<p>Hey guys, I am hoping if someone could offer me some advice for the situation I am in.</p>
<p>I am currently attending community college and I am majoring in psychology (the hardest aspect of community college is getting into the classes, so I had to switch my major from Bio to Psych in order to finish in two years). That aside, what I wanted to know was if I can take the required pre-med classes after I transfer, because as of now I will only finish general chemistry. So I will have to take a year of o-chem, bio, and physics, which seems daunting with only 3 years and having to finish upper division psychology courses.</p>
<p>I know I am probably looking too far ahead into the future since I haven't even finished my first year of community college, but I hate feeling helpless about things like this. I don't really know how four-year colleges work, or what the typical course-loads of students are, or how much years people usually take to finish. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Don’t forget you will also need 1 semester of biochem for the 2015 MCAT. And 1 semester of intro sociology</p>
<p>Medical school is intense and has a very heavy workload. </p>
<p>Adcomms like to see some proof that applicants will be able to handle the workload. Taking 2 core science classes with labs plus 2 additional upper level courses is pretty much what all pre meds do. (And med school will be much, much harder. Like taking 6+ upper level science courses all at once.)</p>
<p>As a CC transfer, it would probably be best if you apply for med school after graduation. This will give you 2 years at your 4 year college (assuming you transfer to a 4 year after your sophomore year) to finish your science pre-reqs and to make contacts with professors so you can get letters of recommendation. Medical school adcomms will also want to see at least 2 years worth of strong grades at your 4 year transfer college before making an admission decision.</p>
<p>You should take the pre-med classes AFTER the two years community college. CC’s credits will not be valued as high as a 4 year college in the Science section, especially org chem, physics and Bio.</p>
<p>So I have 2 upper level psych courses plus o chem, is that a normal workload? </p>
<p>Thanks for the response btw</p>
<p>try not to take o chem at CC if you can avoid.</p>
<p>^^WOWm</p>
<p>ALL my D’s pre-med classmates at Chicago took a gap year after graduation and started their med school application in June, the year of their graduation. In addition, some of them even took a gap quarter just to study mcat.</p>
<p>If one applies after graduation, one has no choice but to take a gap year due to the full year it takes for the application cycle. It’s implicit in the advice I gave to the OP.</p>
<p>@SamTheMan5</p>
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<p>Normal work load would OChem w/lab, 2 upper level psych courses plus 1 additional 4 credit course (math, stats, upper level GE elective)</p>
<p>Normal workload would be 2 upper level psych courses, Ochem w/lab, and another science (physics, bio} w/ or w/o lab</p>
<p>Normal workload would be 2 upper level psych courses, Ochem w/lab, and 4 credits independent lab research</p>
<p>~~~</p>
<p>Also, it’s not critical to take all of your pre-reqs at a 4 year college. Calc 1 & stats at a CC is fine. Gen chem at a CC is fine (but save OChem for your 4 year). Since you may not be taking any upper level bio classes as a psych major–save bio for your 4 year college. </p>
<p>Physics at the CC may or may not be OK. If your CC has articulation agreement with your state U, you may be required to take physics at the CC in order to complete your transfer. If that’s the case, take physics at CC. If your school’s articulation agreement doesn’t stipulate, save physics for the 4 year unless it puts you in a bind in terms of graduating on time.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the reply. I have decided to take physics at cc because of time, but it translates as phy140-141 (ohlone college) to phys 8a and 8b uc berkeley. You guys were extremely helpful, ive been going crazy with registration since the classes fill up so fast.</p>
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<p>Not really practical for all pre-med courses (8-10 semester courses in BCPM subjects; consider that a transfer student probably has schedule space for about 16 courses at the four year school).</p>
<p>If the student is a biology or chemistry major, s/he will need the lower division BCPM courses completed at CC before transfer (but will then have upper division biology or chemistry courses on his/her four year school record).</p>
<p>If the student is in an unrelated major (e.g. humanities or social studies), it is unlikely that s/he can fit all pre-med BCPM courses alongside the upper division courses for his/her major in the two years at the four year school. However, it would certainly be possible to leave some of the pre-med BCPM courses for after transfer to the four year school, or take some upper division biology or chemistry courses after transfer to the four year school.</p>