How detrimental is it for one to start off higher education at a 2-year CC, and fulfilling the prerequisites there? When it comes time to transfer, would it be better to head off toward a competitive name brand school or an easier state college?
Starting Off at a Community College
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This isn't exactally what you're asking but I did something kinda similar...
I started at a large 4 year institution. Hated what I was doing. Left. Worked for a year then did a BS in Bio at a small regional campus. I was able to get an acceptance my first time out.
I'm fairly new to these boards so please don't stone me for saying this, but I question how much your undergrad institution really means to many adcoms, it didn't seem to be a factor at the places I applied (granted I didn't apply to huge well known programs either^^)
Anyways, hope this helps, good luck!
I started at a large 4 year institution. Hated what I was doing. Left. Worked for a year then did a BS in Bio at a small regional campus. I was able to get an acceptance my first time out.
I'm fairly new to these boards so please don't stone me for saying this, but I question how much your undergrad institution really means to many adcoms, it didn't seem to be a factor at the places I applied (granted I didn't apply to huge well known programs either^^)
Anyways, hope this helps, good luck!
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Your plan sounds fine. I would take some of my pre-reqs at a 4 year school, such as organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. That will demonstrate that you can excel at the university level in science.
Attend a 4 year school that you can afford and will enjoy. The pedigree of the 4 year school is not a big deal. How you perform is the big deal. And do well on the MCAT.
Good luck!
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I see nothing wrong with starting out at a community college; however I would save some pre reqs to be taking at a 4 year.
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i took a lot of my prereqs at a CC... gchem, physics, first year of bio, calculus, and all of my GEs... i took ochem and 2nd year of bio at a university. but if i continued to get the same gpa (4.0 at CC and 3.97 at the university) throughout all my years of college as a neurobio major, it shouldn't make a difference that i first went to a CC, right?
it's kind of silly, you can't really avoid taking a lot of prereqs at a CC, since classes like gchem (and usually ochem), physics, calc, etc are actually required to transfer to a 4 year university...
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I took most of my prereqs at a CC before going to a state school...and I didnt get asked in 1 single interview about it.
As long as you do as well/better after you transfer, and have an overall good app to boot, then it might not make that much of a difference.
As long as you do as well/better after you transfer, and have an overall good app to boot, then it might not make that much of a difference.
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Oh, I had no idea. I was transferred from a CA community college to a UC school and you pretty much HAD to decide on a major before you transferred and take all the prereqs. They made it seem like you couldn't really switch majors. If you had to take all (or most) of your prereqs at a university after 2 years of CC, it would be really difficult to graduate in another 2 years! (60 semester units are required to transfer).
I really don't think that going to a CC should count against you. When I was in high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life. I got an okay GPA (3.6) and didn't take any AP classes. But as soon as I decided to become a doctor, I turned it all around. I dual-enrolled in CC while I was a senior in HS (tuition was free), then continued to do my prereqs for 2 years at a CC to transfer to a 4-year (got a 4.0). I'm now a senior at a university with a 3.97 gpa, so obviously I've shown that I can handle university-level classes. So what difference does it make that I first went to a CC? Not to mention, not everyone can afford to go to a university for 4 years...
I don't see why wouldn't take all your prereqs in CC? I took all of my med prereq classes my freshman and sophomore year which is idea for studying for the MCAT your junior year. ki45toryu just said he wasn't questioned about taking prereqs at a CC so I think we should stop with the community college discrimination, after all it is a state certified college. If you have good GPA at both you should be fine.
As for your where to go afterwards question, most people go to CC first and state school later because their credits transfer without a problem and they save money, which is why most ppl consider CC in the first place. But if money's not the reason, I guess you could apply to some other bigger-named schools if you like.
As for your where to go afterwards question, most people go to CC first and state school later because their credits transfer without a problem and they save money, which is why most ppl consider CC in the first place. But if money's not the reason, I guess you could apply to some other bigger-named schools if you like.
Like bpost137, I didn't know what I wanted to do in high school, so I was rather unmotivated. I averaged an unweighted 3.5 and took only a few APs. I decided to go to a CC to save money and hopefully transfer into a better university.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
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As a Biology Professor at a Community College, I must forwarn you that my response may be a little biased... however...
Benefits:
1. Many Community Colleges design their course outlines around the classes at local 4 year universities. That way, when a student transfers, the credits transfer with them. I had many Penn State students take Anatomy and Physiology from me and get Bio 141(Anatomy) and 142(Physiology) credits placed on their transcript at Penn State as a result. I wrote a letter for one of them last year and they are now off to Penn State Hersey School of Medicine. (I know A&P is not a requirement... but it is the example I know because it is what I teach... I have heard of students getting chemistry and physics credits transferred to PSU as well)
2. Community College is extremely inexpensive... in some areas, if you went to a High School in a certain district, you may be able to go to community college for free!!! On top of that, some Universities have programs setup where if you get an Associates degree with a GPA higher than 3.5 at a Community College, you can have your tuition waived at the University.
3. Statistically, students who start at a community college and then move to a 4 year school will perform better at the 4 year compared to students who never attended a community college.
4. Many community colleges teach their Bio curriculum to the health sciences. Reason being, most community colleges only have a science program because of funding from their nursing program. With that said... well in my A&P courses, I take my students, twice a semester, to the local teaching hospital where they get to view a surgery and converse with the surgeons in real time. They have a before and after dialogue with all the hospital faculty involved in the procedure. Some of my students got into shadowing and very interesting volunteer work from these experiences. So far, I have yet to hear of a 4 year Univ's A&P course doing this for their students.
Anyways, if you are looking into the community college route, first talk to the admissions office and see which classes you are interested have successfully transferred credits to the 4 year university you are planning on attending. They do not always transfer. Second, talk to financial aid!!!! They will show you your best deal! They will even point you to another comm college if it would be cheaper for you!!!
Hope this helps
ps- I have never taken classes at a community college but after teaching at one, I wish I had!
Benefits:
1. Many Community Colleges design their course outlines around the classes at local 4 year universities. That way, when a student transfers, the credits transfer with them. I had many Penn State students take Anatomy and Physiology from me and get Bio 141(Anatomy) and 142(Physiology) credits placed on their transcript at Penn State as a result. I wrote a letter for one of them last year and they are now off to Penn State Hersey School of Medicine. (I know A&P is not a requirement... but it is the example I know because it is what I teach... I have heard of students getting chemistry and physics credits transferred to PSU as well)
2. Community College is extremely inexpensive... in some areas, if you went to a High School in a certain district, you may be able to go to community college for free!!! On top of that, some Universities have programs setup where if you get an Associates degree with a GPA higher than 3.5 at a Community College, you can have your tuition waived at the University.
3. Statistically, students who start at a community college and then move to a 4 year school will perform better at the 4 year compared to students who never attended a community college.
4. Many community colleges teach their Bio curriculum to the health sciences. Reason being, most community colleges only have a science program because of funding from their nursing program. With that said... well in my A&P courses, I take my students, twice a semester, to the local teaching hospital where they get to view a surgery and converse with the surgeons in real time. They have a before and after dialogue with all the hospital faculty involved in the procedure. Some of my students got into shadowing and very interesting volunteer work from these experiences. So far, I have yet to hear of a 4 year Univ's A&P course doing this for their students.
Anyways, if you are looking into the community college route, first talk to the admissions office and see which classes you are interested have successfully transferred credits to the 4 year university you are planning on attending. They do not always transfer. Second, talk to financial aid!!!! They will show you your best deal! They will even point you to another comm college if it would be cheaper for you!!!
Hope this helps
ps- I have never taken classes at a community college but after teaching at one, I wish I had!
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I transferred from a top 3 liberal arts school that is purportedly very hard and known for its extreme grade deflation to a CC. The Bio II course I'm taking at my CC is a a lot more rigourous and in depth than the exact same bio class I took at the LAC. I'm heading to a private four year this fall and I feel very prepared from the education I recieved from my CC. I realize that not all CCs are created equal, but if you make the most of the experience it can pay huge dividends.
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I started at a CC (freshman year) and wish I never did.
You just dont look competitive and 2 yrs is way too much time to spend at a CC- especially if you are applying after junior year.
Start at a lesser 4-year and transfer to a more competitive school.
You just dont look competitive and 2 yrs is way too much time to spend at a CC- especially if you are applying after junior year.
Start at a lesser 4-year and transfer to a more competitive school.
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I don't know about other states but in California CC's are the way to go. You get a UC transfer guarantee(literally), easy classes, great grades, the only catch is that you need to do well at the UC your Jr year to prove to acdoms you can handle medical school.
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O-chem may be an upper division at some but I know that many CC's in my area offer O-chem. I would recommend taking organic at a 4 year university over a 2 year CC whether the one you attend offers it or not.
Precisely. That's what I said.
D
deleted212936
Really? This is the first time I've heard that. May I ask WHY it is the case?
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Don't get raged.
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deleted212936
You don't need to dissect my simple question to that extent.
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