Pros & Cons physics

[Brettla16]

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What would you say are the pros and cons of holding off on physics until senior year?

Pro: Not having it interfere with gpa on ds application

con:?

 

[sfoksn]

I would like to know this as well, but not regarding physics but regarding upper division microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry.

I will be taking more of them, but they are scheduled for next year mostly.

This would be detrimental to my application, yes?

 

[ZFlink]

Physics is not on the DAT, so you could wait and take more important classes, however, physics is a pre-req for most, if not all, dental schools.

 

[BlueQuasar]

Out of curiosity, does anyone have any experience with taking the physics series with, say, a series of general bio and one of organic? I'm trying to sort out my junior year a little; my sophomore year, I'll be taking the year of general chem.
And with the schools that want physics, do they tend to want it done before you apply?

 

[DrReo]

Doesn't matter when you take it. I have friends who waited until senior year. I took it junior year. Just to butcher the class (fail) once you have your acceptance. It's definitely easy to slack one you get a pile of acceptance letters.

 

[ItalianPrincess]

Pro: physics sucks something fierce

Con: if you get accepted are you gonna be motivated to finish that biaytch of a class? (if its required for your major i guess no con lol)

BlueQuasar, i took analyt physics (calc based for engineering chem and biochem majors) with organic chemistry and genetics, i didnt do well in physics but that was mainly because of my weak math skills not necessarily the courseload (got As in orgo and genetics),if you're concerned why not take gen bio with gen chem and get it out of the way?

sfoksn, unless one of your schools specifically required the upperlevel bio courses as pre-recs and its not listed in your courses in progress you should be fine 🙂 take biochem right away its awesome!

 

[BlueQuasar]

BlueQuasar, i took analyt physics (calc based for engineering chem and biochem majors) with organic chemistry and genetics, i didnt do well in physics but that was mainly because of my weak math skills not necessarily the courseload (got As in orgo and genetics),if you're concerned why not take gen bio with gen chem and get it out of the way?

I'd be taking intro physics that are as basic as my given establishment offers; the only prereq is precalculus (which, along with calc I, I did fairly well in). And after thinking about it, I'll probably take them senior year, just to allow for more DAT preparation.

With the biology, I can't change my fall classes for various reasons, but I do have flexibility with winter and later on. However, the first of the three part series isn't available in winter, only fall and spring; the second can be taken in fall and winter, and the third in winter and spring. There are no prereqs for any part of the series. Should I just start with the second part in the winter, then the third in the spring, and end with the first the following fall? Or should I go with the first part in the spring, the second the following fall, and the third afterward? Or....should I just wait and take them in right order in one year? That's my main issue, deciding if biology is something that can be spread out a little, say, over a summer.

 

[ItalianPrincess]

I'd be taking intro physics that are as basic as my given establishment offers; the only prereq is precalculus (which, along with calc I, I did fairly well in). And after thinking about it, I'll probably take them senior year, just to allow for more DAT preparation.

With the biology, I can't change my fall classes for various reasons, but I do have flexibility with winter and later on. However, the first of the three part series isn't available in winter, only fall and spring; the second can be taken in fall and winter, and the third in winter and spring. There are no prereqs for any part of the series. Should I just start with the second part in the winter, then the third in the spring, and end with the first the following fall? Or should I go with the first part in the spring, the second the following fall, and the third afterward? Or....should I just wait and take them in right order in one year? That's my main issue, deciding if biology is something that can be spread out a little, say, over a summer.

honestly, i felt that general biology is a little useless...it was just a lot of info thrown at you that you have no choice but to memorize and regurgitate out and long term you can only remember so much (it'll get reinforced by your upper level classes and come back easily for the DAT tho so dont worry 🙂)

i'm assuming you're on a quarter system since you mentioned 3 terms, do you know if your bio series builds on itself or not? because i know at my school it didnt at all, you could take either semester in the fall and spring and there was minimal to no overlap of info...so if that's the case i definitely think you can spread it out over a summer, but you know yourself the best so you whatever you think will let you get the best grade possible in the classes

EDIT: also keep in mind when you want to take your DAT and make sure the bio series is done by then cuz it'll make studying easier

 

[BlueQuasar]

i'm assuming you're on a quarter system since you mentioned 3 terms, do you know if your bio series builds on itself or not? because i know at my school it didnt at all, you could take either semester in the fall and spring and there was minimal to no overlap of info...so if that's the case i definitely think you can spread it out over a summer, but you know yourself the best so you whatever you think will let you get the best grade possible in the classes

Hey, thanks for clearing things up. 🙂 With a little more research, I found that the first part is actually the only prereq for the second and third, so I guess I'm stuck with taking part one this spring if I want to fit in some more classes for the DAT. That and skipping physics 'til senior year should really help with getting DAT-ready.