Do you guys have any input on what is a strong major that Dental schools like

[Qarmonist]

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I was wondering what undergrad major is a good one to go with. Biology lately seems to be a bummer. Is microbiology-med tech a stronger major or chemistry or what? I'm really in between. I'm cool with all of them but what should i go with?

 

[aphistis]

Doesn't matter. Major in something you like, or in a field that will make you marketable in case you don't get in to dental school or you change your mind about it. All dental schools care about is that you've taken the prerequisites.

 

[ToothMonkey]

Like aphistis said, it's best to major in a subject that you enjoy. That way you'll be motivated to study more and will end up with a higher GPA (which is far more important than choice of major).

 

[Neon Black]

I was wondering what undergrad major is a good one to go with. Biology lately seems to be a bummer. Is microbiology-med tech a stronger major or chemistry or what? I'm really in between. I'm cool with all of them but what should i go with?

Bio majors seem to be worth a dime a dozen. Maybe a nickel. I heard medical technology is pretty good.

 

[crazy_sherm]

In most part major shouldn't matter as long as you get the pre-reqs done, but keep in mind certain schools emphasize research more than others. While its fine to major in English and still apply to dental school, you'll probably have a harder time getting that research experience over someone who is a devoted bio major.

 

[Biogirl361]

i can picture a music (or other non science) major having a hard time explaining at interview why they decided to be a dentist, but that is not at all to say they wouldn't get in, just that they might have a little harder time convincing the interviewer they were serious.

 

[RaiderNation]

Why would a bio major have an advantage anyway? Will you need to know which amino acid causes ceratin diseases? No. Will you need to know how plant physiology works? No. Most of the crap you take as a bio major is useless as dentist, with maybe the exception of human anat and physio. A wise dentist once told me to just get the grades in undergrad because all you need to know is what they teach you in dental school. If you love biology, then major in it. If you love something else, there's really no reason to major in biology.

As far as being serious about dentistry, if you take the pre-req's, that's all that matters. Are the adcomm's going to care whether you took plant pathology or Shakespeare? No. As long as you take the pre-req's you should be on a level playing field with the bio majors that took extra science classes.

 

[Mithridates]

Doesn't matter. Major in something you like, or in a field that will make you marketable in case you don't get in to dental school or you change your mind about it. All dental schools care about is that you've taken the prerequisites.

That's good advice. Also, if you don't major in what you like, it'll be harder to get the marks to be competetive in the first place. But I have to say that I thought that my biochemistry major was an asset. I guess biochem is a subject that a lot of dental students struggle with, and it's a bonus if they think you won't have trouble. With my columbia acceptance letter, they recommended that if possible, you should add upper-year biochem courses to your final semester to prepare. They said this in the acceptance letter - I think that says a lot!

 

[Trookie]

I just read a post on DentalTown last night about a student being dismissed from dental school because he was not a science major and could not hack it in gross anatomy. I'm sure this kind of thing is rare, but it can happen.

Read

If you choose not to major in the sciences, you should probably consider taking anatomy and biochem along with the rest of your prereqs just to get a feel for the classes you'll be taking in dental school.

 

[BMWg84]

Wow.. that article is terrible. My Zoology/Comparative Anatomy Laboratories weren't always my favorite. Not because of the dissections, but because of the smell of the formaldehyde.

I would also like to put my 2 cents in here. Do a major you are totally interested in. I have had way too many friends take on a major that they did not necessarily enjoy, but pursued it anyway because it was what their parents' wanted them to do. They found it so much more difficult than others because of their lack of enthusiasm and ended up dropping out or changing majors. <Get the Pre-Reqs done and dont sweat it.

I spoke to UOP and USC last week and they both recommended taking these courses in preparation for their dental school classes they offer:
Physiology
Human Anatomy
Histology
Biochemistry
Microbiology

I believe all of these courses have an incorporated laboratory.

 

[Tzips]

Wow.. that article is terrible. My Zoology/Comparative Anatomy Laboratories weren't always my favorite. Not because of the dissections, but because of the smell of the formaldehyde.

Exactly. I took my lab final with one hand, smeared heavily with strong smelling lotion, pressed firmly to my nose... our lab kept all the windows sealed and the pig preservative was enough to make me dizzy... yicky stuff, that.

 

[dyarhea]

..did any of you attend a school that offered histology as an undergrad class???..

 

[Tzips]

yup. I'm taking it right now. rather yucky class, thou - prof does not habla ingles, and yo no hablo espanol, so it's an issue

 

[DREDAY]

ACTUALLY THE BEST PREDENTAL MAJOR IS NEUROSCIENCE. Neuroscience is the most applicable major to dentistry. Why you ask? Look at the composition of your teeth. It is a bone with underlying nerves. As a neuroscience major you will understand the electrophysiology of neurons, anatomy of neurons, pain mediating fibers, neuro pharmacology, neuroanatomy, endocrinology. All of which are imperative to becoming a successful dentist. If you want to have a headstart in dental school, and completely understand the underlying mechanisms of fundemantal dental information neuroscience is the major to go with.

 

[Tzips]

that is, if your college offers advanced majors like neuroscience; mine doesn't, so i just stuck to good ol' bio and all the spirulina and frustules it entails 🙂

 

[DREDAY]

Everyschool Should Offer Neuroscience 🙂

 

[captaintripps]

Why would a bio major have an advantage anyway? Will you need to know which amino acid causes ceratin diseases? No. Will you need to know how plant physiology works? No.

You have obviously little experience with basic medical science exams in dental school. Of course the more appreciation for the complexity of biological systems one has, the better off in understanding human health and disease while training to be a dentist (as well as performing on said exams).

 

[Tzips]

You have obviously little experience with basic medical science exams in dental school. Of course the more appreciation for the complexity of biological systems one has, the better off in understanding human health and disease while training to be a dentist (as well as performing on said exams).

Second the motion. I found my background in bio (micro, genetics, cell, molecular, et al.) helped me tremendously on the DAT at least, and i'm assuming it will come in handy in dental school as well.

 

[dexadental]

I'd major in anything you find to be totally you. With that said, I'm a biochemistry major, and perhaps insane 😀
I have a good friend applying to dental school majoring in Japanese. I think this would strike up an excellent discussion at an interview...go major in something that excites you.

 

[Tzips]

"PERHAPS insane" ?!? I'd think the case was pretty cut-and-dried, myself! 😛

just kidding. i actually loved chem more than bio, back in my halcyon days in ap chem, when i had an excellent teacher... the present profs of biochem, however, scare me more than a little, so i'll stick with my green stuff and fishies 😀

 

[RaiderNation]

You have obviously little experience with basic medical science exams in dental school. Of course the more appreciation for the complexity of biological systems one has, the better off in understanding human health and disease while training to be a dentist (as well as performing on said exams).[/QUOTE

Let's see, since I'm not in dental school I would say you're right in stating that I have little experience with dental school exams. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they are going to teach you what you need to know for those exams. Sure, having taken more science in undergrad might give you a good base, but will you score higher than an English or History major because you were a bio major? No. I'm just going off what graduated dentists have expressed to me. You only need to know what they teach you in dental school.

 

[DREDAY]

You have obviously little experience with basic medical science exams in dental school. Of course the more appreciation for the complexity of biological systems one has, the better off in understanding human health and disease while training to be a dentist (as well as performing on said exams).[/QUOTE

Let's see, since I'm not in dental school I would say you're right in stating that I have little experience with dental school exams. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they are going to teach you what you need to know for those exams. Sure, having taken more science in undergrad might give you a good base, but will you score higher than an English or History major because you were a bio major? No. I'm just going off what graduated dentists have expressed to me. You only need to know what they teach you in dental school.

Ofcourse it makes a difference. Having been a bio major or NEUROSCIENCE major a person has been exposed much more to the material than an ENGLISH MAJOR. I can guarantee you that someone who was a neuroscience major in undergrad will score much higher in the neuroanatomy or neurophisiology section of the dental education than an english major. Come on its common sense. Its like if you were applying to get a masters in MUSIC. IF you have been exposed to a minimal amount of music in your life, you will probably do the worst in an examination that requires you to play the trumpet. No matter how much you practice you will never play it better nor get higher scores in an examination than a student who majored in MUSIC as an undergrad. Its common sense. The more exposure you have to a subject the more you will know. The less exposure the less. Now ofcourse there will always be extreme minimal 1% OF THE TIME cases where an English major will be the top of the class, but the majority will be people who have been previously exposed to the material they are learning.

 

[Tzips]

Let's see, since I'm not in dental school I would say you're right in stating that I have little experience with dental school exams. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they are going to teach you what you need to know for those exams. Sure, having taken more science in undergrad might give you a good base, but will you score higher than an English or History major because you were a bio major? No. I'm just going off what graduated dentists have expressed to me. You only need to know what they teach you in dental school.

While that is true - it would obviously be rather unfair if they tested on things theyhadn't taught, there are still several things to be considered:

1. They'll assume you know basic bio, because of the reqs. however, what they assume you were taught and what you actually remember may be two entirely different things, especially if the only bio classes you took were basic bio 1 & 2. Things like meiosis might not have become second nature yet.

2. If you know some of the more advanced material beforehand, say because you took immunology as an undergrad, you'll be ahead of the game - even if you don't remember everthing exactly, at least you'll be familiar with the often complicated topics. Less studying always = more fun in my book. 🙂

The best solution would probably be to major in your favorite subject (history, english, japanese) but take all the human-related bio courses on the side (while there may be some intrinsic benefit to lower plants, I have not yet discovered it). Of course, show me someone who did that, and I'll show you someone who spent more than four years getting his BA...

 

[Tzips]

ACTUALLY THE BEST PREDENTAL MAJOR IS NEUROSCIENCE. Neuroscience is the most applicable major to dentistry. Why you ask? Look at the composition of your teeth. It is a bone with underlying nerves. As a neuroscience major you will understand the electrophysiology of neurons, anatomy of neurons, pain mediating fibers, neuro pharmacology, neuroanatomy, endocrinology. All of which are imperative to becoming a successful dentist. If you want to have a headstart in dental school, and completely understand the underlying mechanisms of fundemantal dental information neuroscience is the major to go with.

Just out of curiosity, are you being paid to advertise it, or something? I mean, I do like bio, but evidentally not as much as you love neuroscience 😀

 

[DREDAY]

hahah no im not being paid to advertise, but I am very passionate about neuroscience. I used to be a biology major until I discovered how much more applicable to dentistry neuroscience is. I found that out by working at a laboratory at the dental school.

 

[RaiderNation]

Let me ask all of you non-science majors that are now in dental school, do you feel to be at a disadvantage in dental school compared to your science major classmates?

 

[Lephisto]

.

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Why would a bio major have an advantage anyway? Will you need to know which amino acid causes ceratin diseases? No. Will you need to know how plant physiology works? No.

It's amusing the number of posters we've had on here recently who seem to think that we just spend the first semester of dental school learning to count the teeth and the other 3 1/2 yrs are one giant drill-fest. The amount and level of detail that you will be asked to learn about the human body is beyond your comprehension at this point.

Most of the crap you take as a bio major is useless as dentist, with maybe the exception of human anat and physio.

Actually, almost all of the "crap" you learn as a bio major will be relevant to your dental course work. That being said, it will be only a miniscule part of what you will be learning. One of the most difficult upper level courses I took in undergrad was cell biology - just about everything I learned in that 4 credit, full semester class was covered on the first test of dental school biochem... only in more detail!!! 😱

A wise dentist once told me to just get the grades in undergrad because all you need to know is what they teach you in dental school. If you love biology, then major in it. If you love something else, there's really no reason to major in biology.

I would agree with this advice, but only because I believe that 4 yrs is too much time to spend on something you don't enjoy. A bio major will ABSOLUTELY give you a leg up in dental school, but there is no way I would ever recommend that someone give up four years of their youth doing something they hate for that advantage.

Many degrees are an end in themselves, but biology is pretty much just a ticket to more school. Work towards something you could see yourself doing if you change your mind about dentistry. Life is short; you might as well enjoy it.










BTW, hope I didn't offend you RaiderNation.

 

[Biogirl361]

I think the biggest advantage to having a science major in undergrad is that you learn how to learn (does that make sense?) you get your study skills in order and you know how to handle those memorization classes, and you have practice thinking critically about things or deriving answers that were not spelled out for you in the coursepack.
Secondly, I don't know about other bio majors but mine requires us to take biochem (2 semesters), immuno, genetics, cell bio, micro, anatomy, physiology (2 semesters), and a couple other classes on top of the dental prereqs. i just have to believe that already having a background in these areas, especially if you did well in the classes, is going to help you out on the DAT (i know it helped me) and even more importantly, when you encounter the same classes a second time, in dental school. i am not saying that non science majors won't get into dental school or won't make it once there, just that undergrads would be doing themselves a favor by getting a good background in the sciences. if you skated through undergrad with an easy major just b/c you wanted a high gpa, you would be in for a huge shock when you get hit up w/ 24 credits of hard science as a D1.
that said, if you completely despise science then i guess it is up to you to determine if it is worth majoring in it or not.

 

[grinningrice]

I was wondering what undergrad major is a good one to go with. Biology lately seems to be a bummer. Is microbiology-med tech a stronger major or chemistry or what? I'm really in between. I'm cool with all of them but what should i go with?

When I went to visit a school, they told me that I had an amazing GPA and a good DAT score. The only thing that was holding me back was that I was a psychology major and they were afriad I did not have as much biology as they all wanted. Personally, I chose psychology because I liked it and I knew I would not be able to take those classes again. Also I chose that because I knew I could get a higher GPA through psychology than through biology. I dont know if it worked, we shall see if I get into school in december!

 

[Tzips]

if you skated through undergrad with an easy major just b/c you wanted a high gpa, you would be in for a huge shock when you get hit up w/ 24 credits of hard science as a D1.

I completely agree. No offence to soc majors or anything, but there is a difference between a schedule of 3 soc's, a gym, and a bio and one of 4 bios and a soc. i think i lost most of my respect for soc when i took social stats (easiest stats on campus, but why was i taking stats?? <scratches heas>) and watched the prof struggle to introduce the bizzare, unnatural symbol alpha to a completely befuddled class. and then spend weeks introducing the excruciatingly difficult topic of y=mx+b. i mean, did these people not take eigth grade math?

that said, if you completely despise science then i guess it is up to you to determine if it is worth majoring in it or not.

if so, why would you become a dentist, when dental school is mostly science?


sorry. did not mean to insult anyone; did not mean to start a flaming war; just wanted to get it off my chest that not all majors were created eqaul. some of my best friends are soc majors. really. 😀

 

[polarnut]

<---Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major at UCLA.

hehehehehehehe. it feels good to be a nerd. 😀

 

[rocknightmare]

biochem major here..

haven't gotten in so i can't say thing about if it benefits or not..

but i do feel more confident that with biochem courses i have taken and the challenges i have faced in them will prepare me for dental school

 

[Tzips]

Nerds of the World, Unite!

c'mon, how many of us science-lovers were not called geeks or nerds or whatever in elementary school? being nerdy is fun. you get to impress your relatives and weird out your friends by explaining why coke has bubbles... 🙂

 

[rocknightmare]

umm i was never called a nerd hehe🙂

only was i called an nerd in college so please retract your statement it is offense to me haha (sarcasm)

 

[polarnut]

i was never called a geek, but i am a nerd. geeks are just little anti social weird kids....nerds are just people who's too much into academics.

so based on that definition, im a proud nerd. i mean, who else can crack a joke like:

"Hi. My name's Bond. Covalent bond."

 

[Tzips]

i was never called a geek, but i am a nerd. geeks are just little anti social weird kids....nerds are just people who's too much into academics.

so based on that definition, im a proud nerd. i mean, who else can crack a joke like:

"Hi. My name's Bond. Covalent bond."

LOL. my orgo 2 prof, who actually had a sense of humour (something that is sadly lacking in many of the breed) was fond of saying that he'd like to convince the chem dept. that it should start a class just about bonding... it could be CHEM 007

Rocknightmare, sorry if i offended your non-nerdlike sensibilities 😀

 

[Tzips]

he was the same prof who wore ties with dna or manhattan subway maps printed on them.... great prof, hideous exams 🙁 sigh. Breaking news - the world is not perfect, after all...

 

[dyarhea]

isn't it nice to be familiar with science before getting in depth with it?
study habits would be pretty important too

 

[aphistis]

"Be nice to nerds - they'll be signing your paychecks in a few years." - Anonymous

 

[RaiderNation]

It's amusing the number of posters we've had on here recently who seem to think that we just spend the first semester of dental school learning to count the teeth and the other 3 1/2 yrs are one giant drill-fest. The amount and level of detail that you will be asked to learn about the human body is beyond your comprehension at this point.



Actually, almost all of the "crap" you learn as a bio major will be relevant to your dental course work. That being said, it will be only a miniscule part of what you will be learning. One of the most difficult upper level courses I took in undergrad was cell biology - just about everything I learned in that 4 credit, full semester class was covered on the first test of dental school biochem... only in more detail!!! 😱



I would agree with this advice, but only because I believe that 4 yrs is too much time to spend on something you don't enjoy. A bio major will ABSOLUTELY give you a leg up in dental school, but there is no way I would ever recommend that someone give up four years of their youth doing something they hate for that advantage.

Many degrees are an end in themselves, but biology is pretty much just a ticket to more school. Work towards something you could see yourself doing if you change your mind about dentistry. Life is short; you might as well enjoy it.










BTW, hope I didn't offend you RaiderNation.

None taken. I didn't mean to imply that d-school was a 3 1/2 year drill fest. I am well aware of the first two years. I guess I came off a little too strong. A biology major will give you a strong foundation, but I have yet to be convinved that it will make you a better applicant or get you better grades in d-school.

Like I said before, if you really love biology, then you should definitely major in it. But I think alot of people major in it because they are pre-med or pre-dental and it covers all the material they need within the major. Then they end up not enjoying their undergrad experience as much. If you needed more than the pre-req's to be successful, then there would be more than the perscribed classes. Of course taking the recommoned biochem/histo/cell bio will make life a little easier in d-school, but they aren't pre-req's at most schools) so that would imply you can do well in d0school without those classes in undergrad.

 

[JavadiCavity]

I was an accounting major, and I took the almost the bare minimum in bio credits. The topic never came up once in my interviews, and I don't think it hurt my chances at any school.

 

[tryan77]

IMHO, majoring in something you could use if for some reason dental school didn't work out would be smart. I agree that the science of a bio major would probably give you a leg up. I was a Civil Engineering major and I didn't have the bio sciences besides the prereque's, but I had a lot of difficult science classes. I feel it stretched me to be a better student and although I'm not in dental school yet, I know that I have already done alot to develop good study habits for a heavy load. Also, I have worked for almost three years out of my undergrad as an engineer and if I had a majored in something like Biology or English, etc. my income during those three years wouldn't have been near the potential it was.

Like I said, just my opinion. I don't regret my undergrad major and it was quite challenging.

 

[aphistis]

Raidernation, you're applying for this cycle, right? Good luck! 😀

 

[adamlc18]

ACTUALLY THE BEST PREDENTAL MAJOR IS NEUROSCIENCE. Neuroscience is the most applicable major to dentistry. Why you ask? Look at the composition of your teeth. It is a bone with underlying nerves. As a neuroscience major you will understand the electrophysiology of neurons, anatomy of neurons, pain mediating fibers, neuro pharmacology, neuroanatomy, endocrinology. All of which are imperative to becoming a successful dentist. If you want to have a headstart in dental school, and completely understand the underlying mechanisms of fundemantal dental information neuroscience is the major to go with.

In getting into Dental school, I don't think it matters what your major is as long as you have a good science GPA. Once you are in dental school, I think it is a different story. Those with a strong science background don't have to study near as much as those who don't have it to make good grades. I also wanted to second the neuroscience major. I was a neuro major, and it's just my opinion, but it is a great major. This is totally opinion though and not something you have to take. What school do you go to DREDAY? Anyways, this semester (1st semester of 1st year in dental school) I know that me and my buddies with very strong science backgrounds don't spend as much time studying to make good grades as our classmates without the strong science bakground. Let me add a disclaimer here: You can still make great grades in dental school without a science background. You just have to spend a bit more time mastering topics that your peers may have mastered previously. Of course, this really is only applicable the 1st and maybe 2nd semester. By the time the 1st year is over, everyone is on equal footing as all the topics are new to most people with maybe the exception of Pharmacology or Pathology.

 

[Biogirl361]

javadi, accounting sounds like it will be very useful/ relevant someday, since if your going to make money as a dentist you have to understand business and money first! adcoms probably love accounting majors who also did well in the science prereqs 👍 👍

 

[trypmo]

If ya ask me, we need more PHYSICS MAJORS in dentistry! 😀 w00t w00t!

 

[sonicultrascrub]

I was wondering what undergrad major is a good one to go with. Biology lately seems to be a bummer. Is microbiology-med tech a stronger major or chemistry or what? I'm really in between. I'm cool with all of them but what should i go with?

I would major in Music or something cool like "Ethnomusicology" or "Classics". I would then do all the science work after my bachelor's in a post-bac and then start a MPH while waiting for d-school admissions.

 

[sonicultrascrub]

Like I said, just my opinion. I don't regret my undergrad major and it was quite challenging.

IMHO, you're insane.. I have mad respect for engineers 👍

 

[luder98]

I was told by a UCSF grad dentist that the school liked his engineering background. He said they loved those advanced math classes that he took. According to them, it'd help students well if they become involved in researches.
My dentist (UOP grad) also said UOP and other schools liked his engineering background. I'm not lobbying for applicants with engineering background, but it seems like d-schools like this type of non-traditional students.
On the other hand, it's no doubt that bio science related majors will help d-students in first few quarters.
IMO, the bottom line is that if you can do well in an area, and are determined, you will do fine in any other areas that you're interested in.