does that mean for you? Basically it means they will almost not care. Every school is different, if you're really that concerned about it, you might want to get in touch with the schools you're interested in.

 

[thegame2388]

I see your point. After all, I don't wanna take Intro To Business + Political Science only to find out it DOESN'T count in my dschool GPA

 

[scuzfly]

If your GPA is 3.1 at UCSD, you need to take summer classes there to improve on that. Although the CC classes will improve your overall, dental schools will also be looking at breakdowns of your GPA by school attended. To increase your acceptance chances, you should work on the univeristy GPA.

Plus it boosts your UCLA GPA not your TRANSFER GPA. Later on when you apply to AADSAS you will have to get transcripts for this one semester. I agree, take the courses at UCSD for the summer sessions and boost your GPA there. Just don't hang out in La Jolla too much over summer. Might not get much reading done.

I'm PRETTY sure UCSD has a couple "fun" classes you can take over summer. Plus taking your prereqs will lighten your load for the next quarters.

 

[thegame2388]

UCLA GPA? Where did that come from? I can't take easy UCSD classes because of location, money, and where I live (read last 4 posts).

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Here's an idea for you, if you live ~1hr north of SD, take your summer classes at UCI. That won't be as cheap as the CC by a longshot, but the credit will be worth more for you. You could even work on a science class.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone from taking CC classes, I did 2.5 yrs at a CC including several dental prereqs. The overwhelming majority of schools don't give a rip if you take some CC credit, as long as your university GPA is good too. For the OP, it's not that your univ GPA is so bad, it's just a bit below average. You'll be much happier at application time if your transcripts shows more solid work. Otherwise, if UCI is too inconvienent, then take the poly sci at the CC like you said.

 

[sddat]

UCI is about 2 hrs (without too much traffic) from UCSD. So if he lives an hr north of San Diego..I'm guessing he lives near Oceanside/Camp Pendleton area. Oceanside is about an hr away from UCI. That puts him in the same position as he is from UCSD...except in the opposite direction.

Also...CA community colleges have a cost of $20 a credit vs UCSD's much higher tuition. Big diff on parental pockets. I say take them at a CC and prepare to work harder in the fall at UCSD.

 

[thegame2388]

So let's say I take a political science course @ CC and I get an A+

Will that go into my AADSAS GPA? So what I'm saying is that, say the application time is RIGHT NOW, would my 3.1 GPA get bumped to say like a 3.3?

 

[alanan84]

So let's say I take a political science course @ CC and I get an A+

Will that go into my AADSAS GPA? So what I'm saying is that, say the application time is RIGHT NOW, would my 3.1 GPA get bumped to say like a 3.3?

Yes but they will also see where you took the classes so like many said, it may boost your gpa but probably won't make a huge difference in terms of being accepted into Dental school.

 

[ummjoey]

taking classes is better than not taking any classes.

since you arent taking "serious" classes (pre-reqs) i say just take it at the CC. i agree with the people that said it wont make a big difference.

just make sure to do well in the rest of your science classes. as in all As.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

So let's say I take a political science course @ CC and I get an A+

Will that go into my AADSAS GPA? So what I'm saying is that, say the application time is RIGHT NOW, would my 3.1 GPA get bumped to say like a 3.3?

Yes, it will be part of your overall GPA on AADSAS. But AADSAS also shows breakdowns of GPA by school attended. With a below average GPA, the minor details in your transcript will be scrutinized more. Doesn't mean they're going to laugh at the fact you took poly sci at a CC and toss your app into the trash. Take it at the CC if that's best for you. Just get your univ GPA up when you get back. If you don't get anymore C's, and get more A's than B's from now on, you won't have to blow the DAT out of the water so much.

 

[mx41]

I have a question relating to this thread:

Can I take Introductory Chem at a CC, so I can immediately take college chem after? That class isn't required, so it's not really a pre-req, but is it still bad? I would like to get a head start my freshman yr.

 

[thegame2388]

My ultimate goal in this endeavor is to

A) Take some fun classes
B) Learn a little
C) Not be bored over summer
D) Ultimately raise my GPA, (I've only taken 43 units by end of year)


That's pretty much what I'm aiming for here.

 

[thegame2388]

Any thoughts to what I wrote above?