What classes should i take at community college

[MohamedGamal]

Im 17 (American) and I recently moved to Rochester,NY from England. Over there i completed high school with college level science classes and labs. When i moved here, i couldnt apply to a normal university because i would have needed to take the SATs and redo high school. So my only alternative was to enroll at community college and then transfer. Im in my first semester and im getting As is Calculus, Gen Chem 1, English 101, and a health classes.

Im not sure if i should continue doing pre-req courses here for my second semester, or take non-prereq courses that will require me to switch my major until i transfer. Also, which option will more likely make me eligible for scholarships to that 4 year college, if that's even possible.

Thanks for the help, this is really stressing

ps. Im currently majoring in Biology and wish to go onto Medicine

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[white plum]

What classes you should take is very dependent on what university you plan on eventually transferring to. You may wish to try visiting the websites of those universities you're planning on. Usually they'll have a section on transfer students, so you'll be able to check what particular credits transfer and things like that.

I currently attend a community college and had to find out what classes I was better off taking, too. What I did was speak to my Biology professor-- many of our professors here are also advisers; I'm not entirely sure if the same goes for your particular college. I'm a bit wary of speaking to actual college advisers, but that may be another option for you, too. Thirdly, speaking with a transfer/admissions counselor at your chosen 4-year college will help you immensely.

No stressing! : ) Good luck.

 

[sgtbrushes]

Are you against taking the ACT or SAT? The university I go to, for instance, pretty much grants you admission as long as you meet the minimum ACT or SAT score. If you graduated high school and are getting As in the classes you listed, I promise you you'll get a good score on the ACT or SAT with pretty much no studying.

If the university you want to attend will accept you with an ACT/ SAT and 1-2 semester of community college coursework, then I would focus on pre-reqs. I'm a big advocate of doing med school pre-reqs first; it gives you plenty of time to study for/ take the MCAT.

 

[Medmon]

Here is what you need to do.
Go to the university you want to attend. Get an appointment with the person who deals with transfer students.

Explain to him why you needed to go to a community college. Explain that you want to go to med school and that you would prefer to take core/prereqs at the university as you will learn more and be better prepared for med school. Ask if that affects your ability to get into the university. If not, then take whatever classes are not prereqs.. if it does then take the prereq classes ..

The reason is this.. before you consider med school, you need to get into the university. Do all you can to get into the university.. then worry about med school.

Good luck!

 

[MohamedGamal]

Thank you so much for your replies. It really has taken a load off and put me on the right direction. Thanks especially to Medmon and white plum.
This website is great!

 

[Zona Pellucida]

Welcome to Rochester! I live here. Good luck in the process. No advice other than to listen to what was said above. MCC is a great community college here to do a few required core classes in. I took some online English and math courses here to get them out of the way so I could focus on my major.

 

[Superman DO]

You are going to get a lot of mixed reactions about going to a community college on this site. I think the majority of the people on here would tell you to get into a university as soon as you can, but I beg to differ.

I went to a community college for three years to take all of my general education and prereq classes. I received a very very good education, and even better than at UCSD now. The teachers seemed to really care about your learning, small class sizes mean more interaction with the professor, and you cannot beat the price at all. Now granted, some community colleges are better than others, and you need to find one that is going to adequately prepare you for both the MCAT and upper division classes.

One of my interviewers actually came from the community college system himself. He said he had not heard of my community college, but I explained to him all the good characteristics that the school possessed and he understood completely why I would want to go there before I transferred to the university. There are still lots of opportunities at a community college, minus research, that you can become affiliated with, and if you cannot find any, well make your own! (i.e. start some kind of club to help community college students) I am a strong strong advocate of community colleges. I think as long as you do very well in the CC, and then rock your upper division courses at the university, then you will be just fine. With that being said, just like with medical school, you should go where you are going to be the most comfortable, can learn the most, and enjoy life.

 

[MohamedGamal]

cool, my cousin also goes to "St. John Fisher College: Biology" now. lol

 

[MohamedGamal]

@Superman DO. thanks for the advise. nice to see what somebody who made it through the cc system has to say.

 

[icalz]

Welcome to Rochester! I live here. Good luck in the process. No advice other than to listen to what was said above. MCC is a great community college here to do a few required core classes in. I took some online English and math courses here to get them out of the way so I could focus on my major.

Take you core classes at a CC....take your pre-reqs (not the same thing) at a 4 year.