Feedback on My Son’s Pre-Dental Path

[PreHealthParentTX]

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I’m posting on behalf of my son, who’s preparing for dental schools and wanted some unbiased feedback from the SDN community. He’s been managing this mostly on his own, but we’d like to make sure he’s on the right track.

He’s a senior at UT Dallas, majoring in Healthcare Management, graduating Fall 2026. Alongside his degree, he’s been completing his DIY pre-dental prerequisites through a community college and ASU as a non-visiting student taking online science courses.

Science coursework:
CC: Biology I (C; in-person), Biology II (A; online), General Chem I (D, then C; both in person), Calculus I (F, D then C; all in person)
ASU: General Physics I & II (Both A’s – online with virtual labs)
Planned: General Chem II (Spring 2026), Organic I & II (Summer/Fall 2026: lecture online + in-person labs), then Biochem

His UT Dallas GPA began around 3.8, dipped to 3.2 after some tough upper-level finance and health IT courses, and he expects to finish near 3.4–3.5.

He’s not naturally drawn to math; Calculus was a rough experience and probably not the best choice for his track (advisor-driven) but he’s performed better in biological and health sciences. He’s also noticed he does better in structured online science courses than in variable in-person ones where grades depend heavily on the professor.

He holds an active Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) license, has volunteered virtually with the Free Medical Clinic of Tennessee, currently volunteers at a full-service free urgent-care clinic in Dallas, and is shadowing a periodontist while gaining additional clinical and dental exposure before applying.

I’d appreciate any insight on:
• How dental schools view upward trends and repeated sciences
• Acceptance of ASU’s online/hybrid science courses
• Whether a post-bacc or SMP would help strengthen his science GPA
• Best ways to use a gap year (DAT prep, shadowing, community work, etc.)

Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts; any honest feedback is appreciated.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You have also posted in pre-med:

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Thread 'Feedback on My Son’s Pre-Med Path'

Oct 27, 2025

I’m posting on behalf of my son, who’s preparing for medical/DO schools and wanted some unbiased feedback from the SDN community. He’s been managing this mostly on his own, but we’d like to make sure he’s on the right track.

He’s a senior at UT Dallas, majoring in Healthcare Management, graduating Fall 2026. Alongside his degree, he’s been completing his DIY pre-med prerequisites through a community college and ASU as a non-visiting student taking online science courses.

Science coursework:
CC: Biology I (C; in-person), Biology II (A; online), General Chem I (D, then C; both in person)...

• PreHealthParentTX
• medical admissions advising online courses pre-med pre-med adivce pre-med admissions pre-requisites
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

Because of this, I'm not going to answer these concerns. Your son needs to demonstrate adult responsibility and post on his own account. The advice can be more actionable based on the details he gives. We also need more information: is he a Texas resident? Has he become familiar with TMDSAS or other systems out of state. What is his specific goal, and why not healthcare management?

 

[Le-Predental]

Which Career does your son want to do? Also I would suggest taking classes in-person especially for Chem and Physics

 

[PreHealthParentTX]

He needs to finish gen chem 2, org chem sequence and biochem and possibly an upper level bio class ie microbiology.