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Yes, course difficulty does matter. Also, depending on the school, taking certain “difficult” courses are important. But, not if, by doing so, will hurt your GPA. Ideally, adcoms want to see A’s in multiple upper level courses. Good luck!
 
IT really depends. If you want high GPA, then you can take the easiest of classes and get a high GPA. Adcoms will see it. IF you take harder classes, they will also notice it.

This matters specially in case of post bac or masters. If you are in a masters program, try to take the harder classes to improve your chances of getting in.
 
Most certainly! The adcom will notice that you have challenged yourself in college to prepare for the rigors of dental school, but your GPA needs to pass the screening process in order for the adcom to even review the courses you've taken. My suggestion is to have a balance of easy and difficult courses, perhaps balance some of the 3000 & 4000 level courses with general education components that you need to fulfill for graduation.
 
Pre-dentals get this all wrong because they confuse course load with course difficulty.

Course difficulty does NOT matter, as long as the course is at a normal 4-year university. Getting an A in Ecology (typically thought of as an easier course) is viewed the exact same as getting an A in Cell Biology.

That's because the admissions team isn't going to penalize someone for taking courses that genuinely interest them, or for picking a certain major. And schools are very open about this.

Art majors (typically thought of as an "easier" major than Biological Sciences majors) have the exact same chance of getting accepted into dental school as someone who majored in Biochemistry or Physics.

Your academic performance matters, not the courses.

Course load: Important because it shows you can handle a lot of courses, which you will need to be able to do in dental school.

Course/Professor difficulty: Something only students at your school know. There's no objective way to measure this.

School difficulty: As long as your pre-reqs are completed at a 4-year university (not a community college), then school difficulty has little to no weight.

If you need a boost in your GPA, stop taking courses to try to play the part. Put the ego aside and take the courses that will allow you to show that you can perform academically. Also, take courses that genuinely interest you...it'll make studying seem like less of a chore and you'll probably end up performing better too!

Hope that helps 🙂

- The Predenting Team
 
PreDenting said:
Pre-dentals get this all wrong because they confuse course load with course difficulty.

Course difficulty does NOT matter, as long as the course is at a normal 4-year university. Getting an A in Ecology (typically thought of as an easier course) is viewed the exact same as getting an A in Cell Biology.

That's because the admissions team isn't going to penalize someone for taking courses that genuinely interest them, or for picking a certain major. And schools are very open about this.

Art majors (typically thought of as an "easier" major than Biological Sciences majors) have the exact same chance of getting accepted into dental school as someone who majored in Biochemistry or Physics.

Your academic performance matters, not the courses.

Course load: Important because it shows you can handle a lot of courses, which you will need to be able to do in dental school.

Course/Professor difficulty: Something only students at your school know. There's no objective way to measure this.

School difficulty: As long as your pre-reqs are completed at a 4-year university (not a community college), then school difficulty has little to no weight.

If you need a boost in your GPA, stop taking courses to try to play the part. Put the ego aside and take the courses that will allow you to show that you can perform academically. Also, take courses that genuinely interest you...it'll make studying seem like less of a chore and you'll probably end up performing better too!

Hope that helps 🙂

- The Predenting Team
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Not true at all. Several deans of admission have spoken to my predental society about judging students based of the courses they took rather than just the number of hours. They recommended histology, immunology, microbio, anatomy and physiology, and biochem 2, emphasizing that your application looks bad if you don’t take these courses.
 
AppalachianDentalBoy said:
Not true at all. Several deans of admission have spoken to my predental society about judging students based of the courses they took rather than just the number of hours. They recommended histology, immunology, microbio, anatomy and physiology, and biochem 2, emphasizing that your application looks bad if you don’t take these courses.
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Courses in histology, immunology, microbiology, anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology are recommended. Those courses are recommended to better prepare you for the rigors of dental school, in which these same courses will be revisited.

The difference is understanding and prioritizing what matters most in the admissions process. Academic performance is weighed more heavily than "difficulty of courses." The former can be objectively measured, while the latter can not be.

Beyond the "highly recommended" coursework, priority should be given to showing a strong academic record.

While a "B-" or "C" in Cell Biology communicates that you are NOT able to academically handle similar courses, an "A" in Ecology shows that you have what it takes to get A's when it comes to commitment, study skills, etc, whether that be the case or not...that's just reality.
 
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PreDenting said:
Pre-dentals get this all wrong because they confuse course load with course difficulty.

Course difficulty does NOT matter, as long as the course is at a normal 4-year university. Getting an A in Ecology (typically thought of as an easier course) is viewed the exact same as getting an A in Cell Biology.

That's because the admissions team isn't going to penalize someone for taking courses that genuinely interest them, or for picking a certain major. And schools are very open about this.

Art majors (typically thought of as an "easier" major than Biological Sciences majors) have the exact same chance of getting accepted into dental school as someone who majored in Biochemistry or Physics.

Your academic performance matters, not the courses.

Course load: Important because it shows you can handle a lot of courses, which you will need to be able to do in dental school.

Course/Professor difficulty: Something only students at your school know. There's no objective way to measure this.

School difficulty: As long as your pre-reqs are completed at a 4-year university (not a community college), then school difficulty has little to no weight.

If you need a boost in your GPA, stop taking courses to try to play the part. Put the ego aside and take the courses that will allow you to show that you can perform academically. Also, take courses that genuinely interest you...it'll make studying seem like less of a chore and you'll probably end up performing better too!

Hope that helps 🙂

- The Predenting Team
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I have to disagree with the majority of what you said in your first post. I have spoken to several adcom people who specifically told me that they want to see certain upper level classes in the transcripts. I do not think it’s smart to allow your GPA to suffer, but a heavy course load as well as taking certain upper level courses is important...this is a clear way for adcom people to determine that you are ready to handle the rigor of dental school.
 
“Higher level sciences courses” does not always equate to harder classes even if intuitively you would think so.

How would adcoms even know if one biology course is harder or easier. My “advanced” science courses were so much easier than the weed out general science requirements.
 
400 or 4000 level class are more demanding than a 100 or 1000 level class.
 
I like these admissions consultants that have popped up as of late and speak with the utmost authority on matters. Looking at what they’re charging y’all, maybe I need to get in on this “consulting.” Here I am on SDN spouting advice for free like a sucker!

D5A7E5D7-9D54-4698-9816-284AA16BA7D1.gif


Big Hoss
 
Big Time Hoosier said:
I like these admissions consultants that have popped up as of late and speak with the utmost authority on matters. Looking at what they’re charging y’all, maybe I need to get in on this “consulting.” Here I am on SDN spouting advice for free like a sucker!

View attachment 263681

Big Hoss
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LOL
boghossdentalschoolapp.com
one page only
that says
"CHOOSE THE CHEAPEST OPTION"
 
Big Time Hoosier said:
I like these admissions consultants that have popped up as of late and speak with the utmost authority on matters. Looking at what they’re charging y’all, maybe I need to get in on this “consulting.” Here I am on SDN spouting advice for free like a sucker!



Big Hoss
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If you're good at something never do it for free Big Hoss, you know that

More people to help kids get into schools where they'll have loans north of $500k post graduation, $4k for pre-dent consulting will be less than their monthly payment on a 20 year plan
 
Course load don't matter. Protect your GPA
Course difficulty? Just take your pre-reqs (including recommended science upper division if those aren't already included in your major) and major requirement classes
 
Allsmiles! said:
400 or 4000 level class are more demanding than a 100 or 1000 level class.
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depends entirely on the professor. my 1000 level honors biology was more demanding than my 4000 level human reproduction class
 
Big Time Hoosier said:
I like these admissions consultants that have popped up as of late and speak with the utmost authority on matters. Looking at what they’re charging y’all, maybe I need to get in on this “consulting.” Here I am on SDN spouting advice for free like a sucker!

View attachment 263681

Big Hoss
Click to expand...

with the cost of dental school rising, why not increase the cost of being pre-dental as well?
 
Big Time Hoosier said:
I like these admissions consultants that have popped up as of late and speak with the utmost authority on matters. Looking at what they’re charging y’all, maybe I need to get in on this “consulting.” Here I am on SDN spouting advice for free like a sucker!

View attachment 263681

Big Hoss
Click to expand...
I've been considering reporting them to artist. They post almost as frequently as I do and I'm always online...
 
princeafrica said:
depends entirely on the professor. my 1000 level honors biology was more demanding than my 4000 level human reproduction class
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LOL...I wish I had one of your professors for my 4000 level classes! All my 1000 classes were stupidly easy...4000 level was a whole different ball game. Also, I attended an ALL honors college...every single class was honors level so I’m comparing apples to apples.
 
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