Predentistry Help...

[sustudent]

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hey guys, im new here and am looking torwards a future career in dentistry...

Im from Seattle University and I am majoring in Bio PreDental...

I was wondering if all of the Bio classes were alike, where you have to read alot and tests are based on 5-8 chapters....because if it is, then I dont think I would like to major in it...

Although, I like applying formulas and concepts to my work...i.e. chemistry...but i heard O-chem is hard, so thats why i dont want to make the switch....

Could you guys give me advice on Bio vs Chem.....Is O-Chem really that hard?....How much chapters are on each Chem test? Thanks

 

[fajitapita]

Just from what you're majoring in, you should post under the pre-med forums, I hear those people are quite helpful 😉 . Well, I'm off to bed now...I have a Biochemistry exam tomorrow based off 7 chapters. This is what you can look forward to your senior year. 🙂

 

[sustudent]

oh and also....do dental schools accept "calculus for life sciences" as a calculus course? and how many quarters of calculus do you need?

 

[john9192]

Hey, I'm pretty new, but I thought I could tell you some of my thoughts.
By the way, I go to UW and i'm a junior, Chemistry major.
I was in the same boat as you.
My first quarter of biology was my worst grade in college.
When I took Gen Chem, I thought it was pretty easy and I've been getting mostly A's. But when I started biology, it was somewhat different from Gen Chem. I'm good at applying formulas and concepts (such as g-chem, calculus, stat, etc..) but biology did not test on how much you new the material but how that could relate to real life example. Our test was basically short or long answer questions and since English is my second language, if something did not make sense, they would take off whole bunch of points.
I was thinking of biology major since freshman year, but after my first quarter of general biology class, I changed it to chemistry major.
But yeah.. O chem is totally different from g-chem, some people like it better and some people do not. I personally thought g-chem was better. But I got it through and I'm in inorganic chem right now and I like it a lot.
I think biology and chemistry both are not an easy subject, but if you are like me (like to work with numbers or like to deal with reactions rather than explaining such and such), then I think chemistry would be more suitable. But make sure that you take couple of upper level biology courses (like physiology, biochem, microbio) so that you are not behind when it comes to dental school. Hope my comments helped.

 

[djeffreyt]

I'm not toally clear on what you are asking but...

Yes, most bio classes at any school, in fact most science courses at any school will have a few tests that cover anywhere from 4-8 chapters per test. Biology and Organic Chemistry will be heavily memorization, while general chemistry and physics and math will require a lot of application of formulas too.

Before you consider changing majors, you may want to consider that no matter what major you change to, there are still minimal required courses for dental school application and this is where I'm not clear what you meant. I don't understand if you think that by changing majors you can skip Organic chemistry, because that is still a prerequisite for dental schools no matter what your major. The prereqs. are usually:

2 courses of biology (cell and molecular/organismal)
2 courses of physics
2 courses of general or physical chemistry
2 courses of organic chemistry
2 courses of English Literature and Writing
2 courses of math (calc or above...calc for life sci is fine)
1 course of psychology
1 course of biochem

generally a good idea to also take a couple extra courses like Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Genetics, or Microbiology

 

[sustudent]

hmmm okay guys.....i think im going to switch to a major in "clinical laboratory science" with a double minor in bio and chem....


i have one question though, does fundamental o-chem count towards the o-chem requirement, or do you have to take o-chem?

 

[jackbauer!]

i have one question though, does fundamental o-chem count towards the o-chem requirement, or do you have to take o-chem?

no, fundamental does NOT count. you have to take the real thing 🙂

jb!

 

[jaypea65]

I am a clinical laboratory scientist and I am trying to get out of that field. I can give you a whole host of reasons why you should pursue other avenues. My best advice to you is to shadow a CLS and ask around if they like their career. I am betting that most will say that they like the type of work that they perform, but they do not like the manner in which they have to work or the pay. If you would like working in a factory type environment, being cut off from the rest of the hospital and patients, desire no respect from your peers, like having demands being placed on you constantly by nurses and doctors, short staffing, meager pay, working weekends,holidays, and off-shifts(this is where you will probably start) then check out ASCP.ORG website where a bunch of pathologists will be glad to sign you up for certification and take your money to advance their cause. BTW most pathologists run laboratories and are wimps that won't stick up for any of their employees. They cave at every demand from administration and doctors because they are not even respected by their peers. Alot of doctors believe that pathologists can only work on dead people.🙁

 

[HenryH]

I'm not toally clear on what you are asking but...

2 courses of biology (cell and molecular/organismal)
2 courses of physics
2 courses of general or physical chemistry
2 courses of organic chemistry
2 courses of English Literature and Writing
2 courses of math (calc or above...calc for life sci is fine)
1 course of psychology
1 course of biochem

generally a good idea to also take a couple extra courses like Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Genetics, or Microbiology

I thought/hoped most dental schools didn't have math pre-requisites...?

 

[pmantz]

Relatively Speaking Organic chemistry was a cake walk. Its alot of info but the concepts aren't that hard. I am a biochem major so can't speak for more classical biological sciences but my upper levels classes such as quantum chemistry and biosynthesis make organic seem like a walk in the park. Take home message don't worry about organic, just study.

 

[dddsmack]

Calc isn't required at the 20 schools I applied to. Trig was as high as I went!

 

[HenryH]

dddsmack,

Whew -- what a relief!

I SUCK at math. This semester (the first of my freshman year), I'm having to take a non-degree-credited basic algebra class; I might take up to pre-calc. 😎

We have a test tomorrow...over chapter 1 of the algebra/trig. book. 😳

 

[denteng]

Although, I like applying formulas and concepts to my work...i.e. chemistry...but i heard O-chem is hard, so thats why i dont want to make the switch....

Do biomedical engineering

1) you are a professional when you graduate.

2) you can get a job, and a well paying job if you decide to not go into dentistry (try that with a biology or chemistry undergrad)

3) it sets you apart from other predent applicants

4) you do a ton of application, formulas, and concepts. after taking engineering courses, you will find the dental prerecs to be a joke.

Your milage may vary, but that is my $0.02

 

[1992Corolla]

Math classes are not required! Although to get your degree you will most likely have to take math. I got up to college algebra...got my b+ and flew the coop on that math crap. Here is a link of a general list of classes to take before you matriculate into school. Although nowadays you most likely have to have already taken these and recieved good grades in them.

 

[HenryH]

Thanks for your response, Corolla.

I just checked the degree requirements for my school's biology BA/BS -- unfortunately, they require students to take up to pre-calc./trig.

Are there any other neat science degrees that don't have a math requirement (besides college algebra)? Right now, I'm just going to my local university for two years (then transferring somewhere bigger). The only science degrees offered here are biology, chemistry, physics (I think) and geology. However, when I transfer after two years, I plan on changing my major to a more interesting, unique science...

 

[1992Corolla]

Thanks for your response, Corolla.

I just checked the degree requirements for my school's biology BA/BS -- unfortunately, they require students to take up to pre-calc./trig.

Are there any other neat science degrees that don't have a math requirement (besides college algebra)? Right now, I'm just going to my local university for two years (then transferring somewhere bigger). The only science degrees offered here are biology, chemistry, physics (I think) and geology. However, when I transfer after two years, I plan on changing my major to a more interesting, unique science...

Microbiology, zoology, physiology...If you are at a two year program you may want to get your AS in bio then transfer to a school with more programs. My bio degree allowed me to choose between Calculus I & II (a year) or Stats I & II (a semester)...yeah, i chose stats. 😀

 

[HenryH]

I'm actually at a 4-year university, but I'll just be here for two years. I'll be getting all of the dental school pre-reqs out of the way except for physics (saving this baby for the senioritis). I was looking to transfer to Auburn University, as it's known for having a strong science program and high graduate-school placement numbers.

Unfortunately, it looks as if all their science programs require at least a semester of calculus, with most requiring two. 👎 🙁

 

[djeffreyt]

I thought/hoped most dental schools didn't have math pre-requisites...?

My bad...must have had my head in the wrong place when I wrote that in. didn't mean to worry anyone

 

[HenryH]

No problem. Most people seem to be good at math...especially if they're taking the pre-med/dent. courses. I just suck at it, and therefore want to avoid as much of it as possible (that's the attitude to have! LOL).