What would an example pre-med schedule look like under these circumstances?

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kpatel1008

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I am a senior in high school. I will be going to a community college for two years and then transferring to a four year university. I received mixed answers concerning whether or not I should take any pre-med reqs at a community college. The only reason why I have to go to a community college is because I did not take school seriously until this year. So basically, I have no choice. What would an example schedule look like for my freshman and sophomore year at the cc and for my junior and senior year at the university?
 
Here's the thing, once you graduate, high school is over. Understand though, that college is pretty much the start of the rest of your life. If you attend a community college, you should take pre reqs. The usual General biology, general chemistry, perhaps stats or calculus. You can take upper levels science courses when you transfer, (Although it'll depend on your major whether you will need upper levels). Make sure to aim for a 4.0
 
Not all med schools look down upon CC courses. .Off the top of my head, perhaps try this:

Fall FR 14 hrs
English I
Elective a
Bio I
Chem I

Spring FR 17 hrs
English II
Elective b
Bio II
Chem II
Math I

Fall SO 15 hrs

Biochem OR Cell Bio OR Genetics
Psych a
Biostats
Elective c
Humanities a

Spring SO 15 hrs
Biochem OR Cell Bio OR Genetics
Psych b
Elective d
Elective e
Humanities b

Fall JUN (14-17 hrs)
Orgo I
Physics I or upper level Bio (like Anatomy or Physiology), with lab
Elective f
Humanities c
One more Bio (no lab) or Math II

Spring JUN (14-17 hrs)
Orgo II
Physics II or upper level Bio (like Micro or Pharm or Path or Neurosci), ideally with lab
Elective g
Humanities d
One more Bio (no lab)

Fall SR (say, 15-17 hrs)
Physics I or upper level Bio (like Micro or Pharm or Path or Neurosci), ideally with lab
Elective h
Humanities e
Bio (+/- lab, say, Embryology, Immunology, an Advanced Bio course)


Spring SR (say, 15-17 hrs)
Physics I or upper level Bio (like Micro or Pharm or Path or Neurosci), ideally with lab
Elective i
Humanities f
Bio (+/- lab, say, Embryology, Immunology, an Advanced Bio course)

My logic is get your basic Liberal Arts requirements out of the way. I remember that my school required a year of English, a year of a foreign language and a year of humanities. My Bio major required 30 hrs of Bio, plus the other stuff you associate with a typical pre-med curriculum (even though I was pre-med for all of ten seconds!). My Bio requirements had include one course each from a group of four sets.

Keep in mind that you can just as easily be a Fine Arts major and only take the typical pre-med requirements (1 year each of Bio and Physics 2 years of Chem, + whatever else they added, like Biochem, Sociology, Psych etc).

My goal would be to show that even in a CC, you're taking a decent course load.


I am a senior in high school. I will be going to a community college for two years and then transferring to a four year university. I received mixed answers concerning whether or not I should take any pre-med reqs at a community college. The only reason why I have to go to a community college is because I did not take school seriously until this year. So basically, I have no choice. What would an example schedule look like for my freshman and sophomore year at the cc and for my junior and senior year at the university?
 
I bombed high school, took one year off after to work, took a second year off to recover from a severe accident, shattered leg and head injury, and then went to CC. I'm applying to med school this June. Here's what I did:

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Semester 1
English 1
Precalculus
Macroeconomics
Bio 101
Tennis (yes, they make you take two phys ed classes!)

Semester 2
English 2
Calculus 1
Ethics
Bio 102 Honors
Badminton

Semester 3
General Chemistry 1 + lab
Physics 1 + lab
American Literature Honors
Philosophy of Art Honors
Modern Philosophy

Semester 4
General Chemistry 2 + lab
Physics 2 + lab
Logic
Intro to Sociology
American Government

UNIVERSITY

Semester 1
Organic 1
Calculus and Statistics
Public Speaking
Bioethics

Semester 2
Genetics
Organismic Biology
Organic 1 Lab
Organic 2

--> MCAT

Semester 3
Ecology/Evolution + lab
Molecular Biology + lab
Cardiovascular/Renal/Respiratory Physiology + lab
Bioinformatics + computer lab

It worked really well for me, and it's funny because I'm from a family with a long-standing (centuries) tradition of Ivy league education. My tip is to get involved with two good school-related activities at the community college. If you are really motivated and as serious as someone in your position can be about medicine, you will really shine.

Best of luck.
 
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