course selection

[Longcatislong]

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I'm having some indecision regarding which courses to enroll in next fall (I am a post bac student). I will for sure be taking O-Chem I and Physics I but want to take a third science elective. However, I don't want to overload myself and not get the best grades. Which of these would you recommend, and why/why not? In addition to advice from this forum, I'll be talking to my colleges adviser at some point.

a) general microbiology
b) human anatomy
c) cell biology

 

[bing12]

Microbio or Cell bio. Find out which one is requires relatively less work/time allowed for it, and take that one. Anatomy seems overkill, primarily due to the fact that it usually requires a great amount of attention and dedication to it.

Make sure you are prepared to take your brutal schedule. I would recommend just taking physics and orgo, and maybe adding on some classes that dont require as much attention to them.

What is your overall gpa? and your sgpa?

 

[Longcatislong]

My overall GPA is somewhere between 3.4-3.5 (don't know the exact number because in addition to my main undergrad transcript from college, I have a ton of coursework from junior college I took back in high school that will effect that number). I've only taken 3 pre-reqs so far, so my sGPA is 3.36.

 

[Longcatislong]

How about, instead of anatomy, general bio? I've only taken one semester of general bio so far.
​

 

[bing12]

your sgpa is a 3.36. it is good, but not great. I would recommend to take just 2 major pre-reqs, and 2 other less stressful classes. If you really want to speed things up, wait till the summer. Dont rush these classes, they are very important.

 

[youknowthedrill]

How long has it been since you've been in school? Are you working while taking classes? Science classes take more time and energy in order to get good grades. If you haven't had many science classes in the past or you are working, I'd stick to only two. Take the second semester of Biology if its offered at your school. It may be required before you can take other Biology classes at your school. You can postpone Physics because its a pre-req but won't be covered on the DAT.
Here are a couple of links from ADEA on GPA calculations and course classification:
http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas/Applicants/GeneralInstructions/Documents/2011%20GPA%20Calculations.pdf
http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...ocuments/2011 ADEA AADSAS Course Subjects.pdf

 

[sacapuntas]

I also am post-bacc, working, have a family etc.

This fall I will be taking very similar classes. I am doing O-Chem 1, Bio 2, and Physics 1 with the labs for all 3. I am not overly worried about the semesters work load. I feel like I could throw 2 more science classes on the pile and it will still be less of a workload than the job I left to go back to school.

It's all relative I guess, I think you can handle it.

 

[bing12]

how long has it been since you've been in school? Are you working while taking classes? Science classes take more time and energy in order to get good grades. If you haven't had many science classes in the past or you are working, i'd stick to only two. Take the second semester of biology if its offered at your school. It may be required before you can take other biology classes at your school. You can postpone physics because its a pre-req but won't be covered on the dat.
here are a couple of links from adea on gpa calculations and course classification:
http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...tructions/documents/2011 gpa calculations.pdf
http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...ocuments/2011 adea aadsas course subjects.pdf

+1

 

[Longcatislong]

Thanks for the advice guys. As part of the formal post-bacc program I'm doing, we take physics and ochem together next semester. Also, even though physics may not be covered on the DAT, i'd rather just get it over with now instead of waiting and putting it for later.

Seems like the general consesus is that Ochem and Physics are a very heavy load in and of themselves and that I should just stick with these classes and not add on any other science electives. Would it be to my detriment to take only ochem, physics (their respective labs) and a 2 one unit discussion sections next semester and nothing else? That totals 11 units for the fall semester. I will also be volunteering about 4-6 hours a week. dont dental schools look down on people taking fewer units?

 

[sacapuntas]

My opinion on the matter is that you need to try and stay a full-time student...>12 credits. People doing post-baccs like me and you need to prove we can handle a heavy load of science courses. I wouldn't hesitate to throw gen bio 2 in there, I really think that is a doable schedule. At least I hope it is, as I stated earlier that is my schedule🙂.

Thanks for the advice guys. As part of the formal post-bacc program I'm doing, we take physics and ochem together next semester. Also, even though physics may not be covered on the DAT, i'd rather just get it over with now instead of waiting and putting it for later.

Seems like the general consesus is that Ochem and Physics are a very heavy load in and of themselves and that I should just stick with these classes and not add on any other science electives. Would it be to my detriment to take only ochem, physics (their respective labs) and a 2 one unit discussion sections next semester and nothing else? That totals 11 units for the fall semester. I will also be volunteering about 4-6 hours a week. dont dental schools look down on people taking fewer units?

 

[Longcatislong]

My opinion on the matter is that you need to try and stay a full-time student...>12 credits. People doing post-baccs like me and you need to prove we can handle a heavy load of science courses. I wouldn't hesitate to throw gen bio 2 in there, I really think that is a doable schedule. At least I hope it is, as I stated earlier that is my schedule🙂.

Thanks Sacapuntas. That's totally my thought on it to. Once we get into dental school, we'll have very heavy course loads, so we need to get used to dealing with that work load (and doing well) during our post-baccs. Unfortunatly, the general attitude in my post-bacc program is to shield people from "over loading" themselves. They advise us to, this fall, only take Physics 1 and Ochem 1 and nothing else, so that we can focus solely on those classes and get the best grades (which makes sense)..

 

[LaughingGas]

Thanks Sacapuntas. That's totally my thought on it to. Once we get into dental school, we'll have very heavy course loads, so we need to get used to dealing with that work load (and doing well) during our post-baccs. Unfortunatly, the general attitude in my post-bacc program is to shield people from "over loading" themselves. They advise us to, this fall, only take Physics 1 and Ochem 1 and nothing else, so that we can focus solely on those classes and get the best grades (which makes sense)..

From those three classes I would add Cell Bio. They are definitely manageable ( about right amount).🙂