Considering dental school without science background

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

Hi all,
I am a recent graduate from a UC with a B.S. in Sociology. I am highly interested in pursuing dental school but to the point, I have no background in science (took it in high school and did ok, but wasn't serious about it then). From researching online, mostly on this forum, I've gathered that:

1. Post-bacc programs are an option
2. Majors don't matter as much as taking pre-reqs do

What I'm wondering is whether I can succeed in science? I've always taken a huge interest in biology and have fond memories of my hs bio class. I understand that hard work and determination are essential, but is it just something you either "get" or don't "get"? I'd like to consider myself fairly capable and hopefully that can be proven if I were to pursue this.
It seems that it might be a long shot for me, since from the looks of how people on this forum already had a dental career planned from the beginning and are still struggling.
I apologize in advance if this has already been addressed (which it has, to some degree on this forum) but I would like to reach out to those who took the non-traditional route.

Thank you!

I would think it would be a challenge for you, but not impossible of course. I encourage you to try!

I have always had a strong science background, and I tried to balance it with sociology and psychology. What I learned was that I wasn't very good at these subjects. Lots of my friends advised me to take intro sociology and psych as "GPA boosters" but I didn't find them to be even though I studied my hardest!

Disclaimer: I only plan on sharing my experiences and opinions. This is not me trying to give life changing advice or anything.

I am a traditional CA student with a B.S. degree in biological sciences. I hate to admit this, but biology to me is a whole lot memorization combined with some conceptual/problem solving aspects. General chemistry and physics is obviously more math and problem-solving oriented. Organic chemistry deserves a special place by itself, since is a good blend of concept understanding, problem solving, some memorization, and some creativity... imo. Some people never really get "over the hump" for physics and o-chem especially, but I am just speaking from my own personal experiences. This is a four headed monster, but with determination, hard work, and genuine interest it can actually become a four-headed cute puppy that's pleasant to be around

Even if you do the bare minimum and take one year of g-chem, o-chem, physics, and bio, you are still looking at about 1-2 years of additional schooling.
One more fun thing (not being sarcastic ) about science classes is the lab component, which takes up additional time and energy. Labs can easily become another class in it of itself (at least that's how it is like at my school with 6hr of lab time per week per upper div sci class combined with x amount time outside of lab being spent on lab reports, midterms, and lab finals).

That's all I can think of now, and thanks for reading my "essay".. I will now go back to studying for my biochem final .

Before you jump on dentistry bandwagon why not try some science courses? That should keep you busy for a couple of years.

I am enrolling in the basic bio, chem classes at my local cc to get a better grip on things. And I am planning on shadowing a family friend.

Originally Posted by ilu002

I am enrolling in the basic bio, chem classes at my local cc to get a better grip on things. And I am planning on shadowing a family friend.

Uh are you gonna take all your science classes at CC? Not the best idea....

Is it possible for you to double major? Honestly, jumping into science like that is suicide. A masters program...ok but you still need pre-reqs. I suppose you could just take your pre-reqs. You would have to take them at a university. cc schools are a no-go with adcom and with preparing you for the DAT and dental school.

You should consider PA/PT. 2-3 year programs that don't require a standardized test. Both are health professions that pay well and are well respected. They're both also hands on like dentistry is.

It's your call. It's a lot of time and money if you want to start after 4 years...you're looking at at least 2-3 years of pre-reqs and 4 years of dental school and the DAT.

Originally Posted by Parklife

Is it possible for you to double major? Honestly, jumping into science like that is suicide. A masters program...ok but you still need pre-reqs. I suppose you could just take your pre-reqs. You would have to take them at a university. cc schools are a no-go with adcom and with preparing you for the DAT and dental school.

You should consider PA/PT. 2-3 year programs that don't require a standardized test. Both are health professions that pay well and are well respected. They're both also hands on like dentistry is.

It's your call. It's a lot of time and money if you want to start after 4 years...you're looking at at least 2-3 years of pre-reqs and 4 years of dental school and the DAT.

Beyond your point about CC, I don't get this post...it is not as big of a deal as you are making it sound. I started school again with 0 science classes done in spring of last year and I applied to schools last week. I finished most of my pre-reqs and some upper level bios and will be able to work full time again this upcoming year as I take the last couple pre-reqs and get ready for D-school. What do you mean it is suicide and why do you say this person should consider PA/PT instead? You do realize they have very similar pre-reqs and what is hands on about being a PA?

Well lets break down the bare minimums.

Im gonna assume you quit your job and take out loans soo

Bio 1, Bio 2, gen chem 1, gen chem 2+Labs+Calculus+Physics 1+physics 1 lab
In the summer grab orgo 1 and 2 plus the lab...

You could do this in a year, but I suggest stretching it out over 2. I also highly suggest taking the following classes

Biochem, microbio, embryology,

human phys, Human limb development, and histology-if you you wanna get a crazy good understanding of development and seeing how things work and form.

The first year of dental school is basically under-grad sciences on roids and a fancy version of arts and crafts .

If you really wanna do this best of luck.

I was in the same situation, and it really wasn't as big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be. I was an econ major with no science classes, worked in finance for a few years, and then decided on dental school. I took a physiology class while I was working full-time to test the waters, and loved it, so I quit my full-time job, took gen chem over the summer, then physics, bio and orgo during the regular school term and got a part-time job as a dental assistant. Took the DATs in the spring (before I had actually finished all my pre-reqs, but it ended up not mattering) and applied as soon as possible. I ended up getting into 3 schools, and now I'm only a year away from being a dentist!

I agree with doc toothache though...start with one class to see if you actually like it. That's really the only way you're going to know. I went with physiology because it didn't require any pre-reqs and it seemed like the best representative of dental school. (ie, jumping right into gen chem might not be the greatest idea...it has little to no relevance in actual dentistry and may just scare the crap out of you!)

Originally Posted by ilu002

Hi all,
I am a recent graduate from a UC with a B.S. in Sociology. I am highly interested in pursuing dental school but to the point, I have no background in science (took it in high school and did ok, but wasn't serious about it then). From researching online, mostly on this forum, I've gathered that:

1. Post-bacc programs are an option Sure, but just post-bacc classes are necessary.
2. Majors don't matter as much as taking pre-reqs do For the most part yes.

What I'm wondering is whether I can succeed in science? I've always taken a huge interest in biology and have fond memories of my hs bio class. I understand that hard work and determination are essential, but is it just something you either "get" or don't "get"? I thınk ıt's not so black and whıte, people grasp scıences naturally to greater degrees than others, but each person may be naturally stronger at dıfferent areas ın the scıences as well. Also, even ıf ıt seems very dıffıcult at fırst, wıth enough hard work just about anyone can succeed.

It seems that it might be a long shot for me, since from the looks of how people on this forum already had a dental career planned from the beginning and are still struggling. It mıght or ıt mıght not be, I wouldn't jump to any conclusıons based on what you see on thıs forum regardless of background. Also, just because someone sets out to do somethıng earlıer ın theır lıfe than someone else, doesn't gıve them some huge advantage over the other person. I saw plenty of pre-meds and pre-dents who were fresh out of HS (19-22 years old) strugglıng lıke crazy ın the pre-reqs.


I apologize in advance if this has already been addressed (which it has, to some degree on this forum) but I would like to reach out to those who took the non-traditional route.

Thank you!

I thınk ıt's great that you're approachıng thıs wıth cautıon and not beıng over confıdent, but I thınk you mıght be seeıng thıs as a more dıffıcult thıng than ıt ıs. Don't get me wrong, ıt ıs a dıffıcult path, but ıt was more of a grındıng marathon to me, requırıng perserverance and patıence, rather than a clımb up a vertıcal mountaın face... sorry ıf that doesn't make sense.

Anyway, my story mıght make you belıeve ıt's less of a long shot than you thınk. In very brıef: GED, Aır Force, AS ın a health fıeld, BA ın Hıstory + pre-reqs, dental school acceptance. I'll be turnıng 29 at the begınnıng of the fall semester. I crushed my pre-reqs (3.70 sGPA, C+ ın physıcs I hurt me) and dıd average on the DAT (20 AA, 22 TS, 27 PAT), made sure I applıed faırly broadly ın terms of types of schools (prıvate, state, bıg, small, etc).

Lıke doc and Vıgılante saıd, take a scıence course or two, see how ıt goes, but do take ıt very very serıously. Also shadow a general dentıst. These ınıtıal steps wıll tell you a lot about what you're gettıng yourself ınto.

I would be careful at the pre-reqs you decide to take at a C.C. Some schools won't even accept credit for a prereq if it is taken at a C.C. Just some thought...

I'll echo same advise ...don't take pre-requisites at cc. and the idea to pursue an alternate pt field (by one poster) is a great idea aswell.

Give it some honest thought, if U have a non existent science background...u will face difficulties. It's not impossible but it will be extra hard for you.

Best of luck

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

take both general chem prereqs this summer and apply to dent school. then this next year take bio 1 and 2 ochem 1 and 2 and physics 1 and 2... then go to dental school

glad I could help

Originally Posted by MOUTHLOVER

take both general chem prereqs this summer and apply to dent school. then this next year take bio 1 and 2 ochem 1 and 2 and physics 1 and 2... then go to dental school glad I could help

Since the intro g chem courses represent ~ 25% of the science pre reqs there isn't much to go on in assessing one's ability to handle science courses, which would be sine qua non for ds, not to mention that there will be no DAT scores.

Originally Posted by MOUTHLOVER

take both general chem prereqs this summer and apply to dent school. then this next year take bio 1 and 2 ochem 1 and 2 and physics 1 and 2... then go to dental school

glad I could help

Thıs mıght be good for someone who knows they can handle scıence courses already. I found doıng orgo ın the summer to be extremely challengıng as well, and I can only assume gen chem durıng the summer wıll be more challengıng than over a regular semester due to the accelerated pace.

For the OP I don't thınk thıs would be the best ınıtıal course of actıon, just my thoughts on the summer scıence optıon ın thıs sıtuatıon.

Honestly anything is possible, I'm nearing the senior year of my degree and I just want to say I had a really hard time in high school, i couldn't wake up at 7 am consistently and because of insomnia I spent all four years napping in classes, I had a 3.5 unweighted and a 3.7 weighted and was on honor roll. I took only one AP class and I got a D and a 1 on the test.

Right now I'm at UF with a relatively good gpa (on or above the average for most dental schools) so I fully believe if you want it you can get it, I considered myself extremely weak in science before college, and I noticed I had to work harder in a lot of my classes than the rest of my peers.

I literally would spend more than half my time "studying" asking questions at my tutoring center, and don't even get me started about chem I and chem II, i had to hire a tutor because i simply wasn't getting it.

Point is, how bad do you want it? Anything is possible.

Medical/Dental/Pharmacy schools, they're not for the "smart people" very few people are actually gifted and "smart." It's just some people work harder than others. I have friends who get so excited for PASSING a class, I stopped associating myself with them because it would make me lazy. I wish I could be happy simply passing a class.

Anyways good luck, and you're right, schools don't give a damn about your degree (some say an obscure degree like art history makes you stand out) they just care about your prerequisites and how well you did in them.