At the community college? If I were you, I'd take Intro Bio 1+2 at the cc in your second year (because you can take upper level bio classes at a 4 year school and intro bio will certainly be a prereq for that...if you don't take intro bio before you transfer, you won't be able to take the upper level bios that some schools require on time). Get all of your gen eds out of the way (do research on the 4 year school you will be attending and figure out what gen eds they require) so you can focus on the important stuff (A's in science classes and finishing your major) when you get to the 4 year school. I wouldn't take any other prerequisites at a CC.
Then the summer after your second cc year (right before you transfer to a 4 year school), take Gen Chem 1+2 at a 4 year college (at a 4 year college! NOT CC!). That way you'll be able to take Organic Chem 1+2 your first year after you transfer (so in your third year overall) and Physics 1+2 in your final year. Since this plan involves taking Bio 1+2 before you transfer to a 4 year school, you will be able to take upper level bio prerequisite classes after you transfer (biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and physiology are the basics that some dental schools will require as prerequisites and will show that you can do bio at the 4 year college level).
My plan will get you done in 4 years with only Intro Bio taken at the CC level (which is no big deal because you'll be taking upper level bios at the 4 year school).
This is the plan I am proposing:
-First year of CC:
- General Education Requirements for your 4 year school
- If you have time, some classes that will transfer for your major (make sure they will transfer), no prereqs tho so you'll probably not want to pick a science major
-Summer after first year of CC:
- Work on your EC's extra hard. You should be working on these from Day 1 and throughout the entire process, but use vacation time (summers, winter breaks) to work on EC's harder than usual.
This can mean having a part-time job over breaks--that will allow you to earn money and counts as an EC. I personally would focus on studying and not working much during the semester, but earning extra money on breaks is nice.
In addition to the usual (shadowing, volunteering), find things to do that you love and are passionate about. Once you find things you are passionate about, work on becoming a leader in those activities--ex. if you like helping young low income youth, look into being a Jumpstart corps member, then become a team leader the next year, then a program assistant, etc. You want to work your way up into leadership positions in at least one activity that you are passionate about...that's where you show dedication and get leadership experience.
-Second year of CC:
- Finish up your gen eds so you don't waste time at the 4 year school
- More major classes that will transfer
- Take Intro Bio 1+2
-Summer after second year of CC:
- Take Gen Chem 1+2 at a 4 year college
-3rd year (after you transfer to 4 year school):
- Take Organic 1+2
- Take Genetics
- Take Cell Biology or Physiology (pick one for this year depending on which one will help you more for the DAT...also take one of the bio classes in the fall and one in the spring...take genetics in one semester and cell bio/physio in the other...don't do both in the same semester, splitting it so you're now taking 2 science classes per semester + your major classes is a good balance)
- Classes for your major
-Summer after 3rd year:
- Study for DAT and take the exam
- Apply to dental school
-4th year (last year):
- Take Physics 1+2
- Take Biochemistry
- Take Physiology or Cell Biology (whichever one you didn't take...again, take biochem in one semester and physio/cell bio in th other)
- Finish your major
- Get into dental school
Notes:
-General Education Requirements: these are classes in categories (the categories I am listing are examples from my college, yours might differ slightly) such as English, Math, Western Civilization, Non-Western Culture, Foreign Language, etc that are required to graduate from the 4 year college, but are not necessarily going to be part of your major or the science classes you need to take. When you get to your 4 year college you will focus on two things, dental prerequisites and finishing your major, so you want to get your gen eds out of the way ASAP, which is why you'll do them at the CC.
-PICK THE EASIEST MAJOR YOU CAN FINISH. My plan already has you taking plenty of science classes to get into dental school. You don't need to do a science major. What you need is a major that you can finish on time, are going to get good grades in, and something you are are interested in. Seriously pick something that is easy and you will get good grades in. You'll thank me when you have more time to focus on the science classes I listed.
-Always remember good grades in science classes are the most important, but you want a good overall GPA. This is why you ideally want an easier major. An easier major will allow you to focus on getting A's in the sciences while also getting a good overall GPA. It will also give you more time for extracurriculars, the basic categories of which are: volunteering, leadership experience, and shadowing experience.
-Do research on the prerequisites for the dental schools you are interested in. I think I cover all bases for prerequisites, but I might be forgetting something.
-Make sure your extracurriculars are good. Start working on them right away.
-Make sure to form good relationships with your professors (especially science ones) so you can get great recommendations. Come in to office hours regularly to ask a couple of questions and chat with the professor. If you find an interesting and pertinent article that the professor would be interested in, forward it to them. Form a relationship with them. You want them to think you're smart and like you enough so that they will be your advocates when they write your LOR's.
-Most importantly work hard and have fun.
