Is it okay (advisable) to take my premed courses at a cc?
Here's my dilemma, I'm currently attending a Community College and it looks like I need to take some, or maybe a majority of my pre med courses before I transfer out. In order to take my premed courses in time for the MCATS I'll need to take, Biology first year, inorganic chem. second year, physics third year, and organic chem in second or third.
These are my options: A. My cc offers a block of 35 credits that transfer to univ.'s that I could take in my first year this would have me taking only bio. at a cc, however this would have me moving away from home a year early, and this IS an issue. B. Attend the CC for 2 years as planned and take Bio, and at least 1 chem. class, probably 2, resulting in only 1 of my pre med classes(phy.) being taken at a univ.
What should I do? Does it matter where you take your pre med courses, as long as you do well on your MCATS?
P.S. Don't know if it matters, but I'll be majoring in Psychology
I would probably recommend that you take them elsewhere, but why is it that you can't transfer after one year?
Hi there. You might be in a (MINOR) predicament if you want to stay at the CC for 2 years. Having taken a couple of science classes at the CC level, and the rest at the university level, I can say that (for me) the classes at the 4-year school were much better for MCAT prep.
That being said, some CCs have awesome instructors, and you might be able to swing it. I would try to get a frank assessment of the instructors and the coursework available. If you take the full (or almost full) barrage of premed courses at the CC, and then it turns out that you aren't ready for the MCAT, then it wasn't the best use of time, you know?
Since you need to try to stay at home for the full 2 years (which is totally your business, IMHO)... could you take some other required (non-science) courses at the CC, and then double up your premed requirements once you get to the U? Then the CC classes would all transfer to the U, which is nice... AND the science info would also be fresh in your mind for the MCAT, which is pretty doggone important, as well.
Just a thought. Regardless of what you decide, I wish you well on your premed voyage. 😉
Curtis Nordstrom
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"Unum nihil, duos plurimum posse..."
Thank You, Corpsman-Up
that's very helpful!
But will med-school adcoms frown upon me statring my education, and take some pre meds at a CC, even if I do well on the mcats, say a 33(I think this is a resonable goal to shoot for)?
I don't know whether they will look down on a CC education, or not. Most probably, there will be some snooty admissions people at Snootsville University who will turn up their nose at those credentials... just as there will be others who won't give a fat rat's patoot, as long as you did well on the MCAT and are an otherwise interesting and capable applicant. I would suggest to you that the snooty people who would frown at CC starters are automatically denying their school some excellent future physicians... not that they care what I think!
All I can tell you is that I got an AA at a CC, and I got into med school. 😀 (I had only a few premed credits from the early days, but still...)
In my opinion, if a school wanted to exclude me from their class because I started out at a CC -- in spite of my military medical experience, work experience, and a graduate degree, etc. -- I probably wouldn't want to go there in the first place. (That is a nicer way of saying that they could kiss my butt). Remember, all it takes is ONE school to say yes, and you are on your way...
If you do well at the CC and the U, and you score that ~33 on the MCAT, and you are not socially inept or arrogant, I would be surprised if you were not able to pursue your goal of becoming a physician. That's my opinion, but I think it is sound. I mean, I don't know you from Adam, but those are good starting points, at least!
Go get 'em... 😎
Curtis Nordstrom
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"Unum nihil, duos plurimum posse..."