Switching career and have some questions.

[kponenation]

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Hi.

I'm currently working as a computer programmer but trying to go to dental schools in 2010, and I would like to ask some questions.

Although I consider Computer Science a science, it looks like when dental schools are talking about science they are only considering Chem, Bio, and Physics. When a dental school wants a recommendation letter from "science" professors, does this mean my computer science professors cannot write me one?

This kind of sucks because I have so many CS and math courses that are pretty much useless.

Also, I only have these "science" courses so far: Gen Chem I,II , Physic I,II with labs, BIO I,II with labs, and Org Chem I.
I still have to take Org Chem II, Gen Chem labs, and Org chem labs to meet the minimum requirements of the most schools. Is taking only the minimum requirement good enough?? Only "recommended" course I have is an intro to psychology course.

Here are some "specs" of my own:

-Overall undergrad GPA 3.91/4.0
-Science (only Chem, Bio, and Physics) 4.0/4.0
-Overall Graduate GPA 4.0/4.0
-Dean's list all semesters during my undergrad
-Association for Computer Machinery (it's a computer science club) school treasurer for about a year
-Chancellor scholarship to undergrad
-Doctoral Scholarship to grad
-University's Phi Beta Kappa Club Award
-University's Alumni Association Scholarship
-One publication (computer science)
-CS department tutor for over a year
-Full time computer programmer for 2.5 years
-Part time DBA (database Admin) for a year

I'll be taking DAT probably in July and I have started studying last week.
Other than my missing DAT score, do you guys see anything that I need to improve on my specs?

Currently, I have no shadowing hours and I was wondering how many hours are good enough? I do have a full time job so I can't really do too much but what's like a minimum?

Also about volunteering, how many hours is good? I do stuff at my church so I'm hoping it counts as volunteering but I have no records (it's not like I count hours everytime I do stuff at church).

Thanks in advance.

 

[razblo]

I'll be taking DAT probably in July and I have started studying last week.
Other than my missing DAT score, do you guys see anything that I need to improve on my specs?

Taking more science courses would help improve your chances of getting accepted, but to my understanding math classes count as a science so those should help your science GPA.

Currently, I have no shadowing hours and I was wondering how many hours are good enough? I do have a full time job so I can't really do too much but what's like a minimum?

Shadowing is required by some schools. I believe there is a list on this site about which schools require it and which do not. Although I think most people would agree that it's a fairly important thing to have on your application.

Also about volunteering, how many hours is good? I do stuff at my church so I'm hoping it counts as volunteering but I have no records (it's not like I count hours everytime I do stuff at church).

You could estimate how much time you've volunteered at your church and maybe get your pastor/rabbi/whatever sign something if needed to verify that you've done it.

 

[NyCzPeter]

Hi.

I'm currently working as a computer programmer but trying to go to dental schools in 2010, and I would like to ask some questions.

Although I consider Computer Science a science, it looks like when dental schools are talking about science they are only considering Chem, Bio, and Physics. When a dental school wants a recommendation letter from "science" professors, does this mean my computer science professors cannot write me one?

This kind of sucks because I have so many CS and math courses that are pretty much useless.

Also, I only have these "science" courses so far: Gen Chem I,II , Physic I,II with labs, BIO I,II with labs, and Org Chem I.
I still have to take Org Chem II, Gen Chem labs, and Org chem labs to meet the minimum requirements of the most schools. Is taking only the minimum requirement good enough?? Only "recommended" course I have is an intro to psychology course.

Here are some "specs" of my own:

-Overall undergrad GPA 3.91/4.0
-Science (only Chem, Bio, and Physics) 4.0/4.0
-Overall Graduate GPA 4.0/4.0
-Dean's list all semesters during my undergrad
-Association for Computer Machinery (it's a computer science club) school treasurer for about a year
-Chancellor scholarship to undergrad
-Doctoral Scholarship to grad
-University's Phi Beta Kappa Club Award
-University's Alumni Association Scholarship
-One publication (computer science)
-CS department tutor for over a year
-Full time computer programmer for 2.5 years
-Part time DBA (database Admin) for a year

I'll be taking DAT probably in July and I have started studying last week.
Other than my missing DAT score, do you guys see anything that I need to improve on my specs?

Currently, I have no shadowing hours and I was wondering how many hours are good enough? I do have a full time job so I can't really do too much but what's like a minimum?

Also about volunteering, how many hours is good? I do stuff at my church so I'm hoping it counts as volunteering but I have no records (it's not like I count hours everytime I do stuff at church).

Thanks in advance.

Your GPA is **** hot so don't even sweat the volunteering nonsense. Just get enough hours to allow you to exaggerate on your app. Do some mediocre shadowing and crush your DATs, then you're set. O and keep in mind there is sort of an "expiration date" for pre-reqs. So check with the schools and make sure they'll still accept your prereqs from like 3-4 years ago?

 

[thebozz1975]

Your GPA is **** hot so don't even sweat the volunteering nonsense. Just get enough hours to allow you to exaggerate on your app. Do some mediocre shadowing and crush your DATs, then you're set. O and keep in mind there is sort of an "expiration date" for pre-reqs. So check with the schools and make sure they'll still accept your prereqs from like 3-4 years ago?

I did not encounter any schools with "expiration dates" on courses. I got into top schools including a Dean's Scholarship to Penn, and my Gen Chem class was 10 years old.

Get lots of dental experience, and you'll be fine.

And, no, computer science professors should not write your science rec letter.

 

[kponenation]

Thanks for the replies.
I guess I'll have to do well on my DAT and after that try to do as many shadowing as possible.

If I'm planning to take more recommended courses like biochem and anatomy after I submit my application, is there a way to tell d-schools that I will be taking these courses so that they don't just turn me down because I don't have these courses?

Back to memorize some org chem synthesis 🙁

Thanks.

 

[thebozz1975]

is there a way to tell d-schools that I will be taking these courses so that they don't just turn me down because I don't have these courses?

Yes, there is a section for "planned courses" on the AADSAS app.

 

[razblo]

Your GPA is **** hot so don't even sweat the volunteering nonsense. Just get enough hours to allow you to exaggerate on your app. Do some mediocre shadowing and crush your DATs, then you're set. O and keep in mind there is sort of an "expiration date" for pre-reqs. So check with the schools and make sure they'll still accept your prereqs from like 3-4 years ago?

I believe the cutoff is 5 years.

 

[kponenation]

Thanks.. I was like 5 years?!?!
I'm not that old so I should be good but then I'm 24 going on 25 and I might need to retake one or two classes.. crap 🙁 but thanks..