Class scheduling

[dentite24]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a freshman Microbiology major going into my second semester. My first semester I took gen chem, gen bio, calc 1, philosophy, chem lab, bio lab, and chem and bio learning communities; I got a 4.0, but it will probably be one of my easier semesters in college. For my spring semester I am scheduled to take gen chem 2, gen bio 2, spanish 2, english, sociology, chem lab, bio lab, chem learning community. My sophomore fall looks like organic 1, organic lab 1, organic learning community, genetics, anatomy, gen geography, and physical education. Sophomore spring looks like organic 2, organic 2 lab, organic learning community, physiology, cell bio, cultural geography, and an easy online class. Junior fall looks like microbiology, junior english, stats, physics 1, and psychology. Junior spring looks like physics 2, principles of evolution, biological chemistry, anthropology,and two out of four between nutrition, economics, an art class, or an easy music class. Senior year is basically just finishing up requirements for my major. Senior fall would be virology, immunology, immunology lab, molecular genetics, humanities class, and an easy online class. Senior spring looks like parasitology, Senior class requirement (developmental bio or animal conservation), humanities class, easy online class, biological chemistry lab (I didn't want to take this before I applied because my gpa would be lower), and genetics lab (again, didn't want to have a low gpa when applying).

I plan on taking the DAT at the end of the summer after my sophomore year, then apply to dental school at the beginning of the summer after my junior year. Basically, first, I want to have taken good classes before the end of my sophomore year to prepare me well for the dat. Then, I want to have the highest gpa possible when I apply, while still having a very impressive course load. My goal is to have above a 3.9 gpa when I apply. To keep my gpa high I moved genetics lab and biochem lab to senior year, and held off some off most of my 4000 level classes til my senior year. To keep my course load impressive I made my major microbiology instead of just pre-dentistry, I'll have all of the pre-requisites for dental school completed when I apply, and I am taking courses that dental admissions like to see (philosophy, psychology, sociology, and anthropology).

Some questions I have:
1) Am I risking a lot by waiting to take genetics lab and biological chem lab til my senior year to have a higher gpa when I apply (the labs are each 2 credit hours)? It will only be a year between when I take the class of biochem and the lab, and I'll take the genetics lab one semester after I take molecular genetics (2 years after I took the actual general genetics class). Also, I'm pretty dead-set on dentistry so I don't care all that much about my performance in school my senior year. However, I think when the time comes I will still won't to shoot for a 3.9 cumulative gpa for all four years. I'll probably end up wanting a high gpa my senior year because it would be a great accomplishment to have summa cum laude, and the high gpa will increase my chances to get a scholarship at dental school.
2) Is it necessary to take junior english and biochem (4000 level class) my junior year instead of my senior year? I am taking them my junior year because I want all the dental school pre-requisites done by the time I apply, to make a more impressive course load. But, is it really that much more impressive to have all pre-requisites done when I apply as opposed to all but two classes done?
3) Mostly all of the other "filler" classes (like geography and philosophy) are all 1000 level class. Do I need to try to take more 2000 level filler classes or is what I have just fine?
4) Do I need to add an art class? Or is it worth risking the arbitrary A- or B+?

Thank you for all of those with suggestions.

 

[SXCoronado]

.

 

[PostDocCain]

OP you will be more responses if when you make a thread it isnt so long. I DIDNT read it all but i can tell you just listed about you will be plannign to take. And RELAXXXXXXX you are fine as the above poster said.

What year you take the classes is not important all that matters is your SGPA/GPA and DAT and making sure you complete the pre reqs within 5 to 10 years ( some schools have a 5 year rule while some have 10 idk why it is stupid to just have 5).

The adcoms do not care about filler classes .



See how nice and short that was? I know you just made the account but when you ask quesitons make it as short as possible and you will get more responses. This question really did not need to be asked no offense but I can understand that you're a freshman and you are wanting to plan ahead and do well in school.

Best of luck to you

 

[dentite24]

Any other suggestions?

 

[dauntless123]

I think you are fine. Many people take biochem as a junior. It looks like you have a great plan. My 4 year plan is a lot similar to yours.

 

[FT2FLY]

OP you will be more responses if when you make a thread it isnt so long. I DIDNT read it all but i can tell you just listed about you will be plannign to take. And RELAXXXXXXX you are fine as the above poster said.

What year you take the classes is not important all that matters is your SGPA/GPA and DAT and making sure you complete the pre reqs within 5 to 10 years ( some schools have a 5 year rule while some have 10 idk why it is stupid to just have 5).

The adcoms do not care about filler classes .



See how nice and short that was? I know you just made the account but when you ask quesitons make it as short as possible and you will get more responses. This question really did not need to be asked no offense but I can understand that you're a freshman and you are wanting to plan ahead and do well in school.

Best of luck to you

Where can I find out more about the 5 year and 10 year rule? I'm a freshman but I finished up my English prereq at a CC when I was in high school. I just want to make sure that credit remains.

 

[PostDocCain]

@FT2FLY It is usually on schools websites under there pre req list but sometimes under the Frequently Asked Questions section. The rule is usually just for the science classes english wouldnt matter.

 

[manifesto]

I am a freshman Microbiology major going into my second semester. My first semester I took gen chem, gen bio, calc 1, philosophy, chem lab, bio lab, and chem and bio learning communities; I got a 4.0, but it will probably be one of my easier semesters in college. For my spring semester I am scheduled to take gen chem 2, gen bio 2, spanish 2, english, sociology, chem lab, bio lab, chem learning community. My sophomore fall looks like organic 1, organic lab 1, organic learning community, genetics, anatomy, gen geography, and physical education. Sophomore spring looks like organic 2, organic 2 lab, organic learning community, physiology, cell bio, cultural geography, and an easy online class. Junior fall looks like microbiology, junior english, stats, physics 1, and psychology. Junior spring looks like physics 2, principles of evolution, biological chemistry, anthropology,and two out of four between nutrition, economics, an art class, or an easy music class. Senior year is basically just finishing up requirements for my major. Senior fall would be virology, immunology, immunology lab, molecular genetics, humanities class, and an easy online class. Senior spring looks like parasitology, Senior class requirement (developmental bio or animal conservation), humanities class, easy online class, biological chemistry lab (I didn't want to take this before I applied because my gpa would be lower), and genetics lab (again, didn't want to have a low gpa when applying).

I plan on taking the DAT at the end of the summer after my sophomore year, then apply to dental school at the beginning of the summer after my junior year. Basically, first, I want to have taken good classes before the end of my sophomore year to prepare me well for the dat. Then, I want to have the highest gpa possible when I apply, while still having a very impressive course load. My goal is to have above a 3.9 gpa when I apply. To keep my gpa high I moved genetics lab and biochem lab to senior year, and held off some off most of my 4000 level classes til my senior year. To keep my course load impressive I made my major microbiology instead of just pre-dentistry, I'll have all of the pre-requisites for dental school completed when I apply, and I am taking courses that dental admissions like to see (philosophy, psychology, sociology, and anthropology).

Some questions I have:
1) Am I risking a lot by waiting to take genetics lab and biological chem lab til my senior year to have a higher gpa when I apply (the labs are each 2 credit hours)? It will only be a year between when I take the class of biochem and the lab, and I'll take the genetics lab one semester after I take molecular genetics (2 years after I took the actual general genetics class). Also, I'm pretty dead-set on dentistry so I don't care all that much about my performance in school my senior year. However, I think when the time comes I will still won't to shoot for a 3.9 cumulative gpa for all four years. I'll probably end up wanting a high gpa my senior year because it would be a great accomplishment to have summa cum laude, and the high gpa will increase my chances to get a scholarship at dental school.
2) Is it necessary to take junior english and biochem (4000 level class) my junior year instead of my senior year? I am taking them my junior year because I want all the dental school pre-requisites done by the time I apply, to make a more impressive course load. But, is it really that much more impressive to have all pre-requisites done when I apply as opposed to all but two classes done?
3) Mostly all of the other "filler" classes (like geography and philosophy) are all 1000 level class. Do I need to try to take more 2000 level filler classes or is what I have just fine?
4) Do I need to add an art class? Or is it worth risking the arbitrary A- or B+?

Thank you for all of those with suggestions.

Answer to 1-4 is no.