Hey all. I’m currently a junior in high school, and at the end of this year I’ll have all the credits and requirements that I need to graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma. I have been doing fairly well in high school, with my current unweighted GPA being a 3.7 and having taken 9 AP classes (including this year). I want to do pre-med and go to medical school as well.
So my question is – should I graduate high school a year early, do 1 year at community college, and then transfer into a 4-year university? Will it look better or worse to potential universities? Will it affect my chances at medical school?
I also have the option to stay in high school for my senior year, but take several courses at my local community college for credit… however, if I did this, community college courses will be online, which does not fit with my learning style whatsoever.
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This is a tough question. The fact is, any med school you apply to is going to look askance at premeds taken at a community college, because they know that the level is much lower than at a 4 yr college. I would recommend that you stay in high school and take the best classes available to you at your high school. Take all the AP classes that have good teachers, even if you think you’re not interested in those subjects. If the teachers are good, you’ll enjoy the classes. Take classes that will fulfill gen eds at the colleges you’re thinking of applying to - that will make it easier on you in college, while you’re taking premeds, to not have to do a lot of distributional gen-ed classes, too.
AP classes in person with good teachers would be much better for you than online community college classes.
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Another thing to consider is finances. Some colleges will consider you a transfer student if you take any community college courses after graduating high school (as opposed to dual enrollment classes while you are in high school) and this can greatly affect the financial aid/merit you may be eligible for. There are certain scholarship opportunities only available to first year college students. You’d need to look at your prospective 4 year colleges closely.
If you want to stay in Community College and get an Associates Degree (usually 2 years) before transferring to a 4 year college that might save you some money.
What state are you in?
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Can you take “fun” classes that may transfer to and allow you to graduate college a year early? Social sciences, english classes? Since the advice on CC seems to be to go to inexpensive colleges if your plan is medical school maybe the college you choose will accept the dual enrollment classes for credit and you can finish college in three years but still take all of the pre-med requirements at the four year institution? Others here know better than me but that is what I did 30 years ago.
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