If never accepted? Bio major?

[mitrieD]

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I am a freshman at a community college in a honors program with a 3.7 GPA going into the second semester. As of now I am pursuing a Bio major. If it gets to the point that I never get accepted into dental school, what do you do with a bio major?

So far I also have 21 hours of dental shadowing. Should I be doing anything else so far? I also have a job

 

[loveoforganic]

Depends what interests you. Three typical avenues for a bio degree are teach, lab tech, higher education (leading to research/teaching).

 

[anonymousername]

ask your bio professor 😀

jk

 

[peanutb123]

switch to 4-year univ. people/grad schools look down on community college gpa/grades... and try to double major if you can. Bio w/ undergrad degree has very limited options... teacher, lab tech, lab assistant, research assistant... those are the most of them... which will pay decent other than that...+ u need to know people even to get these jobs. you need to pursue higher degree... hope this helps. Good luck

 

[txsoonerfan]

There are so many jobs that you can get these days that just require a "degree." If you wanted to do something specialized, it may require a different degree.

The best option of you really want to go down this road: quit worrying about what if, and decide that you will go to dental school period. (If dental school is really what you want.)

 

[loveoforganic]

That's awful advice in my opinion. Plenty of people don't get in, and if your GPA is too far down the crapper, there's a good chance you never will. Having back ups thought out can only help.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

Dont give up.

get into an SMP program and then re apply.

This is worthless speculation since you havent even been rejected yet.

 

[Bman1047]

Do you want to actually use your Biology degree or do you like basic science? Cause you can always get another degree. BUT, if you're only choosing Bio because you want to become a dentist, that isn't wise at all,especially if you don't like bio. Pick a degree program you're actually interested in, and still do the requirements to apply to dental school...people do that all the time...my dentist has a BA in American History.

 

[txsoonerfan]

That's awful advice in my opinion. Plenty of people don't get in, and if your GPA is too far down the crapper, there's a good chance you never will. Having back ups thought out can only help.

Really? Then what should one do, double major? If your grades are poor, than you may want to rethink things. I know several people employed in professions that have nothing to do with their degree. If you really want it, don't make excuses, just do it.

I'll be 32 when I apply to dental school and have a family that I support. I've been in several businesses and have nearly lost everything I own. You could say that I have learned from the school of hard knocks.

I guess if you want a way out, you should leave yourself options. Than again, you may want consider something else because as soon as things get tough, you might bail.

 

[peanutb123]

Really? Then what should one do, double major? If your grades are poor, than you may want to rethink things. I know several people employed in professions that have nothing to do with their degree. If you really want it, don't make excuses, just do it.

I'll be 32 when I apply to dental school and have a family that I support. I've been in several businesses and have nearly lost everything I own. You could say that I have learned from the school of hard knocks.

I guess if you want a way out, you should leave yourself options. Than again, you may want consider something else because as soon as things get tough, you might bail.

seems like you going to lose lot more

 

[junkemails44]

You're doing fine. I had over 60 units at a community as well. The trick is you must maintain the same performance at a 4-year institution. Now with that kind of GPA, your DAT must match as well! Take it one step at a time... Before you know it, you will be there.

 

[txsoonerfan]

seems like you going to lose lot more

I am not sure what the meaning of this statement is. Maybe if your grammar was better I would get the message.

 

[americanpierg]

a bio degree is pretty much worthless unless you reallllllllllly like working in a lab or teaching middleschool/highschool bio or something... you can easily get an equivalent if not higher paying job by just finishing highschool and you wont have to work as hard to find that job. 4 years of your life and 4 years of tuition isnt worth it to get a bio degree. itll be VERY difficult to land a job right out of college unless you landed some amazing intern work or have great connections or are willing to relocate anywhere a job pops up. a bio degree is usually for people who are going to go into further schooling, medical/dental/PhD/etc.

If you think you are gonna fail, get a better degree such as somethign in accounting and then stuff it with your science requirements/other science classes to meet the admission requirements. theres countless entry-level jobs for for accounting majors... but barely any entry-lvl jobs for bio majors.

i think once you get that bio degree... you're pretty much committed. do an SMP/masters/postbac or whatever, and reapply. if all else fails, go into nursing or something lol.

 

[txsoonerfan]

I think there are lots of other options besides researcher, lab assistant, lab tech, or teacher. If you really hate science altogether, I would not recommend becoming a dentist. I also still argue that to many entry-level jobs, just the fact that you will have a degree will help.

Some of these may require additional study but some do not:

Pharmaceutical Sales
Optometrist
Orthoptician
Podiatrist
Dental Hygienist
Dental Assistant
Orthodontist
Epidemiologist
Public Health Professional
Pharmacologist
Physician's Assistant
Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Medical Technologist
Cytotechnician
Genetics Counselor
Respiratory Technician
X-Ray Technician
Quality Control Specialist
Sperm Bank Technician Phlebotomist
Athletic Trainer
Sports Tester
In Vitro Fertilization Technician
Aquarist
Perfusionist Radiation Therapy Technician
Zookeeper
Veterinarian
Veternary Assistant
Surgical Technologist
Exercise Physiologist
Anesthesiology Assistant
Orthotics and Prosthetics Specialist
Audiologist
Medical Appliance Technician
Acupuncturist
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Specialist
Emergency Medical Science Specialist
Magnetic Resonance Technician
Environmental Science and Protection Technician
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Enviromental Regulator (rivers, streams and fish, wildlife, and forest management)
Park Ranger or Park Interpretor
Lobbyist (science, technology, and science education)
Water Quality Control Specialist
Waste Management Technician
County Extension Agent
Science Policy Analyst
Sciene Policy Researcher
Administrator/Researcher for an international health group
Administrator/Researcher for a nonprofit public interest group
Food and Drug Administration Researcher (drug approval or food safety)
Manager of a Wildlife Refuge
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
Market Research
Regulatory Affairs
Quality Control
Sales and Marketing
Product Development and Testing
Aerospace
Scientific Consultation
Brewing
Patent, Environment, or Medical Law
Financial Analysis
Bioinformatics
Biostatistics
Biological Entrepreneurship
Biofouling
Baking Industry
Public Relations
Anthropology
Paleontology
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Animal Science
Crop Science
Soil Science
Biofuels Research
Beekeeping
Viticulture
Fish Farming
Crop Consultation
Crop Management
United States Department of Agriculture Research
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research
Dairy Production
Meat Production
Poultry Science
Biomedical Engineering
Dietetics/Nutrition

And possibly more.....these are just some I found in a few minutes surfing the web.

 

[loveoforganic]

Really? Then what should one do, double major? If your grades are poor, than you may want to rethink things. I know several people employed in professions that have nothing to do with their degree. If you really want it, don't make excuses, just do it.

I'll be 32 when I apply to dental school and have a family that I support. I've been in several businesses and have nearly lost everything I own. You could say that I have learned from the school of hard knocks.

I guess if you want a way out, you should leave yourself options. Than again, you may want consider something else because as soon as things get tough, you might bail.

Double majoring is what I did, but it sure isn' the only solution (e.g. you could just single major in the field that leads to your backup career choice. I think there's something wrong if the only way you can find to be motivated enough to get into your professional school of choice is to eliminate all other viable options.

 

[txsoonerfan]

Double majoring is what I did, but it sure isn' the only solution (e.g. you could just single major in the field that leads to your backup career choice. I think there's something wrong if the only way you can find to be motivated enough to get into your professional school of choice is to eliminate all other viable options.

Maybe you are right for some people. The thing you have to keep in mind is that completing a double major could slow you down significantly. For me, it's not a matter of motivation, it's a matter of time. I guess it all comes down to what your goals are and where you are at in life.

 

[loveoforganic]

There's only like.. one additional biology prereq class than your other prereqs. And it's only 2 classes total. Does that extra class really justify majoring in something you have no desire to go into, should dental school not work out?

 

[alanan84]

There's only like.. one additional biology prereq class than your other prereqs. And it's only 2 classes total. Does that extra class really justify majoring in something you have no desire to go into, should dental school not work out?

Some schools want to see A LOT of upper level science courses, not just the prereqs.

 

[txsoonerfan]

Some schools want to see A LOT of upper level science courses, not just the prereqs.

Exactly. For instance out of 102 students at Baylor, 88 were either Bio or Chemistry majors. So go ahead and take your chances. Not saying that it can't be done, but in my opinion, you are playing to lose.

 

[txsoonerfan]

i think once you get that bio degree... you're pretty much committed. do an SMP/masters/postbac or whatever, and reapply. if all else fails, go into nursing or something lol.

Exactly, you are committed. Maybe being committed is what dental admissions committees want to see? I don't know, but I think to say that you don't have ANY options with a bio degree is stretching it a little. But by all means, if you don't like bio, I wouldn't major in it.

 

[txsoonerfan]

Surprised you haven't gotten in yet alanan84. Your DATs look pretty good.

 

[RockHardIce]

a bio degree is pretty much worthless unless you reallllllllllly like working in a lab or teaching middleschool/highschool bio or something... you can easily get an equivalent if not higher paying job by just finishing highschool and you wont have to work as hard to find that job. 4 years of your life and 4 years of tuition isnt worth it to get a bio degree. itll be VERY difficult to land a job right out of college unless you landed some amazing intern work or have great connections or are willing to relocate anywhere a job pops up. a bio degree is usually for people who are going to go into further schooling, medical/dental/PhD/etc.

If you think you are gonna fail, get a better degree such as somethign in accounting and then stuff it with your science requirements/other science classes to meet the admission requirements. theres countless entry-level jobs for for accounting majors... but barely any entry-lvl jobs for bio majors.

i think once you get that bio degree... you're pretty much committed. do an SMP/masters/postbac or whatever, and reapply. if all else fails, go into nursing or something lol.

I want to hug you; couldn't agree more 👍👍

 

[alanan84]

Surprised you haven't gotten in yet alanan84. Your DATs look pretty good.

That makes two of us. To be fair though, my GPA sucks (it has a really good upward trend though) and Texas schools are really competitive. Baylor's average GPA went from a 3.5 to a 3.6 this year. Houston and SA were both already 3.6+ going into this cycle.

 

[txsoonerfan]

That makes two of us. To be fair though, my GPA sucks (it has a really good upward trend though) and Texas schools are really competitive. Baylor's average GPA went from a 3.5 to a 3.6 this year. Houston and SA were both already 3.6+ going into this cycle.

I'm sure you will get in soon, just hang in there. Still a chance at Houston or Baylor, right? I'm just surprised that your DAT didn't do more to help.