25 years old guy with GED needs help.

[kwon1982]

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Hello everybody,

This is my first post, so nice to meet you all 🙂

I was wondering if I can start right now, at the age of 25 with GED only, and get into detal school.

First of all I came to US when I was 16 and I went to highschool for 2 years but dropped out for some reason and passed GED later.

Then I went to community college for like 4 years, from late 2002~2006 taking only 1~2 courses a semester while working full-time.

I've had 2~3 F's, 2~3 Withdrawls - retook those and received As,Bs

I've completed about 24~27 credit finishing with A&Bs, so i do not even have enough credit for AA at this moment.

I was wondering if I can start fresh and eventually get admitted to dental school later.

I understand it will be difficult and take looong time. I have been thinking for a long time..😳

My plan is to complete community college with good gades asap and transfer to 4 year university for BA, then dental school.

I wasn't be able to focus on school in the past because I've had many serious personal&family issues to deal with for last 3~4 years.

I am currently running my own business and doing well enough for a living.

However, I've always wanted to be a dentist since I was little kid and I would like to pursue my dream even if it is late and difficult.

Thank you guys very much and I will be waiting for your advices!!🙂

 

[rose786]

What's your gpa currently? Have you taken any of the science pre-reqs? If not I would say to try and take them at a university and not a CC. Those grades will factor into your overall gpa, so I don't think you could start "fresh." Just be sure to get some shadowing hours alongside your coursework.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is a spot on the app that even mentions where/how you graduated high school. So the fact that you have a GED might not even matter.

Many people start on this road later, I think the adcoms would admire someone with determination and experience. The fact that you're leaving a business to pursue this shows commitment, play it up in your personal statement (when you get there). Good luck.

 

[washingtonDAT]

Get your community college GPA up to a 3.5 (if it's not already), trasnsfer to a good four year university and do well (3.5 or better), get a 19AA or better on the DAT and your in!

 

[kwon1982]

my current GPA should be around 2.7 cuz ive had some F's in history classes that I dropped. I think it won't be that hard to get it up to 3.5 in CC.

I think some of science pre-reqs, such as biology, is required for me to transfer to university, not sure though. If it is, should i re-take it in university?

I have some withdrawls, as mentioned above, will that matter also?

My goal is Univ. of MD since I live in VA. Is it going to be harder than average dental school?

Sorry for many questions.. 😳

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated..🙂 Thanks!

 

[Lurchdubious]

my current GPA should be around 2.7 cuz ive had some F's in history classes that I dropped. I think it won't be that hard to get it up to 3.5 in CC.

I think some of science pre-reqs, such as biology, is required for me to transfer to university, not sure though. If it is, should i re-take it in university?

I have some withdrawls, as mentioned above, will that matter also?

My goal is Univ. of MD since I live in VA. Is it going to be harder than average dental school?

Sorry for many questions.. 😳

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated..🙂 Thanks!

No worries on the questions, that's what SDN is for! welcome.

so the F's in history classes you dropped, do you mean they're W's cuz you withdrew/"dropped" them? if they aren't science courses, a few W's aren't that bad, especially as it sounds like you had a lot going on w/family & stuff. the important thing, as said above, is to get your current gpa up around 3.5 at your CC, then transfer to a university where you will do most of your science courses. if it is required to have a few bio courses before transferring to a university, then just take the required 101 or equivalent entry course, do well, and don't worry about retaking at the university unless the credits don't transfer. although, i don't think you'll have certain class requirements to have been completed before matriculation to a university. they should just look at your gpa, i would think.

i have no idea about UMD, but i doubt it's much harder than other schools. you're a VA resident? you should look into VCU in Richmond. it's a SWEET school and gives preference to residents.

 

[bodiddely]

You don't have that many credits so it won't be too hard to bring that GPA up by the time you get your bachelors. There's a lot of debate about how much taking your pre-reqs at a CC hurts you, I'm sure you can do a search and find plenty of speculation! But keep in mind that there are some schools that have limitions on how much they will accept.

My goal is Univ. of MD since I live in VA. Is it going to be harder than average dental school?

Don't get too attached to the idea of any one school; the goal should be to get in anywhere and if you end up having choices then all the better.

Good luck! Hope to see you around here in the coming years.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Sure you can do it. You've only completed a fraction of the units you'll need for a BS, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to show your capability. You will need to take a full load of units each semester from now on though so the schools can see you can handle the heavy load. Get your GPA as far above 3.0 as you can, then kick butt on the DAT, and you'll be on your way.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Don't get too attached to the idea of any one school; the goal should be to get in anywhere and if you end up having choices then all the better.

Agree 100% with this. UMD is an awesome school, and probably works best with your present living situation, but be prepared to go anywhere to get into dentistry. Even people with great stats will apply to 10+ schools.

 

[kwon1982]

Yes my goal is MD since it is close to my home but I will get into ANY school of course. 🙂

Thank you guys for great support and advice.

Any other members are welcome to chime in and give me more motivation 🙂

 

[ummjoey]

my current GPA should be around 2.7 cuz ive had some F's in history classes that I dropped. I think it won't be that hard to get it up to 3.5 in CC.

I think some of science pre-reqs, such as biology, is required for me to transfer to university, not sure though. If it is, should i re-take it in university?

I have some withdrawls, as mentioned above, will that matter also?

My goal is Univ. of MD since I live in VA. Is it going to be harder than average dental school?

Sorry for many questions.. 😳

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated..🙂 Thanks!

if you end up taking a lot of the prereqs (chem, ochem, bio, phys) at a CC. you can take some upper division science classes at university to show the dental schools you are able to handle them.

i am not sure if you have to spend 4 years at a university. i think a lot of your credits from the CC can be transfered?

thats my 2 cents

also try to get as much A+ as possible at the CC(since i heard CC classes were easier). A+ counts as a 4.3 on the dental school application(AADSAS).

 

[TrocarKarin]

Depending on your state, take as many pre-reqs as you can at your community college, and get your associate's degree. Then apply to your state university, the associate's should get you in easily. Many states have a "guaranteed transfer program" where core classes will automatically transfer from your community college to university. Then proceed to finish up your last 2 years at university.

 

[kwon1982]

Thank you for your inputs everybody.. 🙂

But i am little confused here with pre-reqs.. some said that i need to take those at university and some said that i need to take those classes right away in CC.

I am pretty sure the pre-req credits will be tranferable even if i take those in CC.. however if it's better to take those in 4 year university, i will save those for later years.

once again, any advice will be greatly appreciated. 😀

Thank you so much! 🙂

 

[ummjoey]

i say(hopefully someone agrees with me) take the pre-reqs you need to transfer from CC to university at the CC. then finish the pre-reqs at the university. also take some upper division science classes at university(biochem, anatomy, microbio, etc.). the ones dental schools recommend you take.

it may "look" better to take the pre-reqs at a university but you don't want to go out of your way to try to take them at a university.

you probably only need to spend like 2 years at the CC to transfer then 2-3 years to get your degree at the university. you should apply your 2nd year at the university. well at least this is what i think........

edit: the 2 years at CC and 2-3 years at university make sure you do your extracurriculars during those times too.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Taking prereqs at the 4yr is ofcourse preferable BUT the amount of difference it will make is debatable. Having a 4.0 from MIT is preferable to a 4.0 from your state school too, but we can't all go to MIT. More than likely you will have to take at least some dental prereqs at the CC in order to meet the matriculation requirements at the 4yr. If you try to transfer with a major in biology, I really doubt a 4yr would allow you in as a junior without having taken Gchem, calc, and lower division bio classes. Besides, the whole point of using the CC is for the 2 yrs there to eliminate the first 2yrs at the 4yr school. Avoiding all dental prereqs will either force you to extend your graduation date (and cost more money) or make you take a s**tload of units each semester at the 4yr(and likely not get the high grades you need). So take the prereqs at the CC that they offer. You'll still have plenty of classes to take at the 4yr to show your CC work isn't a joke.

 

[kwon1982]

Hello all,

after some research, in order to transfer to, for example, George mason university or VCU(which are close to my home) majoring in bio,

I need to finish general bio 1,2 & general Chem 1,2 & Cell Bio (GMU) or Phy (VCU). Total about 5 sci courses with lab.

So I will start as junior in university..

But my concern is that dental school might look at my app and think ' these credits are from CC ' even if i have As and Bs..??

Extracurricular includes everything such as working in dent office, research, community service, etc??

Also if i transfer to university, how many science courses should i expect each semester(suppose i attend for 2 years)? specific pre-req courses for most dent shcools?

I am starting this March 17th 😀 wish me luck!!

Thanks for help guys 🙂

 

[ummjoey]

just take upper division bio classes at the university and show the dental schools you are able capable.

you still need to take ochem and physics at the university. i think you will be able to show the dental schools that you are able to do well in university science courses.

are you doing semester or quarter? i went to a quarter school and i was taking an average of 2 science classes each quarter? just plan out your schedule and make sure you meet all the requirements you need to graduate on time. you will probably have to do summer school.

just my 2 cents again.

and GOOD LUCK!

 

[rose786]

Hello all,

after some research, in order to transfer to, for example, George mason university or VCU(which are close to my home) majoring in bio,

I need to finish general bio 1,2 & general Chem 1,2 & Cell Bio (GMU) or Phy (VCU). Total about 5 sci courses with lab.

So I will start as junior in university..

But my concern is that dental school might look at my app and think ' these credits are from CC ' even if i have As and Bs..??

Extracurricular includes everything such as working in dent office, research, community service, etc??

Also if i transfer to university, how many science courses should i expect each semester(suppose i attend for 2 years)? specific pre-req courses for most dent shcools?

I am starting this March 17th 😀 wish me luck!!

Thanks for help guys 🙂

I know of someone who took the basic pre-reqs at CC and got in. Just be sure to get upper level bio at the 4 yr.

 

[kwon1982]

Hello SDN members! 😀

I just want to hear some of your advice on my future plan..

2008

Summer- PHY 1 at Community College

Fall - Bio 1, PHY 2 at CC

2009

Spring - Bio 2, Cell Bio at CC

Summer - Finish AS in CC and transfering to 4 year university as a junior.
Shadowing, ECs, Community services during summer?

2009 (4-year university )

Fall - Chm 1, Ochm 1

2010

Spring - Chm 2, Ochm 2

Summer - Take DAT , Submit application?
Possibly 1 or 2 upper level science course if time permits Or shadowing, ECs, etc?

Fall - 2 upper level science courses?

2011

Spring - 2 upper level science courses?

Note: I did not include non-Sci courses; I will probably take 2 non-Sci courses along with Sci. courses. (maybe 3?)

________________________________________________________________

2 of my friends who entered UMCD last year told me not to take more than 2

science classes at a semester if I want to keep my GPA high enough..

Is that a good idea? I am bit worried since I will have to complete some of

prereqs at CC, adcoms might question my ability to handle heavy loads.


Also is it wise to take Chm & Ochm at the same time before taking DAT? Is it

going to be confusing ? too difficult?


I am trying to plan out everything since I am behind compare to others 😛

Thank you guys so much in advance! 🙂

 

[bodiddely]

You won't be able to take chem 1 and ochem 1 at the same time. Take general chem instead of physics at the CC.

 

[kwon1982]

Oh I thought I could take both at the same time.

If that's the case, yes I will replace Phy with Chem.

I thought taking both Ochm & Gchm right before taking DAT would be helpful😀

Thanks and any more inputs will be greatly appreciated! 👍