Science major

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Hi guys i just want to know how hard is it getting a high/good gpa as a science major (biology) plus preparing for dental school. What gpa did you guys get? Thanks
 
I would definitely think of Biology major as one of the hardest majors. It requires a lot of memorization and profound understanding of many concepts related to biology. However, it is still do-able as long as you put your effort in it. In my case.. I slacked off a little and played too much which I'm regreting the most after graduating. In MY OPINION, admission committee at dental schools consider your GPA as the most important factor when considering your admission.
Good luck ! 🙂
 
it all depends on how hard of a worker you are. balancing studying/volunteering/working/shadowing/socializing can be tough. but in the end, do everything possible to get the highest GPA you can no matter what!
 
Science classes are easy.
 
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NavyDDS1990 said:
I would definitely think of Biology major as one of the hardest majors. It requires a lot of memorization and profound understanding of many concepts related to biology. However, it is still do-able as long as you put your effort in it. In my case.. I slacked off a little and played too much which I'm regreting the most after graduating. In MY OPINION, admission committee at dental schools consider your GPA as the most important factor when considering your admission.
Good luck ! 🙂
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Wait so are you in dental school like what are you doing in life right now?
 
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Have to disagree with @sexylife Biology is not the most difficult major, and dental school will be much more difficult. Biology major or not, you're going to have to take quite a few science classes. Stay on the grind and you'll do fine. G/L
 
Troyvdg said:
Have to disagree with @sexylife Biology is not the most difficult major, and dental school will be much more difficult. Biology major or not, you're going to have to take quite a few science classes. Stay on the grind and you'll do fine. G/L
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It was just my opinion and I never compared Biology major to dental school. Of course dentistry is much more harder.
 
NavyDDS1990 said:
I would definitely think of Biology major as one of the hardest majors. It requires a lot of memorization and profound understanding of many concepts related to biology. However, it is still do-able as long as you put your effort in it. In my case.. I slacked off a little and played too much which I'm regreting the most after graduating. In MY OPINION, admission committee at dental schools consider your GPA as the most important factor when considering your admission.
Good luck ! 🙂
Click to expand...

After you apply, you will be surprised to see how many people get accepted with a super high DAT and a mediocre GPA compared to a super high GPA and a mediocre DAT.
 
It really depends on what kind of student you are, as well as what university you attend. Biology can be very difficult for some people; it can also be very easy for others. If you have good study habits and don't get stuck with bad professors, you will do fine. Really.
 
If I could do it all over again I would have done kinesiology or nutrition and that way I could have taken the extra bio/chem classes as needed. As a bio major you will learn so much about plants and animals but not enough human bio. This is my experience. Major in something easier then bio/chem but make sure you can still take the sciences required and the sciences you're interested in. It will be hard. I grew up in an area that there is alot of construction workers right out of high school and they always had money and free time. If you are committing to dental school your early 20s will be hard but when you do have time to have fun... you have FUN!
 
Rubberpulp said:
If I could do it all over again I would have done kinesiology or nutrition and that way I could have taken the extra bio/chem classes as needed. As a bio major you will learn so much about plants and animals but not enough human bio. This is my experience. Major in something easier then bio/chem but make sure you can still take the sciences required and the sciences you're interested in. It will be hard. I grew up in an area that there is alot of construction workers right out of high school and they always had money and free time. If you are committing to dental school your early 20s will be hard but when you do have time to have fun... you have FUN!
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So true 😀 i rather study while I'm young and be balling driving a Bentley and living in a waterfront house when I'm older. (Of course I'm not going into dentistry only about the money, but when u you have the money, you will want nice things 😉 )
 
NavyDDS1990 said:
I graduated in Biology major and currently preparing to take my exam in may and apply in June. Working as an assistant at the practice.
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Wow! How do you like the job?
 
sylviej said:
Wow! How do you like the job?
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It's great. You get to learn a lot. I'm pretty sure once I go to school, I will definitely be more familiar with the stuff compared to people who don't have work experiences. Totally recommend getting an assistant job, especially if you have not fulfilled your shadowing hours because working can also be counted towards shadowing.
 
Science majors? I think it depends on your interest. Science is boring at first, but if you put up with the knowledge and carry on, you'll find science pretty amazing. I'm a chem major. I think Chemistry is hard at first, but once you get the pattern of thinking then it becomes a lot easier. Chemistry does not typically require a lot of memorization(except gen chem and orgo), but it emphasizes more on the logic as to link different patches together as a whole system. If you're good at Math, Chemistry is your thing. You'll love a lot of the upper level courses because a lot of math is involved and the math really helps you understand the courses.
Biology is fun and amazing. I learn so much about us as humans. Systems and reactions like respiratory system, excretory system, and respiration that are happening everyday but I never gave any thought about. That being said, some parts of Biology are headaches. The things I'm not that interested.
As for GPA, I think I did well on that part. I don't believe in aptitude. I believe in practice. So don't worry too much. Just do all you can do. The result will be rewarding.
 
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NavyDDS1990 said:
It's great. You get to learn a lot. I'm pretty sure once I go to school, I will definitely be more familiar with the stuff compared to people who don't have work experiences. Totally recommend getting an assistant job, especially if you have not fulfilled your shadowing hours because working can also be counted towards shadowing.
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That sounds wonderful! I believe you'll be so much more familiar with the procedures in dental school. I'm planning to get an assistant job after I'm done with the DAT too. I had some unpleasant experience working part-time at a dental practice before. So I'm a little worried..
 
sylviej said:
That sounds wonderful! I believe you'll be so much more familiar with the procedures in dental school. I'm planning to get an assistant job after I'm done with the DAT too. I had some unpleasant experience working part-time at a dental practice before. So I'm a little worried..
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You will do great! I hope you get an awesome score on DAT ! good luck 🙂
 
Biology classes, by and large, are going to essentially require memorization. Sure, you might get some application questions thrown your way... but if you get the concepts, they aren't bad. Biology classes just require time to cram all of that stuff into your head.

Chemistry classes, though, are a different ballgame. You just need to know concepts for biology... but in chemistry, you have to be able to solve different problems. My chemistry courses were more application-based. Chemistry was always harder for me and required a lot more time and effort. Gen Chem was NOT my cup of tea, but I really enjoyed orgo (but that isn't to say it wasn't VERY hard!).

Even as a science major, I graduated as the valediction at my college. You acclimate to the workload and get good at studying as you go along.
 
#dental4life said:
So true 😀 i rather study while I'm young and be balling driving a Bentley and living in a waterfront house when I'm older. (Of course I'm not going into dentistry only about the money, but when u you have the money, you will want nice things 😉 )
Click to expand...

Too bad you will never own a Bentley and a waterfront house from dentistry.
 
This topic has an endless possibility of answers. How hard is it to have a high GPA as a science major? Well...

-- Which science?
-- What university?
-- What type of student are you?

The various answers to those questions determine how successful one will be as a science major. Are you genuinely interested in science or are you choosing a science major for the purpose of going into dentistry? Make sure it is something you want to focus all of your academic energy on, because in the end dental schools would rather see you do well in a major that is important to you as well as the necessary prereqs instead of struggling through a science major to get into dental school. I began undergrad at a large public university as a bio major wanting to go to dental school. However, when I took a Spanish course as a core class, I realized how much I missed it from high school and how important studying abroad was for me. So I changed my whole academic plan to major in Spanish, spend a semester in Spain (which I would have never been able to do as a bio major), and still take the necessary prereqs for dental school (and more!). Now I'm proficient in Spanish AND fulfilling my dream of having a career in dentistry. Lots of people are confused about the path that I've chosen academically, but in the end it is YOUR money and YOUR education. Make sure it is worth YOUR while. Good luck.
 
spandent14 said:
This topic has an endless possibility of answers. How hard is it to have a high GPA as a science major? Well...

-- Which science?
-- What university?
-- What type of student are you?

The various answers to those questions determine how successful one will be as a science major. Are you genuinely interested in science or are you choosing a science major for the purpose of going into dentistry? Make sure it is something you want to focus all of your academic energy on, because in the end dental schools would rather see you do well in a major that is important to you as well as the necessary prereqs instead of struggling through a science major to get into dental school. I began undergrad at a large public university as a bio major wanting to go to dental school. However, when I took a Spanish course as a core class, I realized how much I missed it from high school and how important studying abroad was for me. So I changed my whole academic plan to major in Spanish, spend a semester in Spain (which I would have never been able to do as a bio major), and still take the necessary prereqs for dental school (and more!). Now I'm proficient in Spanish AND fulfilling my dream of having a career in dentistry. Lots of people are confused about the path that I've chosen academically, but in the end it is YOUR money and YOUR education. Make sure it is worth YOUR while. Good luck.
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Yea haha 🙂 i like sciences and from what I can see my marks are in the higher end for my sciences compared with other things so that why I want to major in sciences 🙂
 
It's very school dependent. Bio class at CSU is no match to bio classes at UCLA.
 
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Have down your foundations at least for Bio. Once you have that down, upper div classes are breeze.
 
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