post-bac program or taking prereq. over at..

[dt34]

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just wondering what the general consensus is on improving your chances of getting into dental school.

i've been out of undergrad school for nearly over 5 yrs now and had an overall gpa of 3.1, science 2.9. i want to be competitive as possible by either doing:

1. post-bac dental/medical programs or


i've been reading around about post-bac. programs being offered at various institutions here in cali. and what they have to offer.

pros: small class sizes, subjects are focused on whats high yield, learning is geared towards test taking material, links to various dental institutions.

cons: probably the most important factor is tuition. from the ones that i've looked at so far, all are +$20,000 for the program. seems quite expensive IMO. the other draw back is that its geared more towards medicine and the MCAT preparation. are there any specifically for dental only?


2. taking prereq courses over at a univ/college to improve gpa.


this is what i'm leaning towards.

pros: it is a lot cheaper, probably less than $12,000 for 2 yrs worth of prereqs and some extra classes on the side.

cons: classes are limited to undergrad students first, i would have to enroll as an extension student. i would have to show up on the first day to ask to be enrolled by the professor (i heard that these lower division classes with large classes sizes are not much of a problem to squeeze into, although i could be wrong). subjects may not be gear towards dental preparation and the large class sizes.

i have a choice of either going to a cal state school or univ., i've read and been told that it doesn't matter where, as long as one can get an A right? probably a cal state school would be better since its not as large as the univ. classes and less competitive.

so what do you guys think in terms of the better path to take? post-bac or retaking classes over on my own.

besides doing all this, i would be preparing to take the DAT for the first time and doing myself some volunteering work and shadowing a dentist. are there any other elements needed to improve my application?

thanks for taking the time to read this, any advice would be appreciated. i'm glad that a forum like this exist.

thanks again.

dt

 

[Sprgrover]

...cons: classes are limited to undergrad students first, i would have to enroll as an extension student...

First off, why can't you enroll as a degree seeking student? I did this, and because I already had a degree from my university, they classified me as a senior and I was able to register for classes the same time as grad students - I was able to get the top choice of classes. Just because you list yourself as a degree seeking student doesn't mean you are locked into a contractural agreement to finish your chosen major.

I would go to a CSU school versus one in the UC system - and cal state schools are much cheaper than a lot of the UC ones, if I remember correctly. While a post-bac program has some benefits, there are drawbacks which you mentioned: cost, the nature of the program (medicine) and so on. I think that if you have a good sense of direction and drive then taking pre-reqs at a Univeristy isn't a bad way to go.

 

[dt34]

Sprgrover

I wasn't aware that I could do that. What would I enroll as? Transfer student? Graduate student? One reason I didn't enrolled into school as an undergrad again is because it is too late to apply for this coming fall 2004. CSU applications for undergrad status is done the previous year, I believe its the same at UC schools. I guess I'll call and confirm this with the schools tomorrow.

One caveat though, one would think that CSU are cheaper than UC schools, true in the sense of being an undergrad and grad student. I found out that as an extension student, the CSU Pomona charges $220/ 1 unit as oppose to UCI $604/ 4 units or 1 class....both not including lab charges. So, in the end, it cost more to go CSU than a UC for me.

dt

 

[sinned]

Im a post bac undeclared student at CSU Fullerton, and I do not get priority enrollment, although petitioning classes and having patience usually gets you in the class...also just for some background, I was unfocused during my undergrad career at UCSD and ended up with a cumulative gpa of 2.8, but now at the post bac program I have a 3.71 science gpa after about 40 units...which includes general bio with lab, general chem with lab, physics with lab and organic chem with lab, as well as microbiology...

Its definately the way to go...

 

[dt34]

Im a post bac undeclared student at CSU Fullerton, and I do not get priority enrollment, although petitioning classes and having patience usually gets you in the class...also just for some background, I was unfocused during my undergrad career at UCSD and ended up with a cumulative gpa of 2.8, but now at the post back program I have a 3.71 science gpa after about 40 units...which includes general bio with lab, general chem with lab, physics with lab and organic chem with lab, as well as microbiology...

Its definately the way to go...

sounds like your doing well. how did you apply? as a post-bac undeclared student? from my thread above, did you have to apply in advance? or did you just show up on the first day of class? i was unfocused in undergrad as well, but i'm a lot older now and much more determination than before. can i ask how much you pay per unit @ CSU Fullerton? wonder if its the same as CSU Pomona.

 

[Sprgrover]

...I wasn't aware that I could do that. What would I enroll as? Transfer student? Graduate student?...

Enroll as a declared, or degree seeking, student. My advisor recommended that I declare a major so that I can get bumped to the front of the registration line. Perhaps the reason why sinned is not getting priority in registration is because he/she has not declared a specific major. Doing so tells the registrar that you need to be on specific track to reach your goal, and therefore 'need' the class more than someone that is still undecided.

When you have picked a school, contact the admissions office about the benefits of declaring a major versus being undecided and taking some pre-reqs here and there. Remember, declaring a major is not like signing a contract in blood: take the classes you need and then leave. I already have a degree and my adivsor's motivation for me being enrolled as a degree seeking student (I declared myself as Pre-Dental - my school has such a major, as fruitless and antiquated as it may be) was to simply ensure that I wouldn't have to grovel and beg to get into certain courses.

That's interesting about the UC vs. CSU tuition. I say go with the cheaper one (sounds like UC Irvine). Reputation doesn't make a course hard, its individual instructors and you can find those individuals that really know their field and actively challenge their class - regardless of the instituition's name. Put forth your genuine, best effort and you'll do well.

 

[sinned]

I did not apply during the regular application cycle, I applied around january through the Health Professions Office, which helped me to get in, which is kind of a risk you are taking...but because of the state budgets, I heard the Post Bac program at CSUF is closed temporary...but Im sure other CSU campuses still offer, actually CSUF might be open "again." but you would have to check with the admission office or the Health Professions office. The best thing for you to do right now is, check with the individual Health Professions Office at the campuses you are interested in...Also, I dont pay by unit as a Post Bac, I pay approximately $1,050 to take up to 16 units per semester...so that is your best bet...

 

[dt34]

Sprgrover & sinned, thanks for the replies and advice

I did not apply during the regular application cycle, I applied around january through the Health Professions Office, which helped me to get in, which is kind of a risk you are taking...but because of the state budgets, I heard the Post Bac program at CSUF is closed temporary...but Im sure other CSU campuses still offer, actually CSUF might be open "again." but you would have to check with the admission office or the Health Professions office. The best thing for you to do right now is, check with the individual Health Professions Office at the campuses you are interested in...Also, I dont pay by unit as a Post Bac, I pay approximately $1,050 to take up to 16 units per semester...so that is your best bet...

sinned - when you applied in january, what term was that for? the following fall semester? (ex. jan '04 application for sept. '04) i understand what you and Sprgrover are talking about as far being a post-bac student and declaring as a major.

if i knew that i was going back to school now (fall '04) i would have just applied (sept.'03) as a post-bac student thru the regular application cycle and have some priority when it comes to choosing classes. hey, if the school will help me out and are able to admit me as a post-bac student this fall, that would be great, it would be cheaper. but, its only 1 1/2 months before school starts, so i think its kinda stretching it. so i may end up being an extension student (classes where its open to anyone, including the community) for this school yr., thus explaining the higher cost and low priority class selection.

for summer courses, no prior apps are needed and if i apply now, it would be in the appropriate cycle for the fall '05 school yrs.

so that would be the plan for now unless i can convince the schools to admit me now as a post-bac rather than externsion student. 🙂

thanks again
dt