Need your help in making a huge decision.

[Sweet Luck]

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Hi All,
I have been thinking of this so much and have talked to several dental admissions counslers, but no one has been able to help me, and I really don't know what to do!!! Sorry if this is too long, but I beg you to read on.🙂
For the first two years of college, I attented a reputable community college and did my general ed. and most science classes there. I transferred with a social science major to a well known University, where I only took classes for my major. Also, while enrolled at the University, during my senior year, I did my required year of Biology at the community college (because the prof. was well known for being challenging and preparing people for the DAT's and MCAT's). Anyways, I've been hearing a lot from some dental admissions counslers who speak at my school that it's very important for them to see some of the basic science classes done at a four year university rather a two year junior college. They've been emphasizing that there is a big difference between them. However, some say that it doesn't matter where the classes are taken as long as your grades are good, meaning A's. Well, I'm done with my major but have some of the science pre-requisites left, mainly organic chemistry and biochem (anatomy and physio. etc, as extras). I've done the first semester of Ochem at the community college. Also, my grades in the required science classes have been okay, mostly straight B's. At this point, I don't know whether to continue with the ochem at the University, which is very well known for being some of the hardest classes they have, and risk bringing my science GPA further down instead of UP. Or to just continue with it at the community college and have a better chance at getting a good grade, maybe. Due to my low science GPA, should I care where to take it, or to work on bringing that number up? Although, the class is difficult in both places, there are still big differences. For example, at the community college, there's only one more class left, but at the university there would be 3 more, very difficult classes left for the OChem series. Since I've started the Ochem at the CC the transferring of the course is not cut and dry, so is it better to just continue where I began the series? Should I put that time into studying for the DAT's instead of having these extra classes? I can just leave since I have enough units and am done with my major. But, with what I've done, like taking Bio outside the university while enrolled full time, does it look like I'm avoiding science classes at the University? What should I do, please give me as much feedback as possible. I really want to get in, especially to California schools.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 🙂

 

[Fuji]

Check with the schools where you plan to apply. If they don't care where you take the classes, then the choice is yours. On the other hand, many schools will not accept credits from a community college. They recognize, as you said yourself, that courses taken at a community college may not be as rigorous as those at an accredited university.

 

[Envision]

Hi All,
I have been thinking of this so much and have talked to several dental admissions counslers, but no one has been able to help me, and I really don't know what to do!!! Sorry if this is too long, but I beg you to read on.🙂
For the first two years of college, I attented a reputable community college and did my general ed. and most science classes there. I transferred with a social science major to a well known University, where I only took classes for my major. Also, while enrolled at the University, during my senior year, I did my required year of Biology at the community college (because the prof. was well known for being challenging and preparing people for the DAT's and MCAT's). Anyways, I've been hearing a lot from some dental admissions counslers who speak at my school that it's very important for them to see some of the basic science classes done at a four year university rather a two year junior college. They've been emphasizing that there is a big difference between them. However, some say that it doesn't matter where the classes are taken as long as your grades are good, meaning A's. Well, I'm done with my major but have some of the science pre-requisites left, mainly organic chemistry and biochem (anatomy and physio. etc, as extras). I've done the first semester of Ochem at the community college. Also, my grades in the required science classes have been okay, mostly straight B's. At this point, I don't know whether to continue with the ochem at the University, which is very well known for being some of the hardest classes they have, and risk bringing my science GPA further down instead of UP. Or to just continue with it at the community college and have a better chance at getting a good grade, maybe. Due to my low science GPA, should I care where to take it, or to work on bringing that number up? Although, the class is difficult in both places, there are still big differences. For example, at the community college, there's only one more class left, but at the university there would be 3 more, very difficult classes left for the OChem series. Since I've started the Ochem at the CC the transferring of the course is not cut and dry, so is it better to just continue where I began the series? Should I put that time into studying for the DAT's instead of having these extra classes? I can just leave since I have enough units and am done with my major. But, with what I've done, like taking Bio outside the university while enrolled full time, does it look like I'm avoiding science classes at the University? What should I do, please give me as much feedback as possible. I really want to get in, especially to California schools.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 🙂

I think you should consider taking your science classes at the 4 year university. dental schools do look at where you took your prereq/science courses and if you took it at a cc, albeit "well known," it does not weight the same as a 4 year. much like what you said yourself, the classes at jc are easier, and the dental schools know this. secondly, if your taking most of your science courses at a JC you should not be hurting your science gpa bc that would look really bad considering that jc's generally have a less difficult carriculum. there is one poster on here with amazing stats (gpa and DAT) and was rejected automatically from a couple of schools (including ucsf) for taking to many of her science courses at a jc...and she did very well there. thats my 2cent anyway.

 

[utahdent123]

Do really well on the DAT and it will speak for itself. They can't really say the Community College didn't prepare you for the sciences if you rock the DAT. AS for whether it appears you are avoiding the University courses...absolutely it appears that way to me. Good luck though.

 

[Eric Winterton]

Goto a 4 yr university definitely. If they see that ALL of your science pre-reqs have been done at a CC it wont look good. Also some wont even consider you.

 

[in her drawer]

I haven't really experienced any trouble. At my high school we used to have a dual enrollment program where you could earn credit at a local CC while taking classes at our high school. I have my 8 hours of bio and my 8 hours of general physics that way. As for the chemistries, I took them at my university. So that's half of my pre-reqs as community college credit.

 

[abzirian]

Do really well on the DAT and it will speak for itself. They can't really say the Community College didn't prepare you for the sciences if you rock the DAT. AS for whether it appears you are avoiding the University courses...absolutely it appears that way to me. Good luck though.

I dunno about that.. I took so many upper level writing classes that weren't strictly through the english department (much harder writing classes than english) and they won't accept it for my "1 year english prerequisite." I also got a 25 on RC.

 

[SugarNaCl]

4 yr university! I was told this. I took physics alone at a CC and I was REALLY concerned

 

[rupkaur]

Goto a 4 yr university definitely. If they see that ALL of your science pre-reqs have been done at a CC it wont look good. Also some wont even consider you.

i m agree w/ others. you should take classes at 4 yr university rather than cc. I am also a transfer student from CC to 4 yr, I know gpa goes down; I ended up having A and B's at 4 yr while all A's at CC. But try to work hard and take classes at 4 yr univ. gdluck!

 

[DMD to Be]

Take your pre-reqs at a University. That's the main thing they care about. I think they could care less if you took art or golf or some other elective at a cc or a university. The pre-reqs are what matter.

 

[Lemming]

One thing I noticed is your statement regarding the OChem class being one of the toughest around. If this is the reason why you have avoided science classes at the University, you have to realize that most of the first two years of dental school is hard-core science. Harder than pretty much any undergrad class you have taken. You need to prepare yourself for this by challenging yourself and succeeding in tough classes. That is why schools want to see you take tough classes at a University. I would finish out at the university, no question.

 

[country_fry]

Well, I'm just going to say what I think, and others may disagree. But having been in your shoes, or worst 😛, I'll say this, finish any series you have at a CC, such as your OChem, because I think you should finish what you start, plus it will be easier to do your secondaries. NOW, any other courses, take them at the 4 year level, either through the university or university extension.

I've personally needed to up my app with more 4 year uni courses, its been a uphill battle to get noticed at all because I didn't have the 4 year uni courses. A good number of schools just look down on CC courses, and since a lot of schools don't know or don't care about a CC school's rep, it doesn't do you any good. The people making the call on your app will not be the people you get to talk to over the phone. So anything you put out, will only be noticed on your app. I've gotten interviews, and they have noticed that I took CC courses, but they also notice that I've taken much harder upper div bio courses at the 4 year uni level and gotten good grades in those courses. So it definitely helps to have those 4 year courses, you might need upper div lev courses to compensate for the CC courses you took, just to "prove" you can handle tougher courses.

Your DAT will also matter, and you should take the your time in studying for the DAT. A really high DAT may get you in, and I know someone who had a really low GPA get in, but he went to a 4 year uni, and took a few CC courses that weren't the rec courses. So the best thing for you to do, if you ask me, is to prove, on your app that you have what it takes, and I'm sure you do.

Also, I can not overemphasize your Personal Statement, I swear its one of the most important components of your app, and a good one will only help your get noticed. I've writen bad ones, and got nothing, and wrote a really good one, and got noticed, along with everything else I'm doing. Just to let you know, I rewrote my essay like 30 times, and gave it to professors and friends to read and provide really good feedback.

So the nutshell, take more upper div 4 year uni courses if you have to, cause those courses will speak for you about your academic abilities when no one else can. Do the best that you can on the DAT, 16+ for a shot at a few schools, and some say 20+ to get a shot everywhere. Remember though, stats aren't everything, so make sure you're well rounded with some experience in dentistry, which is why your PS will be a great opportunity to talk about you and what you can offer. Finally apply early, and have everything (DAT Scores, LOR's, Transcripts, PS, and credit card) ready as early as possible. I really do wish you the best of luck here, I've been in your shoes and I know what's its like.

Hi All,
I have been thinking of this so much and have talked to several dental admissions counslers, but no one has been able to help me, and I really don't know what to do!!! Sorry if this is too long, but I beg you to read on.🙂
For the first two years of college, I attented a reputable community college and did my general ed. and most science classes there. I transferred with a social science major to a well known University, where I only took classes for my major. Also, while enrolled at the University, during my senior year, I did my required year of Biology at the community college (because the prof. was well known for being challenging and preparing people for the DAT's and MCAT's). Anyways, I've been hearing a lot from some dental admissions counslers who speak at my school that it's very important for them to see some of the basic science classes done at a four year university rather a two year junior college. They've been emphasizing that there is a big difference between them. However, some say that it doesn't matter where the classes are taken as long as your grades are good, meaning A's. Well, I'm done with my major but have some of the science pre-requisites left, mainly organic chemistry and biochem (anatomy and physio. etc, as extras). I've done the first semester of Ochem at the community college. Also, my grades in the required science classes have been okay, mostly straight B's. At this point, I don't know whether to continue with the ochem at the University, which is very well known for being some of the hardest classes they have, and risk bringing my science GPA further down instead of UP. Or to just continue with it at the community college and have a better chance at getting a good grade, maybe. Due to my low science GPA, should I care where to take it, or to work on bringing that number up? Although, the class is difficult in both places, there are still big differences. For example, at the community college, there's only one more class left, but at the university there would be 3 more, very difficult classes left for the OChem series. Since I've started the Ochem at the CC the transferring of the course is not cut and dry, so is it better to just continue where I began the series? Should I put that time into studying for the DAT's instead of having these extra classes? I can just leave since I have enough units and am done with my major. But, with what I've done, like taking Bio outside the university while enrolled full time, does it look like I'm avoiding science classes at the University? What should I do, please give me as much feedback as possible. I really want to get in, especially to California schools.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 🙂

 

[armorshell]

Anyone who says you'll be ignored if you take your pre-recs at a community college clearly hasn't read my sig 😉