Course Rigor

[Double Bonded]

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Used the search but I wanted to get some opinions on my own situation.

I'm a senior and I transferred from cc last year as a soft major. I took one prereq at cc (gen chem 1 and 2) and I'm in the process of completing all the others (only physics 2 and biochem to go).

Since I transferred, I've taken one prereq last Fall - Orgo 1, two last Spring - Orgo 2 and Physics 1- and one last Summer - Bio 1. I'm going to stay an extra semester (9 semester to graduate) so I'm taking biochem next semester and physics the semester after that.

(I got a B in bio, and a B+ in physics 1 but the rest of my prereqs are A's)

My GPA ~3.6/sGPA ~3.5. I'm averaging around 14.5 units/semester but I've taken 2 units of P/NP classes both semesters after transferring.



1) How will it be viewed that I'm mostly taking one science class per semester? (after transfer)

2) How badly will my application be hurt by staying the extra semester? and for being a transfer with a soft major?

3) The threads I found on this issue were a bit dated so...Is 14.5 units/semester normal or low?

4) Are the 2 units of P/NP classes after transferring a problem?
(i ask because they add 2 units onto my schedule and without them, I would be around 12-13 units for my first year after transferring)



I would appreciate responses from current dental students, adcom members (if there are any), or people applying to dental school this cycle. Thanks!

 

[Double Bonded]

anybody?

 

[UFRalo]

I don't think it matters all that much. i'm sure there are those out there that would say it matters, and it def. could, but I usually took 14 credits or so and did ok in school (well at least after I got used to real college lol).

I have 3 interviews and am in a Master's degree now (to make up for year of adjustment). Don't worry about it. As long as you do good on the DAT I think you will be fine with the GPA you have. Trust me, taking easier semesters and getting good grades looks a LOT better than loading up and doing bad 😀

 

[Double Bonded]

Trust me, taking easier semesters and getting good grades looks a LOT better than loading up and doing bad 😀

lol, i hear that.

..but how much worse does it look to take easier semesters and getting good grades versus taking hard semesters and getting good grades?

 

[aelian]

Used the search but I wanted to get some opinions on my own situation.

I'm a senior and I transferred from cc last year as a soft major. I took one prereq at cc (gen chem 1 and 2) and I'm in the process of completing all the others (only physics 2 and biochem to go).

Since I transferred, I've taken one prereq last Fall - Orgo 1, two last Spring - Orgo 2 and Physics 1- and one last Summer - Bio 1. I'm going to stay an extra semester (9 semester to graduate) so I'm taking biochem next semester and physics the semester after that.

(I got a B in bio, and a B+ in physics 1 but the rest of my prereqs are A's)

My GPA ~3.6/sGPA ~3.5. I'm averaging around 14.5 units/semester but I've taken 2 units of P/NP classes both semesters after transferring.



1) How will it be viewed that I'm mostly taking one science class per semester? (after transfer)

2) How badly will my application be hurt by staying the extra semester? and for being a transfer with a soft major?

3) The threads I found on this issue were a bit dated so...Is 14.5 units/semester normal or low?

4) Are the 2 units of P/NP classes after transferring a problem?
(i ask because they add 2 units onto my schedule and without them, I would be around 12-13 units for my first year after transferring)


I would appreciate responses from current dental students, adcom members (if there are any), or people applying to dental school this cycle. Thanks!

Your situation doesn't sound too bad if you've only taken a few pre-reqs at a cc. But there are a few problems that I see.

1. The adcoms would definitely prefer that you took more than 1 science course per semester. In addition to that, they would prefer that you took more than the minimal. This is just from the Houston Dean so I can't speak definitively for all the schools but according to him, he would prefer to see you take 12 hours of science courses over 15 easy hours. Get yourself some more upper level classes because some schools will not like the bare minimum (again, only speaking for Texas schools).

2. Your application would actually be improved by staying an extra semester, provided you can continue taking a respectable courseload (12 plus hours) and an upper level. If you are postponing graduation to just take one science class, then it seems like a bad idea. Toughen it up. And it doesn't seem to be your case, but an extra semester is definitely needed if your GPA is low.

3. 14.5 hours are a very good amount. Just keep it above 12 hours and you should be fine. Remember to balance quality of the courses with quantity of courses. 12 hours of upper level science are just as good as 16 hours of non-science, in my book.

4. ??? Don't know what that is...

 

[Vicviper]

I took a 5th year to graduate partly because having transferred from a CC, it was hard to get into all of the classes I needed to, and partly because I wanted continue my research. I don't think this impacted my chances at all, and it never came up at any of my interviews - so I wouldn't stress on this.

 

[Double Bonded]

Your situation doesn't sound too bad if you've only taken a few pre-reqs at a cc. But there are a few problems that I see.

1. The adcoms would definitely prefer that you took more than 1 science course per semester. In addition to that, they would prefer that you took more than the minimal. This is just from the Houston Dean so I can't speak definitively for all the schools but according to him, he would prefer to see you take 12 hours of science courses over 15 easy hours. Get yourself some more upper level classes because some schools will not like the bare minimum (again, only speaking for Texas schools).

2. Your application would actually be improved by staying an extra semester, provided you can continue taking a respectable courseload (12 plus hours) and an upper level. If you are postponing graduation to just take one science class, then it seems like a bad idea. Toughen it up. And it doesn't seem to be your case, but an extra semester is definitely needed if your GPA is low.

3. 14.5 hours are a very good amount. Just keep it above 12 hours and you should be fine. Remember to balance quality of the courses with quantity of courses. 12 hours of upper level science are just as good as 16 hours of non-science, in my book.

thanks, I'll do that

4. ??? Don't know what that is...

pass/no pass classes, they're 1 unit classes and I've taken 2 (one each semester).

I took a 5th year to graduate partly because having transferred from a CC, it was hard to get into all of the classes I needed to, and partly because I wanted continue my research. I don't think this impacted my chances at all, and it never came up at any of my interviews - so I wouldn't stress on this.

thanks!