Summer Classes

[liquidsnake02]

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I asked my counselor if I can take Summer classes at another institution because the summer classes at my current university are very expensive and since I am a transfer student I need to take some extra science classes for the major here. He said that I had to take it here because med schools don't like it if you take science courses at another university. Is this true? Would taking summer classes at another university hurt my chances?

Thanks

 

[WhizoMD]

It wouldn't look good if you took them at a community college, or another university that is "easier" than your own. If the other university is similar to your own in terms of reputation, it should be fine.

 

[PediatricPaula]

But do med. school even like the fact that you took summer courses? I heard that they didn't because they feel like it'll just be a "cram" class unlike a regular full-term class.

 

[liquidsnake02]

well I go to UofM ann arbor, and was planning to take them at UofM dearborn, I'm not sure what their reputation is, but all the classes transfer as equivalent and it also counts for the gpa at UofM ann arbor

 

[Catalystik]

But do med. school even like the fact that you took summer courses? I heard that they didn't because they feel like it'll just be a "cram" class unlike a regular full-term class.

There may be a few picky schools out there (read, top ten or twenty), but for the most part, provided you do well in the crammed class and in the corresponding MCAT section (proving the course was sufficiently rigorous to prepare you well), no school will question a few summer school courses. I took ten hours of OChem with lab over the summer in ten weeks, covered all but three chapters that the full sessions did, did great on the MCAT, and never heard a word about having taken summer courses.

 

[Catalystik]

He said that I had to take it here because med schools don't like it if you take science courses at another university. Is this true? Would taking summer classes at another university hurt my chances?

No, it's not true. Just be sure the course, wherever you take it, is sufficiently rigorous. You can probably tell this by comparing the text to what your own school uses. In my area, many of the university professors also teach at the local CC, and they use the same text. It costs $65/credit hour instead of $400.