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Biology or Chemistry major for undergrad?? Help Please!
- Thread starter yoh95
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After your first semester (or year), you will be able to tell if chem or bio comes easier to you. Pick whichever one that is.
Generally, I think a bio major will help more in dental school.
You will need ECs. Maybe don't join the orchestra your first semester as you acclimate to a college workload. However, if you decide you can manage it, then go for it!
Regrets? I regret not taking any classes in finance.
Generally, I think a bio major will help more in dental school.
You will need ECs. Maybe don't join the orchestra your first semester as you acclimate to a college workload. However, if you decide you can manage it, then go for it!
Regrets? I regret not taking any classes in finance.
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Do a biology degree over chemistry. One thing I regret not doing in college is getting a petroleum engineering degree and taking extra classes over the summers to get the biology classes needed for dental school done. My roommate is doing petroleum engineering and I study much more than him with my micro biology degree. It would be nice to have a very good backup plan instead of a degree in biology.
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Hi!
While I'm premed I feel like I can still give you some decent advice, I dual degreed in chemistry and biology (meaning I did two bachelor's degrees).
While it depends on your specific school and each department, biology will probably be the easier path in terms of material. You wouldn't have to take the physical chemistries or too many upper level math courses if any. However, in my experience, chemistry allows students to gain critical thinking skills and more of the "scientific mindset" more easily than biology. I feel like chemistry is more useful and allows for more flexibility down the road (i.e. Im taking an unexpected gap year and I was able to get into a really awesome chem grad program)
At the end of the day, do what interests you. Heck major in music if you want! It sounds like you have some time before you really have to lock down your major so take classes that count towards both and then go from there.
While I'm premed I feel like I can still give you some decent advice, I dual degreed in chemistry and biology (meaning I did two bachelor's degrees).
While it depends on your specific school and each department, biology will probably be the easier path in terms of material. You wouldn't have to take the physical chemistries or too many upper level math courses if any. However, in my experience, chemistry allows students to gain critical thinking skills and more of the "scientific mindset" more easily than biology. I feel like chemistry is more useful and allows for more flexibility down the road (i.e. Im taking an unexpected gap year and I was able to get into a really awesome chem grad program)
At the end of the day, do what interests you. Heck major in music if you want! It sounds like you have some time before you really have to lock down your major so take classes that count towards both and then go from there.
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Eh, I wouldn't say you have a tremendously higher chance if you have an oddball major, though it can be a talking point in interviews. You can diversify yourself with ECs.
The gen chem section is just that... gen chem! So yes, Chem 101/102 stuff. The science sections are fairly tough, though, for most folks. They definitely require lots of studying, but there are resources out there to help you prepare. If the ONLY reason you are becoming a chem major is to do well on the DAT, then by all means, pick a different major.
On the DAT, they can literally test you on *anything* from biology. Having a wide range of bio courses under your belt is helpful. However, the GC/OC sections have a bit less breadth. You don't need to take anything further than OC to do well on the DAT.
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It all depends on you. Chemistry can be a lot to take on if you are not passionate about it. You could always major in biology and minor in chemistry.
I majored in Chemistry for my undergrad and I noticed that when compared to my roommate who was majoring in Biology, I had to study more. Chemistry is a lot of critical thinking (especially for Inorganic and Physical Chemistry) while Biology is a lot of memorizing.
As for a whole different major, I would suggest doing a science major and you could minor in a different subject. You want to give your science classes the most attention.
I majored in Chemistry for my undergrad and I noticed that when compared to my roommate who was majoring in Biology, I had to study more. Chemistry is a lot of critical thinking (especially for Inorganic and Physical Chemistry) while Biology is a lot of memorizing.
As for a whole different major, I would suggest doing a science major and you could minor in a different subject. You want to give your science classes the most attention.
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If you just go the traditional route with a bio major and take a full course load each semester, you won't need to take summer classes. A traditional bio major will generally cover the most of your prereqs.
In this forum, some are in dental school, some have been accepted but aren't starting until the fall, some are applying currently, some are applying in the future.
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Chem is by no mean easy, but it's not really that difficult if you study. The concepts are simple, but typical "college-experience" like to make things 100x harder for you.
So, just like the above posters said, you will tell which subject you like the most during your fall semester, and don't worry about being left behind. Freshmen classes tend to be the same for science majors.
So, just like the above posters said, you will tell which subject you like the most during your fall semester, and don't worry about being left behind. Freshmen classes tend to be the same for science majors.
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If you are studying for Ochem already and thinking about the DAT now, you are way ahead of the game!! 👍👍
As most have said, majoring in bio will definitely help you out a lot more than chem in dental school, as NBDE I is incorporates a lot of histology, microbioliology, gross anatomy and biochem questions.
Biochemistry is as close to chemistry as you will get in dental school.
I used Crack DAT reading to prepare for RC and found it sufficient.
In terms of electives that will help you for the DAT bio, Genetics, Ecology, Developmental Bio, and Anat/physio are some that will help you prepare.
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I was in a similar situation as you. No offense to biology majors, but the ones I know at my school basically have their Biology Pre reqs (cell bio, genetics, microbio, ochem, gen chem) and then they can take anything they want; they load their schedules with BIOLOGY courses cause they really shine in biology. Biochemistry is the perfect mix. I had literally every PreReq that biology majors had, and a bunch of upper level chemistry courses (which were hard) but its still something that's showing your versatility.
