Not taking second year of A&P?

[HenryH]

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I'm currently taking Anatomy & Physiology I, but I don't think I want to take the second course next semester. Will it make me look lazy, etc. to dental schools if I don't take the second half?

 

[Acceptance King]

I'm currently taking Anatomy & Physiology I, but I don't think I want to take the second course next semester. Will it make me look lazy, etc. to dental schools if I don't take the second half?

Why don't you want to take it? It will only help you once you get into d-school. If you have meet or will be able to meet your pre-reqs without it and you have a good enough excuse why, you should be fine. Don't just avoid taking it because you don't want to get a bad grade because it is a tough course. They do look at the strength of the schedules when comparing applicants.

 

[HenryH]

Why don't you want to take it? It will only help you once you get into d-school. If you have meet or will be able to meet your pre-reqs without it and you have a good enough excuse why, you should be fine. Don't just avoid taking it because you don't want to get a bad grade because it is a tough course. They do look at the strength of the schedules when comparing applicants.

That is exactly why I don't want to take it -- a 4-credit B is a pretty big deal (my school only deals on a whole-number grading scale -- i.e., 4.0, 3.0, 2.0...) in terms of how it impacts the overall GPA.

Why not take something like microbiology, which is actually beginning to gain notoriety as a pre-req for many dental schools?

 

[HenryH]

Hey -- I just checked my school's spring semester class schedule and noticed that a class called human biology was being offered. Why not take that instead of the A&P 2?

 

[Acceptance King]

Hey -- I just checked my school's spring semester class schedule and noticed that a class called human biology was being offered. Why not take that instead of the A&P 2?

Only you know your situation and how you think you will do in various courses. If you have a low science GPA, then maybe you need to do as you are suggesting so you can raise your science GPA. But you also need you look at the fact that A&P will be needed in d-school where Human Biology is just a basic overall course covering a wide spectrum of human biology. One thing about the Human Biology course that can help is that it can be a good class to help with DAT if you haven't taken it yet.

I know some people will say you need to get into d-school first before you need to worry about if you can handle the courses there, but I look at things in the other view. If you cannot handle core biology courses like Anatomy and Physiology now, you will suffer when it comes to d-school. You may pass them, but will you be able to pass the boards when you have to recall the material a year later. Just something to thik about.

Do what you think is best for you. Personally, I would take the second semester of A&P. If not, then I would take microbiology. If you need a sure A class, then take Human Biology. Your call there.

 

[HenryH]

Thanks for your response.

The thing is, my science GPA is going to be around 3.5 when I make a B in A&P I (I already know that I will make a B simply because I bombed one of the lab tests), and I don't want to risk another 4-credit B in A&P II. The competition for dental school just keeps amping-up year after year, and I really shouldn't risk going any lower than a 3.5 with my sci. GPA...

 

[tinman831]

While taking AP 2 helps prepare you for dental school, it's definitely not required. I never took AP 1 and I did fine. 🙂