anatomy? in a bind!

[nyching30]

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hi guys i currently in summa cum laude standing. However, if i stay enrolled in this recommended gross human anatomy course, i will be lose my standing for that level of latin honors and will be given magna cum laude. I was wondering how important, regarding admission, it is if i do take the course than if i dont, particularly for UOP and/or UCLA. Any feedback would help!

On one hand, i have technically already satisfied all my graduation requirements and do not need this class to graduate. However, I dont want to drop this course if it jeoperdizes my standing with the admissions committee. I have taken upper division courses such as physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and developmental biology.

thanks for the help in advance


nick

 

[RaiderNation]

I think going from summa cum laude to magna cum laude would virtually destroy any chance you had at dental school. You might be able to get into NYU or BU, but UCLA and UOP are clearly out of the picture.

 

[Lostinbul]

What I don't understand is how you are summa cum laude after taking physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and developmental biology but a gross human anatomy class is going to ruin your GPA! I would have figured your biochemistry or immunology would have added a few blemishes to your transcrips before the anatomy. I also assume that if you are already enrolled in the class and have reached the point where there is no saving your grade, in order to drop the class you would receive at least a W if not a UW. These scores also do not look good on transcripts either. As far as the schools you are looking to get into, UoP places a great deal of emphasis on your DAT, and not as much on GPA so if you did well on the DAT (20+) you would have a great chance! UCLA is much more picky when it comes to GPA's. I have to be honest however and say that I place your thread in the same category as many other insecure predental student's who submit threads with topics such as "AA 25, TS 25, PAT 28.....would I be considered competitive?" I think your real question is..."Who wants to let me know that I'm brilliant?"

 

[nyching30]

What I don't understand is how you are summa cum laude after taking physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and developmental biology but a gross human anatomy class is going to ruin your GPA! I would have figured your biochemistry or immunology would have added a few blemishes to your transcrips before the anatomy. I also assume that if you are already enrolled in the class and have reached the point where there is no saving your grade, in order to drop the class you would receive at least a W if not a UW. These scores also do not look good on transcripts either. As far as the schools you are looking to get into, UoP places a great deal of emphasis on your DAT, and not as much on GPA so if you did well on the DAT (20+) you would have a great chance! UCLA is much more picky when it comes to GPA's. I have to be honest however and say that I place your thread in the same category as many other insecure predental student's who submit threads with topics such as "AA 25, TS 25, PAT 28.....would I be considered competitive?" I think your real question is..."Who wants to let me know that I'm brilliant?"

Trust me you're right in that i am paranoid. However, I just want make sure everything goes accordingly. With regard to the anatomy midterm, I dont konw what i was thinking and my was absent that day. With regards to the W or UW, because this is a summer class, UCLA will not put any markings on my transcript.

But my main concern is that whether or not following through this recommended class will put me in a better position with the gpa loss than with the honors title.

thanks again

 

[RaiderNation]

Trust me you're right in that i am paranoid. However, I just want make sure everything goes accordingly. With regard to the anatomy midterm, I dont konw what i was thinking and my was absent that day. With regards to the W or UW, because this is a summer class, UCLA will not put any markings on my transcript.

But my main concern is that whether or not following through this recommended class will put me in a better position with the gpa loss than with the honors title.

thanks again

So at UCLA you can withdraw from summer classes without it showing on your record. Man, I picked the wrong university. That's called hidden inflation.

 

[Lostinbul]

Dental schools generally just care about their required classes for entrance. You don't need to take all their recommended classes! If your done with your undergrad and have already taken tons of "recommended" classes such as physiology, immunology, micro ...etc.. I really don't think having taken Anatomy is really going to do much for your chances. If you're really concerned about that grade messing with your GPA, just drop the class (especially if it won't show on your transcripts). No adcom is going to search your transcripts for the anatomy class then toss your application if they don't find it. I personally would take the honors title over the class. My opinion however is just mine! What's yours?

 

[Sprgrover]

Trust me you're right in that i am paranoid. However, I just want make sure everything goes accordingly. With regard to the anatomy midterm, I dont konw what i was thinking and my was absent that day. With regards to the W or UW, because this is a summer class, UCLA will not put any markings on my transcript.

But my main concern is that whether or not following through this recommended class will put me in a better position with the gpa loss than with the honors title.

thanks again

No, a magna versus summa will make no difference. Remember, it's just an honors title and dental schools regard your gpa as much more important. What's the difference between a summa and a magna - 3.9 versus 3.8XX? If you are that close then your gpa is certainly high enough to qualify you at any dental school. Don't loose sleep over this issue: if your gpa takes the 'hit' you'll be just fine.

 

[drhobie7]

I always say to cum laude is better than not at all.

Seriously though, I don't know what this latin means nor do I want to. I don't think anyone in admissions would even care. In fact, I don't think they'd care too much if your GPA was a 3.6 or a 3.9. I've interviewed plenty of students in the past year and have not once talked about academic achievements. We want to know if you have an adequate level of intelligence and, more importantly, if we like you and want you to be part of the student body for the next 4 years.

 

[Sprgrover]

...Seriously though, I don't know what this latin means nor do I want to...

Nah, everyone should be familiar with some Latin:

cum = with, laude = honors, magna = great, summa = highest