Has anyone taken some online courses and got in??

[kks337]

Hi everyone! this is my first post and I hate to start off like this but I am feeling so depressed.🙁🙁

I am a non traditional applicant who, after working for 5 years have decided that dental school was for me but I couldn't just quit my job because I had to help my family out financially and also put my sister through school.

I did not have all my prerequisites and the classes would not work for me as I still have to work full time. Eventually, I decided to do some courses online. (at an accredited university of course!) and then I would go there for the lab compoenent and also write my tests there.

Somehow..I am scared that taking some courses online would hurt my chances of going in and I am just going into this panic mode right now as to what if that is the case!?

I know online courses aren't ideal but do dental schools automatically reject you if they see you have taken some courses online??🙁

Has anyone here taken any online courses and got into dental school???
please let me know!!!!!!

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[gigawatt]

I took a philosophy class online for one of my GE requirements and no one ever said anything about it. A couple online classes won't raise any eyebrows, but trying to complete the full dental school prerequisites online won't fly. Plus, classes like Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, etc. are going to have lab components that you would need to be present for.

If you've already taken classes online, it's not like you've done irreparable harm to your application. Just make sure you take all the important science prerequisites in-person.

 

[kks337]

I took a philosophy class online for one of my GE requirements and no one ever said anything about it. A couple online classes won't raise any eyebrows, but trying to complete the full dental school prerequisites online won't fly. Plus, classes like Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, etc. are going to have lab components that you would need to be present for.

If you've already taken classes online, it's not like you've done irreparable harm to your application. Just make sure you take all the important science prerequisites in-person.

Thanks for the reply gigawatt!!
The thing is I already took Physics online but it does come with a lab and it is at a reputatable and accredited 4 year university.
My concern is that if I were to indicate that this course was taken through distance education, people would assume right away that it does not have a lab but in fact it does and that I have to go there for the lab component of things..would that make it non distance ed then? if I had to go there for the tests and the lab component of the course? 😕

 

[gigawatt]

So class online, with exams and labs in-person? That seems like it would satisfy prerequisites, but do double-check with the schools you'll be applying to and do make sure to input that information into AADSAS correctly. You don't want adcoms to misinterpret the "distance learning" designation just like you noted because the labs and exams were actually in-person. Good luck!

 

[kks337]

Yes! all the exams and labs are done on campus or with an invigilator so in a way..I think isn't it not so much distance education?? since it is just like skipping your classes and going to exams and labs (normal university life!🙄)

hmm..where would I be able to indicate this information so the schools don't interpret it the wrong way as to I get to write exams at home and stuff like that? I don't see a spot for it 🙁

 

[ArmyPilot]

I am/was in your situation. I called up some dental schools and explained why I am forced to take the courses via distance learning (I was overseas for four years straight all over europe and the middle east and didnt want to wait until I got back to take the courses) I was missing bio and ochem and had to do it via correspondence (to include lab; took mine through an accredited university back in the states).

Aside from being trapped overseas with no chance of coming to the states in the near future, I also reported to them my background (engineering degree, military, etc) and my GPA (high marks) to help prove that I am not trying to skimp out on taking requirements in a live classroom. They were all very supportive of it.

I guess what Im trying to get at is that:
-you had best have a very strong reason why (mine: cant get back to the states + they wouldnt approve me taking courses in a foreign university)
-the rest of your application had best be strong (a weak applicant with distance learning pre-reqs = not favorable)

Be forwarned though - distance learning sucks and is by far more painful than taking it in a live classroom. Really try to take the classes live and in person. Taking those courses under the conditions I was under was perhaps one of the most painful things I have ever done - imagine taking an exams (proctored of course) in bunkers in 130 degree heat wearing full armor during mortar attacks after spending all night out on missions was suck level 100 on a scale of 1-10. Yea, after that multiyear nightmare there isnt a snowballs chance in h*ll that Im going to give up on going to dental school.

 

[kks337]

Hi ArmyPilot!

thank you so much for your input!
I totally agree that distance education classes are actually far more painful and difficult compared to the classroom setting. there is no one to guide you and walk you through everything! I dunno why some schools would look down at distance education courses!! it is definitely NOT the easy way out!

do you mind sharing with me which schools did you talk to and which ones were supportive?
I also thought about calling them individually and go from there but I don't know whether I should do it before I submit my AADSAS application or after? Should I give them a heads up first?

thanks for all your help and input!
and yes, I believe my gpa is competitive 3.8 and I have won numerous awards including the gold medal award which is getting the top gpa in my year of graduates from my university so hopefully that would all count!

look forward to hear back from you! you can pm me too if that is easier for you! thanks so much!🙂

 

[two thirty]

Those sound like pretty legit courses. Get a copy of your transcript and see if it even designates that they are online courses. If it doesn't, you might not even have to let them know.

 

[UltimateHombre]

It is has been my experience that on your transcripts... there is no place that designates it was online. It says PHY 111 if its in the classroom and PHY 111 if it's online. That is only for Universities in my region though.

Just make sure it's not University of Phoenix or something like that!