Advice Needed: Cell biology and class load

[ToZanarkand]

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Hi. I am an international student who has a degree in Computer Science. After I worked 2 years in my country, I decided to become a dentist in the States. This is my 2nd semester as a post-bac student. I would like to finish every pre-requisites in 2 years.
I already took Bio I, Chem I, Calculus I, and College Writing I last semester.
I am taking Bio II, Chem II, Calculus II, and College Writing II this semester.
I am going to take Organic Chem I & II and Physics I & II next year.
I am going to take DAT next summer after I finish pre-requisites. However, I heard taking upper classes gives more chance to get into dental school, so I am thinking to take Cell Biology for next fall and Genetics for next spring semester.
Therefore, I am going to take Organic Chem I, Physics I, Cell Biology, and Statistics next fall semester. However, I am worry that all of these science classes have a lab, and I heard both Organic Chem and Cell Biology are hard. I am not sure whether I can handle that.
If I take Organic Chem I, Physics I, Calculus III, and Statistics, it will be a lot better for me to get good GPA. But then I feel like I am taking too many math classes which are not pre-requisites.
I don't know what to do. Would you please give me an advice about taking those 3 sciences at the same time?
I know the whole applying procesure takes a year, so I can still have time to take upper classes after I start applying to the dental school. But I still don't know I had better take some of upper classes before applying to the school.
Sorry for awkward and long questions. Have a good day.

 

[MoLLy1988]

It sounds like you actually have too many heavy sciences all at once. Organic chem is pretty difficult, so is physics. But only you know of you are capable doing the work. Anything is doable as long as your able to stay on top of things. Also do you have a job? or is school the only obligations you have? That is something you may have to factor in when you are deciding how heavy the course load is. If you don't work and stay on top of everything I would say it's doable. It will also look good when you apply to dental school if you make good grades in all of those classes after taking them in such a heavy manner that they will see that you will be able to handle the heavy work in dental school. But if you have other obligations, such as a job or other responsibilities I would say you probably need to replace one of those classes with something not as heavy. It's better to have good grades in every class you take then to take more than you can handle and fail.

 

[ToZanarkand]

Thank you for your advice. ^^

 

[doc toothache]

Keep in mind that as an international student you will likely be competing only with other non U.S. applicants. If you are worrying about how "hard" your course load is now how will you feel in ds where the course load is not going to get any easier?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527533

 

[ToZanarkand]

Keep in mind that as an international student you will likely be competing only with other non U.S. applicants. If you are worrying about how "hard" your course load is now how will you feel in ds where the course load is not going to get any easier?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527533

That's true. However, getting into the dental school is the first goal to me. If I get low grades in some of pre-requisites, it is going to be harder for me to get in dental school. I heard dental school is a lot harder than pre-requisites, but we know that we are going to be a dentist once we get an acceptance. Even though we get low grade in some classes at dental school, we will still become dentist.

 

[doc toothache]

That's true. However, getting into the dental school is the first goal to me. If I get low grades in some of pre-requisites, it is going to be harder for me to get in dental school. I heard dental school is a lot harder than pre-requisites, but we know that we are going to be a dentist once we get an acceptance. Even though we get low grade in some classes at dental school, we will still become dentist.

You first need to get an acceptance. There is no guarantee that once accepted "we are going to be a dentist". The ds attrition rate is ~10%.

 

[ToZanarkand]

You first need to get an acceptance. There is no guarantee that once accepted "we are going to be a dentist". The ds attrition rate is ~10%.

Thank you for your information and advice. I didn't know that. And like you said, I need to get an acceptance first, so I had better think about class load. I am still pondering between plan A and plan B, which are 3 sciences and 1 math or 2 sciences and 2 maths. Both 16 credits. Math is easier for me because of english. I am getting better though. Thank you again. ^^

 

[Danny289]

You first need to get an acceptance. There is no guarantee that once accepted "we are going to be a dentist". The ds attrition rate is ~10%.

doc, quick question. how did you get this number?
b/c I talked to many dental students, the rate is much less than that, around ~3% .
thanks

 

[doc toothache]

doc, quick question. how did you get this number?
b/c I talked to many dental students, the rate is much less than that, around ~3% .
thanks

Dental students may or may not be a reliable source for attrition rates. The 3% claimed is artificially lower primarily because the number in the class may remain unchanged from students who are placed on a 5 year program, transferring students and, in some cases, from foreign graduates that are usually accepted in the the 3rd year. The source is forthcoming.

 

[Danny289]

Dental students may or may not be a reliable source for attrition rates. The 3% claimed is artificially lower primarily because the number in the class may remain unchanged from students who are placed on a 5 year program, transferring students and, in some cases, from foreign graduates that are usually accepted in the the 3rd year. The source is forthcoming.

Thanks doc, I forgot about this point.

 

[doc toothache]

Thanks doc, I forgot about this point.

Here are the links.
http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/5/817

http://www.etsdental.com/articles/future1.htm
(page 2 below Dental School Graduates graph.