Non-science majors & Biochem

[TsunamiWave7]

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As of now I'm a Bio major, but I've been considering changing to Psychology. I realize that dental schools don't require a science major, but do they 'suggest' that you take a year of Biochem, etc.? I'm going to be taking Biochem I to complete my Chem minor, but I'm not sure whether I should go ahead and do the full year.

By graduation, I will only have taken:
Gen Chem I & II
OChem I & II
Biochem I
Environmental Chem I
1 year of Bio
Physics I & II

This really doesn't seem like very much for a heavily science-related field like dentistry, but it does fulfill all the prereqs.

What do you think? Should I change majors? And if I do, should I take Biochem II?

Thanks for the input. 🙂

 

[Lemming]

Why do you want to change to Psych? Just curious. Either way, I would recommend taking the Biochem II because it will look good if you do well and it will help you once you get into D school. Any experience in classes you will get in D school will help you adjust once you are there.

 

[ddsgirl347]

I'd take Biochem series (full year). Although most schools dont' say its required, its 'strongly suggested.' I don't think it'd be a smart idea to apply to schools w/just the bare minimum in terms of required science courses. plus, you'll have to take it in dental school, so it'd be better to have background knowledge of it.

 

[TsunamiWave7]

Well, I'm planning on switching to Psychology because of a few reasons. The fact that I'll be able to do neuropsychology research w/ an amazing professor & the smaller workload are the big ones.

I think I've decided to double minor in Chem & Bio, and do my major in Psych. That way, I'll have my pre-dent prereqs, psych research, AND some extra science classes to boot. 😳

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

I'd take Biochem series (full year). Although most schools dont' say its required, its 'strongly suggested.' I don't think it'd be a smart idea to apply to schools w/just the bare minimum in terms of required science courses. plus, you'll have to take it in dental school, so it'd be better to have background knowledge of it.

they don't care as long as you get good grades on preregs...i will take bio-chem as well. I took the minimum plus 2 semesters of research and analytical chem, and plus future bio-chem. It only came up in my interview once, and I explained it and they said we don't really care what major you major in. I might take micro/or immunology over the summer as well.
Plus if you're a non-science major and get 20+ on DAT and they compare that to some 8 million bio major students...you know you'll get something extra.

 

[shane.]

I have a question that somewhat pertains to this topic. I know that dental schools prefer applicants to have a degree(although don't require it), but how much do adcoms really focuss on this?

I suppose what i'm asking is, does an applicant with a BSc. Degree and an average GPA (say 3.4) hold more value than the applicant who has completed their third year (all the general science requirements, and one year of upper level courses) with a GPA around 3.8?

How many of you are getting interviews without a completed degree?

 

[Ething]

I'm a Religion major and have plenty of interviews lined up so far. I spoke to some pple on admissions and you really should take Biochem. 4 credits of Biochem should do the trick....most bio majors that I know, including the ones who made it into dental school, did not take Biochem 2. If you are not a bio major or science major, just make sure you take the "important" bio classes for dental school. From what I have heard these are, Biochem, Microbio, Physiology, Anatomy, Genetics...if you can only take a few of these, take the first 3 I listed. At least that is what my advisor told me. Hope this helps.

 

[Ething]

I have a question that somewhat pertains to this topic. I know that dental schools prefer applicants to have a degree(although don't require it), but how much do adcoms really focuss on this?

I suppose what i'm asking is, does an applicant with a BSc. Degree and an average GPA (say 3.4) hold more value than the applicant who has completed their third year (all the general science requirements, and one year of upper level courses) with a GPA around 3.8?

How many of you are getting interviews without a completed degree?

I heard it was very hard to get into dent school these days without a degree. Back in the good old days.....like 6 or 7 yrs ago it was not nearly as bad. I know a few pple who were able to do this with Nova, but again, this was almost 10 yrs ago and it was with a fairly new school at the time.

 

[_veo_]

I was a psy major and a biochem minor. I took a full year of biochem. I think the important thing is to take classes that will help you once you are in d-school. For example, if you can, take physiology, anatomy, biochem, and genetics. I took all those, but histology. I think I'm going to be a step ahead from those who didn't take them. And just major in what you like 🙂

 

[TsunamiWave7]

Thanks a bunch, guys! I've decided on going w/ 1 semester of Biochem, mostly just because I can't fit Biochem II in my schedule anywhere around all those pesky required classes.

(*Edited to say that I'll also be taking Organ Physiology & Microbiology sometime along the way.)

 

[pmantz]

Biochem II rocks, if you liked Orgo II you will love biochem II. There is something about covering that whole biochemical chart that makes you feel proud. Seriously take BIOCHEM II you will not regret it(unless you suck at chemistry and don't want to work hard.)

 

[DAS]

I would say just take Biochem 1 and see how you do. If you were strugling, don't bother taking biochem 2, because it is just adding misery to your life. I am a biochem major, I hated biochem 2 it is by far the worest class I took.
If you feel like you wanna know more biochem stuff, just study the book or if you wanna take it, take it after you get your acceptance letter. I haven't seen too many people in my biochem 2 class who were happy about their grades, actually I should say no one ( except for a few nerds) got a good grade.
It also depends on your school and the professor who is teaching the class. If you can find an easy proffessor just take it. But don't risk your chance of getting in just so you "learn" more about calvin cylcle, glycolysis, electron transport chain, ... each with the completer set of reaction mechanisms, enxyme structure & property.
Look, when I was taking Biochem 2, my friends just got into dental school ( Maryland) and I saw their biochem text book it was a joke comparing to what we doing in biochem2. In dental school they focus on enzymes, and just the reactions without the mechanisms. seriously, what they were studying was extremely easier than what we doing do in undergrade. They were actually like, what the hell is all this mechanism? they were very surprized.
So, again if you think you can do well take the stupid class. but if not DO NOT take it, because dental schools only require biochem 1.
Good luck

Also, if you want to know how much the majority of students feel about Biochem go to a thread that was posted ~ a month ago that says, WHICH CLASS DID YOU STRUGGLE THE MOST. A lot of people whose Biochem1 and 2.