UCILMSA

Community College Students

Tips and advice:

Seek out an advisor you connect with and who will take the time to help you research your career. This will help you decide if medicine is right for you.
Financial Aid (Pell grant, Cal grant, fee waiver, etc.) is available to students. Apply early and be aware of all deadlines. Visit your orientation days, as you will get a lot of important information and the opportunity to ask questions. Learn about school resources like Extended Opportunity Programs (EOPs), Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA), and more.
Seek a medical student mentor or pre-health advisor at a 4-year university. Make sure this person is qualified and knows what medical schools are looking for in a competitive applicant.
Don’t sign up for too much. College is not high school and the transition can be hard. Don’t overload yourself on tough science, math, and English courses. Take it easy, get used to college, take some General Education classes, get used to having to plan your studying and not having classes everyday, and find friends and support to study with and keep you focused and going!
You will need to pick a major, not immediately, but after you’ve had an opportunity to take some different types of classes. Look at the courses required for majors that interest you. Use your mentors to help make this decision. Once you pick your major, you should research what the transfer requirements are for 4-year universities, and that major. Most universities either hold fairs or visit campuses to give out information. Attend these events whenever possible and ask questions.
Assess what you can honestly take on and be successful. GPA is very important. Some students get side-lined by bad grades and have to spend a lot of time and money making up for it later. GPA is easy to damage and hard to repair! If you have to work, take a light courseload and limit your extracurriculars. Grades come first!
Get to know your professors well (science AND non-science). Visit during office hours, make a good impression, let them know your goals, and use this time to get help on homework or topics you are not understanding. Ask for feedback. You will need professors to write you letters of recommendation down the road, so make those personal connections and keep them updated on your progress.
Talk to your family about your plans and invite them to school events. Let them know what it’s like for you, how much time and dedication it takes, so they can help make your life a bit easier. Sometimes a student’s journey to college is a new journey for the whole family, and you have to let them in on what you’re dealing with and experiencing.
Organize your desk and make a good study space for yourself. Set up the best environment possible and if you can’t, find your favorite library corner, coffeeshop, or study room and get cozy there. Find the type of study environment where you are most focused and successful.
Find ways to manage your stress: exercise, walk your dog, listen to music, etc.
In most cases, it's best to do all your pre-med courses before you transfer. Do well and try not to repeat. Visit the AAMC for requirements (remember they differ a little bit depending on the school). Get a solid foundation. This will be important for success in other classes and for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Get tutoring and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The best students get tutored!