Comments on: Community College and Professional School Admissions

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:28:18 +0000

POSTED BY AL: “I went to CC for my first two years and graduated from a university later on. Can i still take prereqs at a CC and then go to dent school even though you cannot transfer more than 60 to a university. Does it matter if i already have a bachelors degree that i take more classes in CC just to fulfil prereqs for the dent school?”

I am in a similar situation. I was just wondering if anyone out there has made it to dental school via the same path? Or if anyone has any insight into our situation.

Thanks!

By: T.

T. — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:15:41 +0000

i’m still a senior in high school now.
is it possible to take General Ed. and pharmacy technician classes in my first 2 years, and transfer to a pharm school??

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:35:20 +0000

I’ll be honest, I was a believer of the negative perception of community college until recently. I am a non-traditional student who is going back to school to complete pre-requisites that are outdated…I simply had to go with community college because they schedule many classes with bundled labs and in the evening (I work during the day). I now have 3 courses completed that I can compare to a top university (I won’t mention the name). Here’s my take…just on my experience:

1. Material studied. Results: The Same. Chem I (for example) is Chem I no matter where you take it. If you can consistently and confidently answer questions in the back of the chapters, you probably understand the material and are on your way to good preparation for MCAT or DAT. By the way, my CC and University used the same text in Chem I.

2. Learning Environment: I can’t believe I’m saying this after spending what I did on college, but CC was better for me. 25 students in a class with a Phd professor…Class time 6 hours a week with the professor who is also there in labs. My university had 3 hours a week in a class of 400 students with a miked up professor. Another few hours recitation with a grad student who said “any questions” and a grad student ran lab….this is the university norm.

3. Test difficulty….about the same, again the material is science, it’s not subjective…you get it or you don’t

4. Competition. The results…competition is fiercer at universities….but I’m not competing with the other students, I have a degree from a university already. My CC didn’t curve so competition hasn’t been a factor…I’m my only competition (that’s enough)

5. Perception….they say perception is reality and if that’s true..it will hurt (not kill) my chances by taking classes at a CC.
Perception is validated by university students who sneak off in the summer in hopes of getting an easier A….this from what I hear stands out on interview…but if you start at a CC or are non trad…I think it’s justifiable……and I know many non-traditional who have been accepted taking pre-reqs at a CC.

In summary, my experience is that CC’s not a walk in the park…these are science classes…..you learn it or you don’t…the material doesn’t change by location

Just my experience…..my only other experience has been to limit times on “pre health” forums….to many know-it-alls who aren’t in school yet giving advice and offering plenty of reasons why someone won’t get in (sorry I had to get that in there)

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:55:19 +0000

It’s my opinion that community college is whatever you make of it. Don’t let social stigma influence your decision; do what is in your best interest, whether that be an investment in pragmatism or the desire to be able to tell people “I went to a 4-year year school first!”.

As for me, I enjoy the smaller class sizes and more intimate environment junior colleges provide.

By: Elsa

Elsa — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:33:40 +0000

I went to a CC for 5 semesters, then transferred to an Ivy League to complete my BA in Biology. The other three universities I applied to, after my blissful carefree CC years, were a state univ , an average private university, and a liberal arts college. Interestingly, I was rejected from both, the not so selective private university, and the liberal arts college, though I wrote very similar essays, and sent out LOR from the same professors! I think that my experiences as a recent immigrant were just looked upon more favorable by the top 10 school. In all case, community colleges, or any two institutions for that matter, do not offer similar educational experiences. So here is my own take on the matter:
My first semester in the Ivy, I had a hard time getting decent grades. I had my first Bs and my first C. For the very first time in years, I felt that becoming a doctor might just be something out of my reach. In the CC I could work full-time and ace Bio and organic chemistry classes with no or small effort. All the sudden start of my junior year, I was barely working part-time 10 hours a week, but i was falling well behind in all my classes. The exams were incredibly long and the content way too detailed. Other personal and family circumstance might have also contributed to my sad 3.0 GPA that semester. Luckily, I still managed to get A-/ A s the next semester and I am working on improving my EC and research background (and studying for the mcats) before applying to med school next year. I haven’t given up just yet.
So far, I cannot tell whether having gone to a CC have hurt or helped me(though it was at the time my only option because of family trouble and having zero financial assets). I also don’t know if transferring to any Ivy was the right move either. I guess I will find out once I start applying to medical schools senior year.
Nonetheless, I feel that having taken CC pre-req classes and then having transferred to a more challenging university, I might be at disadvantage in some respects. My intro bio classes did not prepare me well enough for the upper level Bio course I had past fall (that would be the first C I had ), and my new post-transfer GPA suffered. I also did not need to work on things like time management skills, goal setting, or effecient studying for freshman and sophomore year: Somehow, I kicked ass after merely glancing at my books before a test. I owe that 4.0 GPA to a good short-term memory, and to the fact that tests did not require detailed review of the material, just broad understanding. This is the reason why the first course of Organic Chemistry I took at the CC and that I so easily Aced, will not be good enough preparation for the second Ochem course I will be taking this fall (along with 5 other challenging courses).
On the other hand, I have a valuable educational experience in two very different, maybe extreme settings. I learned to let go of my all or nothing mentality, to stop trying to make do on my own, and to go seek help. And I also found out that I can work twice as hard as anybody else and make up for all the basic courses on my own, while taking a much bigger courseload (5-6 courses), more challenging classes, and working part-time. I also found out that the other students I’ll have to compete with before and during medical school are better prepared to take standardized, detail-focused tests than I am, they are more used to intense memorization, they can finish lengthy exams on time, and the list goes on. I also had the opportunity here to meet many pre-meds and learn all about the application process. In the CC, I was usually given the “you serious?” look when I would mention my medical school plans. I was worried I’d be laughed at when I applied to the ivy leaugue for undergrad. Indeed, I never met anybody who even applied to an ivy leaugue at my previous college, or any pre-med student who successfully attended medical school. I only know of my sister who just got into medical school this year, after having transferred to a state university three years ago.
Anyway, sorry my input on the subject is quite lengthy. In a final note though, I would like to mention that my CC was small and isolated in the midwest, probably very different from many other community colleges you might have went to. I had the time of my life there, but did not learn much. Personnally, I like courses to be challenging. Sometimes all the excessiveness and competition gets annoying, but I cannot see myself settling for a different profession or a selection of less competitive medical schools. If if I am going to have to change plans or strategies, it would only be because I did not give the CC courses my best, and I was arrogant enough to think that I could do well in an ivy league without having to spend any friday and saturday nights in the library.

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:05:42 +0000

Judy Colwell doesn’t really know what she’s talking about. I have had online chats with her, and she has demonstrated this well. I wouldn’t pay her one red cent to help me, and I’m glad I didn’t. I am a non traditional student, reapplicant, and had some failing grades due to a withdrawal dispute with the first college I attended. Despite everything going against me, I got into two top med schools, one my top choice, and had to turn down an interview at yet another top med school. I was even recruited by Harvard Med (I was flattered, but not interested) to apply to their school for my COMMUNITY COLLEGE grades before I ever attended a selective admission university. I have learned a thing or two about admissions through my experiences, and what I have learned tells me that everything I have ever seen Judy write or quoted as saying is 100% wrong.

Medical schools generally don’t care where you did the prereqs, they just care that you took them at an accredited institution, and what grades you got.

Community colleges, junior colleges, or whatever you want to call them, are generally MORE academically rigorous in the science departments than selective universities, despite popular belief. More and more AdComs are catching on to this.

Given two applicants, with identical apps, except one did prereqs at a community college, it is a lazy cop out to just choose the one with the brand name on their transcript. Most AdComs understand this, and the decision isn’t up to merely one person, anyway. This is when they make good use of the more subjective portions of an app, such as interviews, personal statements, preprofessional experience, volunteering, etc. These are NEVER “nearly identical.” These parts of the application are so important, because it is these, and not grades or where you got them, that set you apart.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:06:49 +0000

I went to CC for my first two years and graduated from a university later on. Can i still take prereqs at a CC and then go to dent school even though you cannot transfer more than 60 to a university. Does it matter if i already have a bachelors degree that i take more classes in CC just to fulfil prereqs for the dent school?

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:15:02 +0000

I understand statistics, but college students cannot look at a large sample and make their educational decisons based on a sample.

Admissions committees analyze students on an individual basis. If a student chooses to go to an accredited CC, they will study the same information. The tests may be easier, the classes smaller, and the teachers less qualified; but the student gets out what s/he puts in.

I went to a CC for 3 years before pharmacy school and had a 4.0. Many fellow students made A’s, but it was obvious they did not put in as much effort as me. if you are like me, simply prove to the school that you know your information. There is a reason for standardized tests…they measure students the same.

I proved my intellect by scoring in the 90+ percentile on the PCAT. I also had well written and planned personal essays.

Simply put, if you make great grades, score a great standardized test score, deliver a great interview, and present a great (see the trend), you will be accepted to any professional school regardless of whether or not you went to a CC or an Ivy.

My point, don’t let your undergrad school determine what you learn or what you do in graduate school. You have the books, the time(actually I worked 40+hours a week in a factory just to pay my bills and tuition at CC living on my own), and an opportunity. I was accepted to the #2 ranked (based on a scale I don’t completely understand) pharmacy school in the US.

It’s up to you! Good luck fellow CC students, don’t attempt anything less than what you truly want

By: drew

drew — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:23:18 +0000

DK, I think you have a GREAT chance.

because not only are you showing your time management skills but you are also showing a hardwork characteristic.

since i screwed up in my 4 year univerisity I hope to take night classes and work like you in order to show my strong motivational skills.

working hard ANYWHERE to achieve your goals show more than most.

gl to everyone.

By: drew

drew — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:20:57 +0000

obviously… hal has not gone to a 4 year university with a good reputation to know that theres a big difference between community college and a 4 year institution.

I go to a UC with a strong bio background the strongest infact, and when i went to a community college course it was a joke. Even 4 year institutions around my area the courses aren’t as tough.

I agree with A in that its smart to go to cc and get a great GPA vs. going to a 4 year college and struggling with the crazy curves and competition. I see so many of my transfer friends get into great dental schools after community college with great DAT scores.

I think the dental/med schools are saying this to discourage all the people thinking about taking the easier/smarter/cheaper way out.

I admit I am actually bitter for using more money, having a harder time, and being stupid for going straight into a 4 year university. I should have saved that 2 years of money…. however one can argue that going to the university also increases your social network and the other blah blah.

anyways. i am a bitter 4 year university student that realized it too late.