Organic Chem Senior year? Is it okay?

[lifeohlife]

So chem has been pretty rough on me (I am a freshman now). Failed gen. chem I. Yikes.
I plan to retake gen. chem I+II over the summer at my university to make up the deficiency.
I want to take a break from chem in general, so I don't really want to take the normal route of adding orgo to my schedule next year as a sophomore.
I plan to finish my core requirements (math, bio, physics etc) first, and will take orgo my senior year of college.
Is this okay? I know it's not common....but I think I may have a better chance of ACTUALLY doing well (as in not failing again...lol).
Will dental schools see this as a weakness? Or will they be fine with it as long as I take it and get a good grade?

Oh btw, I am doing the 4 year plan (meaning I will not take the DAT junior year), so I will probably take the DAT during the summer of my senior year.

So basically I want to know if this is a good plan or not.

Thanks in advance!

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[Incis0r]

I would say that OChem is more of a core requirement than Physics is. I do think that you can tackle Gen Chem well this summer, and if you follow it up with OChem and study smart + hard, I don't see why you couldn't walk away with successes in both of those subjects. Good luck!

 

[AlyssaRof2012]

It's not hard to brush up on the basics from gen chem that are used in orgo. I'm in orgo 1, doing well (current avg is an A), and am in my second semester of junior year. Wasn't serious as a freshman, got a C in gen chem 1. Failed gen chem 2. Took a break from chem after retaking and getting a C. I'd say go for it. Maybe not as late as senior year though, you might fail it and that could possibly push your graduation date.

 

[wheezelaugh]

So chem has been pretty rough on me (I am a freshman now). Failed gen. chem I. Yikes.
I plan to retake gen. chem I+II over the summer at my university to make up the deficiency.
I want to take a break from chem in general, so I don't really want to take the normal route of adding orgo to my schedule next year as a sophomore.
I plan to finish my core requirements (math, bio, physics etc) first, and will take orgo my senior year of college.
Is this okay? I know it's not common....but I think I may have a better chance of ACTUALLY doing well (as in not failing again...lol).
Will dental schools see this as a weakness? Or will they be fine with it as long as I take it and get a good grade?

Oh btw, I am doing the 4 year plan (meaning I will not take the DAT junior year), so I will probably take the DAT during the summer of my senior year.

So basically I want to know if this is a good plan or not.

Thanks in advance!

It also depends on when you're planning on applying to Dental School. Most schools require that you've completed OChem as a prerequisite before applying. If you push it back till senior year, you'll be postponing your DAT and application process as well. However, if you plan on taking gap years and/or going the non-traditional route, go for it if you feel you really need the break. Keep in mind BioChem is a prerequisite for most schools as well and you need OChem before BioChem.

Edit:
Since you're planning on taking OChem senior year and your DAT the summer right after graduation, remember that you need one semester of BioChem as well. What you can do is take BioChem during the first summer session (most colleges have two sessions in the summer), while studying for your DAT as well. Then, take your DAT at the end of that summer (August or September). This way, you'll still be able to send in your application before November 1st (deadline for most Dental Schools) and be considered for that cycle.

 

[joiedevivre86]

Ehh, I think it's fine if you have a few years between gen chem and organic (I had like 10 years in between, non-trad here, I remembered zero from gen chem. I was overwhelmed for the first few class periods when the teacher was like "and remember from gen chem..." but otherwise it was fine). My two cents though is that it will not be fun taking biochem in the summer and simultaneously studying for the DAT. I specifically took my DAT in May before starting a summer session of biochem to avoid that. Also, maybe try to find a tutor? And finally, organic is totally different from gen chem. Gen chem is more math and balancing equations and ideal gas law and organic is more understanding flow of electrons and what products that creates + the really spatial stuff, which you will either get really easily or hate.

 

[niv3k]

I agree with above post, g chem and o chem are different. O chem to me was a hell of a lot easier than g chem, made a C in gc1, B gc2, As in oc1 and 2.

I read the other thread you started but didn't post on that one. Honestly I hated g chem but I loved o chem, so don't be too discouraged about failing g chem. I think dental adcoms to notice improvement so if you work on those chem grades you should be alright. **** man, they say undergrad is really learning about how to learn, if you're dedicated you'll end up developing better study habits and will find things that work for you. You'll probably have to explain later on why you failed though, whether it's life situation, work, took on too much, or honestly just fell behind, etc.

Personally I don't recommend putting off o chem for so long, not because g chem carries over to o chem but because of what someone said before this post. O chem is required before biochem, and I second that recommendation of NOT taking biochem and studying for the DAT at the same time.... Don't do it, don't do it.

One other thing tho, I know at my school they required analytical before biochem and analytical is practically like g chem3. If that's the case for your school also, might not be best to put off analytical.. But I did and I did alright so eh idk, if I had to do it all over again tho, I would have taken analytical right after g chem and then the organics with or after those.

 

[customx]

When do you plan to take biochem?

 

[tooth knockn]

Ehh, I think it's fine if you have a few years between gen chem and organic (I had like 10 years in between, non-trad here, I remembered zero from gen chem. I was overwhelmed for the first few class periods when the teacher was like "and remember from gen chem..." but otherwise it was fine). My two cents though is that it will not be fun taking biochem in the summer and simultaneously studying for the DAT. I specifically took my DAT in May before starting a summer session of biochem to avoid that. Also, maybe try to find a tutor? And finally, organic is totally different from gen chem. Gen chem is more math and balancing equations and ideal gas law and organic is more understanding flow of electrons and what products that creates + the really spatial stuff, which you will either get really easily or hate.

How did you do in Biochem over the summer?

Was it taken in any college around nyc?

 

[joiedevivre86]

How did you do in Biochem over the summer?

Was it taken in any college around nyc?

Got an A but I don't think I remember much of it. It was really fast and mostly rote memorization. And no, not near NYC.

 

[Dentase]

How did you do in Biochem over the summer?

Was it taken in any college around nyc?

LMAO still going on about NYC. I LOVE YOU!

 

[tooth knockn]

So chem has been pretty rough on me (I am a freshman now). Failed gen. chem I. Yikes.
I plan to retake gen. chem I+II over the summer at my university to make up the deficiency.
I want to take a break from chem in general, so I don't really want to take the normal route of adding orgo to my schedule next year as a sophomore.
I plan to finish my core requirements (math, bio, physics etc) first, and will take orgo my senior year of college.
Is this okay? I know it's not common....but I think I may have a better chance of ACTUALLY doing well (as in not failing again...lol).
Will dental schools see this as a weakness? Or will they be fine with it as long as I take it and get a good grade?

Oh btw, I am doing the 4 year plan (meaning I will not take the DAT junior year), so I will probably take the DAT during the summer of my senior year.

So basically I want to know if this is a good plan or not.

Thanks in advance!

I don't know how old are you or if you are in a rush, seems like not....

But,
Whether you take Orgo now or later, really doesn't make a difference, but definitely before the DAT.....

Imo
Do the most you can as fast as you can, efficiently, so that when you are ready to apply, you have no looses ends, and while you wait for schools responses you work...

I don't know what is your major nor do I know what is your occupation...

Some advice... If you are redoing everything and don't have a job you like.... Look into dental hygiene as a major in order to receive some dental experience, and to at least have a nice good paying job while you wait from dental schools.... That will be better than shadowing....


And to all readers, pre-dents, and dental schools.....

How is it possible that 100 shadowing hours is sufficient for a young adult to get a feel for dentistry..... Few dentists and staff will show their true colors around a person who is shadowing....

100 hours is about a months work of a dental staff member.... That is not enough exposure.... If I had a school, it would require 50 hours of shadowing for each branch of dentistry along with a brief paragraph of what was observed and learned.

 

[Dentase]

I don't know how old are you or if you are in a rush, seems like not....

But,
Whether you take Orgo now or later, really doesn't make a difference, but definitely before the DAT.....

Imo
Do the most you can as fast as you can, efficiently, so that when you are ready to apply, you have no looses ends, and while you wait for schools responses you work...

I don't know what is your major nor do I know what is your occupation...

Some advice... If you are redoing everything and don't have a job you like.... Look into dental hygiene as a major in order to receive some dental experience, and to at least have a nice good paying job while you wait from dental schools.... That will be better than shadowing....


And to all readers, pre-dents, and dental schools.....

How is it possible that 100 shadowing hours is sufficient for a young adult to get a feel for dentistry..... Few dentists and staff will show their true colors around a person who is shadowing....

100 hours is about a months work of a dental staff member.... That is not enough exposure.... If I had a school, it would require 50 hours of shadowing for each branch of dentistry along with a brief paragraph of what was observed and learned.

Gosh darn it, thankfully teddy bear here does not own a school. I LOVE YOU 🙂

 

[tooth knockn]

Gosh darn it, thankfully teddy bear here does not own a school. I LOVE YOU 🙂

Hey I'm not a teddy bear, my avatar is of a big great white shark ....

I feel your love.... It is very cybernetical.


(Protest)
Now more hours for dental shadowing !

Now more hours for dental shadowing !

Who is with me....

 

[doc toothache]

And to all readers, pre-dents, and dental schools.....
How is it possible that 100 shadowing hours is sufficient for a young adult to get a feel for dentistry..... Few dentists and staff will show their true colors around a person who is shadowing....
100 hours is about a months work of a dental staff member.... That is not enough exposure.... If I had a school, it would require 50 hours of shadowing for each branch of dentistry along with a brief paragraph of what was observed and learned.

You have a recipe for turning off not only gp, but specialties as well. But, you do understand the reason behind the shadowing requirement, right? (Hint: ojt is not one.)

 

[tooth knockn]

You have a recipe for turning off not only gp, but specialties as well. But, you do understand the reason behind the shadowing requirement, right? (Hint: ojt is not one.)

What is ojt ?

To shadow is to stand behind and look.
In this case, it is to get a taste of the dental arena.

But to be dentist is not what is seen in the third person point of view, any care giver has the one to one relationship with the patient.

Shadowing does not provide the real one to one feeling required when working with people.

100 hours is just not enough.... I have been volunteering so far for 160 hours at a hospital, and have not seen any problems when I was there.... But have overheard from the staff that the other days when I was not there there have been problems, with patients and with staff.

Common problems too... Patients arguing, staff talking back to superiors, orders not being done on time and their consequences....

And for a dental applicant, with no work experience, to get accepted with only good grades and 100 hours of shadowing and some research and no volunteering is really not benefitting any body. That is my point.


More exposure to dentistry will always present a better picture of the dental environment.

Why should a young dental student, inexperienced to the good and bad of dentistry, be exposed to common dental problems during school when dental school itself is already hard enough.... It is an additional social stress which could of been experienced in the field and not in front of your piers.

 

[lifeohlife]

lol thanks guys
I'm 19 lol still pretty young, for now at least!
I've decided to take orgo junior year and physics senior year since that won't be on the DAT (so no rush?).

 

[Dentase]

What is ojt ?

To shadow is to stand behind and look.
In this case, it is to get a taste of the dental arena.

But to be dentist is not what is seen in the third person point of view, any care giver has the one to one relationship with the patient.

Shadowing does not provide the real one to one feeling required when working with people.

100 hours is just not enough.... I have been volunteering so far for 160 hours at a hospital, and have not seen any problems when I was there.... But have overheard from the staff that the other days when I was not there there have been problems, with patients and with staff.

Common problems too... Patients arguing, staff talking back to superiors, orders not being done on time and their consequences....

And for a dental applicant, with no work experience, to get accepted with only good grades and 100 hours of shadowing and some research and no volunteering is really not benefitting any body. That is my point.


More exposure to dentistry will always present a better picture of the dental environment.

Why should a young dental student, inexperienced to the good and bad of dentistry, be exposed to common dental problems during school when dental school itself is already hard enough.... It is an additional social stress which could of been experienced in the field and not in front of your piers.

Im glad teddy bear was not there to experience the bad days. The luck of the teddy bear. I love you 🙂

 

[doc toothache]

Organic represents a significant portion of the requirements. It is especially relevant to biochemistry and pharmacology. Unless, you have beaucoup of upper level bio courses, you will be at a decided disadvantage.

What is ojt ?
Common problems too... Patients arguing, staff talking back to superiors, orders not being done on time and their consequences....

Ojt=on the job training
As for the office drama, maybe ds should have a course in "Intro to Dental Office Gossip".

 

[DentalDoge]

OP, it really doesnt matter as long as you complete your pre reqs before you matriculate. But generally it is better to take orgo right after gchem as gchem is still fresh in your mind and is most likely needed as foundation to understand a good bit of orgo material.

Teddy bear here is good entertainment. Continue.
I wanna see his take on the ASDOH situation.