Which classes should I take at community college?

[MrCow]

---

Members don't see this ad.

http://www.purdue.edu/preprofessional/career/premed.html

I've been contemplating about going to Purdue for quite some time and wasn't sure when I was going to go. I figured it would be smart to go to CC since I have a pretty good CC near my parents' house. So, if I were to take 4 classes, which classes would be the best to take? I don't want to hurt my chances of getting into med school, but I don't plan on going to Harvard or Yale medical school. Does it matter (seems black and white, so maybe that isn't the best question to ask you)? When it comes to the pre-reqs on that list, I was thinking about taking 1 semester of biochem, anat & phys, psych and socio. What do you think?

Thank you for any future replies you may send my way! 🙂

 

[Siroucity]

Community college will not hurt your chances of getting into med school.

Are you a freshman? What kind of student are you? What's your history?

 

[Spinach Dip]

You should do science prereqs at a 4-year university. Outside of that, starting at a CC shouldn't hurt.

 

[~bleepbloop~]

Wait have you taken any science classes yet? Usually Organic chemistry is a required prerequisite for Biochem. And yeah, as stated above definitely don't take any pre-med classes at a CC. Although even the rigor may or may not be easier than a 4 year university, it is usually looked unfavorably. However, IMHO, its definitely ok to take any non pre-med classes at a CC. Hope that helps.

 

[MrCow]

Community college will not hurt your chances of getting into med school.

Are you a freshman? What kind of student are you? What's your history?

I am a recent high school grad.

You should do science prereqs at a 4-year university. Outside of that, starting at a CC shouldn't hurt.

So I shouldn't take any science pre-reqs at a CC?

Wait have you taken any science classes yet? Usually Organic chemistry is a required prerequisite for Biochem. And yeah, as stated above definitely don't take any pre-med classes at a CC. Although even the rigor may or may not be easier than a 4 year university, it is usually looked unfavorably. However, IMHO, its definitely ok to take any non pre-med classes at a CC. Hope that helps.

Do you think it would be okay to major in Psychology in CC? Maybe even taking Honors-level eventually? For one of the schools I plan on applying to, psychology is required for 1 semester. Would this be considered a pre-med class then? If so, would it still be okay to major in at CC?

 

[~bleepbloop~]

For sure! I am a psychology major who went to a community college! But you will have to be comfortable with the fact that you may not graduate in 4 years, it will probably be like 5, because a lot of the pre-med pre-reqs (physics 1 and 2, ~15 hours of biology classes, chem 1 and 2, ochem 1 and 2, and biochem) will not transfer to count toward a psychology degree. And majoring in psychology and going to a CC pretty much means that there's no excuse for any B's... The first thing I would recommend to do is to look at curriculum for Purdue, or any where else you are planning on applying to, and seeing what classes are needed for that degree plan, and then getting all the like fine arts/language/whatever credits you can out of the way. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say yeah it is ok to take psychology at a CC, especially if you are planning on majoring in it.

 

[MrCow]

I mean, I don't care what I take in CC. I honestly want the quickest option there is. I would like to take my MCAT by my 4th year. So if I shouldn't take any pre-med classes at CC, then I shouldn't major in something like Biology? I also wouldn't mind taking Computer Science.

 

[LizzyM]

There is a bias in medical school admissions against community college classes but not in way you are doing it. The bias comes against university students who opt out of courses known to be particularly difficult at their home institution by taking summer classes at CC. A student who takes two years at CC to save money followed by 2 or more years at a university is not in the same boat. The key is to do very well (nothing less than an A- in CC and then to do as well or better after transferring.

Typically, a student takes the introductory courses in CC and then takes advanced courses in the university. If you hold off and take intro bio, intro chem, intro physics and organic chem at the university you'll be in with a bunch of underclassman in huge classes. That's not ideal when you only have 2 years on campus and a need for letters of recommendation from faculty who know you well. Major in whatever you want. Take those intro courses. See if you can meet with an admissions counselor at Perdue and an academic counselor at the CC to determine the optimal course of study so you can transfer from CC, have the credits count toward your Bachelor's degree, and graduate on time. Schools are "rewarded" for having students graduate on-time so it is in their best interest to help you in this way.

Also, you may not know that taking the MCAT in your senior year means you 'll have a gap year between college and medical school. This is rather typical and you can plan for it by lining up a one-year master's degree or a job in a lab or clinic (or elsewhere) during the gap.

 

[MrCow]

Thank you so much for replying. College is a little difficult for me to grasp. It's not something I planned on doing and so I never talked to anybody about it. I am basically in this alone (except for the people of the internet), because my parents have no idea either since they never went to uni.

So if it's fine taking all the intro courses then at CC, I could probably take my MCAT my junior year and then not have to worry about that gap? I am definitely going to talk to someone at CC. It was weird, though. My mom was talking to someone on the phone and they said not to mention that I want to do full time courses and only mention part time, because if I were to mention full time they wouldn't want anything to do with me. Why is that?

EDIT: It is also possible she got the info wrong. But would like to know since my intent is to go full time (a possible 12 - 18 credit hours).

 

[radioactive15]

There is a bias in medical school admissions against community college classes but not in way you are doing it. The bias comes against university students who opt out of courses known to be particularly difficult at their home institution by taking summer classes at CC. A student who takes two years at CC to save money followed by 2 or more years at a university is not in the same boat. The key is to do very well (nothing less than an A- in CC and then to do as well or better after transferring.

Typically, a student takes the introductory courses in CC and then takes advanced courses in the university. If you hold off and take intro bio, intro chem, intro physics and organic chem at the university you'll be in with a bunch of underclassman in huge classes. That's not ideal when you only have 2 years on campus and a need for letters of recommendation from faculty who know you well. Major in whatever you want. Take those intro courses. See if you can meet with an admissions counselor at Perdue and an academic counselor at the CC to determine the optimal course of study so you can transfer from CC, have the credits count toward your Bachelor's degree, and graduate on time. Schools are "rewarded" for having students graduate on-time so it is in their best interest to help you in this way.

Also, you may not know that taking the MCAT in your senior year means you 'll have a gap year between college and medical school. This is rather typical and you can plan for it by lining up a one-year master's degree or a job in a lab or clinic (or elsewhere) during the gap.

How do you view applicants and students who take English and/or Math classes at a CC to fulfill medical school prereqs?

Will med schools not accept CC credits for Math and English and revoke an acceptance due to this reason? Does taking CC classes for Math and English hurt acceptance chances?

 

[LizzyM]

How do you view applicants and students who take English and/or Math classes at a CC to fulfill medical school prereqs?

Will med schools not accept CC credits for Math and English and revoke an acceptance due to this reason? Does taking CC classes for Math and English hurt acceptance chances?

When do they take them?? If it is before matriculating at a university then it is ok. If they take them after graduating from college as part of an informal post-bac to fill in pre-reqs, I would think it would be ok. Of course, in both cases you want to consult the MSAR to determine if a specific school will accept CC credits at all.

When IMHO it would be less desirable to take English and/or Math courses in a CC would be when those classes are considered GPA-killers at your home institution and you are taking them to avoid taking them in your own institution. In a case like that we'll prefer someone from your school who took those hard classes at your school over you, all things being equal.

 

[radioactive15]

When do they take them?? If it is before matriculating at a university then it is ok. If they take them after graduating from college as part of an informal post-bac to fill in pre-reqs, I would think it would be ok. Of course, in both cases you want to consult the MSAR to determine if a specific school will accept CC credits at all.

When IMHO it would be less desirable to take English and/or Math courses in a CC would be when those classes are considered GPA-killers at your home institution and you are taking them to avoid taking them in your own institution. In a case like that we'll prefer someone from your school who took those hard classes at your school over you, all things being equal.

They would be taking them after graduating the 4-year college, right before matriculating. I'm asking this because I have AP credits in these areas, which are accepted by my college, but may not be accepted by medical schools. Therefore, instead of taking them at my undergrad, I would be taking Math and English at a CC right before matriculating to save some money and fill med school prereqs

 

[LizzyM]

They would be taking them after graduating the 4-year college, right before matriculating. I'm asking this because I have AP credits in these areas, which are accepted by my college, but may not be accepted by medical schools. Therefore, instead of taking them at my undergrad, I would be taking Math and English at a CC right before matriculating to save some money and fill med school prereqs

Cross that bridge if/when you come to it. If a med school accepts you pending successful completion of the English/Math requriement, ask the school if taking a school X would be acceptable and point out that the cost is $ compared with $$ at school Y. It isn't worth making a decision until you know where you are matriculating and can ask specifically for that school.

 

[radioactive15]

Cross that bridge if/when you come to it. If a med school accepts you pending successful completion of the English/Math requriement, ask the school if taking a school X would be acceptable and point out that the cost is $ compared with $$ at school Y. It isn't worth making a decision until you know where you are matriculating and can ask specifically for that school.

I see.

Does the AMCAS or secondary applications usually ask you to list when/where you plan to complete the prereqs?

I really hope that a med school wouldn't revoke an acceptance just because your non-science prereqs are from a CC

 

[LizzyM]

I see.

Does the AMCAS or secondary applications usually ask you to list when/where you plan to complete the prereqs?

Nope. It can vary by school so that really wouldn't be practical.

I really hope that a med school wouldn't revoke an acceptance just because your non-science prereqs are from a CC

They would tell you that you needed to do x, y and z in order to matriculate and if no CC credit was a stipulation that would be pointed out.

 

[MrCow]

Nope. It can vary by school so that really wouldn't be practical.


They would tell you that you needed to do x, y and z in order to matriculate and if no CC credit was a stipulation that would be pointed out.

I'd hate to waste your time, but I do have just one question. Originally, I wanted to become a Vet. I soon realized this isn't what I wanted and really want to work and help people. I was entry-level, but I got a good amount of experience and learned things that I wasn't quite accustomed to before. Now the question, which may seem silly, could I use any of this veterinary experience towards medical school? I was going to totally disregard my clinical vet experience, but then I thought I saw a post (or comment) of a man/woman who was a vet nurse before they went to medical school. I don't think the person really indicated if it counted, though.

Thank you and sorry if it's a strange question!

 

[LizzyM]

I'd hate to waste your time, but I do have just one question. Originally, I wanted to become a Vet. I soon realized this isn't what I wanted and really want to work and help people. I was entry-level, but I got a good amount of experience and learned things that I wasn't quite accustomed to before. Now the question, which may seem silly, could I use any of this veterinary experience towards medical school? I was going to totally disregard my clinical vet experience, but then I thought I saw a post (or comment) of a man/woman who was a vet nurse before they went to medical school. I don't think the person really indicated if it counted, though.

Thank you and sorry if it's a strange question!

List up to 15 experiences on your AMCAS application. You should list service to others (volunteerism), any full-time employment you've had, part-time employment during the school year (shows you had responsibilities besides school), research, at least one hobby/sport/advocation you do for fun. Of course, you are going to list shadowing physicians and employment and/or volunteer work that put you in the proximity of human patients. If after all that you have room for some of the animal stuff, go for it. It could also be woven into your personal statement describing how you got interested in the healing professions and then, after testing the waters in veterinary medicine, you decided that medicine was a better fit for you.

 

[MrCow]

List up to 15 experiences on your AMCAS application. You should list service to others (volunteerism), any full-time employment you've had, part-time employment during the school year (shows you had responsibilities besides school), research, at least one hobby/sport/advocation you do for fun. Of course, you are going to list shadowing physicians and employment and/or volunteer work that put you in the proximity of human patients. If after all that you have room for some of the animal stuff, go for it. It could also be woven into your personal statement describing how you got interested in the healing professions and then, after testing the waters in veterinary medicine, you decided that medicine was a better fit for you.

Thank you so much for the reply! I truly appreciate it! I am stressing myself out a bit because I really wanted to be a veterinarian and did really meticulous research on what that involved. And after getting a job and working and realizing "Hey, I love animals... But I don't want this as a career." made me kind of sad. Today was the first actual day I had time to sit down and figure out what is involved in becoming a medical doctor. So I had to "rewire" the circuit, if you will. Anyways... Just wanted to say your assistance really cleared up the air for me. No rush... But are there any threads that you personally recommend me checking out? Thank you, again!