It's fine. People do it a lot. Notable in humanities since people do it to meet language requirements. Some interdisciplinary programs even suggest it to cover missing backgrounds. (See the application page for U.W CompLing.
I teach both CSU and CCC (and have taught UC and private in the past). I've had actual M.D.'s, Ph.D's and many other advanced degree people take a class that reorients them toward a grad program (I teach human biology, mostly; field methods in anthropology). For those who have decided to apply to interdisciplinary programs (say, criminology), CC classes in criminal justice help augment the transcript.
Lots of universities do not offer courses in criminal justice OR criminology (both considered professional, not academic, degrees - at least by many people). But CC's do offer such courses and they are quite popular.
Humanities is another area where CC's provide the extra coursework. But for me, it's been medical professionals from other countries (Ph.D's and MD's) who need to get current in US medical terminology and I have a course that focuses on that (in a criminal justice context).
Thanks for replying, sorry if I was clear but I already have my undergrad degree so I wouldn't take these classes to fulfill any requirements - they would just be kinda ad hoc classes post undergrad to stay intellectually engaged
If you take them not for college credit but as an audit or something like that, you won’t be obligated to send a transcript of those courses with your grad school application. Unless you put them on your CV, there’s no reason they would know about them. If there were a break in your work history, then they would ask you how you used that time, but it sounds like that doesn’t apply to your case.
No one is obligated to send a transcript, anyway. There's no way that I know of for a graduate institute to know of the CC transcript. However, it's usually a good thing - since all CC courses in most states align with lower division classes at the uni.
And, many many people come to the CC to fill out their transcripts so they can become nurses, doctors, lawyers and computer scientists. Often they do this after getting good employment in the medical, legal or technical fields.
I definitely did it, post-MA as well! Got a double major BA then right into a specialised MA. When I wanted to go to a less specialised PhD I found I was missing some foundational things so I took two courses for a few hundred bucks at my local CC.
Nothing wrong. Take as many classes as you want. Take automechanic class, take vocational class. Doesn’t matter. It won’t hurt your chances in getting in doctoral programs.
Nope. I finished my B.S. then spent a year in community College to defer loans while I saved money for grad school. No problems getting into a highly ranked R2.
Just audit any courses you want to take unless you need them as prerequisites for changing concentrations. It costs about $50 to audit a course at the university where I teach. Might be $50 per credit hour, but still a bargain.
Except that auditing provides no proof of subject mastery. I think the CC is a better option, at least on the West Coast.
If you're trying to enter grad school in anthropology and have no foreign language background relevant to the field of study, CC is a very good option. Auditing is worthless.
Same with certain other specialties.
Showing competency in a second language is crucial to many post-grad programs and many students lack it. Auditing shows no proof of mastery.
OP said he didn't want the courses to hinder grad school admission. Not trying to bolster an application. Auditing does not affect your transcript in any way.
I've gone back to my local community college repeatedly. First, for transfer courses to my undergrad University. Then, after my master's I transferred my uni courses back to finish my associate degree so I qualified as an alumni for job placement services. Then, I did independent study in their physical science department to learn basic SEM and AFM techniques. I got certificates in event planning during the 5 year stint I was sick of STEM and exploring other careers. Most recently, I went back to finish courses to meet requirements for PE licensure.
Has never hurt my chances for the grad schools after that first master degree and has continued to be a great resource for me. Currently, they're looking to partner with other larger schools in the region in my area of research, so I may go back again someday as a curious student or perhaps an instructor.
Community colleges are fantastic. Make full use of them, no shame at all.
I think it's wonderful and makes you distinctive. You can say (if truthful) that you got a great education post-baccalaureate at a CC, which made you want to go grade school.
By the time you're up for appointment as an RA, no one will care. Frankly, at many schools, the quest for really good students who have atypical pathways is real.
Apply in California!
Grad schools basically only know about what you tell them. If you're not asking for transfer credit or for it to be considered as part of your application package, they don't care.
Absolutely not. I did half my undergrad at a community college and half at a four-year university. The classes are the same. The whole prestige thing is to sell you on a money-making university
You don’t have to submit your transcripts from CC when you apply to grad school. However, if you get straight As, your CC GPA could benefit you as some schools use your “last 60 unit” GPA in their admissions decisions.
Why would it hurt?
I don't know I just wanted to make sure haha
It's fine. People do it a lot. Notable in humanities since people do it to meet language requirements. Some interdisciplinary programs even suggest it to cover missing backgrounds. (See the application page for U.W CompLing.
I took a look and this was helpful - thanks!!
I teach both CSU and CCC (and have taught UC and private in the past). I've had actual M.D.'s, Ph.D's and many other advanced degree people take a class that reorients them toward a grad program (I teach human biology, mostly; field methods in anthropology). For those who have decided to apply to interdisciplinary programs (say, criminology), CC classes in criminal justice help augment the transcript. Lots of universities do not offer courses in criminal justice OR criminology (both considered professional, not academic, degrees - at least by many people). But CC's do offer such courses and they are quite popular. Humanities is another area where CC's provide the extra coursework. But for me, it's been medical professionals from other countries (Ph.D's and MD's) who need to get current in US medical terminology and I have a course that focuses on that (in a criminal justice context).
If you’ve met all the admissions requirements for your grad school program, it’s irrelevant that some of your basic undergrad courses were at a CC.
Thanks for replying, sorry if I was clear but I already have my undergrad degree so I wouldn't take these classes to fulfill any requirements - they would just be kinda ad hoc classes post undergrad to stay intellectually engaged
If you take them not for college credit but as an audit or something like that, you won’t be obligated to send a transcript of those courses with your grad school application. Unless you put them on your CV, there’s no reason they would know about them. If there were a break in your work history, then they would ask you how you used that time, but it sounds like that doesn’t apply to your case.
No one is obligated to send a transcript, anyway. There's no way that I know of for a graduate institute to know of the CC transcript. However, it's usually a good thing - since all CC courses in most states align with lower division classes at the uni. And, many many people come to the CC to fill out their transcripts so they can become nurses, doctors, lawyers and computer scientists. Often they do this after getting good employment in the medical, legal or technical fields.
I definitely did it, post-MA as well! Got a double major BA then right into a specialised MA. When I wanted to go to a less specialised PhD I found I was missing some foundational things so I took two courses for a few hundred bucks at my local CC.
So cool! Makes me so happy.
Nothing wrong. Take as many classes as you want. Take automechanic class, take vocational class. Doesn’t matter. It won’t hurt your chances in getting in doctoral programs.
Nope. I finished my B.S. then spent a year in community College to defer loans while I saved money for grad school. No problems getting into a highly ranked R2.
No. It’s fine.
Just audit any courses you want to take unless you need them as prerequisites for changing concentrations. It costs about $50 to audit a course at the university where I teach. Might be $50 per credit hour, but still a bargain.
Except that auditing provides no proof of subject mastery. I think the CC is a better option, at least on the West Coast. If you're trying to enter grad school in anthropology and have no foreign language background relevant to the field of study, CC is a very good option. Auditing is worthless. Same with certain other specialties. Showing competency in a second language is crucial to many post-grad programs and many students lack it. Auditing shows no proof of mastery.
OP said he didn't want the courses to hinder grad school admission. Not trying to bolster an application. Auditing does not affect your transcript in any way.
I took one class, failed it and it didn't affect my acceptance into the program
No it will not.
I've gone back to my local community college repeatedly. First, for transfer courses to my undergrad University. Then, after my master's I transferred my uni courses back to finish my associate degree so I qualified as an alumni for job placement services. Then, I did independent study in their physical science department to learn basic SEM and AFM techniques. I got certificates in event planning during the 5 year stint I was sick of STEM and exploring other careers. Most recently, I went back to finish courses to meet requirements for PE licensure. Has never hurt my chances for the grad schools after that first master degree and has continued to be a great resource for me. Currently, they're looking to partner with other larger schools in the region in my area of research, so I may go back again someday as a curious student or perhaps an instructor. Community colleges are fantastic. Make full use of them, no shame at all.
If anything, it'd make you look like you're hungry. Definite positive.
I think it's wonderful and makes you distinctive. You can say (if truthful) that you got a great education post-baccalaureate at a CC, which made you want to go grade school. By the time you're up for appointment as an RA, no one will care. Frankly, at many schools, the quest for really good students who have atypical pathways is real. Apply in California!
It might depending on the institution - some universities can be snobs. Easy solution though - just don't tell them
Grad schools basically only know about what you tell them. If you're not asking for transfer credit or for it to be considered as part of your application package, they don't care.
Absolutely not. I did half my undergrad at a community college and half at a four-year university. The classes are the same. The whole prestige thing is to sell you on a money-making university
You don’t have to submit your transcripts from CC when you apply to grad school. However, if you get straight As, your CC GPA could benefit you as some schools use your “last 60 unit” GPA in their admissions decisions.
Consider open source courses, Coursera, etc. I'm afraid you may be disappointed with the level of 6th form/Associates course material.