Is it acceptable for a student to take postbaccalaureate science classes at a community college? While some advisors and schools may disapprove, most medical schools will not care as long as the student performs well academically. Find out why!
Questions answered here on the podcast are taken directly from premedhangout.com. Go ask your questions there and use #OPMquestion.
Also, please be sure to check out all our other podcasts on Meded Media as we try to bring you as many resources as you need on this journey.
Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.
The MCAT Minute is brought to you by Blueprint MCAT.
Blueprint MCAT offers a study planner tool where premeds can enter their anticipated MCAT date, existing schedule including free time each week, and any days they cannot study or take practice tests. The software then creates a customized study plan tailored specifically to the student’s commitments. This was promoted as a very helpful way for nontraditional students juggling work and other obligations to develop an efficient MCAT study schedule.
“Hey there Dr. Gray, super grateful for everything you’re doing for the pre med community. You’ve helped me jump back into my journey when I thought all hope was lost. I love hearing that story. I hear it so much as someone who went through school reading Student Doctor Network. I was amazed and relieved to find more people like me through your podcast.
I am a nontraditional student supporting myself through a full-time scribing job. I’m pursuing a do-it-yourself postbac through a local community college for both affordability and accessibility.
I’m just a few extra science classes to increase my science GPA and hone my study skills microbiology, biochemistry, etc. I already have my bachelor’s degree in biology but have a small downward trend, given my last two years of college were during the beginning and height of the pandemic. My undergraduate GPA was around 3.3 cumulative 3.2 science. I’m not looking for a major GPA shift, just something to show I’ve learned from my past mistakes.
However, one of my premed advisors advised strongly against this and even seemed disgusted that I had started taking classes at community college.
I’ve seen mixed opinions about how medical schools view community college courses, particularly after one has earned a bachelor’s degree at a four year university. For someone like me who cannot afford courses through a four year university – and can’t afford to quit their job for a postbac – do medical schools actually care if you take postbac classes at a community college?”
There’s no denying that differing opinions exist when it comes to the perceived value of community college education. Regrettably, we cannot unite as a society or even as a species and declare that community colleges are not inferior. Tragically, some elitist members of higher institutions look down upon community colleges with disdain, perceiving them as lesser.
This prejudice suggests that choosing a community college somehow reflects an individual’s inferiority. Despite our best efforts, we cannot alter these entrenched perceptions. It’s a bitter reality we must acknowledge.
As individuals navigating through this process, it is crucial to understand the existence of these differing opinions. Yet, it should also be noted that the majority of people and academic institutions accept and appreciate community college education.
Yes, you might face questions along your journey. You may be asked why you chose this path. Your response could be simple and honest – affordability, flexible scheduling due to full-time work, or the specific courses offered by the community college that suited your needs better. Perhaps you couldn’t afford a traditional postbaccalaureate program or non-degree seeking student status at a four-year university. Maybe you realized that you wouldn’t be able to register for the courses you needed elsewhere.
“As long as you have a reason for why you were doing this, then for the majority of schools out there, you’re going to be fine.”
Whatever your reason, as long as it’s valid and true to your circumstances, most schools will respect your choice. Remember, the majority of educational institutions will accept your decision and, most importantly, the value you’ve gained from your community college experience.
Regrettably, some academic advisors and institutions still adhere to the outdated notion that community colleges are universally inferior. Changing their opinion is not an easy task. Institutions like Northwestern, for instance, are known to harbor a certain bias against community college coursework. Unfortunately, this is an issue we have little control over.
However, it’s important to remember that there are over 200 medical schools in the United States, each with its own admissions committee and individual review process. A significant number of these individuals and committees have no issues with applicants who have attended community colleges, as long as they have demonstrated strong academic performance.
“Admissions committees reviewing applications have no problem with you going to community college, as long as you are proving yourself academically.”
There may be questions raised about why a student transferred from one school to another, especially if there was a noticeable improvement in grades. This question could arise regardless of whether the transfer was from an Ivy League institution to a state school or vice versa. The underlying concern is whether the improved performance reflects the student’s abilities or if it’s a result of transferring to a less rigorous institution.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency to lump all community colleges together and associate them with lesser academic rigor. However, the reality paints a different picture. Often, community colleges and four-year institutions share the same professors, syllabus, coursework, and textbooks.
Despite this, the institution’s name tends to carry more weight due to societal perceptions. It’s crucial to challenge these biases and recognize the value that community colleges bring to the academic landscape.
There are defined levels or “ranks” that different institutions, programs, and roles are viewed through. For example, community colleges are often looked down upon as being “less than” four-year universities. Similarly, state schools may be considered inferior to private or Ivy League institutions.
This hierarchical mentality also exists within medical training, with medical students viewed as below residents, who are below fellows, and so on. This type of ranking system unfairly judges institutions and individuals based on superficial factors rather than the content of their character or abilities.
While hierarchies may inevitably form to some degree, they should not be used to make broad generalizations or dictate worth. Biases stemming from these attitudes can negatively impact how some evaluators view applicants’ educational backgrounds and achievements.
Ultimately, your decisions regarding your education should be based on factors such as your life circumstances, budget, and schedule. If community college fits these criteria, then that’s the path you should take.
When applying to schools, tell your story, and understand that while some institutions may not appreciate your choices, many others will respect them. The most important thing is to be able to articulate your reasons for choosing a particular path.
“Do what fits your schedule, do what fits your life, do what it fits your morals and ethics.”
In the course of your academic journey, you’ll make numerous decisions – from selecting activities to choosing courses. It’s crucial not to overanalyze these choices because, ultimately, the answer to whether they are “right” or “wrong” often depends on various factors. For instance, will every institution accept community college credits? That’s uncertain. It depends on the school.
In recent years, it’s rare to find schools outright refusing to accept community college courses. However, some institutions subtly suggest that community colleges are subpar. Northwestern, for instance, uses phrases like “the rigor of the school”, which implicitly implies that community colleges are of lesser value.
This bias is an unfortunate reality, and there’s not much we can do to change these ingrained opinions. The best approach is to focus on your journey, make the choices that suit your needs, and remain confident in the value of your educational experiences.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
I just received my admission to XXXXX! This is unreal and almost feels like I am dreaming. I want to thank you for all of your help with my application. I cannot overstate how influential your guidance and insight have been with this result and I am eternally grateful for your support!
IM SO HAPPY!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP, IM INDEBTED TO YOU! Truly, thank you so much for all your help. Thank you doesnt do enough.
I want to take a few moments and thank you for all of your very instructive, kind and consistent feedback and support through my applications and it is your wishes, feedback, and most importantly your blessings that have landed me the acceptance!
I got into XXXXX this morning!!!! It still has not hit me that I will be a doctor now!! Thank you for all your help, your words and motivation have brought me to this point.
I wanted to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your help in providing feedback during my secondary applications. Your guidance has been instrumental in my journey.
Just wanted to share my wonderful news! I received my first medical school acceptance! Thank you for all that you do for us Application Academy!!!
I am excited to tell you that I just got my third interview invite from XXXXX today! I can’t believe it. I didn’t even know if I was good enough to get one, let alone three – by mid-September. Thank you so much for all of your help and support up to this point; I would not be in this position without it!!
I wanted to thank you for helping me prepare for my XXXXX interview. Even in a 30-minute advising session, I learned so much from you. Thank you for believing in me, and here’s to another potential success story from one of your advisees!
I just received an acceptance with XXXXX! This is so exciting and such a huge relief and so nice to have one of our top choice schools! I also received an interview with XXXXX which brings the total up to 20 interviews! Thank so much, none of this would have been possible without you!
Join our newsletter to stay up to date
* By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Resources
Advising Services
Podcasts & Youtube
Books
About
