Pharmacology recommended?

[UCSD1984]

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There's 2 courses offered at UCSD that are upper-division Pharmacology courses --

1.) Pharmacology - falls into the BIO category (BIMM, specifically)
2.) Pharmacology and Toxicology - falls into the CHEM category

I have the option of enrolling in Pharmacology (the BIO one) this quarter. Would you guys recommend it? Also, how difficult is it so I have a general idea of what to expect assuming I take it? (assuming you've taken it or know people who have, that is)

More importantly, do Dental Schools like to see Pharmacology on your transcript?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[wired202808]

There's 2 courses offered at UCSD that are upper-division Pharmacology courses --

1.) Pharmacology - falls into the BIO category (BIMM, specifically)
2.) Pharmacology and Toxicology - falls into the CHEM category

I have the option of enrolling in Pharmacology (the BIO one) this quarter. Would you guys recommend it? Also, how difficult is it so I have a general idea of what to expect assuming I take it? (assuming you've taken it or know people who have, that is)

More importantly, do Dental Schools like to see Pharmacology on your transcript?

Thanks in advance guys.

If anything it might be considered an Upper Bio course, but it wont make or break you. Nor will it be weighed more than your overall GPA, sGPA and DAT scores. If its a doable class then take it, if its very hard and you risk getting a
B or less then I'd skip it.

No class is worth ruining your GPA.

 

[UCSD1984]

If anything it might be considered an Upper Bio course, but it wont make or break you. Nor will it be weighed more than your overall GPA, sGPA and DAT scores. If its a doable class then take it, if its very hard and you risk getting a
B or less then I'd skip it.

No class is worth ruining your GPA.

Thanks for the response. I didn't think it would be weighed more heavily or anything, I supposed I worded my question wrong. Basically, I know there's a handful of upper-div Bio courses that Dental Schools like to see, such as Anatomy, Physio, Biochem, etc. I was just wondering if Pharmacology is considered one of those courses. Not sure how difficult it would be to get an "A" in it either...I was hoping some others who have taken Pharmacology could chime in for me.

 

[wired202808]

Thanks for the response. I didn't think it would be weighed more heavily or anything, I supposed I worded my question wrong. Basically, I know there's a handful of upper-div Bio courses that Dental Schools like to see, such as Anatomy, Physio, Biochem, etc. I was just wondering if Pharmacology is considered one of those courses. Not sure how difficult it would be to get an "A" in it either...I was hoping some others who have taken Pharmacology could chime in for me.

Right I understand what you mean. From my experience schools have preferred or recommended Upper bio courses such as A&P, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Histology, Immunology, etc.

I have taken A&P 1 and 2, Micro and Biochem. Most schools require the simple prereqs i.e. bio, gc, orgo, physics. Some require Biochem, AP and Micro. I've never heard of any school requiring Pharmacology and I dont remember seeing it as a recommended or preferred course.

That's pretty much why I said you should only take the course if it wont adversely affect the rest of the semester. If its an easy A, then go for it, but again if you'll struggle to pull a B then I'd pass. Again it wont make you more or less competitive, so you should only take this course if you believe it will enhance your sGPA, otherwise skip it.

 

[UCSD1984]

Right I understand what you mean. From my experience schools have preferred or recommended Upper bio courses such as A&P, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Histology, Immunology, etc.

I have taken A&P 1 and 2, Micro and Biochem. Most schools require the simple prereqs i.e. bio, gc, orgo, physics. Some require Biochem, AP and Micro. I've never heard of any school requiring Pharmacology and I dont remember seeing it as a recommended or preferred course.

That's pretty much why I said you should only take the course if it wont adversely affect the rest of the semester. If its an easy A, then go for it, but again if you'll struggle to pull a B then I'd pass. Again it wont make you more or less competitive, so you should only take this course if you believe it will enhance your sGPA, otherwise skip it.

Perfect, thank you. I actually WANTED to skip it because I keep reading it's an extremely difficult course at UCSD with how it's taught and the way the exams are structured. I just didn't want to skip it if it falls under the "preference" category, so to speak. Having said that, my schedule now consists of the following --

1.) Mammalian Physiology II
2.) Regulation of Gene Activity in Eukaryotic Cells
3.) Evolution
4.) Impulse Control Disorders (Psych course)

How do you think it looks for an informal post-bacc quarter? Again, I appreciate your help. Thank you.

Edit: I know I stated earlier that I didn't know if Pharmacology would be difficult, yet here I stated that everyone is saying it's difficult. Basically, I'm just now going off of "ratemyprofessor.com", which I don't like to do unless I'm torn between classes. However, this class seemed to be worth looking up since everyone is saying the same thing: "Avoid at all costs, difficult to get an A, etc."

 

[wired202808]

Perfect, thank you. I actually WANTED to skip it because I keep reading it's an extremely difficult course at UCSD with how it's taught and the way the exams are structured. I just didn't want to skip it if it falls under the "preference" category, so to speak. Having said that, my schedule now consists of the following --

1.) Mammalian Physiology II
2.) Regulation of Gene Activity in Eukaryotic Cells
3.) Evolution
4.) Impulse Control Disorders (Psych course)

How do you think it looks for an informal post-bacc quarter? Again, I appreciate your help. Thank you.

Edit: I know I stated earlier that I didn't know if Pharmacology would be difficult, yet here I stated that everyone is saying it's difficult. Basically, I'm just now going off of "ratemyprofessor.com", which I don't like to do unless I'm torn between classes. However, this class seemed to be worth looking up since everyone is saying the same thing: "Avoid at all costs, difficult to get an A, etc."

Im assuming that those 4 courses yield around 16 credits worth of work? If so just make sure that you can handle that much w/o jeopardizing your GPA. I worked full time when I did my post bacc so I never took more than two courses at a time and they were usually science courses. This didnt work against me and I was accepted to multiple d-schools. So just mind the course load, if anything drop either Evolution or the Psych class and stick with 3 courses. Schools wont look at you for better or worse because i'm sure you're also volunteering, shadowing and maybe even doing research while you're in school.

 

[UCSD1984]

Im assuming that those 4 courses yield around 16 credits worth of work? If so just make sure that you can handle that much w/o jeopardizing your GPA. I worked full time when I did my post bacc so I never took more than two courses at a time and they were usually science courses. This didnt work against me and I was accepted to multiple d-schools. So just mind the course load, if anything drop either Evolution or the Psych class and stick with 3 courses. Schools wont look at you for better or worse because i'm sure you're also volunteering, shadowing and maybe even doing research while you're in school.

Yes sir, 16 units. What do you think of the actual courses though? Good courses to take for a post-bacc? And I wont be working this quarter and I can definitely squeeze in my shadowing and volunteering this quarter. Do you think that's a good course setup? Thanks again wired, I really appreciate your help.

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[wired202808]

Yes sir, 16 units. What do you think of the actual courses though? Good courses to take for a post-bacc? And I wont be working this quarter and I can definitely squeeze in my shadowing and volunteering this quarter. Do you think that's a good course setup? Thanks again wired, I really appreciate your help.

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The courses seem fine as long as you have A&P 1 and 2, Biochem and Microbio under your belt. Those courses might be necessary for some schools you would apply to. So as long as you have the courses I mentioned, your selection should be fine. Again just be careful with the course load and dont overburden yourself or your GPA. If you think you can handle all 4 and maintain a strong GPA go for it, otherwise just drop one of them and you will look just as competitive with 3 science classes, volunteering, shadowing, etc.

No problem man. I was there myself a few years back so I know what its like to be a nervous predent. 🙂

 

[UCSD1984]

The courses seem fine as long as you have A&P 1 and 2, Biochem and Microbio under your belt. Those courses might be necessary for some schools you would apply to. So as long as you have the courses I mentioned, your selection should be fine. Again just be careful with the course load and dont overburden yourself or your GPA. If you think you can handle all 4 and maintain a strong GPA go for it, otherwise just drop one of them and you will look just as competitive with 3 science classes, volunteering, shadowing, etc.

No problem man. I was there myself a few years back so I know what its like to be a nervous predent. 🙂

Sounds great. Can't thank you enough man. I wish you the best. 👍

 

[r2thekesh]

I got an MS in pharmacology so I would go the bio route if you do it. But realize, for some reason all the adcoms I talked to thought I was trying to become a pharmacist. I had to reiterate the importance of pharmacology to dentistry (yes an MS student trying to explain to a dentist why this is important to his field). So maybe pick something more main stream?

Make sure your physiology knowledge is perfect. Not very many people realize there are 3 important courses with disease and treatment. Physiology is what's normal in the body. Pathophysiology is how it goes wrong. Pharmacology is how to treat what's going wrong. There's a lot of receptor stuff in those classes.