I need help please, advices about community college?

Question

I'm a junior at my high school, I want to be a doctor, I have a good GPA(not great but normal), I am poor since my dad passed away so my mom can't afford to pay me to a 4 year university, I want to go to pierce community college than transfer to a UC university. do you think its a good ideal? and also how and when should I sign up at pierce community college? and also what classes I take and major? I am really confused please help

Answer 1

I was a community college transfer student myself, and I think it was a great idea and a way to save money as well. Try applying for scholarships too. As long as you maintain a good gpa in college, its not that difficult to get into a UC. Look into different community colleges around your area, some colleges have special programs that help increase your chances of getting you into a UC (example the TAP program with UCLA). To become a doctor you have to major in biology, chemistry, biochemistry...etc. Take a look at assist.org, this website tells you what you need to take in community college in order to get into the major you want at UC. After you transfer to a UC, you complete your major and take the MCAT, and then you can apply to medical schools.

Answer 2

When I hear people say that they went to a JC first to save money, I doubt in how many cases this is really true. I only know very few people who turned down a UC school so that they can attend a JC first. Why turn down a sure bet and risk it at a JC? Who knows what can happen in two years? Also I really do think that there are some valuable life lessons that can be gained by attending a 4-year university, not to mention superior educational quality.

Assuming that you get accepted to a UC school and you have filled out FAFSA on time, they will estimate the entire cost of attendance including tuition, books, room and board and examine your mom’s income as reported to the IRS the previous year. Since you say that you are underprivileged, your family contribution will likely to be zero, which means that the state will figure out a way to fund your education including cost of living. Even if your family contribution comes out to be a lot, which I hardly doubt, you are always allowed to take enough federal loan out at low interests to meet your needs. Financial assistance can come in various forms but it will mainly consist of grants, low interest student loans, and work study. Grants are free-money (really free) that is based on need rather than scholastic aptitude (e.g. your grades). The payments on the loans don’t start until you find a job so you don’t need to worry about it while in school. Work study is money given granted that you find a student job but you can turn it down, usually in place of more loans. I know that some people are absolutely against borrowing money. However, if you are planning on going to medical school, your undergraduate loan will look like a pocket change.

If you choose to go to a JC, you will be under similar financial assistance as if you were at a UC. The only difference is that the amount of assistance will be significantly lower because at a JC, they will always assume that you are living at home with your parents and you are not responsible for your own rent. So I do not see where the saving comes from unless you do not qualify for any financial assistance.

Regardless of the school you pick, they will guide you through everything, including picking your classes. Just think of the day you started high school. It’s pretty much the same thing.

In sum, as long as you are a California resident and you attend a public school such as a UC, money should not be a problem. Although the financial aid money won’t be enough to go out to fancy restaurants, you should not run out.

Answer 3

It is a great way to go. I did my first two years at Pierce, got my lower division requirements completed, and then transfered to UCLA as a Junior and earned a BS in Psychobiology. Pierce is a great school for lower division sciences by the way. When I transfered to UCLA, I was the competition (no lie). It is a good way to go. No major is required. Just do your lower division requirements that are necessary to transfer to a UC university (see the councelling office on this). But don't get too comfortable with the semester system at Pierce. Transition to the quarter system can be a shock. Also, if poor it can be totally FREE!! It was for me! Talk to the financial aid people at Pierce. Live for school/science for 4-5 years (a great experience) and enjoy getting accepted to medical school. Good luck.

Answer 4

That's a great idea. A JC is good place to take college courses for less money. You can try to make better grades than you did in high school and those will transfer to your university. I went to a JC first and graduated with honors from the university I transferred to. I wouldn't have done it any other way... and I had the money. Why pay over $1,000 for the same level classes that you could have taken at a JC for less than 1/3 of the cost. Talk to the JC counselor/advisor and they will guide you to the most beneficial classes to take, and which ones are suitable for transfer. The UC's, if Cali is what you refer to, have programs geared for transfer from JC's and they are guaranteed.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

Community colleges are a great way to start. Make an appointment with a counselor at the college and tell her your plans for the future. Ask for advice on what classes you should take. Also, check online with UC to determine the classes they require so that you are taking the classes they require for the first two years. In my state, Florida, it is cheaper to attend a community college.

Some students attend college in their Senior year of college. Check with the Pierce Community College to see when Freshmen can apply.

You may want to check out scholarships available with your high school. Good luck with your education.

Answer 6

You should start by contacting Pierce and getting the answers from them. People within the college would know what courses a future pre-med 4-year University student should start off taking.

http://www.piercecollege.edu/

You should also not be afraid to apply to some of the Universities you would eventually like to attend. If you're qualified, funding will be figured out one way or another. Scholarships, grants and loans would be available to you to offset the cost, and if you work hard enough and are an MD someday, you'll be able to pay off whatever you had to borrow.

Answer 7

Community Colleges screw you dude, they bypass any right of protection a students needs. If you get hospitalized , you are still responsible for your grade. If they mess up on your grades, they wont fix it, this is what happened to me. I contacted the board about it and they just wont go after comunity colleges that break the law (does not honor ADA). Dont let its niceness fool you, stay as far away from comunity colleges as you can, they are not all like that but once your screwed your screwed, ( I worked my butt off in highschool and was in the same predicament, I regret ever going to comunity college, I am stuck in a hole now and will never get out and thus will never go to a 4 year university. Dude Iam not ranting, but If I can convince someone about the dark side community colleges hold than my mistake was worth it, dont do the same, take your time get scholarships, work, get a loan, just whatever you do stay away from them. I got lower grades on my transcript than what i actually earned and they denied my medical withdrawl (serious car accident, which they were required to honor). Not every student has had this happen to them, but it is out there none the less, all it takes is somone not to like you. The college board would protect you if you were in a 4 year university (they have to or a scene would be made) as opposed to community college were none will listen to you. Is it worth that risk? jeopardizing your chances of ever going a 4 year university? this is coming from someone who got screwed by 3 community colleges and each time the issue I had was a result of the lack in responsibility in the staff (not the teachers, they were great everytime) none of them even had assistance for students with disabilities (even though they would encourage students with disabilities to seek accomadations, which they dont offer)

Answer 8

Students that do well at a Community College do even better at a 4 year college once they transfer.

Also, you should be able to get hardship scholorships.

Answer 9

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