Advice please

[krikey]

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Hi everyone, I'd like to get some advice on my situation. Basically I'm working on my Dental prerequisites. I received my AA with honors from a 4 year college with a 3.6. I then transferred to a University and took Biology and Statistics receiving a C in both. I believe at the time I just wasn't applying myself and I was sort of burnt out from school. I also was wondering if health was the correct path for me. I have always been around computers so I took a couple computer courses receiving a B in each. From there I realized computers wasn't for me and I started going towards health. However I decided to go back to the 4 year college and ended up receiving As in each of the following: Anatomy 1 + 2, Microbiology, and Chemistry 2045C( in the past I had a B in intro to chemistry). I also retook Statistics and received an A. I then was accepted into an exercise science bachelor program but once again I was burnt out and had to withdraw due to health issues (chest pains). I then decided I needed some time off and wanted to better prepare how I study and learn before I start school again. I was procrastinating a lot and I kept getting into panic situations. I wanted to avoid this the next go around. In the meantime I've been working in IT to make extra money and invest in brain books and better ways of learning/studying. I signed up for Chemistry 2 in the fall. I only signed up for this one class because it has been a little while since my last Chemistry class and I really want to do well. I also want to make sure I can put into effect the new study habits / time management that I've acquired. Basically with my IT money I have been buying all sorts of books on studying / learning / memory.

Here are the perquisites for dental school:

• Biology with lab - 8 semester hours
• Chemistry with lab - 8 semester hours
• Organic chemistry with lab - 8 semester hours
• Physics with lab - 8 semester hours
• Biochemistry - 3 semester hours
• Microbiology - 3 semester hours

Out of the above I have:

Biology - C
Chemistry 1 - A
Microbiology - A

Like I mentioned I plan to take Chemistry 2 in the fall. Next year I plan to work on the remaining prerequisites. I had thought about retaking Biology 1 but from reading others post this may not be necessary. After I get through the above prerequisites I was going to take 6 months to a year to study and prepare for the DAT. I figured this will give me a little break as well before I enter Dental school (if I get accepted).

My question is this a good route that I'm taking? How well do I have to do in the above prerequisites to get into Dental School? Even though my GPA after graduating from a 4 year college was a 3.6, after I went to the University the Bs in the 2 computer classes and the Cs in Biology and Statistics brought my GPA down to a 3.4. However like I said I had retaken Statistics and got an A. I always try my best but I'd like to have an idea of just how well I need to do in the prerequisites I have left.

I was also playing with the idea of studying ahead 3 months in advance of my classes learning the material before I even begin. Maybe this is common but I think this would lighten the stress and help me stay on top of things. Any advice is appreciated. I'm glad to be apart of this forum.


EDIT: I forgot to mention the 4 withdrawals I did to stop the bachelor program were medical withdrawals backed up with doctor paperwork.

This is also another reason I'm taking a break from college, which is to get healthy. I'm adopting better eating habits, stopped smoking / drinking, exercise, more sleep etc.

 

[krikey]

Also how bad will those medical withdrawals look? In the interview I will have to explain the withdrawals I'm assuming. Is it possible they may think I won't be able to handle dental school health wise? Any input on that? Thanks

 

[TourdeTeeth]

Dental schools generally look down upon taking pre-reqs at a CC. So even though you had a high gpa there, your cumulative gpa may be viewed a little differently because it's being raised by CC classes. Additionally, I tried studied for months before classes and it just isn't worth it. By the time I started learning the class I was already burnt out and thought I could slack a little cause I already knew the material, though that was not the case. The best thing to do is to learn the best study habits for yourself. No one else and no books can tell you what'll work best for you. Just constantly change your studying habits until you find something that works well for you.

If you spend the next few years finishing your bachelors then that'll show you've changed your ways and the medical withdrawals will just be explained in essays on the application. Honestly, the best advice I have for you is to not make excuses for yourself and just work your butt off. Shadow a lot of dentists and start working on volunteer hours. If dentistry isn't for you then you'll find it out pretty quickly. Also, make sure when you apply you don't seem like you're making excuses.

 

[krikey]

Thanks for your advice! Since noone else has responded I at least think I'm on the right track. =D

 

[LaughingGas]

Biology - C
Chemistry 1 - A
Microbiology - A

Like I mentioned I plan to take Chemistry 2 in the fall. Next year I plan to work on the remaining prerequisites. I had thought about retaking Biology 1 but from reading others post this may not be necessary. After I get through the above prerequisites I was going to take 6 months to a year to study and prepare for the DAT.-> No. That is too long. I figured this will give me a little break as well before I enter Dental school (if I get accepted).

My question is this a good route that I'm taking? How well do I have to do in the above prerequisites to get into Dental School? Even though my GPA after graduating from the community college was a 3.6, after I went to the University the Bs in the 2 computer classes and the Cs in Biology and Statistics brought my GPA down to a 3.4. However like I said I had retaken Statistics and got an A.Next time you get a C, just move on and take a different class. I always try my best but I'd like to have an idea of just how well I need to do in the prerequisites I have left.It doesn't hurt getting everything As.

I was also playing with the idea of studying ahead 3 months in advance of my classes learning the material before I even begin. You will burn more yourself out. Just learn a good time management and good study habits and you should be set. Maybe this is common but I think this would lighten the stress and help me stay on top of things. Any advice is appreciated. I'm glad to be apart of this forum.


EDIT: I forgot to mention the 4 withdrawals I did to stop the bachelor program were medical withdrawals backed up with doctor paperwork.

This is also another reason I'm taking a break from college, which is to get healthy. I'm adopting better eating habits, stopped smoking / drinking, exercise, more sleep etc.

 

[krikey]

Even if it also serves the purpose of having a little break? I feel I'm a slow learner and I just really want to do well on the DAT. I figure this would be enough time to get lots of practice and studying for it. How long did you prepare for it?

 

[krikey]

Dental schools generally look down upon taking pre-reqs at a CC. So even though you had a high gpa there, your cumulative gpa may be viewed a little differently because it's being raised by CC classes. Additionally, I tried studied for months before classes and it just isn't worth it. By the time I started learning the class I was already burnt out and thought I could slack a little cause I already knew the material, though that was not the case. The best thing to do is to learn the best study habits for yourself. No one else and no books can tell you what'll work best for you. Just constantly change your studying habits until you find something that works well for you.

If you spend the next few years finishing your bachelors then that'll show you've changed your ways and the medical withdrawals will just be explained in essays on the application. Honestly, the best advice I have for you is to not make excuses for yourself and just work your butt off. Shadow a lot of dentists and start working on volunteer hours. If dentistry isn't for you then you'll find it out pretty quickly. Also, make sure when you apply you don't seem like you're making excuses.

I just looked it up and by the time I took my first class at the college I went to, it had already changed to a 4 year college. So it was never a community college when I was taking classes there. Would my GPA still be looked down upon given this new information?

-I also edited my original post because I accidentally left out a detail. After I realized computers weren't for me I transferred back to the 4 year college where I received As in all the science classes I mentioned.

 

[TourdeTeeth]

I just looked it up and by the time I took my first class at the college I went to, it had already changed to a 4 year college. So it was never a community college when I was taking classes there. Would my GPA still be looked down upon given this new information?

-I also edited my original post because I accidentally left out a detail. After I realized computers weren't for me I transferred back to the 4 year college where I received As in all the science classes I mentioned.

I'd always heard that they want you to go to a 4-year university, though I don't know what the difference between a college and a university is in their eyes. I figure that changes everything. If it's now a 4-year then you won't have to put "XYZ Community College", and without that description most schools won't know the difference or so I would assume.

 

[cmroberts]

Even if it also serves the purpose of having a little break? I feel I'm a slow learner and I just really want to do well on the DAT. I figure this would be enough time to get lots of practice and studying for it. How long did you prepare for it?

You honestly should not take more than 3 months to study for it. Any longer and you may forget all the stuff that you were studying in the beginning. Also, if you are a slow learner, will you be able to handle the rigors of dental school curricula?

 

[krikey]

You honestly should not take more than 3 months to study for it. Any longer and you may forget all the stuff that you were studying in the beginning. Also, if you are a slow learner, will you be able to handle the rigors of dental school curricula?

Thanks for the feedback. To answer your question I'm just going to work on learning faster and give it my best shot. I feel with what I've learned in the last 6 months I can handle anything. Maybe that is my ego talking but I really believe I can do it =D Guess we will find out.

 

[cmroberts]

Definitely try some new study strategies if you feel like what you have been doing before isn't enough! You just have to find what works for you! Make a study schedule and stick to it. There is a good one to follow on DAT Bootcamp. It's a 10 week study schedule I think.

 

[krikey]

Thanks for the information! I'll check it out =D