How am I looking?? Sophomore

[cjb19]

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First time posting, need advice on how I'm doing and what I need to do.
SUNY Geneseo; Chemistry BS

Fall 2010-3.29
Spring 2011 - 3.64
Cum = 3.45
Sci = 3.24

Orgo 1 : B (pulled up from a C-...50 on the second test, 94 on the final...definitely asking this professor for a rec)

Teacher Assistant for a General Chemistry lab
Hold office in the Chemistry club

#1 Am I on the right track? Obviously I can always do better, but classes are getting harder, I'm taking orgo II, gen bio, physics, orgo lab, and and physics lab right now. It's going to be a tough semester.
#2
Basically the only important course taken so far was orgo. I currently have a C in Physics...it's the physics that physics majors take so it's calculus based and I'm doing really ****ty. How much do dental schools care about those grades?
#3
I feel really awkward about asking for recommendations. I have four already I'm going to ask (we're allowed 8 that the predental adviser selects from). All are Chemistry professors, two organic, on physical, and one inorganic...not that it matters. One is my major adviser, and the rest I just really like. I've gone to each of their office hours, ask questions in class quite frequently, they know my name and I have shown improvement in each. They still go out of their way to say hi to me and chat. Also, if I want to ask for a rec to dental school AND for a summer internship, will they have to write two? Is that too much to ask?
#4
I feel really stupid writing cover letters for internships. I have NOTHING to say. I have done absolutely no research so i have nothing to talk about there....what do I SAY?
#5
How much of a possibility is there going in to observe a dentist and getting some sort of assisting gig from them? It's not required in NY to be certified. I've done 8 hours at a oral surgeon, liked it a lot, but he encouraged me to seek a general dentist. I plan on going in to my gdentist over winter break.
#6
Any suggestions on how to approach a professor about doing research with them?

I look forward to any responses 🙂

 

[bing12]

if you think you are going to get a C in physics, withdraw from it. If you dont want to withdraw, dont take physics 2 next semester, take an upper level bio ( more useful) and hold off physics until after you apply. why are you taking calc based physics? thats not required, take non-calc based. dental schools care about your BCP gpa the most. Bio,chemistry, and physics. so its an important grade.

 

[Demps]

I don't think research is too important, so don't worry about that if you end up not doing one. But yes shadowing experience, you definitely have to.

GPA wise, since you're sophomore This fall, I assume your 3.45 will be around ~3.7 cGPA and 3.5 sGPA by the time you graduate with a nice upward trend. Every class counts! So keep working hard!

Get an A in a upper-level course or TA for a course. Professors are most likely to be nice enough to write you one. Don't feel awkward about it.

 

[Bman1047]

First time posting, need advice on how I'm doing and what I need to do.
SUNY Geneseo; Chemistry BS

Fall 2010-3.29
Spring 2011 - 3.64
Cum = 3.45
Sci = 3.24

Orgo 1 : B (pulled up from a C-...50 on the second test, 94 on the final...definitely asking this professor for a rec)

Teacher Assistant for a General Chemistry lab
Hold office in the Chemistry club

#1 Am I on the right track? Obviously I can always do better, but classes are getting harder, I'm taking orgo II, gen bio, physics, orgo lab, and and physics lab right now. It's going to be a tough semester.Here's your 1st problem...why in the world are you taking all those classes at once? There is a strategy to maintaing and gaining a high GPA in undergrad...learn it!
#2
Basically the only important course taken so far was orgo. I currently have a C in Physics...it's the physics that physics majors take so it's calculus based and I'm doing really ****ty. How much do dental schools care about those grades? They care about ALL grades
#3
I feel really awkward about asking for recommendations. I have four already I'm going to ask (we're allowed 8 that the predental adviser selects from). All are Chemistry professors, two organic, on physical, and one inorganic...not that it matters. One is my major adviser, and the rest I just really like. I've gone to each of their office hours, ask questions in class quite frequently, they know my name and I have shown improvement in each. They still go out of their way to say hi to me and chat. Also, if I want to ask for a rec to dental school AND for a summer internship, will they have to write two? Is that too much to ask? Depends on the professor I would imagine, for some maybe, for others maybe not. Ideally they would write 2 so they at least look specific, or they just might provide a standard format that they may use for students regardless of what it's needed for
#4
I feel really stupid writing cover letters for internships. I have NOTHING to say. I have done absolutely no research so i have nothing to talk about there....what do I SAY? Then don't write them
#5
How much of a possibility is there going in to observe a dentist and getting some sort of assisting gig from them? It's not required in NY to be certified. I've done 8 hours at a oral surgeon, liked it a lot, but he encouraged me to seek a general dentist. I plan on going in to my gdentist over winter break.
#6
Any suggestions on how to approach a professor about doing research with them? 1st you may want to actually have an interest in what they're researching then just ask if they would be willing to allow you to assist them.

I look forward to any responses 🙂

Good Luck

 

[tayloreve]

As a Chem major, I'm assuming the Calc based physics is required for your degree. Don't you also have to take all the Calculus series as well? If you are struggling with the calculus and not so much the physics part, maybe you should think about your major. At my university, Bio majors aren't required to know any calculus (although it is a pre-req at some dental schools). I wouldn't risk it pulling down my GPA because everything is Calc based when I could of gotten a better grade in the same non-calc based physics class.

If you already know 4 professors who are willing to write you LOR's, I would say you are on the right track. That's awesome you are only in your second year and are already tight with them.

Your GPA isn't bad, just keep an upward trend from here on out!

Good luck 🙂