Question For Non-Traditionals

[NonTradHopeful]

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Hey guys, for those who went to Dental School with a non-science major background, did you feel that you were at a disadvantage to the students who were science majors? Did they seem to absorb the material better/faster than you?

I ask because I'll be in a similar situation (will only have time to complete the pre-reqs, and nothing more).

What do you non-science background people think?

Thanks!

 

[browncrack]

Dental school is difficult for almost everyone, regardless of background academically. Take as many upper level bioscience classes as you can so you can get good background. If you can get into dental school, you will have to work very hard to get through the core science classes. Not impossible, but harder than it will be for others with a bioscience background.

 

[odontologia]

Hey guys, for those who went to Dental School with a non-science major background, did you feel that you were at a disadvantage to the students who were science majors? Did they seem to absorb the material better/faster than you?

I ask because I'll be in a similar situation (will only have time to complete the pre-reqs, and nothing more).

What do you non-science background people think?

Thanks!

I was in your same shoes about 5 yrs ago, worrying about the same stuff. I believe that the pre-req classes train you enough to think "science" and I don't feel that I had any disadvantage at all during my time. I graduated at the top half of my class, so that speaks for itself. Obviously I was non-science major, actually so far away from it! With that said, I ended up scoring a 3.8 SCIENCE GPA which got noticed at all schools that I applied. I knew since I was a non-traditional in every sense of the word, I had to prove myself a little bit more since I knew competition was tough! I also went as far as to complete 2 non-required classes which ended up helping me a ton during d-school, so I was glad I took them. Good luck!!

 

[scottyhoop]

Hey guys, for those who went to Dental School with a non-science major background, did you feel that you were at a disadvantage to the students who were science majors? Did they seem to absorb the material better/faster than you?

I ask because I'll be in a similar situation (will only have time to complete the pre-reqs, and nothing more).

What do you non-science background people think?

Thanks!

My degree is in music and I feel like I'm not behind my classmates at all. There are a few things here and there that some will mention they remember this or that from undergrad, but pretty much everyone is in the same boat. You will be fine! Good luck!!

Scotty

 

[Major Groove]

Well, I don't know yet..

One thing I can say is that in the unbelievable amount of college hours I have taken, ~180 or so, there is a certain relationship to everything academic.

At the higher levels a person majoring in Physics is not fundamentally more intelligent than someone majoring in Dance, though it is a different expression of that intelligence. It's not about the content, but about what you make of it.

I am a sound engineer by trade. Now I will be a DS1 at the University of Oklahoma. 😀

What does recording a punk band or a jazz band have to do with Dentistry?

Well? Come and find out.

Everything is related. Do not second-guess yourself if you are "non-science."

You have to talk to patients. You have to run a business. You need to market yourself and so on.

 

[small]

When I look around at my class I see the people putting in the most time to study getting the best grades. I'm sure some extra micro, anatomy, pharm, virology, etc. past your prereqs would help (for the 1st year at least), but time spent studying seems to be the biggest factor. Dentistry is a multi-faceted career, and showing the schools that you're good multiple things, assuming you do well in your prereqs, is a good thing.

 

[NonTradHopeful]

Excellent advice from everybody...many thanks!