microbiology or molecular bio -what is better for dental school?

[topgun129]

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Hi,

I was planning the rest of my last year of undergrads schedule and have the option of taking microbio AND/OR molecular bio. What do you think is better for D. school? I honestly don’t want to take a course that really isn’t beneficial in the long run. (I was pretty much leaning towards microbio.)

Thanks!

P.S. I’m considering molecular since some schools say they like to see applicants with it.

 

[thewatchtower]

Hi,

I was planning the rest of my last year of undergrads schedule and have the option of taking microbio AND/OR molecular bio. What do you think is better for D. school? I honestly don’t want to take a course that really isn’t beneficial in the long run. (I was pretty much leaning towards microbio.)

Thanks!

P.S. I’m considering molecular since some schools say they like to see applicants with it.

micro is on the boards.............the more the better

 

[Dr. Pedo]

micobiology

 

[aphistis]

Moving to pre-dent.

 

[Comet208]

Microbiology is on the boards and many schools require cell bio as a pre-req to get into the dental school, so take both!

 

[Sprgrover]

Micro.

 

[topgun129]

which schools require molecular as a pre-req?i thought the pre-reqs were the usual organic, gen. chem, bio and physics and some math.

 

[Comet208]

which schools require molecular as a pre-req?i thought the pre-reqs were the usual organic, gen. chem, bio and physics and some math.

Tufts, IU, and UMKC come to mind. Ther are many more schools out there with this requirement.

 

[dentistin2011]

definitely microbio.

 

[rocknightmare]

neither 🙂

take clinical microbiology way different then regular microbiology

 

[tissy]

Microbiology is on the boards and many schools require cell bio as a pre-req to get into the dental school, so take both!

Which schools require cell bio?

 

[BallDontLie]

I really doubt very many schools require molecular bio or cell bio. Sure, some might recommend it, but require it? i dont think so. At least none of the 8 I applied to did...plus looking at countless others, I never came across those classes as a requirement. It just doesnt make sense to make it a requirement because I dont know if its really feasible for non bio majors. At my school, those classes were 400-level classes that had biochem and genetics as prereqs. So I doubt any non science majors had the time to take that science load along with their major.

 

[topgun129]

the last reply is on target. most schools imo would highly recommend it, but as a requirement? in addition i just check tufts site and it said nothing regarding cell or mol. only major upper level they ask for is biochem.



topgun129

 

[doctorloomis]

I would take microbiology for various reasons. One, it's typically easier to digest that course versus molecular biology, and microbiology is also more applicable toward dental school. Take both if you'd like, but you will do much better having microbio on your application from a predental perspective. In the end, about 75% of the whole application process will hinge on your DAT score and overall GPA (including science GPA), so don't let this decision work you over. Whichever course you take, make sure that you can do well in it (A or B) and that you remember the material. That's the important part.

Microbiology was to me one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable biology classes during college. Topics include gram positive/negative bacteria, growing cultures in agar plates, slide staining procedures (the bunsen flame is your friend), microbial colony analysis (sizes, shapes, patterns), bacterial anatomy and functions, and so forth. Have you taken genetics and cell biology yet? I wouldn't take the DAT until I took those two courses. So much material on the DAT from those three courses it's sick.

I took the DAT twice - once before microbiology and again after graduation. The first time (Fall '05) I saw three questions about microbiology. The second attempt (Spring '06) was more like five questions. The first biology attempt score was a 16. The second attempt score was a 21. I'm not going to say it gave me five points improvement alone, but I did improve greatly in that section and it was after I took micro, cell biology, and genetics.

Hope this helps you in your decision.

 

[dat_student]

I really doubt very many schools require molecular bio or cell bio....At my school, those classes were 400-level classes that had biochem and genetics as prereqs. So I doubt any non science majors had the time to take that science load along with their major.

I also doubt many schools require molecular bio. At my school, "Molecular Cell Biology" was the last bio course for molecular majors. In fact, only molecular majors needed to take it to graduate and everybody wanted to avoid that class. It was my hardest class. Class average was around ~18% eventhough exams were multiple-choice.

 

[topgun129]

thank you everybody for your input. yeah, i'm leaning towards micro just b/c it will help while in dental school. this will be my 4th course. molecular could have been the fifth, but maybe i'll take an easy bio class for non-majors just to boost my sci. gpa a little 😀

oh yeah, i've taken genetics already so i'm cleared on any material covering that.