UMDNJ-GSBS 2011 1st semester schedule

[wschang812]

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This is my first post guys. I got accepted to UMDNJ-GSBS for fall 2011. I am a predent student who also did postbacc at Hofstra. I would like to finish the program in 1 year, 1 summer, and transfer the rest of the remaining credits from dental school if I get accepted. I heard this was possible (saw this in another thread)? 10 credits in the fall, 11 in the spring, 3 in the summer (i heard virology is offered), and transfer the remaining 6 credits from dental school.

In this case, what are some classes recommended for a first yr, first semester student? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[wired202808]

chang check this out: maybe it will help:

http://njms.umdnj.edu/gsbs/academic_programs/masters_dentsch_interest.htm

 

[wschang812]

thanks wired. i saw that. still wondering if its better to take fund I or Dental phys. as for electives, im also curious about which ones are easier and difficult. and which seminars are recommended. thanks for the input

 

[dental815]

thanks wired. i saw that. still wondering if its better to take fund I or Dental phys. as for electives, im also curious about which ones are easier and difficult. and which seminars are recommended. thanks for the input

Dental Physiology is more difficult than a lot of the classes you'll take not only because there was a lot of stuff that was covered but also because it focuses more on critical thinking and integration of multiple topics than just rote memmorization. You have to truely know the topic to get an A in the course.... which is very doable if you put in the time. The class meets 2 hours a day 4 times a week. It starts 1 week earlier than masters courses and ends 1 week after most masters courses and theres 7 exams total, one every two weeks so theres some room for error. The stuff you learn in the course also overlaps with a lot of the other electives and it'll make those courses a lot easier. I believe 0 people got an A two years ago and around 2 people got an A last year.

Fundamentals I is a biochem course that almost everyone in the program takes. If you dont take a medical or dental course you will be taking fundamentals I. I think its curved according to how the class performs and most of the people I know got an A in the course.

Take physiology only if you really have confidence in your abilities to do well in the program. If go in with the mentality that this is your last opportunity to get into dental school and you are willing to put in the time, it is very possible to get an A in Dental Physiology and that will look pretty good on your transcript (or so I've been told...not sure yet how much of a difference it'll make at schools not named UMDNJ). If you want the safe route, definately go Fundamentals I. Even a B+ in the 5 credit Dental Physiology course really hurts your gpa and a C brings you all the way down to a 3.6......

As for electives, look at biological terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, oral microbiology, fundamentals of pharmacology, principles of toxicology, cellular pathology (VERY tough course), and basic histology. those are classes the majority of the people in the program end up taking and theyre all not too difficult with the exception of cellular pathology. For the seminar, you probably should take the dental seminar since youre going dental.

 

[wschang812]

Thanks for the info dental815. this helped me alot

 

[wschang812]

btw are the lectures recorded?

 

[basra89]

This is my first post guys. I got accepted to UMDNJ-GSBS for fall 2011. I am a predent student who also did postbacc at Hofstra. I would like to finish the program in 1 year, 1 summer, and transfer the rest of the remaining credits from dental school if I get accepted. I heard this was possible (saw this in another thread)? 10 credits in the fall, 11 in the spring, 3 in the summer (i heard virology is offered), and transfer the remaining 6 credits from dental school.

In this case, what are some classes recommended for a first yr, first semester student? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Quick question if you don't mind me asking.. What were your stats because I applied to the same program and I'm curious how competitive it is?!?!?

 

[wschang812]

hey basra,
stats are:
undergrad cumulative gpa: 2.7
post-bacc prehealth gpa: 3.98
DAT: 20TS//20AA/23PAT

 

[dental815]

btw are the lectures recorded?

Lectures are not recorded in most of the classes (they are in all the dental courses).

 

[camshaft]

Hey wschang812,
I'm finishing the GSBS masters now, and did it in 1 year plus a summer also. I re-applied to dental school immediately before starting the program, received interviews to NYU, Tufts, and Columbia after academic update, and will be attending Tufts in the fall. I was originally planning on doing the 6 credit transfer as you mentioned, but I highly highly highly recommend you plan your course load as if you're going to do all 30 credits while in the program. The reason is because even though UMDNJ lets you back-transfer the dental credits to your masters to get the masters retroactively, most dental schools I spoke to required that I completed the masters in whole prior to matriculating. I therefore planned to do the 30 credits in the 1 year + 1 summer and am glad I did, because even after I was accepted to Tufts they didn't allow me to waive any of my masters credits. In fact, at my Tufts interview I had to show my course schedule to demonstrate that I would be able to complete the masters before orientation in August.

Now don't worry, if you pick your courses right, you can easily do what I did: 12 credits first semester, 13 credits spring semester, 5 credits summer. There isn't an official 'summer' though, as many of the classes start and end at different times and the latest ones are simply called 'summer' classes even though they're still technically part of the spring semester. My 'summer' class is virology, which 3 credits, one month long and ends June 30th. So that's when I'll be done, meaning I'll have completed all 30 credits in less than 1 calender year. My other 2 summer credits is the research rotation, which you can do whenever you feel like it. If you talk to Tsiagbe he's very relaxed and isn't afraid to frankly tell you which courses are harder or more work than others.

This is a very useful program if you use it to well and pull a good gpa. As I said I applied right before the start of the program as a re-applicant. Therefore at the time of my application my app simply said I was starting the program, but didn't have any grades yet. I pulled a 3.8 my first semester, and within 2 weeks of academic update, had 3 interviews. Good luck.

Quick question if you don't mind me asking.. What were your stats because I applied to the same program and I'm curious how competitive it is?!?!?

Acceptance is not very competitive BUT this is not a downside. It means that how much the program helps you is entirely dependent on YOU. If you simply 'pass' through the program it will have done very little for you. If you can pull off a 3.5+ gpa, while taking at least one of the 1st year dental courses, and get the rest of the cards in order, you can do quite well. I think this is an underrated program, and did more for me than my informal post-bac classes I took prior to it.

 

[wschang812]

thanks camshaft, if you dont mind me asking, what classes did you take in the fall and spring? did you have a concentration? i was thinking about a concentration is Pharmacology. any advice what classes to take? thanks for your response.

 

[camshaft]

thanks camshaft, if you dont mind me asking, what classes did you take in the fall and spring? did you have a concentration? i was thinking about a concentration is Pharmacology. any advice what classes to take? thanks for your response.

I didn't do a concentration, and I don't really see the point in them, unless perhaps you're using the masters to try to enter a specific field rather than dental/medical school.

First Sem:
Fundamentals 1 (basically graduate level biochem)
Pharmacology 1
Metallic dental biomaterials
Polymeric dental biomaterials
Structural biology (basically protein folding. wouldn't really recommend this one)
Dental Seminar

Second Sem:
Fundamentals 2 (more biochem and cell bio)
Toxicology 2 (tox 2 can be taken without tox 1)
Oral Immunology (the first year dental course)
Human Development
Select Agent Biology

Then Virology goes from May 30th to June 30th, and I'm trying to get my 2 research credits done in June also.

Biochem is my greatest weakness by far, so Fund. 1 and 2 (GSBS classes) have actually been harder for me than the oral immuno. I would definitely recommend taking oral immuno. Select Agent is taught by Connell, and is a great course. You'll get an A if you actually do the assigned work. Pharmacology 1 I thought was relatively easy, as the material makes sense to me but quite a few people thought it was still challenging. Biomaterials also wasn't very difficult for me, partly because I've always been mechanically inclined and interested in the engineering aspects of modern materials. I wouldn't recommend structural biology. The course required far more work and effort than what a 1 credit class should have.

 

[highhigh]

I didn't do a concentration, and I don't really see the point in them, unless perhaps you're using the masters to try to enter a specific field rather than dental/medical school.

First Sem:
Fundamentals 1 (basically graduate level biochem)
Pharmacology 1
Metallic dental biomaterials
Polymeric dental biomaterials
Structural biology (basically protein folding. wouldn't really recommend this one)
Dental Seminar

Second Sem:
Fundamentals 2 (more biochem and cell bio)
Toxicology 2 (tox 2 can be taken without tox 1)
Oral Immunology (the first year dental course)
Human Development
Select Agent Biology

Then Virology goes from May 30th to June 30th, and I'm trying to get my 2 research credits done in June also.

Biochem is my greatest weakness by far, so Fund. 1 and 2 (GSBS classes) have actually been harder for me than the oral immuno. I would definitely recommend taking oral immuno. Select Agent is taught by Connell, and is a great course. You'll get an A if you actually do the assigned work. Pharmacology 1 I thought was relatively easy, as the material makes sense to me but quite a few people thought it was still challenging. Biomaterials also wasn't very difficult for me, partly because I've always been mechanically inclined and interested in the engineering aspects of modern materials. I wouldn't recommend structural biology. The course required far more work and effort than what a 1 credit class should have.

sounds u're a hardworking guy.

 

[wschang812]

damn thats alot of classes lol. have you heard anything about toxicology I? thinking about taking that. and bio terrorism and wmd? this is a list of classes im planning on taking:

FALL (13)
fund1 (3)*
fundamentals of pharmacology (3)*
dental seminar (1)
toxicology 1 (3)
bioterrorism and wmd (3)

SPRING (12)
fund2 (3)*
topics of pharmacology (3)*
laboratory animal science (3)*
oral immunnology (3)

SUMMER (5)
molecular virology (3)
research (2)

what do you think? this will also give me a concentration is pharmacology. the (*) are classes that are needed for the concentration.

 

[wschang812]

i applied to NYU as well. has anyone heard about the NYU Biology-oral biology masters? can it be done in 1 years and 1 summer? how is it in comparison to UMDNJ'S Masters?

 

[dental815]

damn thats alot of classes lol. have you heard anything about toxicology I? thinking about taking that. and bio terrorism and wmd? this is a list of classes im planning on taking:

FALL (13)
fund1 (3)*
fundamentals of pharmacology (3)*
dental seminar (1)
toxicology 1 (3)
bioterrorism and wmd (3)

SPRING (12)
fund2 (3)*
topics of pharmacology (3)*
laboratory animal science (3)*
oral immunnology (3)

SUMMER (5)
molecular virology (3)
research (2)

what do you think? this will also give me a concentration is pharmacology. the (*) are classes that are needed for the concentration.

This schedule is very doable and none of the classes are overly difficult so its possible to get a 4.0 in everything depending on how your exams are scheduled. I think topics of pharmacology might be the toughest class in that list but it might be easier for you if you're good at pharmacology and memmorizing all the drugs and actions and whatnot. Also, if you're taking fundaments I and II and fundamentals of pharm in the fall I feel you might as well go ahead and take the 2nd part of pharm and get the concentration as well (you don't need the animal models in the spring if you're going to take tox I). I wanted to do that concentration after my first semester but realized I couldn't because I didn't take the fundamentals courses but if I could go back I would've just for the concentration in pharm. I think the most important thing about these kind of programs (if UMDNJ is your #1 school... not so much if you want to go elsewhere) is to differentiate yourself from everyone else. I tried my best to differentiate myself from everyone else in the program but it hurt my GPA slightly and if I had to do it again I would have changed a few classes around. If you just want to get in somewhere and not UMDNJ, then take the easiest courseload and just get As in all of them.

My spring semester was only 15 credits but it was BRUTAL because I always ended up with 2-3 exams bunched within 2 days of each other and even multiple exams on the same day. Someone really smart told me I shouldve scheduled my classes more wisely... wish I had thought about that before the semester began instead of trying to just pick a wide variety of classes. I think if you're able to work your classes so that you don't have more than 1 exam in a week you can take 20 credits and still get a 4.0.

As for your schedule, the bioterrorism course is more of an essay writing course rather than a multiple choice exam taking course and I was told by one of the advisors that it was one of the easier courses in the program so you should see if thats your kind of thing. Tox I is a straight forward memmorization course. I didn't learn much in the Tox I but a lot of people take it because its an easy course. Also, I think you should start your research before the summer session because you need 60 hours and virology runs 3 hours a day 3 times a week for 4 weeks... I don't know if you'll have time to fit in 60 hours of research in that time. You can start your research and end it at any time... so you might want to start in like January or something and just go in for like 1-2 hours or so once or twice a week. Everyone did a little too well in oral immunology this year... I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it more difficult next year haha. If you're looking for a substitute class for the spring semester I'd recommend gross anatomy... a bit of work but not too difficult and probably my favorite course in the program.

 

[wschang812]

if you dont mind me asking, how did you do and how many hours a day were you studying(study schedule)? sounds like a pretty busy schedule. what do you consider/heard are the easiest classes in this program?

 

[yamu010]

Hey wschang812,
I'm finishing the GSBS masters now, and did it in 1 year plus a summer also. I re-applied to dental school immediately before starting the program, received interviews to NYU, Tufts, and Columbia after academic update, and will be attending Tufts in the fall. I was originally planning on doing the 6 credit transfer as you mentioned, but I highly highly highly recommend you plan your course load as if you're going to do all 30 credits while in the program. The reason is because even though UMDNJ lets you back-transfer the dental credits to your masters to get the masters retroactively, most dental schools I spoke to required that I completed the masters in whole prior to matriculating. I therefore planned to do the 30 credits in the 1 year + 1 summer and am glad I did, because even after I was accepted to Tufts they didn't allow me to waive any of my masters credits. In fact, at my Tufts interview I had to show my course schedule to demonstrate that I would be able to complete the masters before orientation in August.

Now don't worry, if you pick your courses right, you can easily do what I did: 12 credits first semester, 13 credits spring semester, 5 credits summer. There isn't an official 'summer' though, as many of the classes start and end at different times and the latest ones are simply called 'summer' classes even though they're still technically part of the spring semester. My 'summer' class is virology, which 3 credits, one month long and ends June 30th. So that's when I'll be done, meaning I'll have completed all 30 credits in less than 1 calender year. My other 2 summer credits is the research rotation, which you can do whenever you feel like it. If you talk to Tsiagbe he's very relaxed and isn't afraid to frankly tell you which courses are harder or more work than others.

This is a very useful program if you use it to well and pull a good gpa. As I said I applied right before the start of the program as a re-applicant. Therefore at the time of my application my app simply said I was starting the program, but didn't have any grades yet. I pulled a 3.8 my first semester, and within 2 weeks of academic update, had 3 interviews. Good luck.




Acceptance is not very competitive BUT this is not a downside. It means that how much the program helps you is entirely dependent on YOU. If you simply 'pass' through the program it will have done very little for you. If you can pull off a 3.5+ gpa, while taking at least one of the 1st year dental courses, and get the rest of the cards in order, you can do quite well. I think this is an underrated program, and did more for me than my informal post-bac classes I took prior to it.

What parts of your application have you changed when re-applied to dental school? Did you change your personal statement, done any EC after bachelor? cuz I am in the same situation and will re-apply this summer for d-schools but also have to retake the DAT exam!!!

 

[yamu010]

any heads up?!!!😎

 

[FoodSoGood]

What parts of your application have you changed when re-applied to dental school? Did you change your personal statement, done any EC after bachelor? cuz I am in the same situation and will re-apply this summer for d-schools but also have to retake the DAT exam!!!

IM on the same boat!! I just got into the newark masters today and im so excited! Im taking my DATs again this july for the 3rd time and im really nervous because i know thats the most i should take it. I think the things that count as "improvements" in ur reapp are things you accomplished spring semester and onwards after u applied because i dont really thing they look at ur app much after dec-jan. I also applied super late last cycel (october) which didnt help cause im not that competitive of an applicant). Heres what ive done since my last time applying:

-pulled up my overall gpa frm a 3.29 to a 3.4 . my math/sci gpa still isnt great (3.05ish), but i think getting into the masters program might help that
-got an 18AA 20PAT on 2nd time i took the DATs (aiming for above 20 in july)
-published a paper
-completed a double major
-wrote an honors thesis and graduated with honors in psych rsrch
-finished 1 yr dental assistant experience at a orthodontists office
-rec letter frm orthodontist
-completed 100 hrs comm service
-wrote a better personal statement

So i think im set on the "fluff" for my app. just need to do well in this program and DATs, easier said than done huh?
For ppl applying to nyu dental n doin this masters program, i spoke to them n they said they combine ur masters gpa with ur undergrad to improve it n also look at ur masters gpa on its own n weigh it more if its better than undergrad.

Ppl who have gotten into dental school after this program... do u think i have a good shot this time around? Also i wanted to take dental physio n almost any other dental school courses i could but i also wanna maintain a good gpa. would u recommend against physiology then given my circumstanceS? any feedback will be much appreciated. thanks!

 

[camshaft]

Hey guys, I've gotten several PM's regarding my dental school interviews I received while in the program, so I'm going to make a thread giving my basic story since there were repeat questions. Then I can answer any other specifics.

Clear skies!

 

[yamu010]

Is it possible to have a job while doing this program? or is it recommended to take a full-time load?!!

 

[camshaft]

As I said I'll work on a thread answering stuff, but I would definitely recommend doing the more-than-full-time load of 12 credits, then 13 2nd sem, then 5 in the late spring/summer. I wouldn't work at all in the mean time, at least for the first semester. You really can't afford to screw this up. If after the first semester you think you can swing a job, then by all means take up something on the side, but I wouldn't recommend it for the 1st semester.

Ppl who have gotten into dental school after this program... do u think i have a good shot this time around? Also i wanted to take dental physio n almost any other dental school courses i could but i also wanna maintain a good gpa. would u recommend against physiology then given my circumstanceS? any feedback will be much appreciated. thanks!

I really wouldn't recommend taking any and all dental courses you can because based on my interviews I don't think the schools pay as much attention to the specific courses as much as credit-load and GPA, partly because as the number of dental applicants keeps increasing, schools don't have the manpower to look at each course you took AND then try to decide the relative difficulty of them. I took dental biomaterials and oral immunology so the schools would see some dental courses and I could say that I took dental courses, but I wouldn't try doing every dental course I could. I also have a friend who was one of the dental students involved in admissions and she agreed that admissions committees often aren't focusing on individual courses.

The case in which I do think the dental courses you take is more important is when you're specifically trying to get into UMDNJ, in which case one of the masters advisors associated with the dental school can write you a recommendation noting that you took on difficult dental courses and were successful in them. Actually, I suppose such a recommendation would help regardless of the school you apply to, but I submitted my application right as I started the program, so that didn't apply to me.

 

[yamu010]

Hey guys, I've gotten several PM's regarding my dental school interviews I received while in the program, so I'm going to make a thread giving my basic story since there were repeat questions. Then I can answer any other specifics.

Clear skies!

Can't wait for the thread to shed some lights!

 

[kpanesar]

Hey there,

I also got accepted to UMDNJ-GSBS for fall 2011 and was trying to plan my semester schedule. Are you doing the MS or MBS? And for those that have completed or are completing the program, are you doing the thesis? Right now I'm admitted for the MS and plan on doing the thesis, but not sure what the workload is like and as a reapplicant for DS, I don't want to let that GPA drop. Look forward to meeting those of you who are admitted in August.

 

[wschang812]

i got accepted to the MBS program. im a reapplicant for dental school too. anyone recommend the Oral Microbiology class?

 

[Bis-GMA111]

^ i've heard that it's pretty difficult

 

[dentisttobeDMD]

Hey guys, I will be starting MBS program at GSBS UMDNJ this fall, and I have a few questions regarding courses, course load, difficulty level. What do you think of the Oral Microbiology course? What's the difference between Fudamentals of Pharmacology and Topics in Pharmacology? Difference b/w Toxicology 1 and Toxicology 2? Anybody considering taking GMM course (genes and molecules in medicine)? I know it's generally for the medical scholars but anybody can take it. Let me know what you think about it.