Hey SDN!
I have an interesting decision coming up that I would love to hear your opinions on. My primary problem is that I did not take Biochemistry during my undergrad, a class that I am now discovering many schools require (good planning me!!!)
Luckily for me, both my state schools don't require Biochem (North Carolina resident, so UNC and ECU). Unfortunately for me, a ton of other schools do.
I could definitely go take Biochem this fall or next spring, but I live 45 minutes from Chapel Hill and can't seem to find any viable closer (or online) options. So I would either commute 4 days a week or move back to Chapel Hill (I went to UNC for undergrad) for one class, not to mention the $1700 price tag for the class itself.
So I am faced with either A) Applying to only a few schools, decreasing my chances of acceptance and maybe whiffing and having to wait a year or B) Spending some cash, taking biochemistry, and applying to a bunch of schools
Important info:
1) UNC is definitely my #1 choice and ECU is my #2 thus far (whole family in NC, dad recently having some health problems, sisters have young children I love to see, grandma 5 minutes away and I can help her out a lot, etc etc etc so I would really prefer to stay close to the fam)
2) Undergrad GPA is a ~3.3 overall, ~3.2 science. Applied Sciences major with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, minor in Chemistry.
3) Lucked out on the DAT and squeeked a 24 AA, 23 TS, 23 PAT, plenty of random extracurriculars, just spent 3 months volunteering in Peru (~80 dental shadowing hours down here as well), blah blah blah
4) No idea if this is a pro or a con, but I am a pretty non traditional applicant and will definitely distinguish myself if I am fortunate enough to get an interview (though I have no idea whether it will be in a good way or bad way, HA). I mean we are talking random things like:
- Was a sponsored video game player (counter strike source for my curious fellow nerds) during college, got flown around the country with my team and put up in nice hotels to compete in tournaments.
- Have been a professional poker player for the last 6 years as my sole source of income.
- Been basically traveling throughout the USA and world the last 2 years and made it to a bunch of countries, ending now with my 3 month volunteer gig in Cuzco, Peru.
So I think interviewers will remember me, but whether it is fondly or with hatred is yet to be seen. I do have a real passion for dentistry, and I expect that will show in any interview that I am fortunate enough to have.
Holy long thread, sorry this is a novel. So basically I would love to hear what you guys/girls would do:
1) Take the gamble, apply to only 2-3 schools (my 2-3 top choices luckily) with a mediocre/semi-weird application and run this risk of whiffing and losing a year
2) Spend some cash, sign up for a semester of Biochem, apply to a bunch of schools and dramatically increase my chances of a Fall 2012 start date
To anyone that is still reading and awake, thanks for your time and advice! I have been wavering back and forth on the decision for a few months now and can't really figure out which one is better
PS - Go heels, elite 8 or bust baby
I have an interesting decision coming up that I would love to hear your opinions on. My primary problem is that I did not take Biochemistry during my undergrad, a class that I am now discovering many schools require (good planning me!!!)
Luckily for me, both my state schools don't require Biochem (North Carolina resident, so UNC and ECU). Unfortunately for me, a ton of other schools do.
I could definitely go take Biochem this fall or next spring, but I live 45 minutes from Chapel Hill and can't seem to find any viable closer (or online) options. So I would either commute 4 days a week or move back to Chapel Hill (I went to UNC for undergrad) for one class, not to mention the $1700 price tag for the class itself.
So I am faced with either A) Applying to only a few schools, decreasing my chances of acceptance and maybe whiffing and having to wait a year or B) Spending some cash, taking biochemistry, and applying to a bunch of schools
Important info:
1) UNC is definitely my #1 choice and ECU is my #2 thus far (whole family in NC, dad recently having some health problems, sisters have young children I love to see, grandma 5 minutes away and I can help her out a lot, etc etc etc so I would really prefer to stay close to the fam)
2) Undergrad GPA is a ~3.3 overall, ~3.2 science. Applied Sciences major with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, minor in Chemistry.
3) Lucked out on the DAT and squeeked a 24 AA, 23 TS, 23 PAT, plenty of random extracurriculars, just spent 3 months volunteering in Peru (~80 dental shadowing hours down here as well), blah blah blah
4) No idea if this is a pro or a con, but I am a pretty non traditional applicant and will definitely distinguish myself if I am fortunate enough to get an interview (though I have no idea whether it will be in a good way or bad way, HA). I mean we are talking random things like:
- Was a sponsored video game player (counter strike source for my curious fellow nerds) during college, got flown around the country with my team and put up in nice hotels to compete in tournaments.
- Have been a professional poker player for the last 6 years as my sole source of income.
- Been basically traveling throughout the USA and world the last 2 years and made it to a bunch of countries, ending now with my 3 month volunteer gig in Cuzco, Peru.
So I think interviewers will remember me, but whether it is fondly or with hatred is yet to be seen. I do have a real passion for dentistry, and I expect that will show in any interview that I am fortunate enough to have.
Holy long thread, sorry this is a novel. So basically I would love to hear what you guys/girls would do:
1) Take the gamble, apply to only 2-3 schools (my 2-3 top choices luckily) with a mediocre/semi-weird application and run this risk of whiffing and losing a year
2) Spend some cash, sign up for a semester of Biochem, apply to a bunch of schools and dramatically increase my chances of a Fall 2012 start date
To anyone that is still reading and awake, thanks for your time and advice! I have been wavering back and forth on the decision for a few months now and can't really figure out which one is better
PS - Go heels, elite 8 or bust baby
