Is this a realistic plan?

[Longcatislong]

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I'm what some people might call a "nontraditional applicant." I'm 22, got my B.A in sociology in May and, starting next semester, will begin completing dental school prereqs in a post-baccalaureate program. Below is my 2-year plan to complete all dental school prereqs and submit applications.

Spring '11:
Precalculus/Trig
General Bio 1

Summer '11:
Calculus 1
General Bio 2

[Fall'11:
Physics 1
Organic Chem 1
Microbiology


Spring '12:
Physics 2
Organic Chem 2
Histology

TAKE THE DAT sometime in Spring'12 semester

Summer '12
General Chem 1
APPLY TO DENTAL SCHOOL when applications become available in the summer

Fall '12:
General Chem 2
Anatomy

INTERVIEWS (hopefully 🙂 )

Spring '13
Physiology
Biochemistry

Fall'13 START DENTAL SCHOOL (again, hopefully 🙂 )


Is my plan little overambitious? Will I be able to do well on the DAT and have decent applications ready to go if I pack all my classes in this tight?

Would it be wiser to take the DAT in the Spring '13, apply in the Summer of '13 AFTER completing all my prereqs? I'd just prefer to not have a gap year...

 

[flyingforever]

I'm what some people might call a "nontraditional applicant." I'm 22, got my B.A in sociology in May and, starting next semester, will begin completing dental school prereqs in a post-baccalaureate program. Below is my 2-year plan to complete all dental school prereqs and submit applications.

Spring '11:
Precalculus/Trig
General Bio 1

Summer '11:
Calculus 1
General Bio 2

[Fall'11:
Physics 1
Organic Chem 1
Microbiology


Spring '12:
Physics 2
Organic Chem 2
Histology

TAKE THE DAT sometime in Spring'12 semester

Summer '12
General Chem 1
APPLY TO DENTAL SCHOOL when applications become available in the summer

Fall '12:
General Chem 2
Anatomy

INTERVIEWS (hopefully 🙂 )

Spring '13
Physiology
Biochemistry

Fall'13 START DENTAL SCHOOL (again, hopefully 🙂 )


Is my plan little overambitious? Will I be able to do well on the DAT and have decent applications ready to go if I pack all my classes in this tight?

Would it be wiser to take the DAT in the Spring '13, apply in the Summer of '13 AFTER completing all my prereqs? I'd just prefer to not have a gap year...

You have to take Gen. chem before Orgo, normal for most school. I rather take Gen. Bio and Chem I together.

 

[Longcatislong]

No, actually at SFSU's Post-Bacc program, students take O-chem prior to general. Also, at the university I graduated from, students could take these chemistry series in any order they preferred.

 

[Longcatislong]

My main question is, does my schedule pan out in regards to taking the DAT and applying to dental school?

 

[UCLAzy]

My main question is, does my schedule pan out in regards to taking the DAT and applying to dental school?

probably not. you should take all the pre-reqs covered on DAT before you take the DAT. unless you feel like you can teach yourself the class

also you should take biochem early. its a really good foundation class for other upper div sciences, at least it helped me out lots

 

[vicsin]

Look into winter courses...that could help your schedule a bit...The biggest issue is your plan to take the DAT during the spring prior to completing all the courses...its really hard to do so and do well even with all the courses under your belt.

I would just try to go with Gen Chem + Bio 1st...then Orgo1+2 (BEFORE THE DAT if possible)
and Physics+ Calc last priority (they are not on the DAT) The other classes you mentioned are good but these are the only actually required courses for d-schools. Hope that helps a bit. I would rethink this schedule.

Also, for the DAT you should allow 2 months of free time at least to just hardcore study for it, especially if you don't take the required course work before hand. Try to get it done by mid June or July 1st of next year. It's intense.

 

[persenmi]

The main thing I notice is that schedule is a little light. Dental schools usually recommend taking more than 15 units per semester when completing prereqs. In theory this plan works. You will meet all the prereqs in a timely manner. However, I think adcoms may balk when they see the low course load.

 

[Longcatislong]

Thanks for your help! So, even if I take the DAT in Spring '13, this schedule still doesn't make much sense?

 

[Longcatislong]

The main thing I notice is that schedule is a little light. Dental schools usually recommend taking more than 15 units per semester when completing prereqs. In theory this plan works. You will meet all the prereqs in a timely manner. However, I think adcoms may balk when they see the low course load.

I've only listed the required courses I'll be taking. Of course, I plan on taking one elective course each semester (except summers). What sorts of electives do you recommend? Should they all be biology or other science related courses?

 

[NotPennysBoat]

I don't think you need to take Calculus. Am I wrong? You could take a different class in it's place and you would be a semester ahead.

 

[ah1989]

Yeah definitely try to take all the chem/bio's before the DAT, it will help a lot.

Also, I took genchem after orgo and it was fine for all the schools i applied to..

 

[UCLAzy]

Yeah definitely try to take all the chem/bio's before the DAT, it will help a lot.

Also, I took genchem after orgo and it was fine for all the schools i applied to..

how was that? isnt it pretty hard to jump right into ochem without a gchem base?

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm what some people might call a "nontraditional applicant." I'm 22, got my B.A in sociology in May and, starting next semester, will begin completing dental school prereqs in a post-baccalaureate program. Below is my 2-year plan to complete all dental school prereqs and submit applications.

Spring '11:
Precalculus/Trig
General Bio 1

Summer '11:
Calculus 1
General Bio 2

[Fall'11:
Physics 1
Organic Chem 1
Microbiology


Spring '12:
Physics 2
Organic Chem 2
Histology

TAKE THE DAT sometime in Spring'12 semester

Summer '12
General Chem 1
APPLY TO DENTAL SCHOOL when applications become available in the summer

Fall '12:
General Chem 2
Anatomy

INTERVIEWS (hopefully 🙂 )

Spring '13
Physiology
Biochemistry

Fall'13 START DENTAL SCHOOL (again, hopefully 🙂 )


Is my plan little overambitious? Will I be able to do well on the DAT and have decent applications ready to go if I pack all my classes in this tight?

Would it be wiser to take the DAT in the Spring '13, apply in the Summer of '13 AFTER completing all my prereqs? I'd just prefer to not have a gap year...

Nothing wrong with your plan... Why are you only taking 2-3 classes per term? are you working? The reason I bring this up, is I feel you are short-changing your self with the foundational classes requires for the DAT. I mean you are taking the DAT before even taking gen chem 1.....IMO, thats a bad idea.... Try to squeeze Gen chem, Orgos, and both biologies before taking the DAT. You can do physics AFTER the DAT since its not required for the test

If you aren't working, I recommend taking more classes than 2-3 per term.

 

[dentalWorks]

You have to take Gen. chem before Orgo, normal for most school. I rather take Gen. Bio and Chem I together.

not entirly true. At MSU, you can take orgo before taking any gen chem. HOWEVER, they HEAVILY advice you to take orgo at least after gen chem 1

 

[Longcatislong]

What's wrong with 3 classes per semester? That amounts to about 12 units, which is a full-time load at most universities. I won't be working, however I do plan to do volunteer and dental observation throughout my two post-bacc years.

Also, is it doable to take both Gen-chem AND O-chem at the same time? Or is that just pure madness lol?

 

[bday185]

Dental schools want anyone to be at least a full time student (strongly recommend ~ 15 or 16 credits = average student).

For me, it is not a good idea to take o-chem & gen-chem in the same semester unless you already took them during your undergrad.

 

[dentalWorks]

What's wrong with 3 classes per semester? That amounts to about 12 units, which is a full-time load at most universities. I won't be working, however I do plan to do volunteer and dental observation throughout my two post-bacc years.

Also, is it doable to take both Gen-chem AND O-chem at the same time? Or is that just pure madness lol?

12 credits per term is full-time for university standards... but for dental school its child's play.

Most dental schools I've spoken with said, if you aren't working, we expect to see students take "real" full-time loads with good grades. They like to see 3 sciences + 1 non-science (aka 14-18 credits per term)

I AM NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.... there are folks who never took more than 12 credits and still managed to make it to dental school and are practicing dentists today. I am just suggesting you take more classes that way you can finish your pre-DAT classes BEFORE you start studying for the DAT

Don't be afraid to take more than 2 sciences per term lol..... If you got strong work ethic, you'll do just fine. I was like that too, I used to be afraid to take more than 3 sciences at once cause I thought I wouldn't do too hot, trust me, when your future depends on it, you will study with good diligence even when you don't want to.

 

[7 Iron]

Definitely take gen chem 1 and 2 earlier... I don't really see how you could take o-chem before gen chem (apparently some schools allow this but mine didn't). Gen chem is heavy on the DAT. Also, I would personally put biochemistry and anatomy ahead of histology. From what I've learned from dental students, this would be much more helpful for when you enter dental school.

Also I would look up the pre-reqs for some schools you're considering. Many schools require classes outside of the sciences, such as a year of english, or a quarter of psychology or sociology (U of M). You could add these to your schedule to round it out.