<p>I'm attending a cc for two years before transferring to berkeley. Is it bad to complete all my pre-med classes at the community college, and then major in rhetoric at berkeley? Assuming my total gpa will be 3.9+ and MCAT scores solid?</p>
<p>Very much so if you do not have a really good reason. They much prefer the prereqs from a 4year school, but if you had family or financial issues that made CC the most viable option then that’s fine. However, I would still take an upper level science class or two to show that you can handle the work and it wasn’t just because it was community colege.</p>
<p>Interesting…because I keep hearing all they look at is gpa and test scores. Yes, I am attending cc due to financial reasons (since my dad lost his job after the recession, and I’m the first in my family to attend college). I’m not a URM, though.</p>
<p>At most, I could only take general bio and Ochem at Berkeley. Should I retake classes at Berkeley that I’ve completed at cc? </p>
<p>I’m heavily involved in research though, because I have so much time at cc. Does this mean I have practically no shot at top schools like JHU, etc? Even if I get a 3.9+ gpa? What if I major in integrative bio instead of rhetoric? I thought med schools preferred humanities majors…</p>
<p>Sorry to thread jack</p>
<p>But I attended a CC for 1 year. I took no sciences. Will this hurt me still?</p>
<p>heerapatel: major in what interests you. “schools prefer humanities majors” is a statement that is far too general to be true. Some schools, such as Yale and Columbia, have huge numbers of non-science majors. Others, like (I believe) JHU and Harvard, are almost entirely science based. So, some schools seem to like non-science majors. Others don’t seem to give a lot of preference to them. I really suggest that you do what you like and excel in it. Passion is everything. If at all possible, I would suggest taking o-chem and gen bio at Berkeley. Also, you should probably take at least two more science courses there in order to prove that you weren’t trying to dodge a hard science system there. One of them should be a chemistry class. You still have a shot at any school, but don’t put too much hopes in any given one.</p>
<p>Mikegg: Not as long as you maintain a GPA that is similar or better than you got at CC.</p>
<p>I don’t think so. To both questions. There was a thread about this earlier as well if you want to go search for it but the general opinion seems to be that if you take some upper level science course (such as bio and ochem at berkeley) then medschools will understand. Make sure to explain your financial situation to them when you apply, put in your essay or something. Then it shouldn’t hurt you.</p>
<p>wow, thank you guys, for helping me out. :)</p>
<p>So I should take four premed classes at Berkeley? What if I take some upper division Molecular Biology classes at Cal, with general bio and O chem? I really don’t want to take Calc or Physics at Cal though (because those are my worst subjects).</p>
<p>Actually, I might want a Ph.D. in biomed research before I apply to medschool. Do the same rules apply for that as well?</p>
<p>You could always get your PhD and MD at the same time.</p>
<p>If you’re gonna get both degrees, get into the MD/PhD program. Free schooling for everything, plus they make getting your PhD a bit easier than the traditional route.</p>
<p>So in the PhD/MD program, I would also get free schooling for my MD? Would I be paid while getting my PhD as well?</p>
<p>The course requirements for getting a PhD are similar to the pre-med track. But unlike medschool, does it matter if I major in a humanities course?</p>
<p>Why do you want a PhD? The way I see it, if you really want to do research, just get a PhD.</p>
<p>Grad schools, when you’re applying for PhD programs, care about the research experience you have.</p>
<p>MD/PhD is all about research. You must have some, and I would probably go as far to say that you must have a lot, and that it must be medically related. </p>
<p>Getting a MD/PhD is free at most places, plus a living expenses stipend.</p>
<p>What if I’ve been in a lab since freshman year, and get about 3 publications by my senior year? How much research is “a lot” of research?</p>
<p>Most undergrads don’t get any publications. You’ll be lucky if you get 1, let alone 3, though it does depend on the lab.</p>
<p>Generally, amount of research is not measured in number of publications because at the undergrad level, that’s just not realistic (again, this may vary).</p>
<p>Getting three publications would be a lot of research in my book.</p>
<p>By publication, I mean my name is not the first or last, but somewhere in between. That’s what you mean by I’d be lucky if I got one publication, right?</p>
<p>Yes, that counts as a pub. So would first or last name.</p>
<p>But do PhD/MD schools (or PhD schools independently) dislike applicants who majored in the humanities, rather than biological sciences?</p>
<p>Well, as long as you were a qualified applicant I don’t see it being an issue. However, the odds are against you since you will still be expected to have significant research.</p>
<p>What do you mean by “qualified”? No, I’ve been involved in significant research the past year and a half (about 20-40 hr/wk). Attending a cc has given me SO much time to get involved in research, because classes are easy and I have nothing to do.</p>
<p>I’m majoring in humanities because I love writing, and I’m afraid I might jeopardize my gpa if I major in bio at Cal (stupid reason…but I’m easily intimidated).</p>