taking science classes at a cc

[jewell]

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How bad or is it bad to take a majority or all of your science classes at a cc? It is just soo much cheaper. any thoughts?

 

[Biscuit799]

How bad or is it bad to take a majority or all of your science classes at a cc? It is just soo much cheaper. any thoughts?

Adcoms prefer (as a general rule) that you take all your science classes at a 4 year university. If you take Bio or Gen Chem at a cc, then it's usually not a big deal, but adcoms HIGHLY prefer that you take OChem and Physics at a 4 year univ.

 

[jewell]

When I see that I always probe further- first impression is that you were dodging a more difficult science class at your University. Medical school science classes are fairly rigorous so you must be able to perform in rigorous University Science Classes.

This is not the case. I just already have a degree and have to pay for my classes. So I'm checkin tuition at a cc of lets say $100 compared to $850 at the University.

 

[Khenon]

It's not going to matter where you take your courses. All universities and colleges have classes that are easier and harder, and adcoms don't know what situation you were in. They can't assume you had it easier just because you took classes at a cc. However, you are going to have to do well on your MCAT. That will be the final test of how much you learned, and how rigorous your courses were. If you don't do well on your MCAT, then the assumption will be that you didn't have that difficult of a course load, and thus didn't learn the material. That goes for cc's or universities. I say, save your money and take the cc courses. You're going to have to spend so much when you get into med school, you'll thank yourself later! 🙂

 

[jewell]

Adcoms prefer (as a general rule) that you take all your science classes at a 4 year university. If you take Bio or Gen Chem at a cc, then it's usually not a big deal, but adcoms HIGHLY prefer that you take OChem and Physics at a 4 year univ.

Thank you.

 

[Khenon]

I agree that the MCAT is the great equalizer, but if your MCAT is the same as another student that took the more rigorous courses at a University and I as an adcom member had to choose between the two, I would grant the interview to the University student. Sorry- just my take.

I guess my point is, the same would go for someone who took courses at a no-name university vs. an ivy league. I have a super low MCAT, and I'm positive that adcoms are looking at the university I went to (University of Idaho . . . University of What now?) just the same. I'm sure the assumption will be that my university didn't have rigorous enough courses (since my GPA is fine). However, if I had taken all my courses at a cc, and had gotten a high MCAT, there would have been no damage done. I don't believe there's nearly as much debate between universities and cc's, vs no-name universities and ivy leagues. Adcoms are going to take a second look if you graduated from MIT. They're just not going to care nearly as much otherwise.

 

[girlscallmepogi]

Would taking your classes at a no-name university be the same as taking them at a CC?

ex. If someone had the same GPA, MCAT scores, and a good interview, would the school choose UT over someone who went to Texas State?

 

[lawmd]

unfortunately, there are not many ways to debate it. you can argue and make your points until you are blue in the face. university is better, in the eyes of adcom's, than cc. it is just is. accept it, take out a loan and take university classes. don't waste your time thinkiing that your case is unique. there are 1000's of students who did go to a university, and the adcom doensn;t have to listen to your arguments as to why. it is a ****ty world in terms of applying to med school. I applied three times, mediocre med school, awesome residency. I volunteered until I was near dead. Bottom line is three things
1-you must do well on the mcat
2-you must do well on the mcat
3-see i and 2
4-do well academically
5-volunteer
6-actually, being a bit cynical-all you really have to do is smaile, be able to have a good conversation, and do very well on the mcat. seeing some of the people out there in the real world, i must be right.

good luck

 

[MadameLULU]

Keep in mind if you state you chose the CC for low cost, the obvious adcom followup question is, "Then why should we give you a shot at our school that costs so much more than school X which you will also obviously similarly choose for lower cost as well?" You get what I am saying?

Crazy eyes, I think you're wrong. The interviewer shouldn't probe for comments about a school's cost. If I had that happen to me, I would report it to the admissions director. I believe that is "illegal" to do in an admissions interview, since admissions and financial aid are completely separate. One should not be admitted or denied from a school based on ability to pay.

 

[Peterock]

Crazy eyes, I think you're wrong. The interviewer shouldn't probe for comments about a school's cost. If I had that happen to me, I would report it to the admissions director. I believe that is "illegal" to do in an admissions interview, since admissions and financial aid are completely separate. One should not be admitted or denied from a school based on ability to pay.

LOL!!!

Go ahead and report away, be seen as a squeaky wheel and have your application thrown away. Thats ridiculous. All you prove by complaining is the fact that you can't cope w/ a situation that may very well be unethical.

My interviewer talked about finances w/ me for 15 mins at a certain school and I answered all of his questions, down to loans - amounts and types of loans, interest rates, previous wage, current wage, etc as well as funding my future education. In a way, it shows how financially independent and mature a person is if they've obviously planned everything out.

Am I going to get screened from 5,000 people and then bitch about a question that makes me uncomfortable? Absolutely not.

 

[fpr85]

What if you were to take as many science courses as possible within the two years at a community college and then take EVEN HARDER courses at a four-year institution? I took BIO 101 this semester, next semester I'm taking BIO 102, and the first years of Physics, Chemistry, and Precalculus (haven't taken any math in two years).

 

[Khenon]

What if you were to take as many science courses as possible within the two years at a community college and then take EVEN HARDER courses at a four-year institution? I took BIO 101 this semester, next semester I'm taking BIO 102, and the first years of Physics, Chemistry, and Precalculus (haven't taken any math in two years).

Do you mean upper division science courses, when you say "harder" courses? I do believe upper division courses are good, in general, so I don't know that there'd be any difference between your lower division and upper division, in terms of weight. Obviously not many upper division courses are offered at a 2 year institution, so no one would really be different in that respect. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean by "harder" science courses.

 

[fpr85]

Do you mean upper division science courses, when you say "harder" courses? I do believe upper division courses are good, in general, so I don't know that there'd be any difference between your lower division and upper division, in terms of weight. Obviously not many upper division courses are offered at a 2 year institution, so no one would really be different in that respect. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean by "harder" science courses.

yes, let me rephrase it. "upper division" science courses. happy?

 

[Khenon]

yes, let me rephrase it. "upper division" science courses. happy?

Actually I started to doubt myself, and thought maybe you meant physics and chemistry were "harder" than biology! Anyway, thanks for clearing me up! 😉

 

[Bubchik]

should be fine. I have a friend that did CC then went to University of chicago and got into Baylor. He is doing fine and so should you.

I took ALL my med school prereqs at CC (followed by transfer to a 4-year college), and did just fine in application process. Nobody has asked me where I took the classes, and I do not think that adcom cared, b/c i have gotten some acceptances. Though I would say that I do not know anything about G.chem (my CC professor was 28 and really cool) and probably I missed those questions on the MCAT. But it does not matter where you study just study hard. That's my $0.02

 

[derf]

I took ALL my med school prereqs at CC (followed by transfer to a 4-year college), and did just fine in application process. Nobody has asked me where I took the classes, and I do not think that adcom cared, b/c i have gotten some acceptances. Though I would say that I do not know anything about G.chem (my CC professor was 28 and really cool) and probably I missed those questions on the MCAT. But it does not matter where you study just study hard. That's my $0.02

bubchik -many congrats for doing so well in the process. great job!

 

[fpr85]

Actually, I'm a cc myself and all my professors are telling me how easy this is compared to a regular institution (actually, I'll take that back, only my economics teacher 😛)

 

[i77ac]

I took ALL my med school prereqs at CC (followed by transfer to a 4-year college), and did just fine in application process. Nobody has asked me where I took the classes, and I do not think that adcom cared, b/c i have gotten some acceptances. Though I would say that I do not know anything about G.chem (my CC professor was 28 and really cool) and probably I missed those questions on the MCAT. But it does not matter where you study just study hard. That's my $0.02

i second this. i went to CC and took all my prereq's there. no prob for any of the med schools i have interviewed, and 3 acceptances so far. in fact, one of my interviewer actually told me how nice it is at a smaller college to learn than a huge university where u don't learn crap.

 

[jewell]

well I called my univ financial aid office and they said that I could enroll as a second degree student and get financial aid. i'm so excited! i was just worried about paying the high tuition upfront out of my own pocket.

 

[fpr85]

i second this. i went to CC and took all my prereq's there. no prob for any of the med schools i have interviewed, and 3 acceptances so far. in fact, one of my interviewer actually told me how nice it is at a smaller college to learn than a huge university where u don't learn crap.

You went to a small cc? As far as I know NVCC (nothern virginia community college) is the second largest community college in the nation. Go NOVA! lol

 

[tllajd]

It's not going to matter where you take your courses. All universities and colleges have classes that are easier and harder, and adcoms don't know what situation you were in. They can't assume you had it easier just because you took classes at a cc. However, you are going to have to do well on your MCAT. That will be the final test of how much you learned, and how rigorous your courses were. If you don't do well on your MCAT, then the assumption will be that you didn't have that difficult of a course load, and thus didn't learn the material. That goes for cc's or universities. I say, save your money and take the cc courses. You're going to have to spend so much when you get into med school, you'll thank yourself later! 🙂

I couldn't agree more. For some reason, cc classes are viewed as less rigorous and less intense than a four year institute. Having taken them at both, I can tell you my science courses at my cc are not easy. We have no curves and no scaling.

Unless you have attended both, I don't think a person is in a position to state which is more rigorous.