Here we go, orgo at four year college or cc? Question of a lifetime!

[Desiroxta]

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Ok guys, my gpa at the four year college I go to is currently a 3.8 without any "w's" and I plan to keep it that way... So far I have taken my general bio's along with labs at my university, my major is biology and im of course a pre-dent... It's my sophmore year... I took chemistry 1 and 2 over the summer at community college with a great professor, made an A in both terms along with a's in the laboratory... Now the same professor is finally teaching Organic at the community college and I am taking Organic at my University with THE HARDEST known organic teacher to ever teach at the university I go to... There are only two orgo teachers at my college and she is the better one, and some say it's extremely hard to get an "a" in her class... Now I know I know if I try I can possibly get a grade I want but if I take Organic 1 and 2 at community college I am practically GUARANTEED an A with my community college professor, he is a very good teacher! Now guys, should I take Organic at university? or cc? Honestly speaking, I am guaranteed an A at cc but at university there is a huge possiblity I can do bad and a possibility of doing good, however I am not a gambling man... That would be it... Just chem 1 and 2 and orgo 1 and 2 at community college and besides that all of my other pre-reqs for dental school are being done at university... So what do you guys think?

 

[KEC029]

Ok guys, my gpa at the four year college I go to is currently a 3.8 without any "w's" and I plan to keep it that way... So far I have taken my general bio's along with labs at my university, my major is biology and im of course a pre-dent... It's my sophmore year... I took chemistry 1 and 2 over the summer at community college with a great professor, made an A in both terms along with a's in the laboratory... Now the same professor is finally teaching Organic at the community college and I am taking Organic at my University with THE HARDEST known organic teacher to ever teach at the university I go to... There are only two orgo teachers at my college and she is the better one, and some say it's extremely hard to get an "a" in her class... Now I know I know if I try I can possibly get a grade I want but if I take Organic 1 and 2 at community college I am practically GUARANTEED an A with my community college professor, he is a very good teacher! Now guys, should I take Organic at university? or cc? Honestly speaking, I am guaranteed an A at cc but at university there is a huge possiblity I can do bad and a possibility of doing good, however I am not a gambling man... That would be it... Just chem 1 and 2 and orgo 1 and 2 at community college and besides that all of my other pre-reqs for dental school are being done at university... So what do you guys think?

well just to be honest I THINK, Chem1&2 at CC is already enough if you go to 4 yr university. no offense to any CC students. I'm just saying if you go to 4 yr university then try to take all the pre-dental classes at your university. and im pretty sure the dental schools know that SOMETIMES CC classes are easier than 4 yr university classes.

 

[small]

I'm sure there are a lot of great CC professors, but unfortunately they don't have the same accreditation that most 4-year universities have to back up the great work of their lecturers. The people reviewing your application will only see that you had O-Chem AND Gen Chem from a community college; they can never really know anything about the prof and thus must speculate upon what type of class it might have been based on other facts (mainly, the fact that it's a CC). You might be fine, but why wimp out if you're already enrolled in a 4-year school. "Everyone" says O-chem is tough. Actually, "everyone" says every biology and chemistry and physics course is hard if the teacher doesn't pass out a near carbon copy of every test from which to study. Stick with the 4-year school, it probably won't be that hard. And, if it is, it will mean that much more when you get your A.

 

[100dental]

Keep in mind that most dental schools either require or prefer that science pre-reqs be taken at a four year institution. I know that CC courses are easy, which is part of the reason why I took my physics 1 and 2 at a CC. However, physics at a community college is okay because first of all, it isn't tested for on the DAT so you don't need a great foundation of knowledge for it and second, it isn't always a pre-req for dental schools.

But here's the thing that really sucks (especially in your situation)... chemistry 1 and 2 are ALWAYS listed as science pre-reqs for dental schools plus they are definitely going to be on the DAT, which you'll must take to get into dental school. Organic 1 is almost always a science pre-req and organic 2 is sometimes a pre-req, sometimes not, depending on the school. You should look into this kind of stuff before you start taking classes at a CC.

In my opinion, you should take organic 1 and 2 at your university. Plus, taking these oganics at a university is good for you. You'll study harder and know the stuff better which would ultimately benefit you when you get around to taking the DAT.

Further more, you might consider re-taking chemistry 1 and 2 at your university also. Because as of right now, you've already eliminated yourself as a candidate for sooooooo many dental schools just by taking chemistry 1 and 2 at a CC.

I have heard that some dental schools make exceptions for students who take 1 or 2 of their required pre-req science courses at a CC, but most of the time, these students have taken another upper level science course at a four year institution. So, if you take organic at your university, maybe the schools will make an exception for you since organic is an upper level chemistry. But you can't count on being the exception. So to be safe, you should either email or call an admissions representative at your school of choice to ask their opinion. It's never too early to research these schools and their requirements.

Hope that helps.

 

[Meatwad]

Like someone said, it looks pretty lame on your part if you go to a university and you opt to take courses at a CC; especially one like Orgo that is known to be hard and a weed-out class. The fact you took Chem 1/2 there is bad enough, but that's in the past.

Don't take it at a CC.

 

[Desiroxta]

hmmm jeeez was me taking Chem 1 and 2 at community college THAT bad? Enough to have some dental schools disregard my application?

 

[rlturner36]

I don't think it's bad taking classes at a community college, but if you're planning on going to dental school, you should be up for the challenge of any class. In dental school, you will not be able to just switch schools if a professor is difficult.

 

[neurotic]

Don't take organic at a community college.

 

[dental0903]

hmmm jeeez was me taking Chem 1 and 2 at community college THAT bad? Enough to have some dental schools disregard my application?

I don't think it was THAT bad that you took chem 1 and 2 at a CC and I don't think it will be a complete deal breaker for you as long as everything else on your app is solid. I think it is important to distinguish between your situation and the situation of an applicant going to a CC for the first 1-2 years to save money (or many other valid reasons why people go to CC for their first 1-2 years). You already go to a 4 year university, and so I think it would look bad if you took a notoriously difficult class (like orgo) at a CC. I don't think there would be any way you could rationalize your decision to adcoms even if you are sure that the CC professor would be better. It would look like you are just trying to take the easy way out, whether that was the case or not. Good luck!

 

[diane07]

Think of it this way, some of the dental schools recieve almost 3000 applications. They accept a fraction of the applicants that apply, and they pick the most competitive candidates.

Taking science pre-requisites at a CC may be easier/cheaper. But think about the fact that you'll be compared to xyz number of other applicants, and you don't want to be on the lower end of the competitive scale. Do what you want, but just remember that there's stiff competition out there.

 

[Meatwad]

hmmm jeeez was me taking Chem 1 and 2 at community college THAT bad? Enough to have some dental schools disregard my application?

Some schools specifically prohibit pre-reqs being taken from a CC.

Is it the end of the world? No. Will you be accepted to a school that says no CC pre-reqs? Probably not. Are there still plenty of schools to which you can apply with CC pre-reqs? Yes. Just don't do it from here on out.

 

[sacjumpman]

I'd say take it at your CC. Just kill your DAT and your abilities shouldn't be questioned.

Just my opinion. I was too broke to go to a 4 year and that's just the way it goes. Taking classes at a 4 year over summer (at least mine) will cost much more money... that's reason enough for me.

I agree with many of the other posts and do feel that they may look down on it, but if you can rock your DAT, I think that would settle it.

 

[Ex_EE]

I'd say take it at your CC. Just kill your DAT and your abilities shouldn't be questioned.

Just my opinion. I was too broke to go to a 4 year and that's just the way it goes. Taking classes at a 4 year over summer (at least mine) will cost much more money... that's reason enough for me.

I agree with many of the other posts and do feel that they may look down on it, but if you can rock your DAT, I think that would settle it.

👍👍👍

The DAT will show the level of your orgo education. I took my organic at a CC and scored better than most people who took it through 4 year universities. Just make an A at the community college.