Skipping the Bachelors degree...

[hopefuldentist]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I've been accepted this go around, and I want to try to convince the director of admissions at the school I'll be attending to let me take science courses (Biochem, Micro, and Anatomy) next semester instead of finishing up my degree.

Does anyone think this might not be a good idea? Would this bite me in the butt later on in the future?

 

[lphiewok]

are you saying that you can finish and get your degree next semester but instead you want to take those courses to prepare yourself before dental school? (which will not satisfy your required courses to graduate with Bachelor's degree)

I would probably rather take Bachelor's degree instead of those courses. You already got into dental school, I would rather finish up school with less science-rigorous schedule and try to relax and enjoy little bit while getting a Bachelor's degree like everyone else. Also, there are many people who start dental school after year or two break from school/science courses and I'm pretty sure even though they might have it hard at first, they will catch up soon and be fine without taking all the upper-division bio courses.

So IMO, I would take easier courseload with Bachelor's degree

 

[Palmetto914]

Ask the school. You'll get a bunch of speculation here, but the school will tell you for sure. It's not like they're going to revoke your acceptance for asking them.

 

[rosebud1]

Get the degree.

I'm not saying that this is going to happen to you, but **** happens and you never know what the future may hold. Some really horrible circumstances may arise that force you to leave dental school - an accident that leaves you unable to work with your hands, a family emergency of some sort, I don't know. Or somewhere along the line your passions may change and you may want to leave dentistry to pursue something else. Having a degree to fall back on is essential.

 

[Kneecoal]

that and think about trying to maintain a decent gpa while taking all 3 of those courses at the same time (if that's what you're implying).

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

come on...give yourself a break before ds. Take it easy and have some enjoyable classes that won't be a great challenge. The next 4+ years you will have plenty of time to take those courses.

 

[hopefuldentist]

I should add that completing my degree will require me going Spring semester AND summer semester. I have 6 classes total left, 5 next semester and 1 I'd have to take during the summer.

Also, I LOVE anatomy (the anatomy course I'd be taking is Head and Neck Anatomy - I've already taken gross). I can't tell you how much I would enjoy this class. Also, if I take Biochem I don't have to take it in the dental school I'm going to.

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

which school does that?

 

[lhtran07]

I would definitely ask the school to make sure that your acceptance isn't contingent on you earning the bachelor's degree.

Also, what school says you can skip biochem if you take it in undergrad? I've never heard of that. Actually, isn't undergrad biochem one of the required/recommended classes when you apply for dental school

 

[hopefuldentist]

I was accepted to the the Creighton RDEP program, so I do the first year at the university I am currently attending and then go to Creighton for the next 3 years. You can take the same Biochem class as an undergrad that the dental students do.

And yes, I would talk to the admissions people to get permission. If they said they want me to get the degree, obviously I'd just finish it up.

 

[supraeli]

of course getting your degree is worth it, if it requires another semester or two of work...

however, if you can go from soph. year in college to dent school and skip 2 years of undergrad, i would def do that... graduating at 24 vs. 26 with a DDS or DMD is WAY worth it, you will have plenty of time to slack off at 29 when your booming practice is raking in cash and you have half the week off to party in vegas. lol

yes, i am extraordinarily jealous of graduates of the UOP 5 yr program.

 

[kbkt902]

Like rosebud1 said, if something were to happen (and hopefully it does not) or if you decided later down the line to make a career change... you will be stuck without a degree which will make it VERY hard to get a job in another field.

I was thinking about doing this for a while too, but if you have made it through your science classes so far theres no reason to keep preparing. You were chosen because they think you can handle the course load of a d-student. And I agree, take a break and take some not-so-difficult classes for once!