Lower year courses in upper years

[FlushaToilet]

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I just finished my second year at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. I'm planning to apply to several US dental schools. I've been having trouble planning out my 3rd and 4th year courses.

I know that the majority of US dental schools will grant an applicant with an honors degree virtually no bonus, so my initial plan was just to do a biology major ASAP, and then fill in the rest of my undergrad with 1st and 2nd year bird courses to boost my already low GPA. (Note: All prerequisites for the majority of US dental schools are already finished)

I've spoken to many guidance counselors, and the majority warned me that filling in your 3rd and 4th years with lower year courses may be frowned upon by US dental schools.

So now I'm thinking to be safe, I should fill my 3rd and 4th years with appropriate leveled courses. And I might as well do an honors degree (honors specialization in biology) because its module forces me to take the appropriate leveled courses each year? I'm hesitant to do this because I feel taking these upper leveled courses (and doing an honors degree) is a more difficult route and will pull down my GPA, which I so desperately need to bring up.

Is there anyone out there that filled their 3rd and 4th years with lower year courses to boost their GPA, and was still accepted into US dental schools? If no, how many appropriate leveled courses should I take each year? And is it recommended, that if do end up taking the appropriate upper year courses, that I might as well try to obtain an honors degree? Or is there really no bonus at all given to applicants with an honors degree?

Sorry for all these questions, I just really haven't been able to figure this out. 🙁

 

[jmt1984]

If you aren't getting any feedback, you could always call a few schools you are interested in and ask them, I think they would be helpful.

 

[PAyankee]

Take a one or two easy courses per semester but not much more that. Schools want to see an upswing in gpa and course difficulty.

 

[K Niner]

It is somewhat of a catch-22 in that they don't want crap courses, but I would say the GPA is the most important. If you can't make the grade in the upper courses don't take them. however lower level courses aren't necessarily easy As either. So if I were you I wouldn't overload myself, but I would a course or two that is upper level. Keep in mind schools don't know how hard the classes are, so take ones that have upper level course numbers but are easier.