People with non science majors

[ZMalek111]

I need help choosing my major. I know most of you will say just pick whatever I enjoy, and I do understand that. I would love to study History, but I am leaning towards Biology, here are the pros and cons of both from my understanding.

History Pros
- Will enjoy undergrad more
- Will look appealing to Dental Schools as an "off" major

History Cons
- Will most likely take more than 4 years to graduate ( this might be the deal breaker for me )
- I won't be fully emerged in Science courses to be prepared for the DAT and Dental school


Biology Pros-
- Pre-Reqs included
- Graduate in 3 1/2 or 4 years
- Will help me already be science oriented to prepare me for Dental School

Biology Cons-
- A lot tougher than History degree so keeping GPA up will be tougher
- Won't make me stand out as much because almost everyone has a Biology degree when they apply

I am leaning towards my Biology degree unless I can find out that I can do my history AND pre-reqs in the same time frame. I am 29 years old, married and have 2 kids. I seriously don't want to take more than 4 years to finish my undergrad. I hope someone can give me some insight on this, thank you very much for reading this!

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[LizLemongrab]

The first question is where are you in terms of credits and standing? If you have the funding, discipline, and school policy that allows you to use one class to cover more than one graduation requirement, you can manage both within 120-140 credits in 3 years but you will have to take classes over "summer" break and during interim periods to make 40 credits/year.

I was a dual major in political science and biomedical sciences, am a mom myself, married, and currently in dental school. Depending on how your school allows signing up for classes, an important aspect of major selection is seat limitations, elective availability, and priority. At many schools, seniors needing a requirement to graduate get first priority for registration and some electives, especially in biology are dependent on instructor availability. Among biology professors, most do engage in research and are likely to take sabbaticals or reduce teaching loads for their projects so you should keep that in mind.

IMO biology difficulty is dependent more on the individual course, school/departmental grading policy, and professor philosophy. Courses are only as hard as people want to make them but also as easy and accessible as a professor makes the material.

Also remember, you have an oGPA and sGPA. Typically, even though intro bio and gen chem are relatively easy intro courses, many schools make them harder but once you get past those two and ochem, it's pretty good from there.

 

[ZMalek111]

The first question is where are you in terms of credits and standing? If you have the funding, discipline, and school policy that allows you to use one class to cover more than one graduation requirement, you can manage both within 120-140 credits in 3 years but you will have to take classes over "summer" break and during interim periods to make 40 credits/year.

I was a dual major in political science and biomedical sciences, am a mom myself, married, and currently in dental school. Depending on how your school allows signing up for classes, an important aspect of major selection is seat limitations, elective availability, and priority. At many schools, seniors needing a requirement to graduate get first priority for registration and some electives, especially in biology are dependent on instructor availability. Among biology professors, most do engage in research and are likely to take sabbaticals or reduce teaching loads for their projects so you should keep that in mind.

IMO biology difficulty is dependent more on the individual course, school/departmental grading policy, and professor philosophy. Courses are only as hard as people want to make them but also as easy and accessible as a professor makes the material.

Also remember, you have an oGPA and sGPA. Typically, even though intro bio and gen chem are relatively easy intro courses, many schools make them harder but once you get past those two and ochem, it's pretty good from there.

Thanks Liz for the wonderful reply! I have the funding and discipline to achieve 40 credits a year. I am in my second semester at CC, I am only planning to stay here for one year and then head to my nearest 4 year University. I will take all my Dental Pre-Reqs at the 4 year. I was a Restaurant Manager my whole life so College was never on my mind. I have no problem studying and working hard, I was sent to India in High School for a year and found out the hard way how difficult schooling is there. Do you think my best course of action would be to talk to the University I am planning to enroll in and ask for their opinion? Should I also contact the Dental schools I am interested in for their opinion also?

 

[bwc]

If need be, taking a fifth year isn't going to be looked at negatively. You should choose a major because you enjoy it, not because you feel obligated to choose it. Also, your undergrad is going to be your last chance to take classes that you enjoy outside of dentistry. Once you start dental school, that opportunity will be gone.

 

[ZMalek111]

If need be, taking a fifth year isn't going to be looked at negatively. You should choose a major because you enjoy it, not because you feel obligated to choose it. Also, your undergrad is going to be your last chance to take classes that you enjoy outside of dentistry. Once you start dental school, that opportunity will be gone.

I understand this, as a father of 2 I don't necessarily want to take 5 years to complete a bachelors if I don't need too. I would toughen it out in Biology to save that extra year, I have been through the life of hard knocks already and don't really care to take any classes to enjoy myself but to progress myself to Dental school. Thanks for the feedback though!

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I'd say go for the bio major and take some history electives on the side and/or for general education requirements if you need them. You're 29 and I'm sure you've had some other job that's interesting, which is probably enough to make you stand out. If it'll help you graduate earlier, definitely do bio

 

[ZMalek111]

I'd say go for the bio major and take some history electives on the side and/or for general education requirements if you need them. You're 29 and I'm sure you've had some other job that's interesting, which is probably enough to make you stand out. If it'll help you graduate earlier, definitely do bio

I was leaning towards this, I am a cancer survivor at 21, had my first child shortly after, immigrated from India when I was 4, and both parents never graduated High School. I have no idea if they will look favorably on those life scenarios, I guess it will help me write a good personal statement. My career was a Restaurant Manger and I am exhausted working 50-65+ hours a week making little money, just trying to follow my passion now. Thank you for your advice!

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I was leaning towards this, I am a cancer survivor at 21, had my first child shortly after, immigrated from India when I was 4, and both parents never graduated High School. I have no idea if they will look favorably on those life scenarios, I guess it will help me write a good personal statement. My career was a Restaurant Manger and I am exhausted working 50-65+ hours a week making little money, just trying to follow my passion now. Thank you for your advice!

Wow that's definitely unique. I'm sure your personal statement will be waaaaay better than mine haha. I seriously don't think a history major to "stand out" is necessary at all for you. You'll have plenty to put on your application and to say in interviews schools probably won't even notice your major

 

[LizLemongrab]

Yes, talk to an academic advisor at the 4-year who deals in pre-health to see how the scheduling would need to work. For me personally, there were times I had to take advanced bio courses before or concurrently with the pre-req with departmental permission, not to mention a few times I had overlaps which also requires departmental permission.

Maximize your GPA, get good scores, craft a narrative to contextualize your achievements, and you got this. Fun electives may end up being your only school-related outlet during this time. If you seek a mentor and when it comes time to write the PS, I offer you my service and time. Gratis, naturally.

 

[ZMalek111]

Wow that's definitely unique. I'm sure your personal statement will be waaaaay better than mine haha. I seriously don't think a history major to "stand out" is necessary at all for you. You'll have plenty to put on your application and to say in interviews schools probably won't even notice your major

Thanks! Everyone's statement is different and you don't have to face extreme hardship to stand out, your personal statement will be fine. Yeah I think Biology is the best bet for me, just because it will prepare me for the rough Science workload in Dental School.

 

[ZMalek111]

Yes, talk to an academic advisor at the 4-year who deals in pre-health to see how the scheduling would need to work. For me personally, there were times I had to take advanced bio courses before or concurrently with the pre-req with departmental permission, not to mention a few times I had overlaps which also requires departmental permission.

Maximize your GPA, get good scores, craft a narrative to contextualize your achievements, and you got this. Fun electives may end up being your only school-related outlet during this time. If you seek a mentor and when it comes time to write the PS, I offer you my service and time. Gratis, naturally.

Thanks Liz and wish you much luck in Dental School and when you become a practicing Dentist!

 

[allantois]

History and Bio are more alike than not (both my favorite high school subjects 😀) in that both require a lot of memorization.

But no, majors don't make people stand out, but your story will!

 

[ZMalek111]

History and Bio are more alike that not (both my favorite high school subjects 😀), they just require a lot of memorization.

But no, don't make people stand out, but your story will!

I don't memorization, it just takes good old fashioned hard study methods! I look at it this way, work extremely hard now, so as you may enjoy the fruits of your labor later on in life.

 

[BetaHelix]

I'm a non traditional. Bachelers in Economics. Went back to take the pre-reqs after finding a passion for dentistry. If you have any questions PM me.

 

[BetaHelix]

In the end you still have to take a good amount of difficult classes being a history major or not. Year of gen chem, ochem, physics, bio. And biochem are no cake walk. By majoring in something else you may expand your knowledge and make yourself more well rounded which may help with your application and interviews. From my experience (and taking the DAT) the pre-reqs are really all that is required science wise to do well on the DAT and dental school. Having more science classes are an added bonus but not required

 

[ZMalek111]

I'm a non traditional. Bachelers in Economics. Went back to take the pre-reqs after finding a passion for dentistry. If you have any questions PM me.

Hey thank you for the information man, I am trying to finish my bachelors and pre-reqs in 3 years and that is why I am choosing Biology.