Taking Pre-Med Classes at a Community College

[leedeme1997]

Good day everyone,

I recently graduated college with a degree in neuroscience with a 3.73 GPA. I am interested in medicine but did not take the proper classes during undergrad due to the my lateness in my realization and my focus on research. I am currently working full time as a tech in an epilepsy lab for about two years and in that time I would like to knockout all of my pre reqs. Would taking classes at a community college and doing well in them hinder my medical school application or should I break the bank and do a post bacc. I will obviously have LORs, shadowing experience, volunteer experience, and extensive research experience. Thanks for your time and consideration of this matter!

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[907914]

Good day everyone,

I recently graduated college with a degree in neuroscience with a 3.73 GPA. I am interested in medicine but did not take the proper classes during undergrad due to the my lateness in my realization and my focus on research. I am currently working full time as a tech in an epilepsy lab for about two years and in that time I would like to knockout all of my pre reqs. Would taking classes at a community college and doing well in them hinder my medical school application or should I break the bank and do a post bacc. I will obviously have LORs, shadowing experience, volunteer experience, and extensive research experience. Thanks for your time and consideration of this matter!

Community College coursework in itself will not prevent you from applying, however it will hinder the schools you can apply to as many do not accept CC coursework to meet the prerequisites. Get MSAR and search through the schools to see which accept what. On that note, which classes would you need? I assume a bachelors in Nueroscience already gets you through intro chem, physics, bio, and english (maybe intro psych and sociology too?).

 

[leedeme1997]

I would disagree slightly with this. Most schools will accept CC for prereqs but many recommend 4 year college. If the OP has a 3.7 in Neuroscience already, showing they can handle the work, taking the few prereqs he/she needs at a CC likely will not be that big an issue. I would imagine it wouldnt be many courses needed.

@leedeme1997 what courses do you need?

BTW, here is my standard what the schools say about CC

There are some medical schools that directly speak to this idea of community college courses. This may give a little better insight in how the underlying “culture” or “attitude” of admission committee members, whether a formal policy or not, may perceive applicants who choose summer or community college coursework. While this list is not exhaustive, it is representative enough to help advise students who are considering such a step.

SUNY Upstate College of Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions | College of Medicine | SUNY Upstate Medical University
“Applicants should avoid taking more than one or two prerequisite science courses during the summer and avoid taking them at community colleges.”

Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
http://icahn.mssm.edu/education/medical/admissions/regular-track/requirements
Q: Can I take my courses at a community college, or must I take them at a four-year college or university?
A: We have no requirement about where you take courses, though the Committee on Admissions does take that into consideration in evaluating your application.

Johns Hopkins Medical School
Prerequisites and Requirements| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine M.D. Admissions
The School of Medicine accepts prerequisites completed at the community college level. In order to be competitive in the selection process, we encourage prospective applicants with community college prerequisites to supplement these courses by taking advanced courses in related subjects at their four year institution.

University of Florida College of Medicine
FAQ
Q: Can I take the prerequisite courses at my local community/junior college?
A: In order to create the most academically competitive application you should take all prerequisite courses at the most competitive bachelor’s degree granting institution where you can gain entrance. You should try to complete your pre-requisite courses at a four-year institution

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
https://www.einstein.yu.edu/educati...pplication-procedure/course-requirements.aspx
Whereas course work at a four-year college or university is our benchmark, if a student chooses to meet a competency component via an alternate route such as through laboratory experience, through an advanced placement course, a course taken at a community college, a course taken abroad (during a semester abroad for which the undergraduate U.S. degree-granting institution gives credit, or for which AMCAS will verify and report the grade), or an online course, he or she should seek guidance from his or her advisor to ensure that the option meets the above guidelines as well as the rigorous academic standard required by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

George Washington University
MD Program Frequently Asked Questions | The School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Do you accept community college credits?
Yes. The Committee on Admissions does accept coursework taken at a community college; however, it is preferable to have the pre-medical coursework taken at a four-year college or university.

Florida State University College of Medicine
http://med.fsu.edu/?page=mdAdmissions.admissionRequirement
Listed below is the pre-requisite coursework required for all matriculates to the FSU COM. Advanced Placement, CLEP, and dual enrollment credits fulfill the course requirements. However, courses taken in a traditional classroom at a four-year institution are considered to be more academically competitive.

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
MD Program Admissions Requirements | Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Two pre-requisite science courses can be fulfilled with AP credits, community college courses or through a study abroad program.

Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine
Medical School Admissions
Policy on AP Credits, Credits by Exam, and Dual Credit
We generally prefer that applicants take the prerequisite courses at 4-year accredited colleges and universities rather than utilize advanced placement credits, credits by exam, dual-credit, pass/fail course work or community college courses. We do not dismiss these credits; and, if they have been taken, we will accept them toward meeting the prerequisites. In fact, if an applicant has placed out of a required level course, we will also accept another course in that discipline at the same or higher level. Again, our preference is that applicants take graded courses at 4-year institutions, particularly the prerequisites in the biological sciences and the chemistry series.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/faq/#q43
Are community college classes accepted as prerequisite course credit?
They may be, but the Admissions Committee generally expects students to complete all prerequisite courses at a four-year undergraduate institution.

Yale
https://medicine.yale.edu/education/admissions/apply/premed.aspx
Pre-medical courses must be completed in a U.S., U.K., or Canadian college or university. U.S. Community College courses are acceptable, provided that the courses include laboratory work and are comparable in content to courses at four-year colleges, universities, or institutes of technology.

Weill Cornell
http://weill.cornell.edu/education/admissions/app_faq.html
Can I take my prerequisite courses at a Community College?
It is not recommended.

Awesome! Thanks for the resources and I will reach out. I feel that if I do take them at CC I will have a harder time getting in but it will not be impossible.

 

[907914]

I received an A- and Bs in both courses and would like to take them again

Do NOT retake your intro Chem courses. You already did just fine in them. Just take organic chemistry and do well. That will reflect far better on you than retaking courses you already did well in.

 

[leedeme1997]

Community College coursework in itself will not prevent you from applying, however it will hinder the schools you can apply to as many do not accept CC coursework to meet the prerequisites. Get MSAR and search through the schools to see which accept what. On that note, which classes would you need? I assume a bachelors in Nueroscience already gets you through intro chem, physics, bio, and english (maybe intro psych and sociology too?).

Since my major was heavily researched based I have taken Chem I and II with lab. However, I received an A- and Bs in both courses and would like to take them again. I have done a semester of bio and lab with an A in that coursework and I placed out of my psychology requirements due AP credits in high school. It seems that I will have to do a post-bacc to acheive optimal results. Are you aware of any post-baccs that cater to someone with a 9-5 or if there is any other unordthodox way to complete the courses. I would have to take another semester of bio, 2 semesters of chem, 2 semesters of physics, 2 semesters of orgo, and a semester of biochem.

 

[leedeme1997]

Do NOT retake your intro Chem courses. You already did just fine in them. Just take organic chemistry and do well. That will reflect far better on you than retaking courses you already did well in.

Sounds good! Thanks for clearing that up. Essentially I cannot receive any more B's?

 

[907914]

Sounds good! Thanks for clearing that up. Essentially I cannot receive any more B's?

You can definitely receive B’s, but the more B’s the lower your GPA and the less schools you are competitive for. Always aim high, but don’t be devastated by a B.

 

[leedeme1997]

You can definitely receive B’s, but the more B’s the lower your GPA and the less schools you are competitive for. Always aim high, but don’t be devastated by a B.

Excellent! Thanks for your help

 

[leedeme1997]

NO! NO! NO! Do not, repeat, do not, retake ANY course that have gotten a C or better.
You have a degree in Neuro, you probably have all the BIO you need
You most likely wont need psych course especially if you have any other social science course
You didnt have any Organic or Biochem for Neuro? list the courses you did have.
You do not need a formal postbacc, you simply need the classes where you can get them

My neuro degree required 2 semsters of Chemistry with lab and one semster of bio with a lab. Therefore I would need 2 semesters of orgo with lab, 2 semesters of physics with lab, and a semster of biochem and an additional semster of bio?

 

[leedeme1997]

Most of your Neuroscience classes probably would count as Bio. Do you have molecular neurobio?

Yes I took cellular neuroscience along with a class on neuronal development plasticity and repair.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Yes I took cellular neuroscience along with a class on neuronal development plasticity and repair.

Did any of your upper level neuroscience classes come with a lab component? If yes, then that neuro class with lab + your intro bio with lab will satisfy the two semester of bio with lab requirement. Your other upper level neuro classes especially if they involve genetics and/or cell bio will satisfy the "recommended" additional upper level bio class that many upper tier med schools suggest these days.

Alternatively, if you did neuro research for credit separately, then that would satisfy the bio with lab requirement (assuming none of your upper level neuro classes had an accompanying lab).