Thoughts on Community College

[CMD1010]

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.I’m a former community college snob. I am not any longer. I went to a top 25 private university years ago and have returned to CC to take pre-requisites for the sole reason that they offer night courses and bundled labs. It was my only choice. I used to think CC was a lesser educational experience for lesser students….I was wrong….I see the same views on this forum all the time, so I thought I’d share a few experiences from this past year at CC .
· .I retook classes I had but are outdated. Classes at CC were as difficult if not more difficult.
· .Teaching in many cases was superior at CC, Phd professors who actually like teaching and are present for labs and recitations.
· .Competition…everyone gripes about competition but I’m not sure how appropriate that is since I haven’t seen a CC class the curves grades yet. You get what you get. As a point of reference my Chem I final was the ACS exam..
· .Quality of students. Mixed bag…that’s why it’s a “community” college. I’ll say this, I came across some brilliant students. Students whose parents couldn’t afford to send them a university….they are working full time jobs and acing their classes. In other words, they are loaded with character….just the kind of individual I would want in my profession. I couldn’t help but to compare them to the privileged students I sat with many years ago who had their entire way paid for and paved (I was one of those kids).
.In this economy, my CC enrollment has doubled. Many great students have parents who can’t afford to send them to a 4-yr. They will work and spend the first 2 years at a CC and then transfer. My opinion: Any school who disregards these students is turning their noses at an incredible pool of talent and character. I would want nothing to do with any school who has a “no CC credit policy”. Any student who thinks their education is “better” at their private university is mistaken. Neither is better or worse….they are different…Just thought I’d share my experience…..I’m interested in hearing other opinions.
.

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[pumpUup]

I went to CC for 1.5 yr and then transferred.
It all depends on professors.

 

[doc toothache]

Maybe, but not all professors, CCs or universities are created equal.

 

[CMD1010]

Maybe, but not all professors, CCs or universities are created equal.

I agree 100%. This is kind of my point. Not all CC's are created equal, not all universities are created equal. Not all professor's are created equal..... Disregarding an entire source of students (which is growing) is in my experience, a mistake.

 

[Baylor2011]

CC's are great...I'm taking microbiology at one right now, i'll have 66 hours coming from one. Granted, ours is one of the top CC's in the nation, so I guess it depends on the college first of all. I've been fortunate that the professors at this college are such high quality, moreso than some of the professors I had at Texas Tech when I went there for a semester. One point I really stand behind is that just because somebody has a PhD does NOT make them a good teacher. One of the LOR's I'm getting is from my Bio professor at the CC, and he does not have a PhD, however is probably one of the top two professors I've had, both at the CC and the two Universities I've gone to.

Don't knock on CC's, especially if money and/or location is an issue.

In addition, if administrators don't think students get as great of an education, I guess DAT scores can settle that argument. Somebody with a 4.0 from a CC can be laughed at and blamed for easy professors/courses, however if they go and get a 23+ on the DAT, I guess that settles the argument in my mind.

 

[Vicviper]

That was a great post CMD, and it just goes to show what I've been trying to make part of the SDN mindset for a while now - that people shouldn't turn their noses up to CC's.

I know I got a far better education at my CC than I did at my university. The good Doc has a point though, not all CC's are created equal, but the same goes for universities - just because you went to a school with a nice name, it doesn't mean you really learned anything, and that making broad assumptions about one way or the other is a rather silly of someone.

And I know what you mean about the class difficulty, I thought the standards at my CC were often much higher than at my UC - in many classes only a few people got A's, and you only got an A if you knew the stuff cold. My Ochem class gave out maybe 2-3 A's a semester. And yeah, that ACS kicked my butt too, haha - it was my Ochem Final.

And 100% on that comment about the teachers Baylor - just because you're a professor, doesn't mean you can teach your way out of a paper bag. I know I experienced that.

 

[Baylor2011]

And 100% on that comment about the teachers Baylor - just because you're a professor, doesn't mean you can teach your way out of a paper bag. I know I experienced that.

As did I...Texas Tech, man that was the worst semester of my life. Screw that school. lol

 

[anschutz1913]

I think CC is a great option for people looking to knock out pre-reqs, stay fresh, or do both while saving money. And if it inflates your GPA, all the better! Just don't apply to expensive Tufts.

 

[dentalaee]

cc is okay.

 

[coolslugs]

I agree 100%. This is kind of my point. Not all CC's are created equal, not all universities are created equal. Not all professor's are created equal..... Disregarding an entire source of students (which is growing) is in my experience, a mistake.

I wish schools like ::cough:: Boston and ::cough:: Tufts would understand that!

 

[doc toothache]

I agree 100%. This is kind of my point. Not all CC's are created equal, not all universities are created equal. Not all professor's are created equal..... Disregarding an entire source of students (which is growing) is in my experience, a mistake.

Maybe. Their combined past experience may have proven otherwise.

I wish schools like ::cough:: Boston and ::cough:: Tufts would understand that!

Schools like "::cough:: Boston and ::cough:: Tufts" and a handful of others are wondering why some pre dents have such a hard time understanding that is one of their admission criterion.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527335

 

[Vicviper]

Maybe. Their combined past experience may have proven otherwise.

Schools like "::cough:: Boston and ::cough:: Tufts" and a handful of others are wondering why some pre dents have such a hard time understanding that is one of their admission criterion.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527335

Well, the point for the first was that just because the results from the past might have not been great, doesn't mean that a blanket assumption should be made about all CC students, as it's often portrayed.

And for the second, it's not that people don't understand the requirement which is in place, it's that the blanket discrimination with a zero tolerance policy just seems odd to have, especially when many high quality candidates can be coming from CC's because of financial issues. I totally understand schools saying that they'd much prefer you to take University classes, but saying that we won't even look at your application if you've taken classes at CC? That just seems a bit much - but hey, they can make their own rules I suppose.

 

[doc toothache]

And for the second, it's not that people don't understand the requirement which is in place, it's that the blanket discrimination with a zero tolerance policy just seems odd to have, especially when many high quality candidates can be coming from CC's because of financial issues. I totally understand schools saying that they'd much prefer you to take University classes, but saying that we won't even look at your application if you've taken classes at CC? That just seems a bit much - but hey, they can make their own rules I suppose.

Gee.. you "suppose"?

 

[pumpUup]

Well, the point for the first was that just because the results from the past might have not been great, doesn't mean that a blanket assumption should be made about all CC students, as it's often portrayed.

And for the second, it's not that people don't understand the requirement which is in place, it's that the blanket discrimination with a zero tolerance policy just seems odd to have, especially when many high quality candidates can be coming from CC's because of financial issues. I totally understand schools saying that they'd much prefer you to take University classes, but saying that we won't even look at your application if you've taken classes at CC? That just seems a bit much - but hey, they can make their own rules I suppose.

Howard, Meharry, and Tufts...all the same in terms of discrimination.

 

[angelnyc89]

.I'm a former community college snob. I am not any longer. I went to a top 25 private university years ago and have returned to CC to take pre-requisites for the sole reason that they offer night courses and bundled labs. It was my only choice. I used to think CC was a lesser educational experience for lesser students….I was wrong….I see the same views on this forum all the time, so I thought I'd share a few experiences from this past year at CC .
· .I retook classes I had but are outdated. Classes at CC were as difficult if not more difficult.
· .Teaching in many cases was superior at CC, Phd professors who actually like teaching and are present for labs and recitations.
· .Competition…everyone gripes about competition but I'm not sure how appropriate that is since I haven't seen a CC class the curves grades yet. You get what you get. As a point of reference my Chem I final was the ACS exam..
· .Quality of students. Mixed bag…that's why it's a "community" college. I'll say this, I came across some brilliant students. Students whose parents couldn't afford to send them a university….they are working full time jobs and acing their classes. In other words, they are loaded with character….just the kind of individual I would want in my profession. I couldn't help but to compare them to the privileged students I sat with many years ago who had their entire way paid for and paved (I was one of those kids).
.In this economy, my CC enrollment has doubled. Many great students have parents who can't afford to send them to a 4-yr. They will work and spend the first 2 years at a CC and then transfer. My opinion: Any school who disregards these students is turning their noses at an incredible pool of talent and character. I would want nothing to do with any school who has a "no CC credit policy". Any student who thinks their education is "better" at their private university is mistaken. Neither is better or worse….they are different…Just thought I'd share my experience…..I'm interested in hearing other opinions..

Great post! I went to a CC and received my AA. Comparing my CC to my current private univeristy I am attending right now, and my CC wins hands down. The majority of professors I had, love their jobs, they loved teaching and were really good at it! I never knew what curving a grade was until I came to the university. I know I learned much more there, than I will ever learn at my current school. Not just book stuff, but also life.

 

[Vicviper]

Howard, Meharry, and Tufts...all the same in terms of discrimination.

Well, not totally true, many of the schools that say they won't take CC credit actually are willing to, Howard for one. Tufts just is solid on this.

And yes, I do "suppose" doc ;p

 

[Hordel]

I went to a CC for 3 years. I believe that it really depends on your four year school compared to your CC. I found that the CC was MUCH easier with professors not nearly as qualified. But, I went from a CC school in a redneck community and my four year was highly regarded in our area as have VERY high standards. So I think it really depends. Honestly, NOT all CC's or four year programs are created equal.

 

[Vicviper]

I went to a CC for 3 years. I believe that it really depends on your four year school compared to your CC. I found that the CC was MUCH easier with professors not nearly as qualified. But, I went from a CC school in a redneck community and my four year was highly regarded in our area as have VERY high standards. So I think it really depends. Honestly, NOT all CC's or four year programs are created equal.

Totally, I've heard horror stories on both ends, hehe.

 

[therock21]

Maybe. Their combined past experience may have proven otherwise.




Schools like "::cough:: Boston and ::cough:: Tufts" and a handful of others are wondering why some pre dents have such a hard time understanding that is one of their admission criterion.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527335

Maybe the past experiences of the other 90% of dental schools show those two schools prejudices are ridiculous.

 

[wantVCUdental]

GRADES are all relative, curve/no curve is not important. In the end, you are either in the top 10%, top 25%, or you are nobody. And this is why where you go really matters, 4-year schools tend to have more over-achievers when compared to CCs. And competition against over-achievers is usually really tough...

Yes, you may encounter some classes in CC that are rigorous, but you are more likely to see many more in a 4 year school.

 

[CMD1010]

"Maybe. Their combined past experience may have proven otherwise." Doc T

I thought this was a good point by Doc. Maybe, BU and Tufts have past experience that says that CC students have proven unsuccessful...so I checked. They've never allowed CC credits....I take that to mean that they have no experience to base their bias. It's their rules, I agree.....and in my opinion, it's also their loss.

 

[CMD1010]

GRADES are all relative, curve/no curve is not important. In the end, you are either in the top 10%, top 25%, or you are nobody. And this is why where you go really matters, 4-year schools tend to have more over-achievers when compared to CCs. And competition against over-achievers is usually really tough...

Yes, you may encounter some classes in CC that are rigorous, but you are more likely to see many more in a 4 year school.

Top 10% or 25% of what? Colleges don't rank students.

I hate to admit it, but my $40K a year for tuition in terms of class quality, was not any better than my CC course.....I'm with you, it's painful to admit...but you'll feel better once you do. My point is, there are some amazing individuals at CC whose character far out shined my spoiled classmates. Why rule them out?

 

[doc toothache]

Maybe the past experiences of the other 90% of dental schools show those two schools prejudices are ridiculous.

The more reason not to apply there.