Undergrad classes for DAT?

[chem24]

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What classes, and extra experiences, will fully prepare me for the DAT (first and foremost), dental school, and actually being a dentist?
I am a chemistry major and as of right now these are the more important classes I have planned so far for the first 2 and a half years (before the DAT):
Gen Chem 1 and 2
Bio 1 and 2
Calc 1 and 2
Comm (public speaking)
Organ. chem 1 and 2
Analytical chem 1
Physics 1 and 2
Intro to Inorganic
Phycology
Physiology
Anatomy
Statistics
Microbiology
-My last year and a half will be devoted to fulfilling university, major, and dental required classes such as Pchem, advanced inorganic, research, english 2
-I have also considered adding genetics and cell bio for extra biology, but is this necessary? Will this just be an overloaded schedule, which could hurt my GPA right before application time? Will studying a lot DAT biology study notes, instead of taking genetics and cell bio, suffice and help me remember the material I learned in biology? If notes aren't enough, are there any other classes to take for the DAT sciences?
-Are there any classes to help study for the quantitative reasoning, or is this section just studying test prep?
-Are there any other classes I can to take to help prepare for what's to come in dental school?
-Last, I am joining my universities' pre-dent student organization and am hoping to do over 50 hours of shadowing (with several different dentists). I'm hopeful to get a dental assistant position (doubtful I can get one though). If I can't I'll just stick to observing hours.
Are there any other ways to gain experience or help my application? Extra chemistry research useful? Community service?

 

[ckgibbs115]

All of those classes will be helpful for the DAT. The purpose of taking these classes is to introduce you to the subjects, become familiar with the terms, and the methods of thinking that are applicable to each subject.

Genetics and Cell Bio will be helpful especially for some of the beginning classes in D-school. They aren't required, but they are definitely recommended.
Genetics and Cell Bio is not necessary for taking the DAT. It all pretty much covers basic biology that you can get out of a campbells Bio book.

In my opinion, taking classes is not very helpful to prep for the DAT because some professors tend to teach what they want to teach, leaving out relevant information for the DAT.

In regards to studying for the DAT, there are other threads that contain links to excellent resources to help study. Coursesaver.com, DAT Bootcamp, Ferali's Biology Notes, and Cliffs AP Biology were all essentials for me.

Community service is a given for a dental application.
Research is up to you. I'm thankful I did research in a microbiology lab because I learned and retained a ton of information for molecular and cell biology. If you feel bogged down by all your classes though, not having research won't hurt you as an applicant.

The best advice I've seen on these forums is do well in your classes, but try to enjoy your undergrad as well. This is great time of growth for you. You won't be the exact same person coming out of college. You're priorities will change along with your thoughts and opinions.

It sounds like you have somewhat of a plan though. So just refine it and identify things that interest you and participate in them.

Overall, don't stress too much, but don't get lazy.

 

[chem24]

Great advice, thanks @ckgibbs115