UC Berkeley Extension & Help with Pre-Dental Course Plan/Application and Testing Timeline

[predentalbear]

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Hi all,

I'm currently a rising junior at UC Berkeley finishing up my economics major. I am an aspiring entrepreneurial dentist looking into taking my pre-dental pre-req courses to apply to dental school after earning my bachelor's degree. I plan on taking all my pre-reqs at the UC Berkeley Extension. I was wondering if someone could help me take a look at the plan I've made. I'm not really sure of the workload of these classes coming from a non-science background. Still confused on when to take the DAT. Advice, rearranging, critique it to make this rough draft of a plan more realistic/doable would be greatly appreciated.


Fall 2021
- Chem 1 Lecture
- Chem 1 Lab
- Biology 1 Lecture
- Biology 2 Lecture

Spring 2022
- Chem 2 Lecture
- Chem 2 Lab
- Biology 2 Lecture
- Biology 2 Lab

Summer 2022
- Organic Chem 1 Lecture
- Organic Chem 2 Lab
- Physics 1 Lecture
- Physics 1 Lab

Fall 2022
- Organic Chem 2 Lecture
- Organic Chem 2 Lab
- Physics 2 Lecture
- Physics 2 Lab

Spring 2023
- Biochemistry
- Psychology
- Study for DAT?

Summer 2023
- Study for DAT
- Take DAT

Fall 2023
- Dental School Applications

Spring 2024
- Dental School Admission Decisions

Summer 2024
- Vacation/Rest

Fall 2024
- Begin Dental School

 

[Geo16]

First off, Go Bears (and go unranked)!
Why expend the effort bro? Just go to CC and save $$$.
Plus, UCB has a special pre-med track that only requires Chem 1A and 1AL for gen-chem. And often people move on to 3A and 3AL. And finally to Bio 1A and 1AL. It's not required to take org-chem, but it's a de-facto pre-req for Bio 1A. Just take some time around int-bio majors and they might tell you to do that as well. Back on track, the school tells students to skip Chem 1B for pre-meds (and other health professions alike) and they want you to reach out to the pre-med advising team if this doesn't fulfill the med school's gen chem requirements. Also have you taken 16A and 16B for econ? Then you should be familiar with int bio majors. Take some time off Lecon and Evans and explore possible double majoring(or minor) in int bio if you really wish to take those pre-reqs at Cal.

Trust me, you do NOT wanna do pre-reqs at Cal. I've seen people excited at the beginning to be at Cal and then fall into the deep depth of bear furs when they receive low grades. Also, explore CNR majors (Micro vials/ Environmental Sci etc.) just to expand your campus experience. Do the pre-reqs at CC after graduation. I'm cereal.

 

[predentalbear]

First off, Go Bears (and go unranked)!
Why expend the effort bro? Just go to CC and save $$$.
Plus, UCB has a special pre-med track that only requires Chem 1A and 1AL for gen-chem. And often people move on to 3A and 3AL. And finally to Bio 1A and 1AL. It's not required to take org-chem, but it's a de-facto pre-req for Bio 1A. Just take some time around int-bio majors and they might tell you to do that as well. Back on track, the school tells students to skip Chem 1B for pre-meds (and other health professions alike) and they want you to reach out to the pre-med advising team if this doesn't fulfill the med school's gen chem requirements. Also have you taken 16A and 16B for econ? Then you should be familiar with int bio majors. Take some time off Lecon and Evans and explore possible double majoring(or minor) in int bio if you really wish to take those pre-reqs at Cal.

Trust me, you do NOT wanna do pre-reqs at Cal. I've seen people excited at the beginning to be at Cal and then fall into the deep depth of bear furs when they receive low grades. Also, explore CNR majors (Micro vials/ Environmental Sci etc.) just to expand your campus experience. Do the pre-reqs at CC after graduation. I'm cereal.

Yeah Go Bears! I was told that dental schools/med schools do not want your pre-reqs to be taken at a community college which was why I was looking into the Berkeley Extension. My goal is UCLA's dental school. Also I'm incoming transfer student at UC Berkeley this fall so I won't have time to do the dental pre reqs there because these two years will be me trying to finish the econ major which was why I was looking into a post bacc, but community college is way cheaper and my preference just concerning if it's seen as bad.

 

[Geo16]

Yeah Go Bears! I was told that dental schools/med schools do not want your pre-reqs to be taken at a community college which was why I was looking into the Berkeley Extension. My goal is UCLA's dental school. Also I'm incoming transfer student at UC Berkeley this fall so I won't have time to do the dental pre reqs there because these two years will be me trying to finish the econ major which was why I was looking into a post bacc, but community college is way cheaper and my preference just concerning if it's seen as bad.

If going to CC seems like a bad idea for you, then why not do Post-bacc programs at other 4 year university? There are programs at CSU and they'll be hella cheaper than what you'd pay for UCB Extension. CSU Eastbay had it (not sure if they do still) and other CSUs got plenty of that program 🙂 Like SFU, CSU EB, CSUF, CSUN etc.

 

[premed20172017]

Talk to the pre-med adviser at Berkeley Extension. Assuming she's still there, she came over from the Mills Postbacc program a few years ago. I met with her when figuring out my next steps, and she was SO kind and helpful. She offered me unbiased advice, which is really difficult to get as a postbacc student. I can't remember her name, but I think it might start with a J?

In terms of cost, UC extension schools have discounts all the time (earlybird, UC alumni, etc.). Definitely take advantage of those. The savings definitely add up.

 

[predentalbear]

Talk to the pre-med adviser at Berkeley Extension. Assuming she's still there, she came over from the Mills Postbacc program a few years ago. I met with her when figuring out my next steps, and she was SO kind and helpful. She offered me unbiased advice, which is really difficult to get as a postbacc student. I can't remember her name, but I think it might start with a J?

In terms of cost, UC extension schools have discounts all the time (earlybird, UC alumni, etc.). Definitely take advantage of those. The savings definitely add up.

How do I find out more about the UC extension discounts?