<p>Hi everyone.</p>
<p>I'm currently a senior in high school, and this fall semester for my 1st year in college I have 2 options: 1) taking classes at UC Berkeley through its "Fall Program for Freshmen" (I'm a spring 2012 admit there), or 2) taking classes at a community college.</p>
<p>In a previous post in which I asked for advice on choosing between the two, a member mentioned that "medical schools might frown on taking courses at a community college." If I do choose attending community college for that semester, the science class I'll be taking will probably be chemistry.</p>
<p>Also, I have taken quite a few college courses throughout high school. By the end of this semester, I will have at least 16 units total (PSY 101 (3), GEO 100/Human Geography (3), PHY 130/General Physics I (5), PHY 132/General Physics II (5)).. In addition, for what it's worth, my AP scores (as I project them to be) are Calculus BC-5, Spanish-4/5, & English-4/5</p>
<p>Any advice/input is appreciated!</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>A comment from a med student poster here whose opinion I know is quite solid:</p>
<p>"So, now that we have THAT out of the way… I went to a CC and then transferred to UCLA. I did all of my premed coursework at the CC and then busted my ass at UCLA. Going to a CC doesn’t necessarily kill your dreams of being a doctor. Getting bad grades will. Now, going to a CC probably will mean you won’t get to go to Harvard or Yale (although a 38 MCAT could go a long ways towards that), but as I explained above, that doesn’t matter. You CAN still get into a perfectly fine medical school even if you went to a CC first. </p>
<p>So, take things in little steps: </p>
<p>Get good grades. (A’s mostly, occasional B’s, and yes, a C won’t murder your chances - just make sure it’s a VERY rare occurrence.) </p>
<p>Transfer to a good university that has the resources you need - undergrad research opportunities, good faculty to write you nice letters of recommendations, and a nearby hospital/clinic that you can shadow at. </p>
<p>Again, excel in classes, then kick ass on the MCAT and you’re set! Of course, I make it sound so easy, but just remember - small steps. You’ll get there eventually if you really put your all into it. Medicine is not for the faint of heart, or for the fickle. You have to KNOW that you love medicine, and to know that, you need some experience first. Try volunteering at your local hospital to make sure you enjoy the lifestyle.
"</p>
<p>In short: no.</p>
<p>UCLAri…</p>
<p>Did that student get accepted to a Calif med school? If so, then his story may not apply everywhere. Calif CC’s are pretty good and have TAG agreements with UCs, so Calif med schools may understand that.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that CCs everywhere are strong enough in math and sciences for pre-med courses. I know a pre-med student who had all As’ at her CC, but is struggling at my son’s university…which is a state flagship mid-tier university. Obviously, her CC wasn’t very strong.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids,</p>
<p>That student is my wife.</p>
<p>And no, she didn’t get into any CA med schools, but that doesn’t mean much given how tough entrance to CA med schools can be regardless of undergrad. And it wasn’t the CC that kept her out, I can guarantee that.</p>
<p>The fact is, the story applies everywhere for the most part. Med school admission is the same in CA as it is everywhere else. It’s a national application process, etc.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I don’t think you understood. I wasn’t suggesting that her Calif CC attendance hurt her. Calif CCs are very good.</p>
<p>My point was that other states don’t always have Calif quality of CCs and when those kids transfer to their 4 years, they may not do as well. </p>
<p>Anyway…there have been many discussions about this issue (taking pre-reqs at a CC) and it’s advised not to do that…or at least not take all of them,l or take the “next higher” classes at the 4 year to show competancy.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids,</p>
<p>Ah, got it.</p>
<p>It’s always BETTER to take pre-reqs at the university, but regardless, it’s not a game ender. </p>
<p>The truth is, most med school applicants will get an interview on GPA and MCAT scores, without a whole lot of attention paid specifically to classes.</p>
<p>It always amazes me how much time people think adcoms have to go over your application. Hahah.</p>
<p>*It always amazes me how much time people think adcoms have to go over your application. Hahah. *</p>
<p>I totally agree! LOL</p>
<p>When I look at the app numbers that some schools receive for undergrad, it’s rather obvious that there’s some quick reductions going on at a basic level to weed apps out…using GPA, rank, test scores, region. Look at the UCs…there’s no way UCLA is going over each undergrad app with a fine tooth comb. </p>
<p>And, for med school, I keep hearing about some program/system that does the initial weeding out by using GPA, MCAT subscores, etc. Then after the number becomes more manageable, then human eyes are more involved.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids,</p>
<p>That would be AMCAS, and yup, filters.</p>
<p>My wife didn’t even get a secondary app to some of the big name med schools. They simply didn’t care, because she didn’t meet their minimum gate requirements. Alas!</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>So are you saying that each med school gives AMCAS it’s limiters, and AMCAS plugs those in and spits out a weeded-out list from that school’s application pool?</p>