Need some advice on what I should do.

[Boostted27]

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I recently (beginning of the spring semester) decided to pursue dental school after completing the course requirements for a bachelors degree in chemical engineering. I have completed all requirements for my chemical engineering degree, but will not graduate due to scholarship stipulations. The idea is that I have not taken any biology classes since sophomore year in highschool and thus have quite a bit of catching up to do. I have already outlined a 2 semester schedule that will allow me to complete all my biology requirements for dental school application.

I have started to shadow a couple dentists and an orthodontist locally accumulating about 10-12 hours/week of shadowing time. I have also begun to study for the DAT, but I haven't even touched any of the biology.

Ultimately my question is, should I try and teach myself all the biology for the DAT and apply this cycle, or would it be a more wise decision to take the DAT next spring after I have already taken the 6+ biology courses required? Obviously, my application would be stronger after a year of preparation, but do you think it would be worth applying now on the chance that I could start in the fall of 2012?

This is my first post on sd.net so please go easy 😀

 

[dentalWorks]

I recently (beginning of the spring semester) decided to pursue dental school after completing the course requirements for a bachelors degree in chemical engineering. I have completed all requirements for my chemical engineering degree, but will not graduate due to scholarship stipulations. The idea is that I have not taken any biology classes since sophomore year in highschool and thus have quite a bit of catching up to do. I have already outlined a 2 semester schedule that will allow me to complete all my biology requirements for dental school application.

I have started to shadow a couple dentists and an orthodontist locally accumulating about 10-12 hours/week of shadowing time. I have also begun to study for the DAT, but I haven't even touched any of the biology.

Ultimately my question is, should I try and teach myself all the biology for the DAT and apply this cycle, or would it be a more wise decision to take the DAT next spring after I have already taken the 6+ biology courses required? Obviously, my application would be stronger after a year of preparation, but do you think it would be worth applying now on the chance that I could start in the fall of 2012?

This is my first post on sd.net so please go easy 😀

Depending on your financial situation.... Applying to dental schools is a costly process. With your particular situation and having zero biology courses, its going to be hard to guesstimate how adcoms will look at your application.... Strategically speaking, since this is a disadvantage, you might wanna apply to a good number of schools (hence, more costly).

Another thing to consider is, wheres your GPA right now? (overall and sGPA). If you have a high enough GPA, you could get away with applying this year... Don't worry too much about the biology for DAT, its an annoying sciences to learn, but its not like your self-learning Quantum Mechanics.... Self learning biology will require 4 things:
1) good reading habits ~ depending on how fast you read and absorb, you'll need 2-5 hours worth of biology a day, maybe even more on the first weeks because Biology vs engineers = a shock. I can only speak from personal experience ~ Basic biology was the hardest class I had to adjust to. You see, I come from Computer science / math major, this idea of reading chapters after chapters of facts upon facts and knowing most of them cold was new to me.... The material isn't hard, its just, it requires focus and dedication
2) quick internet access (for when you get confused, and you will) to wikipedia and/or pre-dat forms here on SDN,
3) a college biology text book like this one: http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/access/Pearson_Default/1663/1703422/login.html
4) and finally, Cliff's AP biology + Kaplan's blue book... these will be your main DAT self-studying tools.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

If you think you can do well enough on the DAT (and the biology section especially) then I see no reason why you can't apply this cycle. Start studying now, take the DAT sometime in June and apply shortly thereafter. Assuming everything else with your application is kosher I don't see why you couldn't get all this over with and gain an acceptance or many.

And like DentalWorks said, learning biology for the DAT isn't difficult per se. It just takes some time because it's such a broad scope.

 

[Boostted27]

DentalWorks: Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply. My overall GPA is 3.45 and my science GPA is 3.64. I already have the Kaplan DAT and Cliffs AP Bio book, but like you said the type of studying that biology entails doesn't cater to our habits as mathematicians/engineers.

Muggsy: I will have a much better idea on how well I will do on th DAT once I take some practice tests (which should be happening now) and that will be a large factor on whether or not I decide to apply this cycle. And yah, what little biology I have been exposed to in Biochem isn't hard to grasp, it's just a lot of information to master in a short amount of time.

 

[dentalWorks]

DentalWorks: Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply. My overall GPA is 3.45 and my science GPA is 3.64. I already have the Kaplan DAT and Cliffs AP Bio book, but like you said the type of studying that biology entails doesn't cater to our habits as mathematicians/engineers.

That is a nice set of GPAs from a difficult major. Biology is just an adjustment. Once you adjust, you'll pick it up quick. Only question is: how long is the adjustment period lol?

If you don't feel comfortable self-learning bio, its okay, Just take the classes instead. IMO, a better timeline for you is: to spend this summer doing at least one of the biology courses. Then in Fall do the 2nd biology and try to squeeze in 1 or 2 advanced biology course. Then in spring try to take 3-4 upper division biology courses (like biochem, physiology, microbiology, anatomy, immunology, etc)

Basically, this plan is gearing you up for next years cycle. You'll be a total package, high GPA, along side some upper level sciences. The advantage to this plan (aside from the obvious) is you don't have to demolish the DAT to be competitive. With that GPA and a nice 19-20, and you are set.

 

[Boostted27]

Thanks for the advice. That was my idea as well; taking a year to get my application as strong is it can possibly be. Right now I am signed up for principles of biology this summer and micro, human phys, and anatomy in the fall. I am also enrolling in a 3d design class that will allow me to take sculpting in my spring semester (I heard some schools like this?) along with cell bio, zoology, and possibly another advanced bio course. This plan will also allow me to spend the summer shadowing and doing research while i go to summer school.

It feels good to have my ideas supported by a knowledgeable source such as yourself; this entire task is quite daunting when first approached.