Biochemistry and dentist LOR

[Skateguitar]

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Hello everyone, this has been killing me for a while and i am stressing a lot on this. Basically, I want to apply for fall 2011 and I havent taken biochemistry, I could not take it this semester because only the second semester was offered and I may not be able to take it next semester because it is at the same time as my ecology class (needed for bachelor). I thought about asking the professors if they would let me take their class although i would have to leave biochemistry lab early by about an hour and a half and from what i have heard biochemistry labs take a long time and it is not guaranteed that they would let me do it. Spring 2011 is out of the question because my school will only offer biochemistry semester 2. Basically, is biochemistry very important to get into dental school? my grades are average (3.5 gpa 3.35 science) and i plan on DESTROYING the DAT. Aside from that, my dad is a dentist and owns his own practice, i have been working with him for a couple years on and off, and it never occurred to me that I need a LOR from a dentist. If i submit a LOR by my dad, would that be frowned upon? would my shadowing hours and LOR by my dad be null simply because he is family? Anyways, thanks to anyone that reads this, i really need some good news for relief.

 

[dentalWorks]

Well, for MANY dental schoos, biochemistry 1 is not required (only recommended). So if you got the right numbers (DAT / GPA) and the right shadowing / experience, I don't see why they would throw fits about you not having biochem. In my opinion, I don't believe ANY school would reject a student for JUST ONE non-required course, its usually multiple factors

On the other hand, there are some schools that actually REQUIRE you to have taken biochem 1 before matriculation (Univ of Michigan is one for sure). Actually now that I think about it, Univ of Michigan has a HUGE list of required courses that go beyond the normal pre-dent classes (Im talking microbiology, biochemistry, sociology, psycology, and I forgot what else)

The best thing you can do, is call up schools and simply explain to them your situation

 

[quillow]

Yeah, I think it really depends on what schools you want to apply to. Like dentalWorks said, a lot of schools don't require biochemistry (it's only recommended). I think the University of Washington requires two quarters of biochem though (and microbiology -- both of which seem to usually be recommended but not required by a lot of dental schools).

As for a LOR from your dad, I don't know if it would be frowned upon, but it's probably a good idea to see what other dental offices are like. So I'd probably recommend shadowing another dentist (or maybe even a specialist) and maybe get a LOR from that dentist. Does your dad know anyone you could shadow?

 

[subdoc]

If Biochemistry is a course your target schools require and you can't fit it on your undergrad schedule, take it online. I am taking Biochem online through University of Wisconsin online. 600 bucks plus book. Structured online course. 3 credits, semester-based. From the sampling of schools I targeted, none required a lab with the course. I don't know if your target schools do. As always, check on their website or call their staffs to see if the online Biochemistry course meets their requirements.

 

[Skateguitar]

Thanks for the replys, from what I know, my dad knows a few dental hygienists, i doubt a LOR from them would be ok though.

 

[subdoc]

Oh yeah...DON'T get a LOR from your father. Do you think he would be able to write you a letter which the ADCOMS do not think smells like nepotism?

 

[dentalWorks]

Yeh I forgot to respond about the LOR thing...

You see, my sister is a dentist, and I've been doing alot of shadowing with her as well. However I will not get LOR from her because schools will know its full of crap. So I spend about 50 hours doing shadowing with another dentist that is not related to me and got my LOR from him