Is it bad to take only ONE science course in a semester?

[SN1]

First, let me explain my situation.

I am a transfer student from a local community college who will begin my first semester at a 4-year university this spring. I just finished registering for classes and it looks like I will only be taking 1 upper level science class that is also a requirement for my major. I have completed all of my prereqs at the CC and planning on taking upper level science courses at the 4-year university.

The classes I'm taking are:
Cell bio & Neuroscience
Art history
Global east asia
General psychology
Student in transition


I could drop one of the elective and take a genetics class but the teachers are not very good this semester. Also I think it will be good if I start out like this and not bombard myself with too many major courses since this is my 1st semester at a 4-year university. The global east asia class will knock out my global awareness and writing intensive requirement both ( this class is only offered this semester LOL) and make me finished with all of my general education requirements. Then after this semester I will just have to worry about finishing my major courses and take more upper level science like biochem, physiology, micro, etc.

I am actually planning on taking the DAT this summer with just having bio 101, 102 and that cell bio& neuro class. Do you think this is enough for the bio section of the DAT?

thanks guys.

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[Saiph]

Do whatever floats your boat. I don't think dental school cares too much that you only took one science a particular semester, cause you're going to be taking more sciences the other semesters anyways.

I felt taking Anatomy & Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Cell Biology helped, but Biology 1 and 2 would be good enough. Cause the upper level biology courses are more of a detailed topic of what you learned in general biology. I mean some questions on the DAT might be in a class you learned from later on, but it's really all general biology, which is very broad and general haha.

 

[SN1]

Do whatever floats your boat. I don't think dental school cares too much that you only took one science a particular semester, cause you're going to be taking more sciences the other semesters anyways.

I felt taking Anatomy & Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Cell Biology helped, but Biology 1 and 2 would be good enough. Cause the upper level biology courses are more of a detailed topic of what you learned in general biology. I mean some questions on the DAT might be in a class you learned from later on, but it's really all general biology, which is very broad and general haha.

Cool.. Thanks bro.

 

[Brostie]

I think this is fine. As long as you have a full schedule (meaning 15/16+ Credits)

 

[Regmata]

Personally, I think it is a mistake. If I understand correctly, you took all if your pre-reqs at a CC and now plan on only taking one challenging course at a time once you get to a an actual university. If I were still involved with admissions, this would be a huge red flag for me. Not only did you take the weed out courses at a CC, where they are presumably easier and not a thorough, but once you went to a real university, you took a fluff schedule. I think it makes you appear to be an applicant who cuts corners, is lazy and unproven.

You would be better served to challenge yourself. It will help you prove yourself to the dental schools and will give you an idea if you can even handle dental school. If you only planned to take it easy this one semester, you will probably get away with it. Just don't make it a habit, the competition to get in gets steeper every year.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Take out at least one of the electives and put in another science. That's a really fluff schedule. Not sure why everyone's saying taking 12 hours of junk is fine. If you're serious about this, load up on the science. Don't prance around and take the easy way out

 

[Veloce]

It's not good, but I still got in doing it.

 

[SN1]

Yeah I am contemplating of replacing one of the electives with a science course but this semester is my chance to take that global east asia course which will knock off both my global awareness and writing intensive courses. I will also be done with all of my general education requirements.

I am not sure how I am taking the easy way out when I will be taking tons of upper level science courses in the future without ANY more non-science electives.

After this semester I will be taking classes like biochemistry, genetics, systems physiology, molecular biology, immunology, and other upper level science courses.

 

[SN1]

I just checked the courses I need to graduate and I need approximately 16 upper level science courses with 3 labs LOL. 200,300, and 400 Level courses

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I am not sure how I am taking the easy way out when I will be taking tons of upper level science courses in the future without ANY more non-science electives.

So why don't you move the general psychology or art history class to later? Then you would have a filler class for when you take a million tougher classes.

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

Personally, I think it is a mistake. If I understand correctly, you took all if your pre-reqs at a CC and now plan on only taking one challenging course at a time once you get to a an actual university. If I were still involved with admissions, this would be a huge red flag for me. Not only did you take the weed out courses at a CC, where they are presumably easier and not a thorough, but once you went to a real university, you took a fluff schedule. I think it makes you appear to be an applicant who cuts corners, is lazy and unproven.

You would be better served to challenge yourself. It will help you prove yourself to the dental schools and will give you an idea if you can even handle dental school. If you only planned to take it easy this one semester, you will probably get away with it. Just don't make it a habit, the competition to get in gets steeper every year.

I disagree, they won't care as long as you end up doing well.

 

[SN1]

So why don't you move the general psychology or art history class to later? Then you would have a filler class for when you take a million tougher classes.

I don't see how this makes any difference with what I am planning on doing in the future semester

1. Taking 1 upper level science and 3 electives now then all upper level in the future

2. Taking 2 upper level science and 2 electives now then upper level and electives in the future.

Isn't what I am planning on doing is actually harder ?

Seems like you are trying pretty hard to bust open my 1st semester at a 4-year uni.

 

[jackalo34]

I don't see how this makes any difference with what I am planning on doing in the future semester

1. Taking 1 upper level science and 3 electives now then all upper level in the future

2. Taking 2 upper level science and 2 electives now then upper level and electives in the future.

Isn't what I am planning on doing is actually harder ?

Seems like you are trying pretty hard to bust open my 1st semester at at 4-year uni.

Yes ur choice is harder and you don't want to make it hard if you can help it. It's good to pair science with electives for balance, but in the end, you do what's best for you.

 

[SN1]

Yes ur choice is hard and you don’t want to make it hard if you can help it. It’s good to pair science with electives for balance, but in the end, you do what’s best for you.

I don't have anymore non-science electives since I am majoring in Biology. But I will try to put NOT so hard science courses with the hard ones LOL.

 

[jackalo34]

I don't have anymore non-science electives since I am majoring in Biology. But I will try to put NOT so hard science courses with the hard ones LOL.

Haha! It’s ok. You don’t have to validate your decisions with me (I’m saying that sincerely.). I know what its like to need to take loads of sciences as a bio major. Next fall semester I’ taking Orgo II, a very demanding bio lab and TA’ing for another lab. That may sound like a small load but it’s all science and sums up to 14 units without the TA position and 18-20 with the position. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Regmata]

I disagree, they won't care as long as you end up doing well.

Have you been on an admissions committee?

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I don't see how this makes any difference with what I am planning on doing in the future semester

1. Taking 1 upper level science and 3 electives now then all upper level in the future

2. Taking 2 upper level science and 2 electives now then upper level and electives in the future.

Isn't what I am planning on doing is actually harder ?

Seems like you are trying pretty hard to bust open my 1st semester at a 4-year uni.

I'm saying save psychology for when you have to take a 3 upper level science classes to make it easier on you. So instead of 4 upper level sciences for 12 hours, you take 3 upper levels and the psychology class for 12. Meanwhile take another science class right now.

Look I'm not trying to bust open anything. Its your life, you can do whatever you want. But don't take a bunch of fluff classes in the same semester. Spread it out with your sciences and it'll make life easier later.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Next fall semester I' taking Orgo II, a very demanding bio lab and TA'ing for another lab. That may sound like a small load but it's all science and sums up to 14 units without the TA position and 18-20 with the position.

Not to start any arguments, but how is that 14 units? Or even 18 with being a TA?

Orgo with lab = 4
Bio lab = 4
TA for lab = 4

Total = 12

Unless you're taking other classes mixed in there.

 

[SN1]

Lets keep the responses to the point.

 

[SN1]

I'm saying save psychology for when you have to take a 3 upper level science classes to make it easier on you. So instead of 4 upper level sciences for 12 hours, you take 3 upper levels and the psychology class for 12. Meanwhile take another science class right now.

Look I'm not trying to bust open anything. Its your life, you can do whatever you want. But don't take a bunch of fluff classes in the same semester. Spread it out with your sciences and it'll make life easier later.

Yeah I am actually thinking of doing that right now...

 

[sacapuntas]

Just keep your schedule, get all A's, start DAT prep and take difficult semesters the rest of school. That's easy enough, right?

 

[SN1]

Just keep your schedule, get all A's, start DAT prep and take difficult semesters the rest of school. That's easy enough, right?

Not sure if you are being sarcastic😕

 

[sacapuntas]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic😕

Not sure what was sarcastic...but nope. I was stating keep it simple, leave your schedule the way it is, knock the DAT out of the park to prove your CC credits are valid and worry about stacking on the science later (as it sounds like you have to with your major anyways).

 

[tpwelie34]

Not to steal the topic but if I have been taking 2-3 science courses every quarter at my university and now that I only need 5 upper div science courses + 30 units to graduate, is it alright if I just take 1 upper div per quarter + 2 non sciences?

 

[UltimateHombre]

Personally, I think it is a mistake. If I understand correctly, you took all if your pre-reqs at a CC and now plan on only taking one challenging course at a time once you get to a an actual university. If I were still involved with admissions, this would be a huge red flag for me. Not only did you take the weed out courses at a CC, where they are presumably easier and not a thorough, but once you went to a real university, you took a fluff schedule. I think it makes you appear to be an applicant who cuts corners, is lazy and unproven.

You would be better served to challenge yourself. It will help you prove yourself to the dental schools and will give you an idea if you can even handle dental school. If you only planned to take it easy this one semester, you will probably get away with it. Just don't make it a habit, the competition to get in gets steeper every year.

Regemata... i am curious your opinion on non-science majors? I am a communication major and have usually only took 2 sciences a semester. That is all my schedule allowed with my major classes. In fact most of the sciences don't even qualify for my major electives, so i have ended up taking 18-21 credits to stay on track to graduate.

Either way, most non science majors only take at most 2 sciences a semester... does this reflect negatively on our application?

 

[jackalo34]

Not to start any arguments, but how is that 14 units? Or even 18 with being a TA?

Orgo with lab = 4
Bio lab = 4
TA for lab = 4

Total = 12

Unless you're taking other classes mixed in there.

Where I go to school, we do credits very differently. A typical class isn’t 4 credits, it’s 12, so we have to convert all classes by dividing by 3…weird I know. Also, the classes don’t all come with lab.

Orgo II= 4
Bio Lab= 10 (It’s a very demanding class)
TA= 4-6

Total=18-20