<p>Will it lessen (or diminish) my chances of getting into an above average-top medical school?</p>
<p>Yes and no…it depends.</p>
<p>If you start at a CC, then don’t take your pre-med pre-reqs there…except maybe Frosh Comp classes and any math classes that you might need prior to taking Calculus. Don’t worry about getting an AA (unless your transfer agreement requires it). Just do the rest of your Gen Ed classes - depending on where you’ll be transferring to. Then transfer as soon as you can. </p>
<p>Going to a CC first will likely mean applying to med school after you get your BS because you’ll be squeezing in your pre-med pre-reqs at your 4 year university.</p>
<p>Thought that you would appreciate the POV of someone who went to a CC and is now a 2nd year (about to be 3rd year) med student. So… first things first. The “rank” of your medical school, unlike law school or any other graduate school, doesn’t really matter, if at all. So, your question should really be “will it hurt my chances of getting into A medical school”, not “an average-above average medical school.” </p>
<p>Medical schools all teach pretty much the same curriculum, and you all take the same exams which are standardized across the country (the National Board of Medical Exams based on specific subjects and the USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3). Residency programs and what specialty you go into don’t depend on which med school you went to - your exams scores are what matter. And your exam score depends on YOU - not the “rank” of the school. Believe me when I say that going to a better ranked med school does not equate with a higher Step 1 score. It’s how hard you work when you’re in med school. </p>
<p>It’s kinda like how med schools don’t emphasize TOO much on the rank of your undergrad - if you have an awesome MCAT score, it doesn’t matter WHERE you went. This is very different from grad schools and law schools where rankings Really Matter. </p>
<p>So, now that we have THAT out of the way… I went to a CC and then transferred to UCLA. I did all of my premed coursework at the CC and then busted my ass at UCLA. Going to a CC doesn’t necessarily kill your dreams of being a doctor. Getting bad grades will. Now, going to a CC probably will mean you won’t get to go to Harvard or Yale (although a 38 MCAT could go a long ways towards that), but as I explained above, that doesn’t matter. You CAN still get into a perfectly fine medical school even if you went to a CC first. </p>
<p>So, take things in little steps: </p>
<p>Get good grades. (A’s mostly, occasional B’s, and yes, a C won’t murder your chances - just make sure it’s a VERY rare occurrence.) </p>
<p>Transfer to a good university that has the resources you need - undergrad research opportunities, good faculty to write you nice letters of recommendations, and a nearby hospital/clinic that you can shadow at. </p>
<p>Again, excel in classes, then kick ass on the MCAT and you’re set! Of course, I make it sound so easy, but just remember - small steps. You’ll get there eventually if you really put your all into it. Medicine is not for the faint of heart, or for the fickle. You have to KNOW that you love medicine, and to know that, you need some experience first. Try volunteering at your local hospital to make sure you enjoy the lifestyle. </p>
<p>Hope that helps! If you have any other questions, I’ll be lurking around. :)</p>
<p>I just wanted to add something important: if you’re planning on going to medical school, you need to map out your courses very carefully. Do you know what you’re going to major in yet? Because you need to take into account that you need a year of chem, a year ochem, a year of physics, a year of calculus and a minimum year of biology, plus a year of english. I recommend biochem on top of that. </p>
<p>So, even though it would be nice to take those premed courses at the university that you transfer to since it would mean your grades are worth more, that is most likely impossible if you plan on majoring in a science course where these classes are prerequisites for the upper division courses.</p>
<p>I took everything but biochem at my CC, then continued to major in Molecular Biology after I transferred. It meant I had to take 18 credits a semester and full summer and winter courses to transfer in time. So keep that in mind - also, you can’t take ochem until you take general chem, so I would start the chem classes first. Otherwise, you run the risk of not finishing the coursework on time since not every chem class is offered every term and you have to go in sequence. Hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>EKC,</p>
<p>I think I know you.</p>
<p>Go study.</p>
<p>Only if you do the dishes this time.</p>