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[awilly]

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[In2Infinity]

I would also like to know this? What happens if you apply during the fourth year of university? Don't the schools want to see your final year? etc

 

[Maygyver]

I think schools like to see that you didn't do that and appreciate students that take a hard schedule. Think about it, in dental school you are going to have a hard schedule of all science classes, so why not get started with some practice now? Personally, I think it would be better to get them done now when you actually will be forced to do well, rather than waiting til senior year when you probably won't really want to try at all after an acceptance (if you get one) and senioritis.

To second poster: Most people do apply during the summer before their first year so their process is going on during their fourth year. Schools see the courses up to when you applied and there is an option to update after your new scores get in. Therefore, schools might not have to see your final year.

In the end I guess it is up to you, but I always had faith in my ability to do well in any course so I didn't specifically push all my hard classes to my senior year. If you are considering dental school, then I assume you are academically strong, so you shouldn't worry about taking cake classes to raise your GPA.

Hope this helps.

 

[AmpedUp]

I think schools like to see that you didn't do that and appreciate students that take a hard schedule. Think about it, in dental school you are going to have a hard schedule of all science classes, so why not get started with some practice now? Personally, I think it would be better to get them done now when you actually will be forced to do well, rather than waiting til senior year when you probably won't really want to try at all after an acceptance (if you get one) and senioritis.

To second poster: Most people do apply during the summer before their first year so their process is going on during their fourth year. Schools see the courses up to when you applied and there is an option to update after your new scores get in. Therefore, schools might not have to see your final year.

In the end I guess it is up to you, but I always had faith in my ability to do well in any course so I didn't specifically push all my hard classes to my senior year. If you are considering dental school, then I assume you are academically strong, so you shouldn't worry about taking cake classes to raise your GPA.

Hope this helps.

👍

May is killin' it on the advice tip!! (but haters still 'gon hate, man)

 

[Seahawk]

I am planning on doing this with some of the harder classes for my major that aren't pre-reqs and wouldn't help me on the DAT.

FWIW: My sources come from dental school faculty, not "thinking" what dental schools like to see.

 

[Maygyver]

I am planning on doing this with some of the harder classes for my major that aren't pre-reqs and wouldn't help me on the DAT.

FWIW: My sources come from dental school faculty, not "thinking" what dental schools like to see.

Scheduling classes that don't help for the DAT for after the DAT makes sense, but just pushing hard classes to later in your career to pad GPA is kind of weak. But yeah, taking classes like physio, biochem, mol gen before the DAT is a good idea.

 

[Seahawk]

Getting an interview/acceptance is an all out free for all. Anything I can do to better my chances, I will.

Weak to go into the application with a higher GPA? I say smart, strategical move.

I see lots of pre-healths who haven't done any research or talked to any credible sources all trying to be bio majors with a minor in X and take tons and tons of hard pre-health-ish classes, thinking that it will help them get accepted, but really it is just killing their GPA...and then John Smith (music major) with the pre-reqs and a much higher GPA walks right in front of them.

 

[Maygyver]

Getting an interview/acceptance is an all out free for all. Anything I can do to better my chances, I will.

Weak to go into the application with a higher GPA? I say smart, strategical move.

I see lots of pre-healths who haven't done any research or talked to any credible sources all trying to be bio majors with a minor in X and take tons and tons of hard pre-health-ish classes, thinking that it will help them get accepted, but really it is just killing their GPA...and then John Smith (music major) with the pre-reqs and a much higher GPA walks right in front of them.

I wouldn't say getting an interview is a free for all. Most of that interviews are given out based on your GPA, DAT so those who work hardest to get good grades and a good DAT score are going to get the interviews they deserve. If you think you can't get A's in the upper level sciences or don't want to work hard to get them, then you have a smart idea but I have more respect for people who take tough schedules and are up for challenges. I had faith in my ability to do those classes and wanted to test myself and it helped me get better study skills. At my interview, all of my interviewers commented on my academic success.

I do agree with your science majors crashing their GPAs and not getting in, but being a science major and working hard and succeeding looks pretty good to schools. It shows that you can handle the material and won't flunk out when you have to actually do a hard science schedule. I've heard that they do enjoy non-science majors for a little bit of diversity though.

 

[Seahawk]

I wouldn't say getting an interview is a free for all. Most of that interviews are given out based on your GPA, DAT so those who work hardest to get good grades and a good DAT score are going to get the interviews they deserve. If you think you can't get A's in the upper level sciences or don't want to work hard to get them, then you have a smart idea but I have more respect for people who take tough schedules and are up for challenges. I had faith in my ability to do those classes and wanted to test myself and it helped me get better study skills. At my interview, all of my interviewers commented on my academic success.

I do agree with your science majors crashing their GPAs and not getting in, but being a science major and working hard and succeeding looks pretty good to schools. It shows that you can handle the material and won't flunk out when you have to actually do a hard science schedule. I've heard that they do enjoy non-science majors for a little bit of diversity though.

Well, I like to think of interviews as an all out free for all, but to each his own 🙂.

I don't worry about doing well in science classes. But I feel like if I was to get some incredibly hard class, due to a POS or PIA (pain in ass) professor or something, I would want it to be after my applications...ya know?

But anyway, for the record, I am not planning on saving up the 8 hardest classes for the last year. I just may put off a few 3 or maybe 4 til then.

 

[Maygyver]

Well, I like to think of interviews as an all out free for all, but to each his own 🙂.

I don't worry about doing well in science classes. But I feel like if I was to get some incredibly hard class, due to a POS or PIA (pain in ass) professor or something, I would want it to be after my applications...ya know?

But anyway, for the record, I am not planning on saving up the 8 hardest classes for the last year. I just may put off a few 3 or maybe 4 til then.

Yeah definitely. I know I took an Animal Physio class last year that was a super hard prof, but I actually enjoy animals so it was pretty easy for me, but in that situation a lot of people dropped. That makes sense to wait for a better professor though, or pushing back a less useful class for a more important one. Also, which dean do you know? I interviewed there the other week so maybe I saw them.

 

[Seahawk]

The class info came from one of the professors I know there.


I have known Dr. Wilder forever and I know Dr. Guckes as well.

I know a few of the other deans, but those are the deans of admissions that I know. Dr. Guckes is retired, but I am not sure if he might still sit in on the admissions committee or something.

 

[Maygyver]

The class info came from one of the professors I know there.


I have known Dr. Wilder forever and I know Dr. Guckes as well.

Ah nice. Dr. Wilder was at the interview. Hopefully I get in there.

 

[UBDent19]

...and then John Smith (music major) with the pre-reqs and a much higher GPA walks right in front of them.

That would be me (except for the John Smith part). I'll let you know how the "walking right in" works out at the end of the cycle. Have you ever tried to ace Ethnomusicology or Midevil Counterpoint?

 

[Nat426]

Another thing to consider is if you apply to and get a lot of interviews you may have a hard time keeping up on things that year if you are flying all over the place for interviews. You have to ask yourself if you can take those courses and be gone half the time.

 

[yappy]

I feel like if somone can do well on the DAT and well in dental school they should be able to do well taking a difficult science load. i will say though if you do have a "really" tough class it's nice to make sure you're not adding insult to injury by taking more than one types of classes.
But in some ways I do agree with you... I'm doing a business minor - which includes some upper division accounting /econ / BA classes and so far they're pretty easy. I say about half the work of O-chem, immun, and my micro classes I took. If I were to start over maybe I would have majored in business and minored in science.

 

[Seahawk]

That would be me (except for the John Smith part). I'll let you know how the "walking right in" works out at the end of the cycle. Have you ever tried to ace Ethnomusicology or Midevil Counterpoint?

Was more trying to use music to show a non science major. You will have a really good science GPA as long as you do good in the few science courses you will take.

Also, anybody can throw out large names of upper level classes from their major that sound confusing.

 

[UBDent19]

Just kidding around anyway Seahawk 🙂

But as a serious response, I think that is partially what the DAT is for. If you have a high score, the schools see that you can handle that type of information. Regardless of their choice of study, a science major with only an 18 TS score reveals something about their aptitude and/or dedication (I am inclined to think dedication). A music major can't fake a high DAT score. That only comes from a combination of intelligence and hard work. I am frequently surprised by somebody who has a science degree that doesn't do well on the science portion of the DAT. If we look at the greater picture though, dentists are not only scientists, they are health care professionals that need to have a high aptitude for science but can benefit from a more diverse background.

Additionally, ADCOMS take course-load difficulty into account, so that helps in boosting lower, science-heavy GPAs versus "easy" courseloads like music. I am sure that many of the schools I am applying to are going to place me further down the list, or simply deny my application, because of the relatively low number of science courses on my transcript.

p.s. Are you a Seahawk's fan?

 

[Maygyver]

Just kidding around anyway Seahawk 🙂

But as a serious response, I think that is partially what the DAT is for. If you have a high score, the schools see that you can handle that type of information. Regardless of their choice of study, a science major with only an 18 TS score reveals something about their aptitude and/or dedication (I am inclined to think dedication). A music major can't fake a high DAT score. That only comes from a combination of intelligence and hard work. I am frequently surprised by somebody who has a science degree that doesn't do well on the science portion of the DAT. If we look at the greater picture though, dentists are not only scientists, they are health care professionals that need to have a high aptitude for science but can benefit from a more diverse background.

Additionally, ADCOMS take course-load difficulty into account, so that helps in boosting lower, science-heavy GPAs versus "easy" courseloads like music. I am sure that many of the schools I am applying to are going to place me further down the list, or simply deny my application, because of the relatively low number of science courses on my transcript.

p.s. Are you a Seahawk's fan?

Personally, I think that the GPA of a science major shows much more long-term dedication than a DAT score. Yes, the DAT makes sure that non-science majors have learned the basics of science courses, but I don't think the DAT is close at all to the depth most upper division science courses.

 

[UBDent19]

Yeah, you guys make a good point. About dedication, I only meant in terms of studying for the DAT (sorry that wasn't clear). It's an important test that we all have to take seriously. To do well, most of us have to study for several months.

Glad you're not a Seahawk's fan...they took an unexpected win from us here in San Diego and we're still sore 🙂

The only thing harder than getting into dental school is being a Chargers fan...sigh...