<p>From what I've read on these boards, it seems like community college courses are generally frowned upon by med schools. However, the freshman biology and chemistry courses at the local university I'm enrolled in are quite large, impersonal, and totally unimpassioned. My pre-med friends at this university (who are juniors/seniors) recommend that I take community college courses, at least to cover freshman biology/chemistry. They're smaller and I'll be able to get more attention in class, whereas in a class of 150, I'll get virtually none. I'll learn the same amount of stuff, really, but it'll just be a lot easier. I'll be able to take up more hours so I can take additional higher level courses. But could the fact that I took community college classes for my freshman courses be detrimental to a med school application?</p>
<p>In fact, one poster on here -- whom I trust -- has actually mentioned that some medical schools will flat-out refuse to accept CC credit for their requirements at all. Of course higher-level courses would satisfy them, so intro bio at CC followed by a year of higher-level biology at a university would work.</p>
<p>However, if some schools flat-out refuse to accept them, you can imagine: the others aren't very fond of them either.</p>
<p>I have never been able to verify this finding. If it really matters to you, you could do the legwork.</p>
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<p>I just noticed: you're not a CC student deciding what to wait on. You're actually enrolled in a full-time university. Stepping "down" to take classes at a CC will seem a cop-out.</p>
<p>Remember, the goal is twofold: of course you want to learn the material. (Generally speaking, a CC is worse at covering material in breadth and depth compared to a university course, although of course some CC courses are better than some university courses.)</p>
<p>Your other goal, however, is to prove to medical schools that you are a capable student. Going to a CC dramatically undermines this goal. You're in a pool of less competitive students, taught by a professor who is used to lower standards, and evaluated relative to a much lower bar. If you get an A, so what? You were at a CC. But if you get a B -- a perfectly acceptable grade in a university -- then it's a major red flag. It's a no-win situation.</p>
<p>Just take classes at your home university. Just do it.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. I'll stick with my local university then, even if it means massive, 150 people+ classes. My oh my, sounds like so much fun.</p>
<p>Cryptic:</p>
<p>Don't be a fraidy-cat. My Principles of Bio class had 400+ people in it. 150 is nothing. :P</p>
<p>Honestly, 150 people is nothing. The intro bio and chem courses at my school were 600 and 1000 people strong, respectively. Even at some LAC's, it's not unusual for intro bio courses to number 80-100. This isn't high school. You can't expect someone to hold your hand and you can't expect to just go to CC everytime there's a course that isn't tailormade for you. Most of my professors in large classes have been very accessible as long as you take some initiative in going to office hours.</p>
<p>Haha, thanks guys for making my day a whole lot better. I want to specifically thank norcalguy for dealing with this absurd question with such grace. For those of us fresh out of high school, still pink and baby-faced. this is an unwelcome surprise! :P</p>
<p>no worries with 150</p>
<p>my ochem class right now is at 400 ~_~</p>