Coursework Dilemma (I can probably forget this cycle)

[pk62281]

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Hi guys,

Some of you may remember my neurotic posts about not getting inteviews a few months back. A lot of you told me not to worry and I really appreciate the encouragement. I really believe I am not being irrational when I say I'm probably not getting in this year, even with my 23DAT and 3.3 GPA. I talked to a few schools and this is why I have not received any interviews.

1. BCP GPA is 3.15
2. BCP hours only amount to 34 hours
3. Have not taken a full courseload in 7 years (I'm a nontraditional applicant)
4. Lack of upper level bio courses (I only had microbio when I applied, I have since taken BioChem too)

Another thing I didn't realize at first is that prereqs is the absolute minimum. However, taking other recommended courses like genetics, C&M bio, Anatomy, Physio, Immunology is strongly encouraged, almost to the point that they are basically prereqs (esp if your GPA is medicore like mine)

I really want to try again next cycle, so I can use my 23DAT. I really think I need to address the not taking a full load of classes. If I do that and do well in them, I can also bring up my BCP gpa significantly. However, I am having trouble scheduling a full 15 hours of upper level science courses because of lack of certain prereqs and scheduling issues.

I am able to schedule
1. Anatomy and Physio 1 (4 hours)
2. Genetics (3 hours)
3. Bio 1 (5 hours, I got AP credit 13 years ago, so I think I should take it again but I know some of you may disagree. I'm kind of out of options)

I need 3 more hours and I have no idea what to put.
I was thinking of putting General Chemistry since I got a C in it 12 years ago or maybe an English course.
I know I'll rock Bio1 and Chemistry if I take it again, I did well on it on the DAT through self study.

Anyways... this sucks. I really need more science courses. I don't want to infect my full semester with easy 100 levels...What should I do?

 

[predent9]

Hey I think you should definitely retake the biology and chemistry courses because at this point they will be easy As for you. And you know what, there are people applying from different majors who only take the bare minimum and still manage to get in, so don't lose all hope and good job on the DAT! 🙂

 

[molar3]

hmmm i dont really think you should retake gen bio or gen chem . instead i think you should find "upper level " courses. in your case, like 200-300 level courses.
so i think a&p and genetics are 2 good courses. youve already taken micro, and biochem so just add another upper level bio or 2.....yes you can probably handle 4 courses, just maybe make sure they dont ALL have labs (bc labs bite & kill time...).
i think by taking these upper level bios, it shows them you can handle bio, aka u dont need to retake genbio...
but if its your only option and youre desperate for credits then, yea go ahead and repeat the course since youve been out of UG for a min

 

[pk62281]

Should I just take ecology or evolution?

 

[peg lateral]

Should I just take ecology or evolution?

Don't take ecology and evolution unless it is something that interests you because it won't really help for dental school.

The courses that I took in addition to the pre-reqs (bio, chem, ochem, biochem, physics) were:

Genetics w/ lab
Comparative anatomy w/ lab
Cell and molecular bio w/ lab
*Histology w/ lab
*Physiology w/ lab
*Microbiology w/ lab
Pathology

* I would recommend these over the others first because you will be taking these in dental school. If your school offers a good human anatomy course, gross anatomy or neuroanatomy in the graduate department, I would recommend taking that, and even moreso if there is a cadaver lab. I would not take human anatomy if it is an allied health science course because it probably won't be of much benefit other than terminology purposes because the class won't go into the depth that the class in dental school will go into.

Pathology was a good course in the sense that I did get some background on some diseases that I learned again in dental school, but the dental school course went into a ton more detail.

I would definitely look at taking a full load over taking 10 hours too. Just my opinion.