<p>Hey guys, so I hope you guys can give me some advice. First off, I’m in the first year here at a community college in California. I’m only 17 because I skipped my senior year of high school by passing the California High School Proficiency Exam, which is equivalent to a high school diploma in California. I plan to transfer to a UC (preferably Berkeley), and am seriously considering going the pre-med route after thinking I’d get into engineering or business. (I even had my whole two-year plan worked out, but now I’ll have to stay at the community college for three years because of all the sequential classes.)</p>
<p>Anyway, having just recently been interested in medicine I was wondering if you guys can answer a few of my questions.</p>
<li><p>Do you think med schools would look down on me for testing out of high school early?</p></li>
<li><p>Would my GPA not be as substantial as someone who stayed at a university all four years? Moreover, am I looked down at all because I transferred from a community college?</p></li>
<li><p>What can I do while at community college to improve my chances at all other than just getting good grades? I could try volunteering at a hospital, but I’m afraid I might get a very menial position (like for a high school volunteer) because I’m at a community college. If my perception is wrong, then what can I expect to do at a hospital that gives me some good experience?</p></li>
<li><p>What’re the main back-up career goals for pre-med students who majored in biology but couldn’t get into med school?</p></li>
<li><p>Any other tips/advice of what I can do to better my chances for med school would be great.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks everyone.</p>