Pre-med student spending 3 years in community college in CA?

Question

I am a community college freshman in California. I planned to transfer to Davis as a junior. I am a pre-med. The problem is : I can't finish my IGETC and major preparatory courses in two years. So I am thinking if I should stay in my community college for a total of 3 years before I actually transfer to Davis.

So, my questions are:
1) Since I will be spending 3 years in community college, am I still considered to be a "junior transfer" or a “senior transfer”? (can I transfer as a senior??)
2) After I have finish my Bachelor degree, I will apply for medical school. I prefer Davis too. However, I wonder how the medical school will think about this. What if they ask me “why you need 3 years in the community college?” during the interview?

Should I tell them the truth? (I can't finish my IGETC and major preparatory courses in two years.) well, I dont want them to think I am not smart since I really want to be admitted to a med school.

Answer 1

I went to this pre-health conference that held a discussion about community college students now in medical school. They too spent three some years at community college level before they transferred. There are several reasons why people stay in community college longer than 2 years. I.e. Financial reasons, they have to provide for family first, counselor pointed them to the wrong direction, no guidance, switched majors, etc. If any of those are your reasons for staying at community college for 3 years there are ways to solve the problem(s). There's always financial aid if it has to do with money. If it has to do with bad counselors, go to a community college that has a high transfer rate. For me personally, I drive 30 minutes everyday to a community college with reputable standards instead of driving 5 minutes to the one that's right next to home because of their lower transfer rate. It is possible to complete your IGETC in 2 years. If 15 units is to much for you to take for 4 semesters in order to get the needed 60 units in order to transfer, try spreading your classes out a little. You can probably afford to take a few classes over intersession or summer school.

Be careful about intended to stay for three years. You don't want that three to turn into four. Do what you can do now.

You apply for medical school I think your junior or senior year of college, if I'm not mistaken. I guess you can apply after you have your bachelor's degree. Read the medical school's admissions.

www.aamc.org
www.ucsd.edu (click on the med school link)

Answer 2

Just to clarify something--no university is going to care how long you spent in community college. Most schools (especially state schools in CA) understand how impacted our community colleges are right now, and it is becoming the norm now to transfer in 2 1/2-3 years (minimum). They will be more concerned with how your grades were, as well as the quality of the undergraduate institution that you earn your degree from.

When you transfer, you will be transferring at the junior level. There is no such thing as a "senior level" transfer from community college in the UC system.

Answer 3

If you really want to get into medical school transfer as soon as possible. The quality of your school is a huge factor in getting into medical schools. They will not be impressed that youspent three years in a community college. The Associate's degree doesn't matter.

UC-Davis is a great school. Spend as much time there as possible.

Answer 4

I think the best thing you can do is to make an appointment with your councelor, or the councelor in charge of transfers from Community College to State College or University. They will be able to answer any question you may have in regards to your situation, and are there to help you with the transistion.
Good luck to you, and Happy Holidays.