High School Senior Pre Dent: community college or UC for undergrad?

[indpndntrd]

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[PChemGrad]

I went to a CC before transfering to one of the UC's, but be forwarned that a few dental schools dont accept credits taken from a CC. So this would limit your ability to go to a few dental schools.
If you go to a CC you cant transfer to UCSF, since they are not a undergraduate school. They only undergrad programs they have are Nursing and Dental Hygiene.
Davis is a good school, I would recommend going to UC Davis. Also if you were to go to a CC, and then transfer to a UC you really wouldn't be able to apply to dental school until you have graduated from college, because D schools like to see how well you do in a 4 year university, and only having been there for 1 year doesnt show the schools how you will do in d-school. it can happen but not likely.

Could you go to UoP and then transfer into the 3+3 or 4+3 program?

You will hear a lot from us about saying not to go to a CC but it does happen and we do get in. but it is harder.

Davis is a fun town, besides you can walk down the street drinking a beer and not get a tix for having a open container, its not like that in most college towns.

 

[diane07]

If you go to the community college, just take gen eds. Then when you transfer, take all your sciences/math at the university.

 

[dmd2011]

save yourself the trouble of worrying about the CC credits transferring and whether or not dental schools will accept them and just go to a 4 yr school.
education is expensive but it is an investment in your future.

 

[SugarNaCl]

4 yr uni

 

[Dauber]

Go to Davis. Hands down.

Also, you're a senior in high school. Go to Davis and explore a little. You might end up in dentistry or you might find you like something else. You never know.

 

[STIG]

Doesnt really matter as long as you do well.

 

[PChemGrad]

Go to Davis. Hands down.

Also, you're a senior in high school. Go to Davis and explore a little. You might end up in dentistry or you might find you like something else. You never know.

You should take UC Davis's brewery class, or viticulture program. Both are top ranking. you will have to take quite a few of the dental prereqs, and you would get a unique education out of it. besides you could brew some beer to ferment some wine and bring it to your interviews and have a good shot at getting in.

4 year all the way.

 

[Dauber]

You should take UC Davis's brewery class, or viticulture program. Both are top ranking. you will have to take quite a few of the dental prereqs, and you would get a unique education out of it. besides you could brew some beer to ferment some wine and bring it to your interviews and have a good shot at getting in.

4 year all the way.

Exactly. You don't need to be a robot, programmed to do everything dental from age 18 until dental school. I think people need to recognize that these kids getting in with low GPA's are in because they're well-rounded or have some unique experience. Stats are part of the battle, not the entire thing. I didn't mount the charge for dental school until the last half of my 5th year in the last of my 5 majors. Get an education... not just credentialed for dental school, you know?

 

[dantheman2007]

From what I have heard, CC will hurt your chances of getting in to dental school. Dental schools rather see a B+ from a 4 year university then an A from a CC.
Best of luck

 

[Fonz]

I think 4 year will prepare you best for D school. I'm a Davis grad. Had some fun times there and its a good school.

 

[cocokeala]

definetly 4 years. its an investment in your future!

you could go to UOP undergrad. most of the students who are not in the predent program but apply to dent school still have an advantage. granted, you should have grades above the cutoff line for the kids in the program. i dont know how this will be by the time you get here because things are starting to get really competitive.

if not, try to go to Davis. Davis is the #2 feeder school to UOP dent school and def would be in a better area than UOP undergrad 😀

anyhoo goodluck!

 

[DDSY]

Agree with all of the posts above. Avoid the hassle and go to Davis.

 

[DrYankem]

I went to a CC my first two years and had a much better education there than at a 4-year university, where I spent my last two years. I prefer community colleges for a few reason, of which I list below.
1. Much less expensive!
2. Professors can spend much more one-on-one time with students because they are (usually) not involved in part-time or full-time research, and therefore, not constantly searching for grant money.
3. The student-teacher ratio is usually low (my school was 25:1).
4. The people that attend the CC are usually non-traditional students (mostly mature, focused adults).
5. There are no fraternities/sororities (guaranteed way to reduced GPA).
6. If you do well, there are more chances to be acknowledged as a top student because there are less students overall.
7. Parking is usually not an issue.
8. Community colleges are geared to help you transfer to another school and staff are trained to help you make all the arrangements necessary.

I was accepted to dental school Dec. 1st, and the quality of my education was never questioned. Not all CC are the same, however. Research thoroughly where you are thinking about attending. Go to the place where you feel a peace. If you apply yourself to your studies, you can do well anywhere and learn the materials required to do fantastic on the DAT. Best wishes on your dental pathway!

 

[indpndntrd]

thanks for all the response... I really appreciate it... by the way, to those of you who have gone to community college and recommend it, which one did you go to?

 

[PChemGrad]

I went to the Santa Rosa Junior College, then transfered to UCSB, and I loved it! I did get into dental school on 12/1 but you never know when attending a CC.

 

[indpndntrd]

While I would like to go to community college to save money it seems as though everyone thinks that it is a bad idea when applying to dentistry school.. other than missing out on the "college" experience, what are other reasons why I should not choose community college? Thanks again for all the feedback so far..

 

[dmd2011]

While I would like to go to community college to save money it seems as though everyone thinks that it is a bad idea when applying to dentistry school.. other than missing out on the "college" experience, what are other reasons why I should not choose community college? Thanks again for all the feedback so far..

the fact that CCs are not academically competitive with 4 yr universities no matter what some ppl might tell you. read some dental school websites and you will see that most schools prefer classes from a 4 yr school. save yourself the trouble, go to the 4 yr school.

 

[indpndntrd]

I went to a CC before transfering to one of the UC's, but be forwarned that a few dental schools dont accept credits taken from a CC. So this would limit your ability to go to a few dental schools.
If you go to a CC you cant transfer to UCSF, since they are not a undergraduate school. They only undergrad programs they have are Nursing and Dental Hygiene.
Davis is a good school, I would recommend going to UC Davis. Also if you were to go to a CC, and then transfer to a UC you really wouldn't be able to apply to dental school until you have graduated from college, because D schools like to see how well you do in a 4 year university, and only having been there for 1 year doesnt show the schools how you will do in d-school. it can happen but not likely.

Could you go to UoP and then transfer into the 3+3 or 4+3 program?

You will hear a lot from us about saying not to go to a CC but it does happen and we do get in. but it is harder.

Davis is a fun town, besides you can walk down the street drinking a beer and not get a tix for having a open container, its not like that in most college towns.

Which community college did you go to? Which UC did you transfer to? And which Dent schools did you say don't take credit for classes from CC?

 

[PChemGrad]

I went to the Santa Rosa Junior College, then transfered to UCSB, and I loved it! I did get into dental school on 12/1 but you never know when attending a CC.

Tufts and BU do not, I know a few more dont but I dont know off the top of my head.

 

[lnsip9reg]

Which community college did you go to? Which UC did you transfer to? And which Dent schools did you say don't take credit for classes from CC?

seems like you already have an answer you want to hear -> it'll be all right to go to community college

it probably would be, but the majority of responses recommend you go to Davis and i'd have to agree.

i hope you listen.. ever since they got rid of AA, the UCs have been getting harder and harder to get into. congrats, you got into a great undergrad college. jump on it 😛

 

[armorshell]

the fact that CCs are not academically competitive with 4 yr universities no matter what some ppl might tell you. read some dental school websites and you will see that most schools prefer classes from a 4 yr school. save yourself the trouble, go to the 4 yr school.

🙄

If by "some" dental school websites you mean two (Tufts and Pitt), then yeah, you'll have trouble. Before I applied I called up every school on my list to see if they had a problem with CC credits, and they all said as long as I'm finishing my B.S. it was no big deal. The four schools that accepted me on 12/1 didn't have a problem with it either.

As far as should you go to a CC...probably not. Why? Less because of the academic reason, but more of the "Why would you want to miss out on some of your best years with little to no responsibilities besides grades" reason. Enjoy the college experience at a UC, and be in a *little* more debt.

 

[diane07]

You're in high school . . . requirements regarding community collge credits could change at different dental schools in the next four years.

College can be a fun time, so enjoy the experience.