help with course decision

[joefosho315]

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Hey guys, I spent a long time writing up a detailed post only to have it erased by some annoying computer error. So unfortunately, this replacement post will lack some of the former's finer details. Basically, I'm going to be a junior this fall in college. My first year was a hard year for me, so my grades weren't too impressive. Ever since then, I've been working hard to make up for that first year and my science GPA has been increasing with every course that I take. Having just completed by second year and mostly all of the pre-reqs I have a science GPA of around 3.2. My priority since the "first year screwup" has been to ensure that I choose courses wisely to boost my science GPA. Well this fall, I can either take physiology or evolutionary ecology. Both are upper level science courses at my school, which I haven't taken so far since all of the pre-reqs have been intros. Naturally, I'd like to do well in these upper level science courses to prove to dental schools that my first year was just a hard time transitioning into college. Evol. eco is noticably easier than physiology at my school, however, dental schools "strongly suggest" applicants who have taken anatomy, physio, histology, etc.. In the spring semester of next year, I will be taking biochem and microbiology which fulfill some of the "strongly suggested" upper level science courses that dental schools ask for. So is it really necessary to also take physiology this fall semester, knowing that it will most certainly hurt my science GPA? Or is it okay to go ahead and take the "gentler" Evol. eco course so that it may both boost my science GPA while preparing me for a harder spring semester. I must re-emphasize that for the spring semester of next year, I will already be satisfying some of the "strongly suggested" upper level bio courses by taking microbio and biochem. I'd like to make this decision independent of the fact that taking physio will be helpful for the DAT, because I feel that I am willing to makeup for that loss by studying hard for the bio section through independent study of Kaplan, Topscore, etc. if I am able to boost my science GPA by taking Evol. Eco. Thanks for taking your time to help me with this pretty difficult decision! You guys are great!

P.S. - I also forgot to mention that just besides evolutionary ecology, I could consider taking endocrinology or developmental biology, which are both still considered easier that physio at my school. Are these two courses something the dental schools would care about at all, or do they view them with the same level of "irrelevance" as evolutionary ecology?

 

[biocmp]

we need more information, like what else is in your schedule for the fall? How many hours? Can you take both? Remember that d-schools don't want to see cupcake semeseters. If you can take both, it would be great. why are you so scared of a class? Put it in your mind that you will dominate it and do it!

Classes get much harder in d-school. Maybe not the material, but the sheer course load could drive anyone to insanity!

Make a choice and live with it! Good luck

 

[pmantz]

If I had to choose one or the other, I would definitely take physiology. When I choose a class I look at how it will benefit me, as well as the content of the course and if it interests me. I didn't like my brief foray into ecology during my freshmen biology course. Mammalian physiology is a fascinating subject and will help prepare your for d-school. How you do in a course should not be a deciding factor in whether you take a course or not. I try to treat all courses equally, having the attitude that I can do well in each course as long as I work hard. Just keep in mind the dental school is not easy; the first semester of my first choice is 21 credit hours. I would take this semester as an opportunity to see if you can handle a large course load. I've had two semesters when I had to take 19 credit hours of primarily science and math, and my GPA was better when I was swamped then when I have a regular course load.

 

[joefosho315]

Thanks for the replies. I clearly do see how physiology is beneficial for me in terms of revelant material and how it might help me in the future for my dental studies. However, is it maybe not more important for me to ensure that I boost my science GPA at this point to help my chances of getting in? Biocmp, yes, I believe my schedule will allow for me to take both but that is something I definitely do not want to do as it will CERTAINLY prove to be detrimental to my GPA at this point. However, for my spring semester, I am planning on taking microbiology with biochemistry which should be sufficient to prove that I can handle a harder courseload.....but that is for the future and not now as I want to first ease my way into these harder bio courses. So with that said, does that make anything different, or do you all still suggest that I go with physiology? Oh yeah, I could also take endocrinology instead of physiology/evol. eco but do you guys know if this is even something that dental schools really care about? Thanks again for the help guys.

 

[Duysal]

Thanks for the replies. I clearly do see how physiology is beneficial for me in terms of revelant material and how it might help me in the future for my dental studies. However, is it maybe not more important for me to ensure that I boost my science GPA at this point to help my chances of getting in? Biocmp, yes, I believe my schedule will allow for me to take both but that is something I definitely do not want to do as it will CERTAINLY prove to be detrimental to my GPA at this point. However, for my spring semester, I am planning on taking microbiology with biochemistry which should be sufficient to prove that I can handle a harder courseload.....but that is for the future and not now as I want to first ease my way into these harder bio courses. So with that said, does that make anything different, or do you all still suggest that I go with physiology? Oh yeah, I could also take endocrinology instead of physiology/evol. eco but do you guys know if this is even something that dental schools really care about? Thanks again for the help guys.

I hope I'm not too late! DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING WITH ECOLOGY unless you have to. I know more than a few really brilliant students who significantly lowered their gpa's after getting poor ecology grades. Ecology is like philosophy. It seems like it would be fun and informative, and maybe relaxing, but it is so full of complicated, non-sensical theories that trying to keep them straight is hard enough; applying them during an exam, I hear, is pure hell. On the other hand, a class like physiology or endocrinology (I have taken both) is guaranteed to have information applicable to dentistry, and also most likley to your current major if it is in the sciences. Plus, it's really interesting stuff, so the memorization and organization won't seem too bad. Hope this helps!

 

[pmantz]

I hope I'm not too late! DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING WITH ECOLOGY unless you have to. I know more than a few really brilliant students who significantly lowered their gpa's after getting poor ecology grades. Ecology is like philosophy. It seems like it would be fun and informative, and maybe relaxing, but it is so full of complicated, non-sensical theories that trying to keep them straight is hard enough; applying them during an exam, I hear, is pure hell. On the other hand, a class like physiology or endocrinology (I have taken both) is guaranteed to have information applicable to dentistry, and also most likley to your current major if it is in the sciences. Plus, it's really interesting stuff, so the memorization and organization won't seem too bad. Hope this helps!

I second the notion.
Ecology is a requirement for the Biology degree at my university, luckily I am a Biochem major. I have heard the same stuff from Bio major friends of mine. They hated it.

 

[reapply2007]

Ecology and anything to do with vegetation/plant life will only result in frustration.