Upper level science at Junior College ??? Please help!!!

[moonlight123]

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Hello everyone!!!

This is my first time here, please help me!!!

Is anyone out there already got accepted to the Dental school but was taking upper level science at Junior College instead of University??? ... I don't know what should I do, I want to take Organic Chemistry at Junior college since it's close to where I live (only 20 minutes driving for each way), and the University is like more than 1 hour driving for each way, if I stuck in traffic then it would be longer, so I'm kinda tired after full time working during the day and have to drive more than 2 hours just to go to school ... any suggestion??? Please comments, what do you think ? ... Is it lower my competition to other applicants if I take Organic Chemistry at Junior College???

 

[utahdent123]

Have you taken any classes at a University? Because if you have and the majority of your courses have been taken at a University then you might be okay. Of course taking the classes at a Univeristy is looked upon better. I took a lot of classes at a CC and I was asked about it at one of my interviews. I have been at the Univeristy for 2 years now, but when I applied I had only 2 semesters at the University. I have taken O-chem 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2, Biochem, and some other classes at the University but everything else was a the local Community College.

 

[Ronald Jeremy]

Hello everyone!!!

This is my first time here, please help me!!!

Is anyone out there already got accepted to the Dental school but was taking upper level science at Junior College instead of University??? ... I don't know what should I do, I want to take Organic Chemistry at Junior college since it's close to where I live (only 20 minutes driving for each way), and the University is like more than 1 hour driving for each way, if I stuck in traffic then it would be longer, so I'm kinda tired after full time working during the day and have to drive more than 2 hours just to go to school ... any suggestion??? Please comments, what do you think ? ... Is it lower my competition to other applicants if I take Organic Chemistry at Junior College???

Hey Moonlight-
I took my year of Gen Chem and Bio at a 2-year school for the same reasons (it was literally across the street compared to a 45 minute drive to a university). After talking with a few of the schools I wanted to apply to, they said I would be more competitive if I took Ochem, cell bio, physics etc. at a 4-year. So I moved that next year and finished my prereqs at a 4-year.
Only one school out of ten had a problem with my one year (23 credits) at the 2-year school, even though I have a degree from a Big Ten school, strong dat, and a 3.97 gpa from the 45 upper level science credits I took at the 4-year school.
Just talk to the schools you're interested in. If you decide to try the junior college route, make sure you get straight A's AND ace the DAT. The schools will tell you that you can stay where you are, but it will be a blemish on your application, even if you earn A's. I know it may suck to move or drive a couple hours a day, but how bad do you want this to happen?
Good luck!

 

[moonlight123]

all my general courses for instance :English, Governments ...etc I took at University, only science courses at Junior College, since I moved out of my original town ... When I still lived at my town, University was less than 5 minutes driving .. but now is way too far, and I don't like driving during rush hour ...sigh ... Do you know anyone took Organic Chem at CC but still get accepted to Dental school ???? ...

 

[Ronald Jeremy]

all my general courses for instance :English, Governments ...etc I took at University, only science courses at Junior College, since I moved out of my original town ... When I still lived at my town, University was less than 5 minutes driving .. but now is way too far, and I don't like driving during rush hour ...sigh ... Do you know anyone took Organic Chem at CC but still get accepted to Dental school ???? ...

I don't know of anyone who got into dental school within the past five years by taking Ochem at a community college. That's not to say it's not possible, but Ochem is a pretty important class that is considered the most intense class an applicant takes. I didn't want to take that risk.
Trust me, you will never regret the whole rush hour driving thing if you get an accpetance letter!

 

[tinman831]

Call the school and ask them.

 

[Yellow Snow]

all my general courses for instance :English, Governments ...etc I took at University, only science courses at Junior College, since I moved out of my original town ... When I still lived at my town, University was less than 5 minutes driving .. but now is way too far, and I don't like driving during rush hour ...sigh ... Do you know anyone took Organic Chem at CC but still get accepted to Dental school ???? ...

Sure it is possible. There are some who post on these boards that took all of their prereqs at CC. It is also less probable that a person will gain acceptance having done so but how much less probable? For one, you restrict your ability to apply to a school (maybe more than Tufts out there that don't take CC credits but this is the one that I know of) and you also weaken your application to other schools.

From contacting the schools myself, it seems as though dental schools rate applications quantitatevly and part of this rating is a "value" assigned to the school where you took classes. CC's have a lower value. Thus, your application receives a lower number value. It doesn't make acceptance impossible though.

 

[SuperC]

I took 60 hours at a community college and 74 at UF.

The classes that I took at CC included ALL of my gen ed classes plus Clac 1, Bio 1, and Inorganic chem 1 and 2.

At UF I took the rest of my upper div. science classes. of the 74 hrs, only 15 were non-science related. (golf, sociology, and spanish).

So while I did take may classes at a CC the CORE of my classes for my degree were taken at the university level.

My suggestion: Speak with the prof at the university and let them know what your deal is. They might be simpathetic and offer a few alternatives.

That being said, I personally never got anything from lecture. I found O-chem to be a class that was more self-learing vs. lecture learning. It took me roughly 2 minutes to get to my house to class, but I never went because I could do just as well on the tests with out going to class.

-C

 

[moonlight123]

Some pro required attendance, also I'm not good at self learning 🙂 only good with lecture ... My major was in computer and I graduated years ago, but just last year for "some reason" I dicided to go for Dental field ... so I only need 1 year Physic, 1 year Biology, 1 year Chem, 1 yr Or-Chem, BioChem, ...I finished my major at University except the science courses when I started going for Pre-dental at CC ...

sigh ... I guess I have to go to University then 🙁 🙁

 

[Hardbody]

Some pro required attendance, also I'm not good at self learning 🙂 only good with lecture ... My major was in computer and I graduated years ago, but just last year for "some reason" I dicided to go for Dental field ... so I only need 1 year Physic, 1 year Biology, 1 year Chem, 1 yr Or-Chem, BioChem, ...I finished my major at University except the science courses when I started going for Pre-dental at CC ...

sigh ... I guess I have to go to University then 🙁 🙁

From what I have been told is that for someone like yourself that has already graduated it is not a big deal to go back to CC and take prereq's, but you are going to have to nail them and then nail the science section in the DAT. If you were to get less than an A and have mediocre DAT TS adcoms may look with a suspicious eye. Also from what I hear, if you are looking for an easy way out going to CC you are taking the wrong route. I have heard mixed stories from smart students that have taken some classes at CC. Some students claim it is as hard as U, harder than U, or easier than U so beware. That being said, good luck whatever route you take.

 

[hairybagel]

I am an example of someone that did ALL of my prereq's at CC and still got into dental school. I'm sure that some schools will reject you because you took them at CC, but when all is said and done, that one acceptance you get will be your ticket to the future you want. Not once was I ever questioned why I did them at CC during all four of my interviews. I will have to disagree with the rest. Just do well in them all and it should not be a problem for you.

 

[wimmcs]

I am another person who took ALL the pre-reqs from a cc and still was able to get in to some pretty competitive schools like UWashington, Iowa, Louisville and of course AZ. I had your same concerns at the beginning and just took a leap of faith... glad I did, it saved me a ton of money and time. I was never questioned in any of my interviews about it. Also like someone else mentioned, just do well and key is that you do well on your DAT. Good luck!!

 

[moonlight123]

thanks all !!! So far I got all A's at CC ... but because of my future I guess I have sacrify myself to drive to University ...sigh ... I don't want to loose that chance of acceptance ... I called Dental school and most of them preferred to take upper level science at University ...