I'm a senior in highschool...what should I be doing?

[RockyRoad92]

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Hello all 🙂
Currently I just finished my Junior year and will be entering my senior year this fall. I'm taking 4 AP classes next year (English, Calc, Chem, and Government). I'm looking to attend the University of Chapel Hill. Based on my SAT scores, GPA, class rank, and extracurricular, I have a pretty good chance.

Basically, I want to go to dental school. I don't want to get behind when I'm in college, so I was wondering if there were anything specific that you all have done or didn't do while you were still in high school. When should one start shadowing a dentist? Also, I was looking at the stats for admission to dental school...they don't appear promising. If I don't get into dental school then I'll apply to Pharmacy school.

One more question: how has your college GPA matched your highschool unweighted GPA? For example, I have a 3.95 unweighted (something like a 4.98 weighted) and I'm just wondering how much the average GPA is lowered from high school to college.


Thanks a lot guys/ girls! 😀

 

[Kneecoal]

well, it's never too early to start looking into the field you think you want to go into, i.e. shadowing.

looking at the fact that you're taking 4 APs next year, i'll assume you know how to study. this might sound weird and others might not agree with me, but i had a gpa like yours in high school (all honors and AP too), but not because i put a lot of work into it - it just came easy. when you go to college you HAVE to study... and the first step is actually knowing how. i got put on my ass as a freshman. ... and a sophomore (but that's my own fault).

oh, and have a good time, but don't party too hard. it inteferes with all the studying you're supposed to be doing 😛

p.s., stick with this forum. it's like magic

 

[RockyRoad92]

well, it's never too early to start looking into the field you think you want to go into, i.e. shadowing.

looking at the fact that you're taking 4 APs next year, i'll assume you know how to study. this might sound weird and others might not agree with me, but i had a gpa like yours in high school (all honors and AP too), but not because i put a lot of work into it - it just came easy. when you go to college you HAVE to study... and the first step is actually knowing how. i got put on my ass as a freshman. ... and a sophomore (but that's my own fault).

oh, and have a good time, but don't party too hard. it inteferes with all the studying you're supposed to be doing 😛

p.s., stick with this forum. it's like magic

Thanks for the quick reply! Actually, I know exactly what you're talking about with the studying. I don't exactly study either; usually I just pay attention in class and do well on my essays. So, thanks for pointing that out; I'll try to improve my studying habits even if my grades won't really change.

I know I'm doing this early, but I figured it's better now than my Junior year of college. 🙂 I'm not POSITIVE dental is for me, but the more I research it, the better the career options seem than pediatrics(my second choice) and pharmacy (my 3rd choice).

I'll definitely be sticking around this forum! 😀

 

[12345a]

if it's possible, take some GE/major courses at a local community college or get concurrent enrollment at uni at chap hill. that way you'll free up some space and stress for dental school prereqs and upper division classes and hopefully kick off your college GPA with A's.

start shadowing and getting into the field by volunteering.

pay attention in AP chem and build a good comfort level with science classes b/c some of the material is covered on the general chem part of the DAT.

I wouldn't really worry too much about how much your GPA will differ..everyone starts from scratch...from what I understand the consensus for most universities is that if you put in the effort, the grade will come.

 

[dentstd]

Ignore the above. take no community college courses.

Everyone I know who worked really hard in college didn't do too well. Stress and putting too much pressure on yourself is counterproductive. Stop aiming for an A and you'll get the A more easily. Learn but have fun. If you want an easy A, take 200 or 300's level classes. 101 classes are time consuming and a waste of time.

 

[RockyRoad92]

Ignore the above. take no community college courses.

Everyone I know who worked really hard in college didn't do too well. Stress and putting too much pressure on yourself is counterproductive. Stop aiming for an A and you'll get the A more easily. Learn but have fun. If you want an easy A, take 200 or 300's level classes. 101 classes are time consuming and a waste of time.

So you're saying that I shouldn't take Bio 101 at the community college to get it out of the way and into the upper levels quicker? I'm not taking AP bio, and I took hn bio in 10th grade, so I don't think I'll get placed out of 101.

 

[dentstd]

So you're saying that I shouldn't take Bio 101 at the community college to get it out of the way and into the upper levels quicker? I'm not taking AP bio, and I took hn bio in 10th grade, so I don't think I'll get placed out of 101.

Community college makes you appear dumber. Whether it's true is irrelevant.

 

[RockyRoad92]

Community college makes you appear dumber. Whether it's true is irrelevant.

Even if it's just the intro course taken while I'm still in high school? I've already taken Psych 101 at the community college..

 

[Kneecoal]

So you're saying that I shouldn't take Bio 101 at the community college to get it out of the way and into the upper levels quicker? I'm not taking AP bio, and I took hn bio in 10th grade, so I don't think I'll get placed out of 101.

not only that, but you'll find down the road that some dental schools won't accept prereqs done at community colleges, and with the level of competition rising as it is, by the time it's your turn, they may be even more strict about it.

and take what dentstd said about working hard but ending up not doing well with a grain of salt. even though i didn't know how to study, i'd still at least try hard and freak out, and not do well... but once i learned to keep my cool, i was able to work hard and then do well!

EDIT: and when we talk about prereqs here, we mean the major science prereqs - bio, chem, orgo, physics

 

[RockyRoad92]

not only that, but you'll find down the road that some dental schools won't accept prereqs done at community colleges, and with the level of competition rising as it is, by the time it's your turn, they may be even more strict about it.

and take what dentstd said about working hard but ending up not doing well with a grain of salt. even though i didn't know how to study, i'd still at least try hard and freak out, and not do well... but once i learned to keep my cool, i was able to work hard and then do well!

EDIT: and when we talk about prereqs here, we mean the major science prereqs - bio, chem, orgo, physics

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I think instead of taking Bio at the Community college this fall I'll take sociology or public speaking (if I don't do XC).

So would dental schools look down on me possibly skipping General Chem because of AP credit? If so, I'll still take the class, but take Gen. Chem in college too.

 

[dentstd]

This conversation topic should be deferred for at least another year. You can take whatever you want at this point. Your high school years aren't meant to be spent worrying about grad school.

 

[RockyRoad92]

This conversation topic should be deferred for at least another year. You can take whatever you want at this point. Your high school years aren't meant to be spent worrying about grad school.

True. So for now I'll just work on my study habits.
Thanks for all of your help, and I'll probably still hang around the forums. 😀

 

[jay47]

Really, what you need to do now is find the right college for YOU. Don't go by NAME, percieved "prestige", or what your cousin, uncle, aunt, or grandpa said. Visit the campus you want to go to and find the right school. If you find the right school, you will study better, make more friends, learn more, and make better grades.

Don't worry too much about CC courses, just take stuff like history, and social sciences. Biological and chemical classes are probably better left to the university or college of your choice. It DOES look better on the application AND (mostly, but not always) you will challenge yourself more and learn more. That = better admissions test scores.

For now, relax and find the right school Good luck.

 

[toothytay]

I just want to reiterate keeping your cool and happy during all of this pre-dental business. When you get to college you're probably going to feel like you're having to jump through billions of hoops, and you do...but take it a week at a time...before you know it, you're a senior!!

Also, here are some of my reflections from my freshman year of college...ohhh hindsight. OK. So I didn't have to work hard for a 4.0 in high school, and I dived into college life with a full course load and being in the marching band...5 practices a week...at a super football-enthused school. I didn't study for tests until the night before...I just didn't know how to study! Its something I think all of us had to learn in college, since high school was easy! But you will have to study....more and more as your classes get more intense.

Also, whew do the grading systems change (at least in my case). I remember my first bio test I made an 84. I was dumbfounded, shocked, nearly hysterical, calling my mom talking about rethinking my life goals. LOL I have learned to chill out so much more since then! Well that was the lowest grade I'd made to date...which would have been a C in high school. Well it was an A in that bio class! Everyone professor is different. And I'm from a HUGE school...massive freshman classes...but never be afraid to ask a question.

Lastly...take English in high school...while your friends are cranking out essays every week freshman year, you'll be out having fun! 😀 OH, and you mentioned pharmacy?? Make sure that you pick one road and go for it. Dental schools (or any school for that matter) want to know you really really want to take that career path.

Whew sorry for the rant!

 

[12345a]

Ignore the above. take no community college courses.

Everyone I know who worked really hard in college didn't do too well. Stress and putting too much pressure on yourself is counterproductive. Stop aiming for an A and you'll get the A more easily. Learn but have fun. If you want an easy A, take 200 or 300's level classes. 101 classes are time consuming and a waste of time.

i agree with the part about not stressing too much...but i think taking some GE/GPA boosting classes would go a long way. it would also introduce him/her into how a college course is run (even if they might be a simple community college course).

take a course you can get an A in if your sure your hs grades won't suffer

 

[nydds25]

ummmmm... finding a prom date. Please you have not even started your senior year.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

ummmmm... finding a prom date. Please you have not even started your senior year.

👍 +1

Consider going to a small 4 year state school where you get more of a one on one education in your classes. I went to a no name hole in the wall 4 year college in Idaho and received 10 letters of acceptances in 1995 the first time I pursued detistry. Then when I re-applied in 2005, I received 6 letters of acceptance. All this after attending only a small 4 year college where I got an EXCELLENT education and had courses (like Gross Anatomy and Embryology) that some of my classmates did not have when attending HUGE universities didn't take.

Never is all my interviews did anyone ever question if I ever considered doing my undergrad elsewhere. I proved by my grades and DAT scores that I belonged here.

That aside - just relax for now!!!!! Don't worry about what school you need to go to. Consider what major you'd like to pursue in college and find a good school that you'll receive a good education in that major even if it is at a small 4 year college.

 

[bigstix808]

Hello all 🙂
Currently I just finished my Junior year and will be entering my senior year this fall. I'm taking 4 AP classes next year (English, Calc, Chem, and Government). I'm looking to attend the University of Chapel Hill. Based on my SAT scores, GPA, class rank, and extracurricular, I have a pretty good chance.

Basically, I want to go to dental school. I don't want to get behind when I'm in college, so I was wondering if there were anything specific that you all have done or didn't do while you were still in high school. When should one start shadowing a dentist? Also, I was looking at the stats for admission to dental school...they don't appear promising. If I don't get into dental school then I'll apply to Pharmacy school.

One more question: how has your college GPA matched your highschool unweighted GPA? For example, I have a 3.95 unweighted (something like a 4.98 weighted) and I'm just wondering how much the average GPA is lowered from high school to college.


Thanks a lot guys/ girls! 😀

its your senior year..relax my man. get in to a university (which i'm sure you'll have plenty to chose from). pick one that has small class sizes as you'll be able to get to know your prof's a little better as opposed to taking a class with 400+ students and the prof never even shows up to the classroom.

just keep your GPA up and you'll be fine. oh and for the record...your HS gpa doesn't mean s*** once you get to college. no one cares, and has real no validity as to how well you'll do once you get there. just keep your head on straight and go to class and you'll be fine.

if you wanted to go ahead and shadow some now, knock your self out...it couldn't hurt.

 

[zestypeas]

if it's possible, take some GE/major courses at a local community college or get concurrent enrollment at uni at chap hill. that way you'll free up some space and stress for dental school prereqs and upper division classes and hopefully kick off your college GPA with A's.

I agree with this. Don't take science prereqs (e.g. don't take gen bio/gen chem/etc. at a CC), because the college you end up going to may not accept the classes you took, but definitely try to take GEs like Intro to Psych or math or something like that. This helps in the long run because you have less GE classes to worry about, and can focus more on your science classes.

Starting to shadow right now can't hurt, either; at the very least it'll make you more sure of whether or not dentistry is the right career for you!