<p>14x - </p>
<p>1) VERY few people go from CC to "top schools". The data is out there that while something like 85% of students entering CC believe they will transfer to a 4 year school, fewer than half that number ever do, and even fewer graduate from a 4 year school.</p>
<p>2) Most students going to a CC are going because of cost, and as such are going to stay local, or instate at the very furthest. While you may live in CA and thus head to the UC's (which I think you're giving too much credit to the bottom schools in that system), your average CC student elsewhere doesn't have the UCLA's and UCB' to head to.</p>
<p>3) I think you're underestimating what's really going on at the so-called "low ranked state schools". LSU may not be highly ranked by USNWR, but it's still a Research I university - as are most Land-Grant institutions that you'd probably call "low ranked". That high level of research activity - along with the labs with research opportunities, the types of professors it attracts, the types of facilities on campus, etc - far exceeds your standard CC in which most profs DON'T have PhD's, there's very little or no research going on, and most students are too busy working to be involved on campus. The fact of the matter is that they're inherently unequal. No matter how much you believe youre being challenged at CC, and how easy a course at LSU might be, perception is going to say that academics at the 4 year school are superior. Further, as I've discussed time and time again, the lack of continuity that going to a CC requires - due to moving from place to place - is without a doubt detrimental to some degree to any and every applicant that goes there. It's not just the academics.</p>
<p>4) The bottom line remains - going to CC is not a death sentence, but it's certainly no feather in your cap. It does have negative effects, and given how competitive the med school admissions game is, I (and the others on this board) can't in good conscious recommend it unless there are extenuating reasons for attendance.</p>
<p>@ departed: There's nothing inherently wrong about Calc II, just that for many people, math is not a strong point, and it's a class with little relevance to medical school. Further, very few medical schools require it. So in most cases it's a risky class gradewise with only minimal/variable benefits on the back end. Given that Fried Rice is complaining about having difficulty in math classes already, it's not wise he takes that class unless he's required to in order to complete his intended major. </p>
<p>@ Fried Rice:
You're in a bad spot - you know that. While I DON'T think you have to give up the dream RIGHT NOW, you are walking on the razor's edge...one bad semester, and you're sunk. It's impossible to say exactly what your chances are without an MCAT score, but you have to get a minimum 3.4 GPA by graduation to have really any hope at all. Certainly you need the highest MCAT score you can. I don't like to say that a certain MCAT score is going to make or break you, but you'll be a lot more competitive with a 33+ than you will with a 30...unless you happen to be an underrepresented minority. A little exploration of other career options would be a smart thing to do for you (and every other pre-med - even if they have a 4.0) regardless. Certainly DO schools, followed by Physician's Assistant are important options if you're tied to a surgical subspecialty. Other options such as Optometry and nursing (with the idea of eventually becoming a Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Practitioner) do exist.</p>