Structural Engineer looking for career change, need info plz help!

[fujindesu]

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Hello folks, I just discovered this wonderful forum today. I graduated with a civil engineering degree (3.7 gpa) I'm a structural engineering graduate student now, I worked at a private consulting firm and hated the cube life, looking into dentistry and I really need some guidance! Please help with some of my questions.

Does it matter where you take your pre req classes? I can take them at Stanford, a state university or at a local community college.

When schools say they want 1 year (12 quarter units) of chemistry and ochemistry with lab, do they want 12 units no exceptions? cuz a year of chem with lab at my school is only 11 units, and a year of ochem is like 15 units.

thanks!

 

[4thMolar]

You should take your pre-reqs at a four year university, not a CC. A lot of schools prefer this and some even require it. As for the orgo and chem, I would call some schools and see what they say about the quarter units requirement. If they don't accept it, I would take it at a university that offers the proper number of units.

 

[UltimateHombre]

Welcome to the Forum!!! 👍

I would personally take them at a public 4 yr school. There is no sense is spending the extra money for the Ivy league name on your pre reqs, but that's just me.

There is almost always an exception to every rule. I would imagine the pre req is more important than the number of credits. If you took Gen Chem 1 w/ lab and its only 11 credits, well there is nothing you can do about that... You still took the class w/ the lab. But calling the schools is the best idea.

Also congrats with the 3.7 in the engineering degree. Very impressive. I imagine that you prob have a good chunk of pre reqs done... PHY 1 and 2, Calc 1, and if you did your chemistry already, all you have left is bio. With that good of a undergrad GPA from a rigorous program and a masters degree... you will be in a very good position to apply!! Good Luck!! 😀

Also take all the advice you get on here with a grain of salt. Almost all of us are pre-dents, not admission committees.

 

[fujindesu]

Thanks for the replies. I only took 1 semester of general chem and biology, but I don't think they count towards anything. so I'm still two years away 🙂