<p>Im going to transfer out of my CC after one year to a 4-year school and I was curious to how the premed classes like physics, biology, chemistry, etc in a community college compare with 4-year colleges?
I mean do you learn less in a CC? Is it easier? Is it better to take the classes at a 4-year school? Are the labs similiar?
I can imagine the science programs in a CC won't be funded as much as say...Johns Hopkins. I bet the professors in a CC won't be as good as the professors at Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>All I can tell you is that most of my CC classes were just as good (sometimes better) than in the 4 year University I attended. Just because it's a CC doesn't mean you won't learn as much or the professors aren't as good. As a matter of fact, some think that the CC professors are less likely to be consumed with publishing and tenure, therefore they offer more time for their students. </p>
<p>How it will be preceived by admission committees is another matter. I would think that if your MCAT is high it won't matter where you took the class. Just remember that regardless of what is taught in the class, you need to study for everything that will be on the MCAT (which might mean doing some independent study in addition to the class).</p>
<p>This is from Washington University's website; you may find it helpful:</p>
<p>"Is it ok to take premed requirements at community college?</p>
<p>How do medical schools feel about premed courses taken at community colleges? The answer isn't clearcut. The level of the coursework at community colleges is certainly comparable; you'll cover the same topics in the same depth as you would in the equivalent courses at the UW. However, grades tend to run higher at community colleges than in comparable courses at the UW. Because of this, we recommend that you complete at least some of the premed requirements a four-year school, so that medical schools can more easily compare your grades to those of other applicants.
MYTH: You shouldn't take your premed courses at a community college.
FACT: Many students take the first year or even two years of premed at a community college. The important thing is to get started. </p>
<p>The biochemistry sequence required by UW medical school is not offered at community colleges, so you will be taking at least biochemistry at a four-year school. If you plan to complete a science major, you will have some advanced science coursework completed at a four-year school and the medical schools can also use those grades to evaluate your performance in science courses. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that you should take the premed courses where ever it is best for you to take them. This doesn't mean where you can get the highest grades, but where you will learn the material as well as possible. If community college is the best place for you now, take the premed courses there. The important thing is that you start the premed courses early and master the material well. "</p>
<p>Let's be clear here that there is a difference between starting out, attending a CC as a full time student for one or two years (even earning an associates degree) and being enrolled at a 4 year school but also taking one or two CC courses during the summer or concurrently during the school year.</p>
<p>The former is likely not of any consequence. There are plenty of people who attend a CC for numerous reasons. However the latter may appear to outsiders as a student trying to sandbag or get around a particularly tough course by taking it at a CC where - as the above mentions - grades tend to run higher.</p>
<p>I agree. I've also heard that it is not considered to be a good idea to take these science classes in the summer (regardless of where) because those classes are much shorter and it just looks bad.</p>
<p>well i'm prob going to be around the CC for a year before I transfer to a 4 year institution.
I'll be taking Chemistry I & II with Lab and Biology I & II with Lab and Calculus I & II first and second semester.
Also in second semester i'll be taking General Physics I: Mechanics and Heat.
So in the four year college I plan on going i'll be taking Organic Chemistry I & II and the rest of Physics II and III, Electricity and Magnetism, and Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics. I'll also consider multivariable calculus and Linear Algebra or differential equations and Microbiology or General genetics. Then I plan on taking the MCAT by the end of my sophomore year.</p>
<p>Do you guys think this is a solid plan?</p>
<p>Also do you think its a good idea to take Physics III? I hear the physics on the MCAT is high school physics. And should I bother with Multivariable calc, linear algebra, and differential equations? I know it's not required by most med schools but would it look good? Besides, its like a safety net incase I want to do Chemical or Biomedical Enginnering.
And which do you guys think is more useful for the MCAT? Microbiology or General genetics?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>That's a lot to cram in to one year at a CC - not sure if I'd do three of the sciences there. One definately. I wouldn't take the third physics unless you are going to use it toward your major. And one to two semesters of Calculus ought to be plenty. (most don't even require it, some recommend one semester, and two is more than enough).
The additional science (again, not required but some med schools look for it) would be biochemistry. Genetics is supposed to help.</p>