Fourth Year Undergrad who thinks he lost his shot - help?

[Scrub007]

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Hey everyone,
Alright first off whoever takes the time to read and reply I give my utmost gratitude.
So I am currently at UofToronto in my fourth year doing a biology and psychology double major...however I will not be graduating at the end of the year because I have not completed first year calculus + 1.0 elective. So I will be taking a fifth year of school to graduate..does this affect anything?

Second, there are a ton of prerequisites I haven't even taken yet (for the fact that I didnt even look into dentistry early on so this new-found interest seems to be designed for those who wanted it day 1). I need an organic chemistry, biochemistry, and a physiology (and for other schools outside Canada I will probably need physics, calculus and english). SO now I will be in my FIFTH year, trying to cram these prerequisites during the summer and then taking only ONE during the actual fifth year because the dental schools I have seen do not allow anymore than ONE first year course to be taken in senior years...so I have no idea what to do.

Because I decided to pursue this career option late, because I am graduating in five years rather than four, all these prerequisites that need to be crammed and cannot be taken during the year..

WHAT CAN I DO 🙁

 

[minafeet]

Wow that is a lot to handle.

I'd say drop either the bio or the psych major. If you've done
all/most of the bio then drop the psych and vice versa. Obviously bio will help you more but
to be honest I feel like it doesn't really matter as long as you like what you study,
it just makes a small difference later when you actually take dental school classes.
Doing a double major gives you little advantage and may even be overlooked.

Orgo, biochem, and physiology all are tough courses. I would leave off biochem for the
fifth year. Calculus too can probably be left off as well as english. I've never heard of this
only one prereq allowed for the actual fifth year policy. I don't think that's true but if it is
then basically you have to do almost all of these courses this year, right? If so then only do one
semester extra and take biochem with that and shadow and volunteer or research
in your free time (whatever you have more interest in and will enjoy).

If my answer's confusing/doesn't actually apply it's probably because I don't really understand what you're trying to say. How many classes can you take a semester/how long are these classes/what is the exact situation?

 

[Azrael]

What are you taking this semester? All I'm seeing is you have 5.0 courses to take in 2 years and a summer which sounds no problem to me. Take 1.0 1st year this year, and the other in your fifth year. English you should do in the summer.

Ps I'm curious as to how you're in your fourth year bio and haven't done physics, calc, orgo, or biochem..were those not prereqs into your program?

 

[Scrub007]

Sorry for the confusion (and thank you)
Alright to graduate I need 20 credits, so 5.0 each year for 4 years.
I have no option at my school I either do two majors, or a major and two minors...but I am practically done both majors so theres no point switching cause I would be more behind.

So right now I have 13 credits because first year I only took 3.0, second year 5, third year 5, and by the end of this year I will have another 5 = 18.

What about the other 2.0 credits? That will include the 1.0 calculus (I couldn't fit it this year) I am taking during my fifth year plus the other missing 1.0 elective...So other than calculus I will be done both majors by the end of this year..but since I am missing these courses it will take 5 years to graduate.

In terms of the prerequisites, no, organic chemistry, biochemistry and physics were not part of my bio major.

So I need a 0.5 of organic chem, 0.5 biochemistry, and 1.0 physiology. I guess I am going to fit that all in my fifth year...and take any of the first year pre requisites like English and physics in the summer.

But me graduating in five years instead of four..is that an issue?

 

[Tangymoose]

No. You can take 5 years if you want to. I would be more concerned with trying to cram all those classes in one year & still get excellent grades.

I have meet a lot of people that take 5 years before they apply for dental/medical school.

 

[Scrub007]

I know thats the problem how am I supposed to perform getting a 3.6 gpa minimum with those types of courses...this stuff is designed for people who wanted to be dentists during first year..

I dont really have other options..its either pull off a miracle or decide another occupation I will wake up every morning for 50+ years and do.

 

[Azrael]

Sorry for the confusion (and thank you)
Alright to graduate I need 20 credits, so 5.0 each year for 4 years.
I have no option at my school I either do two majors, or a major and two minors...but I am practically done both majors so theres no point switching cause I would be more behind.

So right now I have 13 credits because first year I only took 3.0, second year 5, third year 5, and by the end of this year I will have another 5 = 18.

What about the other 2.0 credits? That will include the 1.0 calculus (I couldn't fit it this year) I am taking during my fifth year plus the other missing 1.0 elective...So other than calculus I will be done both majors by the end of this year..but since I am missing these courses it will take 5 years to graduate.

In terms of the prerequisites, no, organic chemistry, biochemistry and physics were not part of my bio major.

So I need a 0.5 of organic chem, 0.5 biochemistry, and 1.0 physiology. I guess I am going to fit that all in my fifth year...and take any of the first year pre requisites like English and physics in the summer.

But me graduating in five years instead of four..is that an issue?

-Graduating in five years shouldn't be an issue.
-I would advise against taking first year english courses (more often then not they are GPA killers, take something like children's lit instead)
-A course load like that is already easier than it should be for a standard 2nd year (especially without stats, cell bio and genetics)

 

[pancakes20]

Hi, where did you find out that you can't take more than one first year course in senior years? I know senior students are discouraged from taking first and second year courses but I didn't know that it wasn't allowed. I am a Canadian too so I am not too sure how it works in US. Thanks

 

[Azrael]

I think he is referring to UWO's policy on fifth years (only 1.0 first year courses allowed in "special year"

 

[Scrub007]

Hi, where did you find out that you can't take more than one first year course in senior years? I know senior students are discouraged from taking first and second year courses but I didn't know that it wasn't allowed. I am a Canadian too so I am not too sure how it works in US. Thanks

Yeah Westerns dental school site states :
For applicants applying after completion of a 4-year undergraduate degree program?
At least one half lab course in Organic Chemistry
At least one half course in Biochemistry
One full course in Human or Mammalian Physiology
Upper years (beyond year 2) should consist of a full course load with 4 of 5 courses equivalent to 200 level or higher

Now I am not sure if this refers specifically to "special years" however I have sent an email asking to clarify.

 

[SST500]

Hey,
I am also a Canadian in my 5th year finishing up the prereqs. Are you sure this is what UWO meant by "special year"? I thought it was equivalent to a post bac meaning an extra year after "graduation". Since you haven't graduated yet, I would assume it is not counted as a special year. That's what I'm hoping atleast since I will be applying to western next year and now that i've read ur post I'm getting really anxious :s