UCLA--short of units?

[Literati81]

Hi All,

I got a problem. Hopefully those that went/go to UCLA can help me out.

I am a life science major so I took Chem 14A (4 units gchem), Chem 14B (4 units gchem), Chem 14BL (2 units gchem), Chem 14C (4 units ochem), Chem 14CL (4 units Gchem), Chem 140 (4 units ochem)...whew. And of course Biochem 153 (4 units) and Biochem 153L (4 units).

Grand total of 13 QUARTER UNITS of GCHEM and 8 QUARTER UNITS of OCHEM.
And 8 units of Biochem.

And my problem-->UMich, Columbia, UPenn and Case all require between 10-12 QUARTER UNITS of OCHEM. So I'm about 4 units short. I looked on-line and as a life-science major, there's no other Ochem class left to take at UCLA...unless I want to pursue a graduate organic chem seminar (Note physical science majors have the dreaded yet oh-so-unit-happy chem 30 series that would make your prereq requirements break even or overflow).

Is anyone else having this problem? Should I just go to a JC and re-take OCHEM? Or can I use my biochem units and creatively find a way to convert them into ochem units?

Arg! Help anyone? Thanks!

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[busdriver]

you're in luck, I went to ucla and took all the courses you mentioned. actually, i didn't even take chem 153L (good thing too cuz that class is hell). i think the main reason is because some classes are kind of integrated so they're like half ochem half general chem (although i'm not sure which class...probably 14B or 14C). anyways, i was still able to apply to all my schools with no problems. i actually didn't apply to umich or case but i did apply to columbia and upenn and neither said anything about not fulfilling requirements. the only school that gave me a problem was tufts but it was more their fault than mine because they didn't update their class codes or something. basically, i just told them about the classes we have at ucla and they were ok with it. hope this helps...pm me if you have any other questions about ucla stuff...

 

[Literati81]

so sad...I'm responding to my own post.

Anyways...
So, I checked online for the prereq requirements for UPenn, Columbia, yadda yadda. And I noticed that the prereqs listed on their website are different from the 2003 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.

Case in point:
1. Upenn website: Prereq requirement of "3 semesters of chemistry w/ corresponding lab training (including inorganic and at least 1 semester of organic chemistry) are required"

Versus
2. ADEA Offficial Guide (looking at Upenn, pg 160): "Organic chemistry: 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours"

Now, is it just me or do these prereqs not match. In any case, I guess I'll give every [explitive] dental school a call tomorrow. But if you have any comments or suggestions, please post.

 

[StarGirl]

hmm i took all those classes too and the only school that told me i didn't meet their requirement was NOVA (i was like 1.8 units short in ochem...) but i never responded to them since by the time they contacted me I already had two interviews at other schools....
I applied and interviewed at all the schools you mentioned except for Case...so I am pretty sure you'll be fine.
Also, I'm sure most schools know about UCLA's Life Science Science classes cause there's always a ton of us that apply each yr 🙂 good luck 🙂

 

[Literati81]

Yeah, this is really starting to suck. I called UMich and they told me that I couldn't apply without the 12 quarter units of organic chemistry. After I asked her if I could take the remaining 4 units a a community college, she said that the UMich frowns down upon taking any science course at a JC.

So for those of you that went to UCLA as a life sci major, is this basically how you categorized your chem?

Spring 2000
Chem 14A:4 units of GCHEM

Summer 2000
Chem 14B: 4 units of GCHEM

Fall 2000
Chem 14BL: 2 units of OCHEM LAB
Chem 14C: 4 units of OCHEM

Winter 2001
Chem14Cl: 3 units of OCHEM LAB

Spring 2001
Chem 140: 4 units of OCHEM

Spring 2002
Chem 153A: 4 units of BIOCHEM

Fall 2003
Chem 153L: 4 units of BIOCHEM LAB

TOTAL: 13 quarter units of GCHEM with LAB. 8 quarter units of OCHEM withOUT lab. Please let me know if I did something stupid or if I really don't need to worry about applying to USC, UPenn, Temple, etc.

 

[Dentalist]

Literati81,

When schools ask you about the units, you should tell them that you have taken all the general/organic chemistry courses that are offered at UCLA, satisfying a year of g/o chem.

By the way, I also have a question as well...
I took first g chem class at Berkeley when I was a sophomore in high school and received a P (passed grade). My school would not let me repeat the course so I skipped first semester of g chem and started with second semester of g chem. So my question is "Should I retake the first semester of general chemistry at a JC for a letter grade?" Also, is it true that dental schools flown upon taking organic chemistry classes at JC?

 

[Literati81]

And here the response from UCLA...

They recognize the problem with the LS series. Yup, that's it. The resolution? I may have to take summer school classes at a JC and risk getting the evil glare by pretentious admissions officers.

For those of you that went to UCLA, underwent the unitless Life Science Series and got into schools such as UCLA, UCSF, USC, Columbia, etc...what the heck did you do? No really. Did they just look at your lack of units, shrug and say that it was okay? I'm just scared that I'll get an immediate rejection from every darn school...

le sigh...

 

[alilou]

Hi Literati81. I also went to UCLA and was a LS major (PhySci), and took all of those classes. I was able to get into UCLA, UCSF, and UOP (I didn't interview at any others, so I don't know about them). The only time my science units were questioned was during my UCLA interview...ironic huh? During the interview, they went through my units just to make sure they met requirements. I think they said I was short o-chem units at first, but then they rearranged my classes and said it was fine (but I don't exactly know what they did). I did ask them if the basic LS classes satisfied the dental school requirements, and they said "not necessarily," which is quite odd since they're fine for med school. UCSF never questioned my classes. Everything worked out for me in the end, so hopefully it'll work for you!

 

[AFVET]

All this talk about Ochem got me thinkin. I'm finishing up my 2nd quarter of Ochem right now but the final quarter will not be offered during summer, I will have to wait till fall. Can I still apply to D-school for this year?

 

[Literati81]

AFVet: You can apply as long as you specify in your app that you will take in before dental school.

Everyone else: thank you so much for replying! I called a number of schools today and they all pretty much gave me either the "I don't know and the person who does know is currently on vacation and won't be back until god-knows-when" or the "hmm, yeah, guess you can't apply here!"

For those of you that took the chem life sci series at UCLA, were you non-science majors? Just wondering because I know some people took upper div chem classes, e.g. Chem 171. As a result, they were able to put in units towards their chem requirement. Ahh, but I switched to Anthropology and will forever swim in regret.

Also, lets say I get screwed by the system (again) and am forced to take 1-2 additional chem class. Since I took the entire LS chem series at UCLA, it would be odd (I would be taking the same class over) and hella $$ to take extension courses. Have any of you had problems taking additional courses at a JC? It appears I may have to take INTRO g-chem or INTRO o-chem at SMC, a local junior college as SMC does not offer any upper div or advanced chem class (By the way, I mentally crossed UMich off my "apply" list after the UMich lady politely told me that it "here at UMich, we look down heavily at students who took/will take their core science classes at a community college"). Ahh, and the mayhem begins...

Really sorry for making this thread fairly long. One day I'll look back on this thread and hit myself for asking too many darn questions. But for now, I'm glued to my phone and computer...feeling a little stupid.

 

[miravyn]

I have some questions about Dental school requirements. They want us to take one year of English including a course in Literature and two in composition (something like that). Since you guys all go to UCLA, what classes did you take to fulfill that requirement. I am a second year and have only taken English 3. I'm planning on taking AP & TESL 101W (a writing II class)...that probably qualifies as a composition class right? Do you think English 4 will qualify as literature? So far I've finished the Physics 6 series, Chem 20A,B,L, Chem 30A,AL,B,BL,C (holding off on 30CL...it's a dreadful class), LS 2, 3, 4 (taking LS 1 this summer), Math 31A,B 32A. Does anyone know if Psychology 10 is required for application? I'm planning on taking it this summer but if it's not required, then there is no point.

 

[miravyn]

Yeah, this is really starting to suck. I called UMich and they told me that I couldn't apply without the 12 quarter units of organic chemistry. After I asked her if I could take the remaining 4 units a a community college, she said that the UMich frowns down upon taking any science course at a JC.

So for those of you that went to UCLA as a life sci major, is this basically how you categorized your chem?

Spring 2000
Chem 14A:4 units of GCHEM

Summer 2000
Chem 14B: 4 units of GCHEM

Fall 2000
Chem 14BL: 2 units of OCHEM LAB
Chem 14C: 4 units of OCHEM

Winter 2001
Chem14Cl: 3 units of OCHEM LAB

Spring 2001
Chem 140: 4 units of OCHEM

Spring 2002
Chem 153A: 4 units of BIOCHEM

Fall 2003
Chem 153L: 4 units of BIOCHEM LAB

TOTAL: 13 quarter units of GCHEM with LAB. 8 quarter units of OCHEM withOUT lab. Please let me know if I did something stupid or if I really don't need to worry about applying to USC, UPenn, Temple, etc.

Didn't you say that you only need 10-12 units of O chem...then I think you are ok as long as you have taken 14CL. 14C (4 units) + 14D (4 units) + 14CL (3 units). That's 11 units right there. Isn't that enough.

 

[Dentalist]

I believe Eng comp 4 will fulfill a literature requirement and that Psych 10 is required for UCLA dental school. I am not sure if AP and TESL 101W will count for composition though.

I have some questions about Dental school requirements. They want us to take one year of English including a course in Literature and two in composition (something like that). Since you guys all go to UCLA, what classes did you take to fulfill that requirement. I am a second year and have only taken English 3. I'm planning on taking AP & TESL 101W (a writing II class)...that probably qualifies as a composition class right? Do you think English 4 will qualify as literature? So far I've finished the Physics 6 series, Chem 20A,B,L, Chem 30A,AL,B,BL,C (holding off on 30CL...it's a dreadful class), LS 2, 3, 4 (taking LS 1 this summer), Math 31A,B 32A. Does anyone know if Psychology 10 is required for application? I'm planning on taking it this summer but if it's not required, then there is no point.

 

[Literati81]

So it appears that only one person at UCLA holds the answer to my question. Her name is Marcy (an LS counselor) who is mysteriously unavailable everytime I drop by her office. In any case, here is what I heard from other counselors.

So the 14 series is messed up. UCLA has recognized their failure to provide students with the most optimal arrangement of gchem and ochem classes. To compensate, the UCLA Career Center has a copy of a letter that addresses the under-units issue and will give you a copy (to send to whiny dental schools) per your request. Here's the problem. Only one man with the first initial of "A" has access to and knows about this letter (I forgot his name). So if you are a pre-dent at UCLA who by a stroke of bad luck, took the 14 series...you must find these 2 people (okay, so I lied...there are 2 and not 1).

As for the English classes question...yeah, I also fall 1 class short (yay for SMC...). I took English 3H (composition) and 4H (literature). I e-mailed UCLA, UCSF and USC and they are surprisingly cool with my puny 10 units of English (they were 5 units each).

Ugh...so early yet there are already a lot of people in the Young computer labs...

 

[miravyn]

Do we have to have completed all the prerequisites when we apply for dental school. I don't think I can get all my English classes together by then. I'm trying to get into this English 110 (eq. to English 4W at UCLA) class at Golden West College but it's absolutely full. Honestly, I don't want to take Eng 4W at UCLA because it's catered to English majors. I hate writing and I really don't want to take English classes at UCLA.

 

[Literati81]

On your application there is a part where you can list all the courses you plan on taking before entering dental school. So, yes. You can apply without having fulfilled all the prereqs (keeping in mind that you will have to complete the prereqs upon matriculation into dental school).

Honestly, English 4W is not bad. I also heard rumors that it is geared towards English majors. Don't be fooled. These are probably the same people that said Chem 153A would "kill you and your GPA." Sure there were a few people spitting around terms like "iambic pentameter," "synedoche," "cubists," etc. But its really no different from "pentane," "synthesis" and "CNMR."

 

[miravyn]

I hate 153A so much...it's not like it's hard but it's so time consuming. I didn't believe people when they told me that I would have to study everyday from day one. The final is only one week away and I am so overwhelmed with this overload of information. Thanks for the advice! Literati81, what is your name? I'm Vivian.

 

[saman1]

Hey Literati81,

Thanks for looking into this. I'm an mcdb major and took the 14 series (and i'm finished with it). I will be applying this cycle. I will try to see if I can somehow get answers and see if we're really screwed. I will try to contact the schools. If the UCLA med school has no problems with the 1 unit shortage, I don't understand why the Dental school would have problems.

Oh and miravyn, if you're taking 153a with bates don't listen to what she tells you to study or not. I painfully learned that when she specifically said something will not be on the final it was. The biggest mistake was taking that class with her. 😡

 

[busdriver]

Oh and miravyn, if you're taking 153a with bates don't listen to what she tells you to study or not. I painfully learned that when she specifically said something will not be on the final it was. The biggest mistake was taking that class with her. 😡

hey guys, i went to ucla too. i thought bates was a pretty decent teacher. it's all about doing the practice problems and the compendium. but then again, i had a really good tutor too (his name is ned and he goes to ucla med now). but yeah, if you think 153A is time-consuming, wait till you take 153L. unless you got friends that have previous lab work, you'll be up doing stupid graphs and whatnot for the whole quarter. hopefully you won't have to take it (go me!! i was psychobio and didn't need 153L!!)