Any Tips for a Furture UC Irvine Student?

[anishannayya]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

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[Destiny11]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

#1 Advice...don't go to a UC where competition makes it very difficult to get an A. But since you are there already, congratulations on getting in! You will get a quality education. Make sure you find out which classes you need to take, and which electives are easier. Use all resources (e.g. tutoring) that's available to you. Good luck!

 

[herkulease]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

I didn't go to UCI so I can't help you there. As for AP credit. Most schools will accept AP credit for English, some will take it for Bio and Gen Chem also. Only some schools for some reason refuse to AP at all, even for English.

I have no idea why they won't accept it especially English. Personally I just wouldn't waste my money on those schools that refuse to take the english AP credit as satisfying their English requirement. I didn't learn anything in English anyhow.

Well I learned one thing. when the question asks me what I think is the meaning of a poem is, their is a correct answer and a wrong one. What I think is wrong and what the professor said the meaning of the poem is correct.

 

[UCfan]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

Congrats on UCI acceptance. I got my BS in Chem Engineering and I can easily tell that competition was very intense. I heard that it was the same issue with bio science. There are a lot of anteaters in this forum too. I do not know their opinions are but be ready to study very hard. It is kinda early for you think about DAT and DS. Try to do your best especially first two years when classes are relatively easier. Good luck.

 

[iwantobeadent]

lol UC irvine is a joke..hella easy school...just don't party 7 days a week, only 6 days a week lol

 

[12345a]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

congrats, I'm sure you'll be happy there.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

I go to Berkeley but I can tell you to get the highest possible GPA in your first 2 quarters. Don't be like all the other pre-health freshmen who take a heavy courseload and difficult classes during their first year because they think that it'll look good. A solid GPA will look better and the confidence of that GPA will be worth it.

Don't do too much too fast. There will be a lot going on and I encourage you to get involved, but keep track of your schedule and don't get distracted (it will be more difficult than you think).

Start getting involved in some dental related activities early. Whether it's shadowing a dentists 1 hr a week or volunteering at the "smiles project" on weekends. Longevity looks great and it'll pay off when you apply.

Have fun. Don't define yourself by your GPA and dare to take some classes offered by other departments (some will actually help your GPA 😀)

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

the majority of dental schools don't take AP.

best of luck

#1 Advice...don't go to a UC where competition makes it very difficult to get an A. But since you are there already, congratulations on getting in! You will get a quality education. Make sure you find out which classes you need to take, and which electives are easier. Use all resources (e.g. tutoring) that's available to you. Good luck!

lol UC irvine is a joke..hella easy school...just don't party 7 days a week, only 6 days a week lol

 

[anishannayya]

lol UC irvine is a joke..hella easy school...just don't party 7 days a week, only 6 days a week lol

Ha, just waiting for you to get reamed by someone. Yea, I guess the 14th best public school in the nation is probably very easy. Idiot...

 

[tvndental]

lol UC irvine is a joke..hella easy school...just don't party 7 days a week, only 6 days a week lol

Only 17% A's are given out in each class. You will still have to face competition just like any other university just for your grade.

I say UCI has the most difficult lower div CURRICULUM (not competition) compared to all the other UC's. I don't think no other UC's MAKES you take 6 quarters of bio and 6 quarters of chem your first two years. I say MAKES cause yes you do have to take it straight cause the courses are only offered once a year and if you fail a class you have to wait till summer or next year to make it up. Also you have to finish those classes before you can start taking most of the upper division classes.

 

[Vicviper]

Whatever you do, don't take Dr. Cumsky for Biochem. Take Dr. Bowler's Fresh Water Field Ecology Lab for one of your Labs - it's an awesome class, especially to take over the summer. Take N160 - Language and the Brain if it's being offered, that's a great upperdiv class to take, so is E140(?) which I think was called Philosophy of Bio - but only if Dr. Ayala is teaching it, he's an amazing professor. And don't take N110 - Neurobio, it's interesting, but totally not worth the trouble, and it's like not related to the head and neck you'll need to take in dental school at all.

Also, join UCI ASDA ASAP! Get involved, they've got lots of great events and meetings.

I was a transfer student - so I didn't take my lower division there, so I can only really speak to the upper division classes. And a piece of advice for ANY undergrad student - don't even think about signing up for a class before you read the professor's Ratemyprofessor.com profile. Take it with a grain of salt, but most of the time they're rather accurate.

Good luck fellow Anteater, Zot!

PS. Pippen is f'ing amazing.

 

[iwantobeadent]

Ha, just waiting for you to get reamed by someone. Yea, I guess the 14th best public school in the nation is probably very easy. Idiot...

haha whoa now buddy..im actually at one of the top UCs with a high gpa lol..fine let me rephrase my response: Irvine is a joke/walk in the park COMPARED to UC Berkeley/UCLA lol

 

[Vicviper]

haha whoa now buddy..im actually at one of the top UCs with a high gpa lol..fine let me rephrase my response: Irvine is a joke/walk in the park COMPARED to UC Berkeley/UCLA lol

Well lets not start a pissing match here. They're all great schools, and there's no reason to argue about it.

 

[12345a]

im actually at one of the top UCs with a high gpa lol..fine let me rephrase my response: Irvine is a joke/walk in the park COMPARED to UC Berkeley/UCLA

 

[anishannayya]

Well lets not start a pissing match here. They're all great schools, and there's no reason to argue about it.

Ditto, but it doesn't matter, he's banned (nobody likes a troll).

 

[fsddsms]

Congrats on getting into UCI. I loved the education there! I was a bio sci major and graduated in 2008. Dr. Bowler gives THE ULTIMATE BEST letters of recommendations period! lol. Dont miss out on getting one of those.

Dr. Cumsky was tough in biochem but I never learned so much in a class, and I actually liked it.

I would recommend dorming the first year (MESA!) and getting your own apartment with 3 other roommates after.

You won't go wrong with the UC bio system and the research opportunity with the bio 199 program that you can attain is awesome. My advice is to start getting to know professors in your classes early on so you can gain some good letters of rec. Also take advantage of the HSAC bio sci letters of rec service where they store your letters for 7 years. People complain about paying 75$ for the service but paying that cash is worth it in case you need to repeat an application cycle in getting into dental school and your professors don't even remember you a year after you took the class.

If you have any questions, feel free to pm me! I was in your shoes too and I'm happy to help a fellow anteater even though I've transitioned to becoming a Bruin for dental school!! 👍👍

 

[Vicviper]

Yeah, as fs was saying, one of the best things about UCI is the amazing research opportunities you don't have anywhere else. Over half of the bio majors I talked to had done research, and the other half there didn't want to or hadn't looked. Research was definetly the best thing about my experience at UCI. UCI actually has a dental research lab - headed by Dr. Petra Wilder-Smith (DDS) at the Beckman Laser Institute. She actually only takes pre-dental students as research students, and having taught at LLU and being on the admissions board for UCI med, she's an invaluable resource for advice for applying.

 

[anishannayya]

Thanks for all this awesome advice so far, I know that I will refer to this thread a lot in the future.

Keep it coming, I'm soaking it up like a sponge. 😍

 

[anishannayya]

Bump... Any more comments before I let this one die?

 

[Vicviper]

If you want to do research, start looking right away, possibly after your first year. Most research professors will want at least a year of dedication, but probably more. Check out the Bio Sci website for a complete list of research professors and a little blerb about their work, and shoot some emails to them and say that you're interested in their work (if you actually are), and ask if you can come visit their lab. This is more of a thing to do after first year, since most PI's want to see that you've at least taken Gchem and the year of general bio (but it couldn't hurt to ask early). I know that at my lab, one of the biggest things to consider when reviewing applicants for research positions was how many years they had left that they would be able to work, since in your first quarter, you're mostly just trained.

 

[dmd87]

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind would pay 20K a year in just tuition for an undergrad in biology. A degree which can't even get you a job after, and you can go to dental or medical school from even a cal state or any other university. Only go to the pricey school for an engineering or business degree, NOT biology.

 

[anishannayya]

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind would pay 20K a year in just tuition for an undergrad in biology. A degree which can't even get you a job after, and you can go to dental or medical school from even a cal state or any other university. Only go to the pricey school for an engineering or business degree, NOT biology.

Tuition is ~ $10,000 a year. It is housing + spending on necessities that makes up the difference. Please be informed before you pass on statements as fact.

Attending a CSU would have saved me ~$4,000 a year (only tution, however housing is typically more). In the long run, I believe that the additional $4,000 per year is worth the investment in regards to the additional opportunities that a UC would provide me. I never stated that there is anything wrong with attending a CSU; in fact, if you were to read my previous threads, I even seriously considered attending one myself. However, I decided that the right choice for me was to attend a UC.

Lastly, my goal is not to become a biologist, and I will not set myself up to fail by pursuing that path. I understand the importance of a back-up plan, and mine would be to continue education to the Doctorate level, however, the more you think about Plan B, the less Plan A becomes a reality. Because I do not want to be a lab tech, it is irrelevant the degree I chose to major in or the school I chose to attend. Rather than sitting around and dreaming about what I can achieve, I'd rather just get out there and do it. What matters to me is working hard to achieve my goals. Pursing a career in dentistry isn't that difficult. It just takes serious time and dedication. I ask these questions because having a plan will allow me to follow a path that will help me accomplish my goals.

In the future, try to do your homework before you call out people's decisions.

 

[12345a]

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind would pay 20K a year in just tuition for an undergrad in biology. A degree which can't even get you a job after, and you can go to dental or medical school from even a cal state or any other university. Only go to the pricey school for an engineering or business degree, NOT biology.

Tuition is ~ $10,000 a year. It is housing + spending on necessities that makes up the difference. Please be informed before you pass on statements as fact.

Attending a CSU would have saved me ~$4,000 a year (only tution, however housing is typically more). In the long run, I believe that the additional $4,000 per year is worth the investment in regards to the additional opportunities that a UC would provide me. I never stated that there is anything wrong with attending a CSU; in fact, if you were to read my previous threads, I even seriously considered attending one myself. However, I decided that the right choice for me was to attend a UC.

Lastly, my goal is not to become a biologist, and I will not set myself up to fail by pursuing that path. I understand the importance of a back-up plan, and mine would be to continue education to the Doctorate level, however, the more you think about Plan B, the less Plan A becomes a reality. Because I do not want to be a lab tech, it is irrelevant the degree I chose to major in or the school I chose to attend. Rather than sitting around and dreaming about what I can achieve, I'd rather just get out there and do it. What matters to me is working hard to achieve my goals. Pursing a career in dentistry isn't that difficult. It just takes serious time and dedication. I ask these questions because having a plan will allow me to follow a path that will help me accomplish my goals.

In the future, try to do your homework before you call out people's decisions.

he actually has a fair point....if I could do it over again, I would take the scholarship I was offered and go to the easier CSU school. CSU is a smart option as long as you stick to the pre-dent path.

 

[anishannayya]

If you want to do research, start looking right away, possibly after your first year. Most research professors will want at least a year of dedication, but probably more. Check out the Bio Sci website for a complete list of research professors and a little blerb about their work, and shoot some emails to them and say that you're interested in their work (if you actually are), and ask if you can come visit their lab. This is more of a thing to do after first year, since most PI's want to see that you've at least taken Gchem and the year of general bio (but it couldn't hurt to ask early). I know that at my lab, one of the biggest things to consider when reviewing applicants for research positions was how many years they had left that they would be able to work, since in your first quarter, you're mostly just trained.

Thanks, I wan't even planning on asking about research until I got into my upper-division classes.

BTW, your posts have been a great help to me since I began browsing SDN (long before I joined).

 

[tvndental]

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind would pay 20K a year in just tuition for an undergrad in biology. A degree which can't even get you a job after, and you can go to dental or medical school from even a cal state or any other university. Only go to the pricey school for an engineering or business degree, NOT biology

I think the same way. This is why I choose UCI over UCLA for pre-dental. UCLA would have cost me an extra 40k just for a bio degree I won't even use. But if I were to have done engineering or biz then I would have gone to UCLA.

 

[TeethandLakers]

Get involved! That's the best tip I can give you. The BIO major here is tough but well worth it because you learn a lot from some great professors.

Top 3 things you should look out for:

1) Research. Bio, Psych, Dental (1 lab), Public Health. You name it, we got it. Start as soon as you feel comfortable.

2) ASDA. Join our club your first year! I'm going to be the Vice-President next year and we will have some nice things planned.

3) Global Dental Brigades. If you're interested in going to Honduras for a week and helping underprivileged individuals, this club is for you. Ill be on board for this club too. We start in fall and collect supplies from dentists and go on the brigade in June.

 

[anishannayya]

he actually has a fair point....if I could do it over again, I would take the scholarship I was offered and go to the easier CSU school. CSU is a smart option as long as you stick to the pre-dent path.

I'd rather not turn this thread into another CSU vs UC debate. I'll just restate what I said before: For me attending a UC is a better decision. Anyways, I have already pulled the trigger. Worst case scenario is that I end up hating it and I transfer to a CSU.

You can be sure that I will post my input and experience after a couple quarters at UCI. I'm the sort of guy who can set priorities when I want to, so increased competition doesn't phase me (the sort of guy that skips prom to study for an AP test; really got crap for that one).

BTW uclaDDS101 is my hero. If only I could be as motivated as him. That will never happen.

 

[charlestweed]

Hey guys, I've decided that I will be attending UC Irvine next fall as a freshman.

Do you have any advice on what to do there for a pre-dental track? I am particularly interested in input from current UCI students or alumni. My major is Biological Sciences.

Also, I have passed AP Language and Composition with a 4, do I need to retake it to get into some dental schools? (To fulfill the English Language requirement.) I heard that some schools will only accept college courses with a grade.

I don’t know if English AP exam is good enough for dental school. But for math, I didn’t take any of the Calculus classes because I passed the Calculus AP test with a 4. I took a Statistic class and this was enough to fulfill the math requirement for BS degree and for dental school admission.

UCI is a great school👍. I really enjoyed my 4 years there.

 

[anishannayya]

I don’t know if English AP exam is good enough for dental school. But for math, I didn’t take any of the Calculus classes because I passed the Calculus AP test with a 4. I took a Statistic class and this was enough to fulfill the math requirement for BS degree and for dental school admission.

UCI is a great school👍. I really enjoyed my 4 years there.

I've decided to retake all my requirements, so that I can apply to dental schools that do not take AP credit. Why burn bridges when I don't really need to?

 

[Vicviper]

The only school I ran into problems with as far as AP (and I applied to a lot - 23), was Western, they wouldn't take my AP credit for my English requirement, and I ended up taking a stupid english class just to apply, and in the end, they didn't even look at my application, haha.

Otherwise, I think you'd be fine with most schools, but like you said, might as well take a class or two along the way to have all your bases covered.

 

[dentalaee]

Good for you! UC is definitely way to go. I always wanted to attend UC.... Have I not lived 5 mins away from a CSU, I would have gone to a UC --- most likely UCLA or UCI. Congratulations and work hard!

 

[anishannayya]

Good for you! UC is definitely way to go. I always wanted to attend UC.... Have I not lived 5 mins away from a CSU, I would have gone to a UC --- most likely UCLA or UCI. Congratulations and work hard!

Thank You, congrats in getting into UCLA Dental.

 

[anishannayya]

The only school I ran into problems with as far as AP (and I applied to a lot - 23), was Western, they wouldn't take my AP credit for my English requirement, and I ended up taking a stupid english class just to apply, and in the end, they didn't even look at my application, haha.

Otherwise, I think you'd be fine with most schools, but like you said, might as well take a class or two along the way to have all your bases covered.

Jeez, that must have been a small fortune!

 

[Vicviper]

Jeez, that must have been a small fortune!

Haha, yeah, but it was worth it in the end, and a drop in the bucket compared to my tuition now.