Non-Trad NewB Intro

[DentalOneDAy]

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Hello All,

I'm a newb, though I've been browsing here for a few weeks now. Let me introduce myself:

* I received a B.A. in International Affairs a couple of years ago. I have studied/lived abroad in a few countries, including places in Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

Because of a focus on arts, I lack the ALL of the pre-reqs, except for one biology class, which was useless as it did not have a lab, and I received a C in the class because at the time I didn't give the class the adequate prep-time. No excuses, just reality.

My cGPA was 3.17 from a small respectable private university. No science gpa to really speak of. I took two geology classes and received b's in those, but I don't know if those count as science for the sGPA. Over the last 3 semesters I would say my gpa was around 3.45-3.5. I was heavily involved on campus and I volunteered in the community also.

Basically, at this point I am looking to get my pre-reqs done and to take the DAT. I am 25, and I feel like it'll be forever before I can actually enroll somewhere, if I get in. I would like to take these classes at a junior college to save $, but I'm worried if it will hurt me in admissions.

I still want to do work internationally, and I see myself doing a lot of volunteer work in developing states in the Global South. Helping people, and having the ability to run my own business/work - life balance is the primary reason I desire to be a dentist. I have been exposed to the dental field for over 12 years, as my mother works for a dental company, and thus I have easy access to doctors for shadowing and advice.

My ideal schools: Southern IL, UIC, Howard(do I have a chance being a non-minority male?), Loma Linda. I would go to whichever school I could get into considering my low gpa, lack of science background. I would prefer a cheaper school or a school in a warm climate.

Apologies I ran a bit long there. I'm not quite sure what to post as an intro, so I just put it all out there.

 

[malibu06]

Welcome, I've also spent a bit of time in Latin America myself. Very cool!

As for the CC route, it seems it depends on the school. Some schools care, many don't.

Check with your CC first to see if they have courses that would be equivalent to the similar science course at a 4yr. For example, at your CC ask what BIO, CHEM, PHYS, etc classes they have for science majors (with labs).

Then send some emails to the admissions email addresses at the schools you are interested in and they will tell you yes or no.

Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527335

 

[DentalOneDAy]

Welcome, I've also spent a bit of time in Latin America myself. Very cool!

As for the CC route, it seems it depends on the school. Some schools care, many don't.

Check with your CC first to see if they have courses that would be equivalent to the similar science course at a 4yr. For example, at your CC ask what BIO, CHEM, PHYS, etc classes they have for science majors (with labs).

Then send some emails to the admissions email addresses at the schools you are interested in and they will tell you yes or no.

Good luck!

That's cool man. Who knows, I may apply to the dental school in Puerto Rico if I get my Spanish back to a high level.

I'm lucky in that the CC I have near me is rated as one of the best in the country, and they offer everything from biochem, anatomy and physiology, to multiple bio/chem/physics classes. I'll try what you said and e-mail them with the classes they offer.

I was also considering taking the AP test for physics to get at least one semester done, and then take the next level of physics to get physics out of the way. I doubt this would make me very competitive, and would actually probably have the opposite affect, so I'll probably just suck it up and take the classes. 👍