Transferring from CC to university, frustrated and need advice

[steel88]

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A quick review of me, I'm 23, at a community college in Florida, and have a 3.9 gpa with 62 credit hours completed in 6 semesters with a full load this spring (7th semester).

Basically here is my problem, I desperately want to move on from community college into a good university. I've visited Cornell University (reach, I know), and spoke with the assistant director to the admissions committee who thinks I would have a very good chance of transferring there as long as I have the prereq's done. With that said, Cornell, and all but one university I've looked at wants every single med school prereq done prior to applying to transfer. The University of Florida however wants an application without having orgo 1+2 and physics 1+2 completed, and they do not want me to split them.

So here I am, finishing my spring semester. I have 2 classes left for an A.A.,and the orgo and physics sequences for all the schools but UF. I applied to UF for the fall with the intention of just taking the 2 courses in the summer and then moving in the fall; however, since I applied very late as I found out I could apply a week before the deadline, they won't give me a acceptance or denial until well into my summer term. My options:

1. Take orgo 1+2, physics 1+2, and psychology and humanities in the summer and wait for UF's decision. At which point I'd need to drop 2 classes either way (As Cornell instructed me to have a full term as my last term). Then finish the fall at my CC if they deny acceptance and transfer somewhere in the spring.

2. Ignore UF's decision regardless, take orgo 1 and physics 1 in the summer, and then the remaining four courses in the fall and transfer in the spring.

3. Assume I get into UF, take the 2 easy classes in the summer and transfer in the fall with an acceptance, or finish the 4 classes in the fall and next spring, and be screwed to transfer until next year fall.

I really wanted an easy summer this year so I could stack up on some shadowing and volunteering. As once I transfer I'll want the summer for MCAT studying and research. Anyway, I wanted someone elses opinion on what to do as I'm pretty stressed.

 

[Propylene]

I know this isn't the most helpful answer, but are those the only two schools you're considering attending? Which route fulfills requirements for more universities? The one where you take all of the pre-reqs? With your GPA I think you have a great shot transferring into most schools, but it couldn't hurt to apply broadly.

Just to be safe, maybe take all of the pre-reqs, and transfer over in the spring? I didn't know that schools were requiring us to take all the pre-med classes before transferring in, that's a pretty heavy load to take care of in 2 years.

 

[steel88]

I planned on applying to 10-15 schools. It seems that all of them want all of the med school prereq's done prior to transfer with the exception of UF.

Also I forgot to mention, but if I finish up this fall and transfer in the spring it limits the schools I can apply to. A large amount don't accept spring and summer transfers so I'd have 2 semesters off if I didn't get in anywhere for spring. I guess this is what I get for blowing off high school and not going straight into a good uni.

 

[gravitywave]

don't go to Cornell, from what i understand the grade deflation is terrible and if you get caught up in it and go from 3.9 to 3.3 or whatever, that can't look very good to adcoms reading a transcript.

get your undergrad done as cheaply and easily as possible. that probably means staying in state, at a state school.

 

[CougarMD]

A quick review of me, I'm 23, at a community college in Florida, and have a 3.9 gpa with 62 credit hours completed in 6 semesters with a full load this spring (7th semester).

Basically here is my problem, I desperately want to move on from community college into a good university. I've visited Cornell University (reach, I know), and spoke with the assistant director to the admissions committee who thinks I would have a very good chance of transferring there as long as I have the prereq's done. With that said, Cornell, and all but one university I've looked at wants every single med school prereq done prior to applying to transfer. The University of Florida however wants an application without having orgo 1+2 and physics 1+2 completed, and they do not want me to split them.

So here I am, finishing my spring semester. I have 2 classes left for an A.A.,and the orgo and physics sequences for all the schools but UF. I applied to UF for the fall with the intention of just taking the 2 courses in the summer and then moving in the fall; however, since I applied very late as I found out I could apply a week before the deadline, they won't give me a acceptance or denial until well into my summer term. My options:

1. Take orgo 1+2, physics 1+2, and psychology and humanities in the summer and wait for UF's decision. At which point I'd need to drop 2 classes either way (As Cornell instructed me to have a full term as my last term). Then finish the fall at my CC if they deny acceptance and transfer somewhere in the spring.

2. Ignore UF's decision regardless, take orgo 1 and physics 1 in the summer, and then the remaining four courses in the fall and transfer in the spring.

3. Assume I get into UF, take the 2 easy classes in the summer and transfer in the fall with an acceptance, or finish the 4 classes in the fall and next spring, and be screwed to transfer until next year fall.

I really wanted an easy summer this year so I could stack up on some shadowing and volunteering. As once I transfer I'll want the summer for MCAT studying and research. Anyway, I wanted someone elses opinion on what to do as I'm pretty stressed.

Despite all of the advice you see on SDN about not taking your prereqs at a CC, this is completely typical transfer behavior.

I assume that the reason they want you to finish the prereqs is because they are all of the prereqs for your major, which is likely Bio, Chem, Biochem, Physics, or Engineering.

If this is the case.....this is how it is going to be everywhere. You CANNOT get into one of those majors at most schools (including every UC) without completing the prereqs first. The reason is that the upper division coursework all rests on this foundation, and if you don't complete it before you get there, they 1- don't know if you can hack upper division, and 2 - know it will take you WAY longer to graduate, which is sucking up resources from them.

The major point is that taking prereqs at a CC does NOT preclude you from getting into medical school. It just doesn't. Especially when you are planning on taking upper division bio, chem, or physics classes that will back up the fact that you can hack the coursework.

It will not even keep you from medical school if you got your undergraduate degree in Underwater Basketweaving (as I did) and then go back and do your prereqs at CC for financial reasons. Seriously. You can get into medical school.

Now, will you have your pick of any med school in the country? No. But guess what....you wouldn't have anyway. This process is long and arduous, and there are a heck of a lot of boxes to check before you even get to put an application together.

Are there schools that categorically reject you if you have CC prereqs? Maybe. But I don't know what they are, because no school will admit to this (Though U Michigan has come close through some of the spoutings of its Dean of Admissions).

But you know what dude? There are schools that will reject you if you don't have enough research, or the right kind of research. And schools that will reject you if you write your personal statement a certain way. And schools that will reject you if you turn your secondary in too late. And schools that will reject you if you had a migraine during your interview and just didn't do so well.

This is not going to break your application. Worry about doing well after you transfer, and showing that you can still handle a 3.9 in upper division courses. Rock the MCAT, and (almost) no one will care that you took Intro to Bio at a CC.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=784821
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10448441
http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/04/community-college-and-professional-school-admissions/

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

A quick review of me, I'm 23, at a community college in Florida, and have a 3.9 gpa with 62 credit hours completed in 6 semesters with a full load this spring (7th semester).

Basically here is my problem, I desperately want to move on from community college into a good university. I've visited Cornell University (reach, I know), and spoke with the assistant director to the admissions committee who thinks I would have a very good chance of transferring there as long as I have the prereq's done. With that said, Cornell, and all but one university I've looked at wants every single med school prereq done prior to applying to transfer. The University of Florida however wants an application without having orgo 1+2 and physics 1+2 completed, and they do not want me to split them.

What?? I transferred from a CC in FL to Vanderbilt, and none of the schools I applied to (including Cornell btw) said anything about that. I would recommend leaving at least one sequence for the more competitive university so that you can show that you'll do well there, and then you'll have plenty of upper levels to demonstrate competence too.

Be aware that places like Cornell are much more competitive than UF (I know multiple people that transferred from Duke back to UF, and from various well-respected unis to Vandy, so don't pitch a fit sensitive people), and those pre-reqs will be harder. Vandy transferred my physics, gen chem and bio, but recommended I take bio over again. I took it over again, and didn't do as well here, so beware of the much different structure of the courses, as well as rigor of exams. I didn't like UF for a variety of reasons, but it's a good school, so I would think that cost should decide it for you if you have no objections to attending UF. FYI, your GPA is higher than mine was, so you stand a good shot. Good luck!

 

[steel88]

What?? I transferred from a CC in FL to Vanderbilt, and none of the schools I applied to (including Cornell btw) said anything about that. I would recommend leaving at least one sequence for the more competitive university so that you can show that you'll do well there, and then you'll have plenty of upper levels to demonstrate competence too.

Be aware that places like Cornell are much more competitive than UF (I know multiple people that transferred from Duke back to UF, and from various well-respected unis to Vandy, so don't pitch a fit sensitive people), and those pre-reqs will be harder. Vandy transferred my physics, gen chem and bio, but recommended I take bio over again. I took it over again, and didn't do as well here, so beware of the much different structure of the courses, as well as rigor of exams. I didn't like UF for a variety of reasons, but it's a good school, so I would think that cost should decide it for you if you have no objections to attending UF. FYI, your GPA is higher than mine was, so you stand a good shot. Good luck!

http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pr...rnal/coursework.cfm?title=Biological Sciences

I'll be transferring as a junior and it's all required. Did you transfer before having your 2 yr degree?

Also, thanks for the responses guys, it looks like I'll just have to wait on UF. It could be worse, after looking at acceptance rates to Florida medical schools it seems that just about every single one only takes Florida residents.

 

[steel88]

if you're willing to move to California, I can tell you that you have an almost guaranteed shot at Berkeley or UCLA. I've never heard of an out of state transfer with a 3.5+ getting rejected.

Move across the country from my parents, how novel 😀 Thanks for that info, I'll definitely look into those schools.

 

[darlin]

I planned on applying to 10-15 schools. It seems that all of them want all of the med school prereq's done prior to transfer with the exception of UF.

That is really odd! I read on several well reputed med school home pages that they would prefer that pre-med reqs be completed at 4 year schools as opposed to CC. I have understood this to be the case almost across the board just from reading around on SDN.

That said, I would second CougarMD who wrote a lovely post.

This may not be what you want to hear, but it is possible that they want the premed reqs done to deter you from applying. For whatever reason. It would not be the first time I had heard of a school having requirements that would be unnecessarily for a potential CC student to fulfill to deter transfers. A lot of schools say that they are fine with CC transfers, but their policies tell a different story.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pr...rnal/coursework.cfm?title=Biological Sciences

I'll be transferring as a junior and it's all required. Did you transfer before having your 2 yr degree?

Also, thanks for the responses guys, it looks like I'll just have to wait on UF. It could be worse, after looking at acceptance rates to Florida medical schools it seems that just about every single one only takes Florida residents.

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't apply to CALS so I'm don't know how that works. Yea, I applied with 54 credit hours, so I was just short of the 2yr degree.