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Prerequisite Classes at a Community College?
Hi everyone,
I'm a college student studying on a pre-med track, and I'm planning to take math (calculus) and physics classes at a community college to help reduce the cost of my education. However, I've heard that taking prerequisites like these at a community college might hurt my chances of getting into medical school.
I want to save on tuition, but I'm a little scared that this might impact my medical school application. Has anyone had experience with this or can offer advice?
Thanks in advance!
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Angel !
I've read your other question along with this one. I see by your tags that your intention is to major in Psychology. Your other inquiry mentions that you want to do the bulk of your studies online. You also seem to want to take general ed or prerequisites in person at a community college.
Doing an online education for pre-med or psychology will short-change your education and experiences as well as possible opportunities, but you should do whatever you can after being well informed. It really should all be done in person because Psychology is not a solitary field of work, you can learn more through in class lectures and class discussions, sometimes there are special guest speakers that you'd miss out on if doing it online, and in person will offer you more support and on campus services that would be helpful to you.
Taking courses at a community college would not matter as long as the credits are able to be transferred over to a university. Each Medical School has different requirements. As long as you have a Bachelors Degree, you can apply to Medical School. Has nothing to do with if you took some classes at a community college, but like I said, each medical school has different requirements.
Go to various Medical School websites, specifically ones you'd apply to and see what their requirements are. If you go in person to college, the guidance office would be able to guide you in this 100%. It is possible to apply for Federal Financial Aid for college as well as Scholarships and Grants which would give you more financial support if you enroll as an in person student. There's a bit of online reading that you will have to do for specific information about specific colleges.
Make a list of all the community colleges in the area where you live. See if they offer online credit courses. Then with a university or Med School in mind, see if the credits transfer over to those colleges. Most times, a community college that is close by a University has an agreement with the University that their credits will transfer over. Information for this can't be generalized because each college has different guidelines in place. So you'd have to know exactly which colleges you are asking about.
Millions of people go to community colleges for courses, so it's just a matter of transferability. Online courses may not be transferrable, all the more reason to just consider doing everything on site in person. Especially for a serious major like Psychology or Pre-Med. You'll need a structured path for putting in lab or practicum hours which can be assigned by a professor. They have information about opportunities which you will need to gain experience.
I would advise returning to the person who told you that community college courses would damper your chances of getting into medical school. Ask that person to explain in detail why it would lessen your chances. My perception is that once you have a Bachelors Degree, you can apply to Medical School. Your score on the MCAT entrance exam, your GPA from undergraduate school and your hands on experience is looked at more than the type of college you went to for some courses. You will be better off also if you do not do any of it online.
So go to your Academic Counseling office soon and clarify and verify any of this information. Sometimes people just say things that are their opinion and it could affect the way you see your choices. Transferability of credits as well as doing an in person experience will be what you'll need and to get more information specifically for the actual colleges involved.
Best wishes in all you do !
I've read your other question along with this one. I see by your tags that your intention is to major in Psychology. Your other inquiry mentions that you want to do the bulk of your studies online. You also seem to want to take general ed or prerequisites in person at a community college.
Doing an online education for pre-med or psychology will short-change your education and experiences as well as possible opportunities, but you should do whatever you can after being well informed. It really should all be done in person because Psychology is not a solitary field of work, you can learn more through in class lectures and class discussions, sometimes there are special guest speakers that you'd miss out on if doing it online, and in person will offer you more support and on campus services that would be helpful to you.
Taking courses at a community college would not matter as long as the credits are able to be transferred over to a university. Each Medical School has different requirements. As long as you have a Bachelors Degree, you can apply to Medical School. Has nothing to do with if you took some classes at a community college, but like I said, each medical school has different requirements.
Go to various Medical School websites, specifically ones you'd apply to and see what their requirements are. If you go in person to college, the guidance office would be able to guide you in this 100%. It is possible to apply for Federal Financial Aid for college as well as Scholarships and Grants which would give you more financial support if you enroll as an in person student. There's a bit of online reading that you will have to do for specific information about specific colleges.
Make a list of all the community colleges in the area where you live. See if they offer online credit courses. Then with a university or Med School in mind, see if the credits transfer over to those colleges. Most times, a community college that is close by a University has an agreement with the University that their credits will transfer over. Information for this can't be generalized because each college has different guidelines in place. So you'd have to know exactly which colleges you are asking about.
Millions of people go to community colleges for courses, so it's just a matter of transferability. Online courses may not be transferrable, all the more reason to just consider doing everything on site in person. Especially for a serious major like Psychology or Pre-Med. You'll need a structured path for putting in lab or practicum hours which can be assigned by a professor. They have information about opportunities which you will need to gain experience.
I would advise returning to the person who told you that community college courses would damper your chances of getting into medical school. Ask that person to explain in detail why it would lessen your chances. My perception is that once you have a Bachelors Degree, you can apply to Medical School. Your score on the MCAT entrance exam, your GPA from undergraduate school and your hands on experience is looked at more than the type of college you went to for some courses. You will be better off also if you do not do any of it online.
So go to your Academic Counseling office soon and clarify and verify any of this information. Sometimes people just say things that are their opinion and it could affect the way you see your choices. Transferability of credits as well as doing an in person experience will be what you'll need and to get more information specifically for the actual colleges involved.
Best wishes in all you do !