The Reason Why Community College + Med Don't Mix + Easy To Fix

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Espadaleader

Espadaleader

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Going to Community College is awesome! pre-meds though should not take pre-reqs there thowever. A CC pre-med can take NO SCIENCE in CC and apply to med either their junior or senior year if they transfer to a four-year. I think med schools don't like CC pre-req BECAUSE you could have waited to take them at a four-year. Also, CC students may have to forgo a hard science major to graduate in four years. I am just trying to brainstorm ways for pppl that can't avoid going to CC to still be competitive for med. What do you guys and gals think?
 
I think that if you have financial reasons for attending community college, then you can definitely take your first two years there (even with some medical prerequisites) and transfer to a university your third and fourth year. However, I think what schools frown upon is if you attend a university for four years but it's blatantly obvious that you're taking science/math courses at your community college because they are easier.
 
The reason for some schools not liking CC pre-reqs because it's basically just easier overall. Mostly the competitive med schools care though.

There's many applicants who take all their pre-reqs at a CC and take upper-level science courses at a university, and it's all good.

Key thing is to apply smart and broadly.
 
I think I went to cc for two years, but I still got into medical school without a problem.
 
Lies. I know way too many students who took all their requirements at a community college and went to a top medical school for this to be true.
 
I started at community college (some auditing, some for credit) and did some of my science/math/research there. With 12 interviews, only one interviewer of the 50 or so that I had asked me about it. I was very, very young when I needed to start college work, and I took upper division and graduate classes when I transferred, as well as delved into more extracurriculars, work, and research. If you do well in both places, both in science and non-science classes, it won't matter. Save money, figure out what you really want to do with your life without having to spend a fortune, and start college when you need to start...
 
tabascosauce said:
...and the reason is......?
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Because I was well prepared for a career in medicine. If you are a good candidate (meaning you have a 3.6+ gpa, 30+ mcat, clinical experience, volunteer work, and maybe some research) then you will get in, assuming you have proper social skills. I was never asked once about my cc courses, not at an interview or in an essay. It is a non-issue. If you don't get in, then it was for a reason other than the fact you went to a cc.

I was invited for interviews at several top 50 schools (including a top 5).
 
Did my prerequisites at a cc. I was fine.
 
False.

I know a girl who took all her prereqs at a community college and right now she is a 2nd year at Harvard Medical school. Besides, some prerequisites to even transfer into a specific major at a 4 year university ARE the Medical school prereqs.
 
While I am still puzzled over the fact that some schools consider accepting CC credit on a case by case basis I think it should not be a problem at all. If you are good you are good and your transcript speaks for you. There is also the MCAT.

The only instance where CC credit could be help against you is when you transfer and do worse in 4 yr school. My GPA stayed the same oddly enough.

Quite a few of my friends in CC already got in medical schools. Hopefully my name will be next in the list.
 
FattySlug said:
While I am still puzzled over the fact that some schools consider accepting CC credit on a case by case basis I think it should not be a problem at all. If you are good you are good and your transcript speaks for you. There is also the MCAT.

The only instance where CC credit could be help against you is when you transfer and do worse in 4 yr school. My GPA stayed the same oddly enough.

Quite a few of my friends in CC already got in medical schools. Hopefully my name will be next in the list.
Click to expand...

good luck to you👍
 
Maybe it depends on the specific community college you attend, but I am not sure that community college classes are on par to 4 year university classes. And if they are viewed the same, then that seems unfair to students like me, who attend hard universities.
 
Dbate said:
Maybe it depends on the specific community college you attend, but I am not sure that community college classes are on par to 4 year university classes. And if they are viewed the same, then that seems unfair to students like me, who attend hard universities.
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I think adcoms can figure that out for the most part. If some guy aced all chem, ochem physics in CC then get a 9 PS in MCAT then you know what is up or his GPA in upper div bio classes suck.

If you are the real deal then w a GPA 3.4 from Ivy and 35 MCAT few people would put you behind someone who is 3.7 and 32 with CC credit.
 
OP, I apologize for hijacking your thread,

But is there anyway we can all compile a list of Med schools that ACCEPTS CC credits?

Meaning people actually got in contact with the school and was told that it is OK as long as they do all the requirements that was needed etc

I think it would be quite helpful to both current students and future. (unless things changes)
 
AsianPersuasion said:
OP, I apologize for hijacking your thread,

But is there anyway we can all compile a list of Med schools that ACCEPTS CC credits?

Meaning people actually got in contact with the school and was told that it is OK as long as they do all the requirements that was needed etc

I think it would be quite helpful to both current students and future. (unless things changes)
Click to expand...

If you dig through my history posts, I posted a thread for this question. The consensus was there weren't any that didn't accept them (if I remember correctly).
 
The university I transferred to curves like a motherflower... GPA inflation is huge. I think some people start threads just to make themselves FEEL as if they have an upper-hand. Also, there are universities that are probably easier than CCs.. Hence the greatest idea ever.. MCAT. It puts everyone on same level. BTW I know a neurosurgeon, he's a DO and went to CC, gunners beware.
 
I took half of my pre-reqs at a community college and got into a top med school. Interestingly, my cc classes were much better than the classes taken at the university I transferred to.
 
I would imagine that consistency is what matters. If you are ballin with a 4.0 gpa at your CC for your first two years of college and then suddenly drop to B minuses and Cs during the last two at your four year college, I am sure that would raise alot of red flags.

In Texas public CCs, you need two science classes in your 54 credits needed to complete the core curriculum before you can transfer to a 4 year university. Unless you are willing to spend extra money and take classes like Geology to fill that science requirement, I don't see how you can avoid taking atlest some pre-reqs if you are enrolled in a Texas CC.
 
Espadaleader said:
Going to Community College is awesome! pre-meds though should not take pre-reqs there thowever. A CC pre-med can take NO SCIENCE in CC and apply to med either their junior or senior year if they transfer to a four-year. I think med schools don't like CC pre-req BECAUSE you could have waited to take them at a four-year. Also, CC students may have to forgo a hard science major to graduate in four years. I am just trying to brainstorm ways for pppl that can't avoid going to CC to still be competitive for med. What do you guys and gals think?
Click to expand...

what the ****ING hell are you saying???
 
whatbout2morrow said:
I would imagine that consistency is what matters. If you are ballin with a 4.0 gpa at your CC for your first two years of college and then suddenly drop to B minuses and Cs during the last two at your four year college, I am sure that would raise alot of red flags.

In Texas public CCs, you need two science classes in your 54 credits needed to complete the core curriculum before you can transfer to a 4 year university. Unless you are willing to spend extra money and take classes like Geology to fill that science requirement, I don't see how you can avoid taking atlest some pre-reqs if you are enrolled in a Texas CC.
Click to expand...
And in CA, if you're transferring to a UC, you HAVE to take all of the med school prereqs at the CC before they will even let you transfer.
 
CALLR001 said:
Interestingly, my cc classes were much better than the classes taken at the university I transferred to.
Click to expand...

Same here, my CC had professors that actually cared, my university was a research university with professors that openly admitted they only taught because it allowed them to do research for the school, not because they wanted to.... Their teaching definitely reflected it
 
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Espadaleader said:
Are you slow? :scared:
Click to expand...

So... you want science majors to not take any science or math classes at their CC's and somehow complete them all in there remaining 2years? Then you claim that this might forces these people to look for degree's in easier liberal arts major so they can graduate in 4years? Umm....
 
OP needs to stop posting for a little while

less talky, more read-y.
 
serenade said:
So... you want science majors to not take any science or math classes at their CC's and somehow complete them all in there remaining 2years? Then you claim that this might forces these people to look for degree's in easier liberal arts major so they can graduate in 4years? Umm....
Click to expand...

:laugh: that's what I was thinking. Have fun cramming all of those intro classes and upper levels in 2 years time.
 
To the OP:

First off, if you look around at the admission websites for any medical school, they DO NOT care what the undergraduate degree is in, and many in fact, encourage diversity in what types of applicants they admit. If an applicant can complete the prereqs + other science classes with good grades and land a solid MCAT score, they do not care if your degree is in basketweaving or bio.

Secondly, an earlier poster is 100% correct in saying that a lot of times in a 4 year university the professor cares more about research than teaching the students, and the learning experience sucks. Unless you have been to such a class you wouldn't understand.
 
Being a transfer student myself I have to say that sometimes I feel there is a resentment toward transfer students from some obnoxious pre meds who view us as taking the easy route and play the system to get higher GPA than them.

I applied to be a chem and physics tutor at my 4 yr school and I can clearly tell that the moment I told them I took those classes at CC they all gave me the look "oh that's how it is."
 
FattySlug said:
Being a transfer student myself I have to say that sometimes I feel there is a resentment toward transfer students from some obnoxious pre meds who view us as taking the easy route and play the system to get higher GPA than them.

I applied to be a chem and physics tutor at my 4 yr school and I can clearly tell that the moment I told them I took those classes at CC they all gave me the look "oh that's how it is."
Click to expand...

Okay, but who are the judges that really matter in this process? The obnoxious, snotty premeds--of which a large portion never make it far enough to submit an application...or the schools to which you are applying?
 
NYRN said:
To the OP:

First off, if you look around at the admission websites for any medical school, they DO NOT care what the undergraduate degree is in, and many in fact, encourage diversity in what types of applicants they admit. If an applicant can complete the prereqs + other science classes with good grades and land a solid MCAT score, they do not care if your degree is in basketweaving or bio.

Secondly, an earlier poster is 100% correct in saying that a lot of times in a 4 year university the professor cares more about research than teaching the students, and the learning experience sucks. Unless you have been to such a class you wouldn't understand.
Click to expand...

Sorry. You lose. You truly might be slow. I am a philosophy major. Geez, I think I know that. Adcoms DO care whether or not CC credits count toward a degree. I personally don't think it is fair that some medical schools accept these credits on a case by case basis (like Yale). So I am on the side of the CC students. Practice your critical reading skills please.
 
CaliGirl14 said:
If you dig through my history posts, I posted a thread for this question. The consensus was there weren't any that didn't accept them (if I remember correctly).
Click to expand...


I think there are a few schools that don't. Wasn't Stanford one of them? Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Espadaleader said:
Sorry. You lose. You truly might be slow. I am a philosophy major. Geez, I think I know that. Adcoms DO care whether or not CC credits count toward a degree. I personally don't think it is fair that some medical schools accept these credits on a case by case basis (like Yale). So I am on the side of the CC students. Practice your critical reading skills please.
Click to expand...

From my understanding well at least here in Texas, the schools don't care where the credit came from. As long as it's from an accredited institution. I personally know many med students that took pre-reqs at Community Colleges.
 
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