Biochemistry Before or After

[punchdrunk7]

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I am applying for the 2011 cycle this upcoming June and have a question.
1) Will taking Biochemistry prior to applying increase my chances of getting accepted to dental school?
2) And does it help on the DAT?

 

[uclaDDS101]

1) It'll help your chances if you do well in it (just like any other upper div bio).

2) It helped me on the dat. It made me super confident with macromolecule structure, metabolic pathways, and enzyme catalysis.

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

Yea, should help w/ what the above post says.... especially glycolysis, etc, kreb's, calvin cycle, and AA's

 

[sfrice80]

No question it will help you on the DAT, however, I dont remember having one biochem question on my DAT. Maybe 1 max but its still an upper level bio course that, if you do well, will increase your gpa. I would take it and just get it out of the way.

 

[punchdrunk7]

Awesome thanks to all who have replied so far. I am just debating because I will be TA'ing in human physiology and organic chemistry 2 plus other classes. So I need to decide how to weigh out my time so I can study and do well on the DAT. Thanks to all

 

[smiles123]

Awesome thanks to all who have replied so far. I am just debating because I will be TA'ing in human physiology and organic chemistry 2 plus other classes. So I need to decide how to weigh out my time so I can study and do well on the DAT. Thanks to all

It would be a good idea to take it (like everyone above already stated)...but if you will be overwhelmed, don't take it. I'd say spend most of your time/energy studying for the DAT (because that score DEFINITELY matters), but if there is space in your schedule taking biochem can only help you.

 

[teethmagnet]

it will DEF help for the DAT--just like every other advanced course you will take
but take it, even if it helps for 1 q that can make your score go frm a
20->21. . . . .

plus you will have to take in dental school anyway!!

 

[KitKat09]

It would help a little to have it before you apply. Generally dental schools like to see that you have taken as many upper division science courses prior to applying. Although they do not penalize you if you have not taken any specific ones.

I think it helped me on the DAT a little bit. I do agree that like any upper division course it increased my understanding of the topics I learned in intro bio. But you can do well on the Dat without having biochem as well.

So bottom line is yes it would be nice to have it (especially is you think you can get an A/A-, which is very hard to do in biochem), but don't think of biochem as a course that will make it or break it for you. Unless you fail it, in which case it will significantly decrease your chances of getting in.

Just whatever you do DO NOT take it your fall semester when you are apply to DS.

 

[Tommy43087]

It would help a little to have it before you apply. Generally dental schools like to see that you have taken as many upper division science courses prior to applying. Although they do not penalize you if you have not taken any specific ones.

I think it helped me on the DAT a little bit. I do agree that like any upper division course it increased my understanding of the topics I learned in intro bio. But you can do well on the Dat without having biochem as well.

So bottom line is yes it would be nice to have it (especially is you think you can get an A/A-, which is very hard to do in biochem), but don't think of biochem as a course that will make it or break it for you. Unless you fail it, in which case it will significantly decrease your chances of getting in.

Just whatever you do DO NOT take it your fall semester when you are apply to DS.

Haha thats what i did, it was pretty rough...