Relaxed last semester vs rigorous semester

[supraman]

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OK, i have the option of seriously taking cooking101 and other courses that are pretty much "whatever classes" (no offense) or I can take some bio classes, even though I have enough of those. Would you rather bump up GPA by taking easy classes or still ride it to the end with biology and science classes? Dent school looks at GPA but should I also take harder classes? (I am done with everything for my major)

 

[cabbagebrain]

I think someone brought this up not too long ago. I say give yourself a break, but take something that you will enjoy. Do you like cooking or want to learn to cook? Then take that class. I bet your university offers all sorts of interesting classes, and you have the opportunity to indulge a bit. Or look into any special topic classes being offered this semester and you may find something that appeals to you.

I don't think they'll look down on you one bit for taking an "easier" class that you are interested in now that you have your major requirements fulfilled. You may even find it is the topic of conversation at your interview (happened with me).

 

[E Nigma]

Bump up the GPA, imo. Besides, a cooking class sounds fantastic.

 

[supraman]

haha thanks for the input!

My gpa is like a 3.3, so I dont know if i should take easier classes to bump it up or to take harder and show that I am determined and can take hard classes. Kind of confused!

 

[in her drawer]

Dude, no matter what you may be thinking, a "rigorous" semester of undergrad cannot possibly compare to d-school. If it's your last semester, have you already applied? If so, it doesn't matter what GPA you get now so go have some fun. However, if you haven't applied yet then bump up your GPA.

 

[DMyers]

Hi...

I am in my first year of dental school. During the end of my undergraduate education I took it easy and found many ways to justify it. If I was in your position, I would take as many biology, biochemistry and science courses as I could possibly take. Hell, take biochemistry again, just to get more familiar with it.

If you are accepted into dental school and don't need to worry about your GPA, just take the classes and do enough to pass. The extra exposure to different science courses will only help, even if you do the minimum to pass.

Either way you go, dental school will be tough. After our mid-term exams this quarter I spoke with many of my classmates and they said that they knew answers to several of the exam questions as a result of what they learned in undergraduate, not from our dental school lectures. Many went on to say that they would have been screwed if it weren't for their previous exposure to the material.

Then take the summer off and play.

Just one opinion among many, but I wish I would have taken MANY more science courses. Best of luck my friend!

-DM

 

[Regmata]

If you have taken human anatomy, human physiology, histology, biochem and some form of neurology already...then who cares, do whatever you want. Try to get an independent study in a dental area if offered. You probably won't do much other than get exposure to the field.

Myers is right, your undergrad education reallly is the difference between a difficult first 2 years of dental school and a hellish first 2 years of school.

 

[Lurchdubious]

i'm in the same boat~this spring is my last semester and i have to take organic evolution, invert. zoology, and spanish, and i'm trying to decide if i want to take oral histology, immunology, or microbio, or just relax and take the drawing course i've been wanting to take.
i've taken just about every other upper division science course, but i'm really thinking that one of those sci courses would help in d-school. there is also a head & neck anatomy lab that i really want, but it conflicts with the inv. zoo...

 

[diane07]

If you feel certain you'll be accepted into dental school, you could go either way.
1. easy route and enjoy the semester
2. challenging courses that may be helpful later on in dental school

But what happens if you don't get accepted this year? If that's the case, in hindsight you will probably wish that you had taken upper level division sciences to beef up your application for the next cycle.