Taking pre-req classes at a community college

[umd011]

I was wondering if taking pre-req classes at a local community college would look back when applying. I'll be graduating in about a year with a BS in psychology. I'm assuming my GPA will be about a 3.0-3.2. My GPA isn't something that I'm worried about. It definitely could have been worse (due to personal problems). I'm planning on taking a year or two off, hopefully working as a research assistant. I'd like to attend a doctoral program in neuroscience after my gap year. However, I only have one year of biology courses, and chemistry 1 under my belt, as well as Calc 1 (this was when I tried to be a biology major but my life came crumbling on me and I decided to switch majors to something easier). I know I'll need a full year of chemistry, as well as orgo, physics, and probably another advanced biology course. Taking these classes at a 4 year unviersity will cost me a nice chunk of change I don't have...will it hurt my chances if I took them at a community college? I do plan to take a few graduate level courses as a non-degree seeking student (after I've taken the pre-req courses and saved up some money). And I'm definitely going to try my hardest to see if I can land an RA position after graduation.

I'm also considering calling up a few programs and asking them personally.

I know the areas of neuroscience I'm most interested in. I've done my research on a few programs. I suppose I'm mostly worried that not taking them as an undergrad will make my application look weak.

Also, the university I attend now does not allow students to take classes at another college. I can't take classes at a CC and have them transfer.

Edited May 16, 2011 by umd011

[lyonessrampant]

I don't know what state you're in, but where I'm from, it would be hard to find that level of classes at a community college, and if they were at a CC, they're substantially less difficult than at the 4-year institutions. That said, I know that CC systems in California, for example, are a lot better than where I live, so I think do your homework, maybe sit in on a couple of those classes at a CC and at your 4-year college, and contact programs you're interested in to see what they say. My inclination is that with a lower GPA, you might want to take those classes at your college to potentially boost your GPA and show more academic rigor on your transcript. That's just my opinion though! Good luck!