How important is it to take DS "recommended" courses//help me fix schedule!

[rickblas]

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So I started class last thursday and I am not comfortable with my schedule.

Currently I am registered for:
Biochem (have to take aka chem major)
Honors Thesis Course (have to take for my Honors program, entails writing a 40pg thesis in a year)
Honors Sociology Class (thought it was interesting, elective)
and Human Anatomy (Only taking this because some Dental Schools recommend it but none that I am applying to require it).

HOWEVER, the human anatomy class is on a sunday and I just got out of the class now and the professor is so mean!/said constantly that half the class will fail and was very doom and gloom. Also it is from 10am-2:10pm...NOTE that I am a commuter so my travel time to school on sunday is like an hr and a half and I lose my whole weekend!

So. my point is, how important is it to take Human Anatomy during undergrad? I am very heavily considering dropping this course and just registering for a Core Class instead (I only need one more core class to graduate) and thinking of registering for this Art course called Basic 3d design that my friend told me was easy and fun and will help me with manuel dexterity (you build/carve models and professor grades on effort).

It should also be taken into account that I applied to dental school this cycle and should be expecting interviews this semester, and I already received one from uconn so...some of them do require travel time (I am in NYC). Would it be wise to take a courseload of anatomy with biochem....and a thesis course......figuring in all the time and stress of interviews PLUS all my extracurriculars I committed too (Research, Dance, Dental Assisting)? Should I take it easy and drop anatomy and take a core class+the fine art course? ADDITIONALLY, I was thinking of taking Intro to Psych and dropping the Honors Sociology class as well to make up for dropping anatomy since they are both classes "recommended" by most dental schools.

Basically....should I keep Biochem, Anatomy, Honors Thesis, and Honors Sociology (15credits but a pretty heavy courseload) PLUS my extracurriculars

or

should I try and change to Biochem, Honors Thesis, 3d Design, Core class, and Intro to Psych (17credits but except for biochem/thesis the classes are easy) PLUS my extracurriculars.

Taking into account that I may get a few pre-dec interviews that require travel/planning/stress, what would you guys do?
Any help is appreciated! (P.S. I am on scholarship so there is no money problem here).

NOTE: On my courseload on my AADSAS application/my transcript it says I am registered for anatomy in fall so dental schools think I will be taking anatomy right? How bad would it look if I dropped it and didn't take it?

 

[321931]

Recommended means recommended. It won't break or make you, but it might help in dental school (since you've seen the material before). However, I've had friends taken the bare min. to get into dental school without many of the upper bios and still have done well in Dental School.

All in all, do what makes you happy. Your professor sounds really grumpy. I wouldn't want to spend time in that class. Your call!👍

And I don't think it would look bad if you dropped it now, unless you get a W or something. But even then a W or two won't hurt your APP. It hasn't hurt mine yet. =)

 

[slm266]

I'd personally drop sociology (unless you really need the elective for graduation), I'd keep anatomy, and look for more recommended classes from your top choice schools.

 

[rickblas]

The sociology class was actually one of the easier classes. My main concern is with the three main hard ones: Biochem, Thesis, and Anatomy....and since I cannot drop Biochem/Thesis, my main question is if I should drop Anatomy and try and take something else since the first anatomy class I had today was a disaster (Professor was mean and said half the class will fail or withdraw//made condescending remarks and he recommended not to take it with any other hard classes and that we have a quiz every week... Also the class was crowded and I was sitting on a sink.... and it is on a sunday... which may interfere with most dental school interviews on mondays and fridays assuming i get more!)

However, thanks for both of your advice. I noticed there was another anatomy class I can attempt to register for (I have to overtally into it if the prof takes me) during the weekday with a professor I heard was easier. Moreover, I don't know if I should even take anatomy at all if dental schools don't mind if you don't or take some fun classes while I still have the chance in undergrad since I will never be able to do such in dental school (such as the 3d design art class). ugh much to think about...🙁

 

[Maygyver]

I have heard anatomy is very useful to take in order to get some exposure. Would you be able to take it next quarter/semester if you dropped it now?

 

[rickblas]

Well next spring semester will be my last semester since Ill be graduating and I will also have to take Physical chemistry next semester which is also a tough course and Honors Thesis #2 (the completion of the honors thesis course I am taking now) so it is basically this semester or next since both of them will be equally challenging (Biochem to Phcem and Thesis1 to Thesis 2) except that this semester I should be expecting the interviews etc. and the stress with that. Basically, I will be able to but I am not sure I would.