Taking classes at a community college

[nm825]

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I graduated from a Top 50ish school in May.

3.66 cGPA and a 3.43 sGPA
I get my MCAT results back next week, but my AAMC average was around a 32.

My sGPA is low mostly due to a C in Orgo II.

I can't apply to a bunch of schools due to not having taken any behavioral sciences (I was a pre-med, economics major, and apparently economics doesn't count as behavioral sciences for most schools with this requirement).

One of my problems is is that I never really got to know any of my science professors, and I'm not sure how I am going to get a LOR from any of them. I plan on emailing them all soon and explaining my situation and seeing if anyone would be willing to write, in the very least, a generic recommendation.

Regardless, I plan on re-taking Orgo II and a behavioral science at a community college and getting a LOR from that. Would a science LOR from a community college hurt me assuming the rest of my application is ok (above average academic stats and average ECs)?

Furthermore, would the CC Orgo II grade replace my first orgo grade even though its a CC?

 

[TriagePreMed]

It would replace (if it is the same amount of units or higher) and nobody will care where the LOR is from.

 

[Scottpilot]

I agree. I don't think DO schools look down on CC like MD schools do.

On a personal note, I took most of my pre-req's at CC between 7-10 years ago. Transferred to a University where unfortunately I received 3 C's: 1 in O-chem and the other 2 in upper division bio classes. Took some time off to figure out what to do with my life. Eventually went back to a different university to improve my science GPA. Recently was accepted as an OOS student to Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

[Bea5T]

Goro(Adcom of a DO school that post here) has repeatedly said that CC classes aren't looked at differently. It's your grades that matter.

 

[CarlosDanger]

.

 

[Goro]

No

Would a science LOR from a community college hurt me assuming the rest of my application is ok (above average academic stats and average ECs)?

Yes.

Furthermore, would the CC Orgo II grade replace my first orgo grade even though its a CC?[/QUOTE]

 

[Beargryllz]

I took organic II at a community college and got the professor to write my science letter.

I interviewed already with worse stats.

 

[Isha2018]

I retook a couple of science classes at a community college. I also took all of my physics and organic chemistry at a community college 7 years after graduating from university. I ended up having a great experience at the CC and received a LOR from my favorite chemistry professor. I felt that community college professors had more time for me, and enjoyed teaching more than researching. Most importantly, the classes were cheap compared to university classes! The DO schools I applied to and got accepted to didn't appear to flinch at seeing over 20 credits of post-bac CC credits. Accredited credits are credits. 🙂

 

[deleted562324]

I took nearly all (except 1) of my pre-requisites at the community college level and that did not cause any problems for me to get a DO acceptance. Even one of my LORs was from a CC science professor, and I'm fairly certain that it is stronger than my other science letter from a university (although I've never seen either LOR, so I don't know for sure).

 

[darkmb101]

Your LOR from a DO matters the most. If you take classes at CC you really need an A (but CC is easier in my experience so getting an A shouldn't be that difficult).

 

[Uk11cats]

I retook a couple of science classes at a community college. I also took all of my physics and organic chemistry at a community college 7 years after graduating from university. I ended up having a great experience at the CC and received a LOR from my favorite chemistry professor. I felt that community college professors had more time for me, and enjoyed teaching more than researching. Most importantly, the classes were cheap compared to university classes! The DO schools I applied to and got accepted to didn't appear to flinch at seeing over 20 credits of post-bac CC credits. Accredited credits are credits. 🙂

I'm thinking about doing the same pathway you have done. About the replacement grade. Can the retake course have a greater credit than the previous course you want to replace? For example, I want to retake bio 1/lab. The previous bio course was a 3 credit lecture and 1 credit lab. The bio course I plan on taking at a CC is 3 credit lecture and a 2 credit lab. Will that be acceptable?

 

[Isha2018]

I'm thinking about doing the same pathway you have done. About the replacement grade. Can the retake course have a greater credit than the previous course you want to replace? For example, I want to retake bio 1/lab. The previous bio course was a 3 credit lecture and 1 credit lab. The bio course I plan on taking at a CC is 3 credit lecture and a 2 credit lab. Will that be acceptable?

I'm not sure. I would send an email to AACOMAS and ask them your question. In my experience, they respond pretty quickly to questions. For my replacements, the classes had equal credit hours.