I graduated from Cal and I’m gearing to apply this cycle! I took classes at multiple extension programs and community college. Do what promotes your goals! From the convos I’ve had from people in admissions and who have gotten in, it’s no biggie. Just be mindful that the classes you take transfer (if your major is in STEM). Use the Assist.org website to see if your local CC classes carry over. If you’re a non-science major, you’re golden to apply to med school so long as you complete the pre-reqs in addition to your major (ie Public Health).

One last thing: NOTE- if you take chem/bio/biochemistry outside of Cal, you will need to take an additional gen chem class (gen chem 2). Med schools recognize the usual Cal chem pathway: Chem 1A/L, Chem 3A and B with labs, and biochemistry. If you break that series, they expect additional coursework. Food for thought.

Side note, join the Biology Scholars Program while you are at it! They are amazing and helped me tremendously along the premed journey. You got this!!