Just have a few questions.

[JEW UNIT]

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Hey everybody...I just have a few questions....Next year I'm going to start applying for dental schools.

My first question is how important are ECs to dental schools? Starting my 3rd year of college, I am now starting to build my EC portfolio...I was wondering how much ECs do I need to do to make me a suitable candidate for dental schools. I'm starting an research internship for Dial Corporation and Henkel in a couple of weeks so by the end of the schools year (including the summer)...I should have about 400 hours of experience with them in addition to about 40 hours of community service.

How good will work experience look on a application since I worked about 30-40 hours a week (with a full schedule of school, which are usually about 16-22 credit hours per semester at my local community college).

I'm planning to finish my bachelors degree in Biology a year than expected (I'll be done summer 2011). But I took the majority of my classes at community college (I'm planning to transfer to Grand Canyon University Spring 2011). The reason I didn't start at university is because I couldn't afford it but will be able to by the start of spring. How do dental schools look at that?

My GPA so far is oGPA is 3.6 and sGPA is 3.6 (got a B in anatomy II this past summer and it brought both GPAs down from a 3.7 and my GPAs are based off 80 credits so far)...I still haven't taken the DAT yet so I know if you guys can't fully judge based on a few numbers. I'm planning to take the DAT on late December/early January so I should have results by then...Hopefully I will do great to balance my unimpressive stats so far...I'm thinking of applying to about 11-15 schools to increase my chances of getting in somewhere.

 

[molarmechanic12]

This is only from MY experiences, I may be correct or incorrect:

Dental schools will look at your work ethics and your academics but if you took your anatomy and core science classes at a community college, they will frown upon that because they want to know that you're able to handle the rigorous course load during dental school. By taking a rigorous load during your undergraduate years, they'll be able to see how you've demonstrated the ability to handle what's thrown at you, including the high cost of a university (because you said you couldn't afford it and had to start off at a community college). I believe you still have a chance if you can show dental schools that you can ace all the core classes your taking at the university you're going to transfer to. However, since you said you'll be graduating soon, it seems that you may have taken the majority of the classes required for a Bio major at the community college.

I hope this helps and puts things into perspective for you!

 

[CMD1010]

This is only from MY experiences, I may be correct or incorrect:

Dental schools will look at your work ethics and your academics but if you took your anatomy and core science classes at a community college, they will frown upon that because they want to know that you're able to handle the rigorous course load during dental school. By taking a rigorous load during your undergraduate years, they'll be able to see how you've demonstrated the ability to handle what's thrown at you, including the high cost of a university (because you said you couldn't afford it and had to start off at a community college). I believe you still have a chance if you can show dental schools that you can ace all the core classes your taking at the university you're going to transfer to. However, since you said you'll be graduating soon, it seems that you may have taken the majority of the classes required for a Bio major at the community college.

I hope this helps and puts things into perspective for you!

Are you saying that schools will/won't accept you on the basis of your ability to pay for it? Or their perception of your ability to pay for it? Wow, That's a new one for me.

 

[pinhi]

Are you saying that schools will/won't accept you on the basis of your ability to pay for it? Or their perception of your ability to pay for it? Wow, That's a new one for me.

I dont think that's what was meant. I think the schools would consider that an excuse as to why you couldn't go to a university is all. Their argument will be that there are many scholarships, financial aid, etc. available to you......
Ur going to have to take a considerable loan for dental school..unless you have extremely wealthy family or you go to the military......so dont worry about that so much....we're all in that same boat
Consider how you phrase things w/dental admissions......avoid excuses at all cost. They do not like it
I took some courses at the CC level....some schools wont accept it....many take up to 60 credit hours.......don't sweat it. 🙂

 

[JEW UNIT]

Thanx...If that's true...I'm not going to go through all that schooling again and risk my GPA over credits...I'm just going to apply to a couple of dental schools then and just continue focusing on medical school...Not worth the hassle (if that's true)...Plus, I wasn't using the excuse of not being able to afford it (even though it's true). I looked in university scheduling and it's not really friendly for those who work full time (main reason I stayed at community college)...What is the max number of credits universities accept for CC credits?...I'm just going to apply there...I heard that that some schools that accept an unlimited amount of CC credits as long you transfer to a university to get a bachelors degree. Don't get me wrong, I have a personal interest in wanting to become either a MD or DMD (since I have a little experience in both and I like both occupation), but I've been leaning toward dentistry lately. But what molarmechanic12 says is true, then it's not worth going to school for an extra 2 years as an undergrad 🙁.

 

[pinhi]

Thanx...If that's true...I'm not going to go through all that schooling again and risk my GPA over credits...I'm just going to apply to a couple of dental schools then and just continue focusing on medical school...Not worth the hassle (if that's true)...Plus, I wasn't using the excuse of not being able to afford it (even though it's true). I looked in university scheduling and it's not really friendly for those who work full time (main reason I stayed at community college)...What is the max number of credits universities accept for CC credits?...I'm just going to apply there...I heard that that some schools that accept an unlimited amount of CC credits as long you transfer to a university to get a bachelors degree. Don't get me wrong, I have a personal interest in wanting to become either a MD or DMD (since I have a little experience in both and I like both occupation), but I've been leaning toward dentistry lately. But what molarmechanic12 says is true, then it's not worth going to school for an extra 2 years as an undergrad 🙁.

I think its 60 cc hours max...not sure......some schools don't even care.....(many do tho---redic as it may be)

 

[JEW UNIT]

I think its 60 cc hours max...not sure......some schools don't even care.....(many do tho---redic as it may be)

Well thanx guys!! I guess I'm going to focus my energy on medical then...Might call a few dental schools I was planning to apply to next year and see what they require.