At my breaking point (Advice Needed)

[KeepingUpWithK]

Latley I've been so stressed out with my college courses to the point of me feeling like I want to quit. I'm now stuck with taking nothing but sciences and a few electives. I'm trying to get into a dental school, even talked to the director of admissions. I've asked for her advice and she told me that changing my major (Biology) wouldn't make it any better if I'm trying to get into the school in which I desire. I've thought about switching my major to business and just take the pre reqs but unfortunately that wouldn't make it any better (as so what I was told) on the application. So now I feel like I'm stuck. Sorry to sound so depressing but I know that just taking straight sciences from here on out and making straight A's (what she told me I needed to do) in every single course seems so impossible this summer I've earned a C in chem and my gpa is now a 2.6 I don't want to give up my dreams yall and I should've done better I know but if there's someone who can give advice of how to pull through the rest of these semesters it would be helpful thanks

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[socal6]

I think you should spread your classes out and consider graduating a little bit later. This will help you do better and hone the study skills needed to conquer the DAT. If you can do that, you might not even have to go the post-bacc/masters route. Plenty of people have gotten in who did poorly their first few years, yet managed to turn things around with a strong upward trend. Just do your best and keep your options open.

 

[Greyangel6]

^I agree with above post.

 

[Iron15]

^I agree with above post.

Don't want to sound harsh but if you are having trouble in undergrad course load, even with most of them being science classes, DS will be a nightmare for you. You might want to change your study habits. Try to manage your time better, and be more efficient. But, spreading out your classes or changing majors just to make it easier is not a solution. Even if you do so, it will be extremely hard for you in dental school. I finished my undergrad in 3 years. I took a lot of advanced science classes, and still think ds is much harder. Its a decision you have to make after honestly evaluating your abilities. Dental school is expensive, so if you get in you better pass all your classes.

Good luck to you my friend.

 

[allantois]

Do whatever you have to. I never understood why people wanted to get their non-science classes "out of the way" so they then could get stuck with all science classes.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Don't want to sound harsh but if you are having trouble in undergrad course load, even with most of them being science classes, DS will be a nightmare for you. You might want to change your study habits. Try to manage your time better, and be more efficient. But, spreading out your classes or changing majors just to make it easier is not a solution. Even if you do so, it will be extremely hard for you in dental school. I finished my undergrad in 3 years. I took a lot of advanced science classes, and still think ds is much harder. Its a decision you have to make after honestly evaluating your abilities. Dental school is expensive, so if you get in you better pass all your classes.

Good luck to you my friend.

Agree with this 100% - if you can't handle the sciences at the undergrad level, dental school is just going to be much worse. Avoiding the challenge by switching majors won't help you fix your current science GPA or adcoms' concerns about whether or not you can handle the rigors of dental school. My advice would be to completely change your study habits and take some time to figure out what went wrong in your past courses and what you should have done to perform better. My experience with undergrad is that it's mostly just about time management, and acing most of the sciences at that level is completely doable as long as you're putting the required effort in.

 

[KeepingUpWithK]

Do whatever you have to. I never understood why people wanted to get their non-science classes "out of the way" so they then could get stuck with all science classes.

Advisors recommended me courses I'd also changed my major my sophomore year I never intended on taking the non science courses first

 

[KeepingUpWithK]

Thanks y'all for your honest opinions I greatly appreciate it I won't give up and I have to pull myself out of the ditch which I've dug I'm going to take y'alls advices and really make the rest of these semesters count once again thank you

 

[deleted678432]

A quote I love is that "90% of people give up right before they were about to succeed." Keep on going!

 

[Hannah Banana]

Thanks y'all for your honest opinions I greatly appreciate it I won't give up and I have to pull myself out of the ditch which I've dug I'm going to take y'alls advices and really make the rest of these semesters count once again thank you

Keep pushing! You can get there even if it's a little rough. I want to let you know that your SDN dental family is waiting for you!

 

[TanMan]

Latley I've been so stressed out with my college courses to the point of me feeling like I want to quit. I'm now stuck with taking nothing but sciences and a few electives. I'm trying to get into a dental school, even talked to the director of admissions. I've asked for her advice and she told me that changing my major (Biology) wouldn't make it any better if I'm trying to get into the school in which I desire. I've thought about switching my major to business and just take the pre reqs but unfortunately that wouldn't make it any better (as so what I was told) on the application. So now I feel like I'm stuck. Sorry to sound so depressing but I know that just taking straight sciences from here on out and making straight A's (what she told me I needed to do) in every single course seems so impossible this summer I've earned a C in chem and my gpa is now a 2.6 I don't want to give up my dreams yall and I should've done better I know but if there's someone who can give advice of how to pull through the rest of these semesters it would be helpful thanks

I think you should determine what dental schools determine and classify as science courses. You should play it strategically and start loading up on courses that sound intelligent, difficult, counts as science course, but supereasy. Examples would include science intro courses for non-science majors, computer science courses for non CS majors, etc... load it up and watch your gpa grow with minimal effort. Just make sure to do your research on these courses and don't talk to admissions people about it too much or they might think you're trying to find loopholes in the system. Don't talk to colleagues that might rat you out either. These underwater science basketweaving courses are your best chance of offsetting the 2.6gpa and absorbing any other bumps in your straight science gpa. Also, make sure you research all the professors, see if they are easy, hard, if there are resources out there to make their class easy, etc...

People are going to tell you to try your hardest, etc..., but you need a smart approach, not just sheer effort. Be in it to win it! This is advice that not many people are going to give you, but I think this is your best chance.

 

[I-hate-alginate]

I think you should determine what dental schools determine and classify as science courses. You should play it strategically and start loading up on courses that sound intelligent, difficult, counts as science course, but supereasy. Examples would include science intro courses for non-science majors, computer science courses for non CS majors, etc... load it up and watch your gpa grow with minimal effort. Just make sure to do your research on these courses and don't talk to admissions people about it too much or they might think you're trying to find loopholes in the system. Don't talk to colleagues that might rat you out either. These underwater science basketweaving courses are your best chance of offsetting the 2.6gpa and absorbing any other bumps in your straight science gpa. Also, make sure you research all the professors, see if they are easy, hard, if there are resources out there to make their class easy, etc...

People are going to tell you to try your hardest, etc..., but you need a smart approach, not just sheer effort. Be in it to win it! This is advice that not many people are going to give you, but I think this is your best chance.

Amen! School is a train and as soon as it gets us to our destination, we get off and we never look back.

 

[Faux]

I think you should determine what dental schools determine and classify as science courses. You should play it strategically and start loading up on courses that sound intelligent, difficult, counts as science course, but supereasy. Examples would include science intro courses for non-science majors, computer science courses for non CS majors, etc... load it up and watch your gpa grow with minimal effort. Just make sure to do your research on these courses and don't talk to admissions people about it too much or they might think you're trying to find loopholes in the system. Don't talk to colleagues that might rat you out either. These underwater science basketweaving courses are your best chance of offsetting the 2.6gpa and absorbing any other bumps in your straight science gpa. Also, make sure you research all the professors, see if they are easy, hard, if there are resources out there to make their class easy, etc...

People are going to tell you to try your hardest, etc..., but you need a smart approach, not just sheer effort. Be in it to win it! This is advice that not many people are going to give you, but I think this is your best chance.

Some anthropology classes counted into my science GPA. I didn't take them in hopes of getting them, but it was a wonderful surprise when I had 7 more credits worth of A's added into the calculation.


If the name is bio in nature, might be worth the gamble. Mine were Human Genetics, where we simply discussed general topics and had essays. Another one was Intro to Human evolution.

 

[KeepingUpWithK]

Thanks ya'll. Sorry that I've been away, but I've really been investing my time into my studies and is doing well. Haven't earned a C every since lol. But yes I've taken Intro to Parasitology this past semester and came out with an A!

 

[GypsyHummus]

Eh, eventually people have to compromise, if not out of time out of sheer economics. Compounding intrest never sleeps on student loans!

A quote I love is that "90% of people give up right before they were about to succeed." Keep on going!

 

[Dental School Digest]

Thanks ya'll. Sorry that I've been away, but I've really been investing my time into my studies and is doing well. Haven't earned a C every since lol. But yes I've taken Intro to Parasitology this past semester and came out with an A!

I am glad that things are going better for you! Admissions committees at many schools look very closely at upward trends. I heard an admissions committee member at one school say that they preferred someone with a 3.0 GPA and a strong upward trend to someone with a 4.0 GPA and a strong downward trend, even if the latter student has a higher overall GPA. Every school evaluates candidates differently, and remember that grades are only part of the equation.

How far along are you in your studies? A 2.6 GPA will be difficult to overcome unless you are still early in your degree program. If not, you might consider a post-baccalaureate degree at a dental school. There are many dental schools that select large numbers of students from their own post-bacc degree programs.

Best of luck to you with completing your studies and applying to dental schools!

 

[deleted678432]

Eh, eventually people have to compromise, if not out of time out of sheer economics. Compounding intrest never sleeps on student loans!

Not sure how this comes into play here but thanks for the finance lesson

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

I heard an admissions committee member at one school say that they preferred someone with a 3.0 GPA and a strong upward trend to someone with a 4.0 GPA and a strong downward trend

How can someone with a 4.0 have a downward trend?

Big Hoss