If you’re working toward an associate’s degree and you hope to apply to medical school after transferring to a four-year institution, here’s something to think about:  You may want to delay your medical school application until after you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree instead of applying after your first year at the new school. 

Medical admissions committee members just don’t have the time to educate themselves about the quality of courses and instruction at every community college from which they might receive transcripts.  Some simply assume across the board that the quality is inferior to that of four-year schools.  They may well be wrong, but perception is often more powerful than truth. 

To maximize your chances at the schools of your choice, apply with attending two years’ of courses from your four-year school rather than one.  This extended period will also give you more time to build a record of activities at the new school and develop relationships with faculty members who will be happy to write recommendations for you when you do apply.    

By Joan Davis. She has years of experience in medical school admissions. You can tap it with Accepted's medical school admissions consulting and essay editing.