Does going to a community college hurt your chances of getting into grad school?

[JustAnotherGu]

I am a freshman getting ready to finish my first semester at a community college, with a strong GPA , and I'm planning on transferring to a 4 year college after this next semester is done.

I've heard a lot of people online say that medical and graduate schools look down on people who start out at community colleges, and I was wondering if there was any truth to this, and if any of you have had experiences with this.

I already know that my GPA won't follow me when I go to the 4 year university, which is somewhat disappointing.

I've already finished most of my easy classes (calc 1, physics 1, history, english, etc) and my GPA is going to be based entirely around the much more difficult high-level classes, which is something that makes me really nervous.

Will graduate schools look at my application and be understanding of the fact that my GPA is based solely on high-level classes, and that I don't have the lower level ones to "pad" my GPA?

And while we're on the subject, what happens to physics majors who don't get into grad school? I've heard a lot of people say that undergraduate physics degrees are useless for everything except high school teaching, which is not something that I want to do.

If it ends up being true that being at a community college will severely limit my chances of getting a job later on, I might just switch to computer science. I had a hard time deciding between the two at first, so this might be the thing that finally tips the scale one way or the other.

 

[Astronuc]

The performance in the upper level grades, e.g., junior and senior years, will count more for graduate school. Hopefully one will achieve a demonstrable proficiency.

 

[Highway]

"I've heard a lot of people online say that medical and graduate schools look down on people who start out at community colleges, and I was wondering if there was any truth to this, and if any of you have had experiences with this."

this is complete ********, though med schools and grad schools do care about gpa, so make sure you keep your grades up no matter where you go to school

 

[Choppy]

I already know that my GPA won't follow me when I go to the 4 year university, which is somewhat disappointing.

This is untrue. When you apply to graduate school you are generally required to submit your transcripts for all post-secondary institutions you've attende. They will apply whatever formula they use to calculate your GPA. So even if you failed out of a history program before you figured out what you wanted to do with your life the people on the admissions committee are going to see that.

Will graduate schools look at my application and be understanding of the fact that my GPA is based solely on high-level classes, and that I don't have the lower level ones to "pad" my GPA?

It doesn't work that way. If they factor in a four year cummulative GPA into their scoring system, they will look at where those marks came from. Maybe they will only factor in your last two years. It varies from school to school. What they won't do is compare four years from one student to two years from another.

And while we're on the subject, what happens to physics majors who don't get into grad school? I've heard a lot of people say that undergraduate physics degrees are useless for everything except high school teaching, which is not something that I want to do.

They end up completely useless and have no hope whatsoever of getting a job that pays more than minimum wage. (/sarcasm)

Seriously, I would look up some of the AIP survey results as they tend to track such things so that physics students will have some data to make decisions on. A lot will depend on the particular skill set the student develops and his or her interests. Many will go into engineering, programming, IT, or education, but those aren't the only options. There are options like technical sales or consulting that you could get into right away, or with some additional training I've know some physics graduates who have gone into technical professions like radiation therapy or ultrasonographer. There are a lot of open doors, but don't get discouraged because none of them are particularly labelled 'Physics BSc Required.'

 

[Matrix0]

I understand your concerns about the impact of attending a community college on your chances of getting into graduate school. However, I want to assure you that attending a community college does not automatically hurt your chances of getting into graduate school. In fact, many students who start at community colleges go on to successfully transfer to four-year universities and continue their education at the graduate level.

Firstly, it is important to remember that graduate schools consider a variety of factors in their admissions decisions, not just your undergraduate GPA. They will also consider your letters of recommendation, personal statement, research experience, and other accomplishments. So while your GPA is certainly an important component, it is not the sole determining factor.

Additionally, graduate schools understand that students come from diverse backgrounds and may have different educational paths. They will take into account the fact that you started at a community college and may have a different set of courses to show for your academic performance. As long as you maintain a strong GPA and demonstrate your academic ability in your upper-level courses, graduate schools will not view your community college experience as a disadvantage.

As for your concern about job opportunities for physics majors who do not go to graduate school, it is important to remember that a physics degree can lead to a variety of career paths, not just high school teaching. Many industries, such as technology, engineering, and finance, value the problem-solving and analytical skills that physics majors possess. So I would encourage you not to limit your options based on hearsay about the perceived usefulness of a physics degree.

In conclusion, attending a community college will not significantly limit your chances of getting into graduate school or finding a job in your field. What matters most is your academic performance and the experiences you gain during your undergraduate studies. Keep working hard and pursuing your interests, and I am confident that you will have a successful future in whichever field you choose.