<p>ditto what ClassicRockerDad wrote, with a couple of additions --</p>
<p>It is OK to take PreCalculus at your 4-yr college. About half of all students do, and it will better prepare you for the single most mentioned class as “the hardest course I took in College” – Calculus (O-Chem gets mentioned most by premeds, P-Chem by Physics or engineers, etc)</p>
<p>There is no necessary connection between socioeconomic status and raw talent with memory, test taking, and paper writing. It <em>is</em> possible that your genes have not given you that raw classroom talent sufficient to get into med school… join the crowd…97% of college students aren’t in the top 2-3% that med schools look for. So I do agree with CRD that allied fields in science/medicine are possibly a more realistic target. You’ll know by the end of your first full year at a tough 4-yr. college. You cannot tell yet simply by your performance at a JC.</p>
<p>Regarding finances: there are many schools that will, in combination with the government, make sure a financially poor student can attend and thrive at their institution. The poor, and rich have no problem… the middle class have the most challenges in financially making college work.</p>
<p>Keep your spirits up, and keep driving forward. You will find success, even it it ultimately looks quite different from what you imagine now.</p>