Undergrad major

[TheRighteous]

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I'm a first year at UC Berkeley. I know dental schools do not have preferences for specific majors, but most applicants have B.S. or B.A. in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry. I'm just wondering what most people majored in.

If anyone's from Cal, I'd love any advices that you can give me regarding majors. 😳

 

[DDSY]

I'm a first year at UC Berkeley. I know dental schools do not have preferences for specific majors, but most applicants have B.S. or B.A. in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry. I'm just wondering what most people majored in.

If anyone's from Cal, I'd love any advices that you can give me regarding majors. 😳

Hmm, methinks most people major in bio.

I'm not from Cal. But what's important is to major in something you like, so you do well. Science also helps, especially when you study for your DAT.

 

[armorshell]

Major in something easy, and take your pre-reqs instead of electives. Your high gpa and laid back schedule will thank me later

 

[TheRighteous]

I am thinking about either Nutritional Sciences or Molecular Toxicology.

 

[54807]

Yeah...pick something easy that prepares decent for dental school.

Biology sounds real good. I just worked real hard for an engineering degree and not a single school has asked about my major.

Get a high GPA and high DAT and you're set.

 

[Cymbidium]

I majored in Art and aced the dental pre-req. classes. Interviewers always think it's refreshing to have someone with a non-science major. I think it actually makes me stand out and may have led to a few interviews. I think.

 

[CSI Dentist]

i killed myself, and my gpa in biochemistry with computational option (why in the world i did that is still unknown to me).

No life, no fun, but hey I can tell u all about glycolysis.

I should have been bio major!

 

[shane.]

So most of you have your degree already? Or are you applying after you have all your pre-reqs (but no degree yet)?

 

[Zanderale6]

So most of you have your degree already? Or are you applying after you have all your pre-reqs (but no degree yet)?

I assume there's probably a pretty even mix of both in the applicant pool.

I graduated in May. ... It's nice not having any classes hanging over my head during this stage of the application process.

 

[busterb]

I did a Business degree because I figure that I will have my own business to run. If I run an effective practice, I won't have to work as hard, and I can golf more.

 

[prttypceoflesh]

i'm a german major and international bus management and chemistry double minor...the chemistry was just due to pre-reqs. otherwise, yah it's almost as far removed as possible.
i made the choice simply because i want to go into international dental public health. and yah nothing but busywork.
i don't really think it will hurt me right now but it will probably hurt me later on the academic path.
eh.

 

[Dentalist]

Major in something easy, and take your pre-reqs instead of electives. Your high gpa and laid back schedule will thank me later

amen

 

[TheRighteous]

Major in something easy, and take your pre-reqs instead of electives. Your high gpa and laid back schedule will thank me later

So, I should load up my first two years' schedules with pre-requisite courses? I don't know about you, but that sounds relatively difficult. Almost all health profession pre-requisite courses are weeders at my school. It sounds almost like suicide.

 

[dddsmack]

No, he is saying major in a fluff subject so that while you are getting worked by the sciences, you can keep the GPA up with the easy classes.

Examples include- Health Promotion, Spanish, Sales, English, PE, etc.


I completely agree. And take as many credit hours as you can per semester. I have taken 60 so far in '06. D schools like to see that you can manage a ton of crap at once and succeed.🙂

 

[shane.]

So, I should load up my first two years' schedules with pre-requisite courses? I don't know about you, but that sounds relatively difficult. Almost all health profession pre-requisite courses are weeders at my school. It sounds almost like suicide.

Let's not forget we're preparing ourselves for dental school where we can expect even more consuming courseloads. Putting in the time now i'm sure will soften the blow later on.

Aside from that i'm only in my second year and i'll have all of my pre-requisites done at the completion of this semester. I've been busy but nothing most people on here couldn't manage..

 

[PChemGrad]

I got my B.S. in Chemistry from a school in Cali. Cali is the best, but i am not living there anymore. I wish I would have majored in another field but chemistry is what I did, and I cant change that. major in business and minor in bio.

 

[TheNobleTooth]

I'm a first year at UC Berkeley. I know dental schools do not have preferences for specific majors, but most applicants have B.S. or B.A. in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry. I'm just wondering what most people majored in.

If anyone's from Cal, I'd love any advices that you can give me regarding majors. 😳

Whoo hoo! Go Cal!!

I am a Haas Bus school alum. Hence, I have a BS in business admin.

Despite that business degree, heck, I'm taking science courses at a dinky four-year college in my area, and am excelling in those courses.

The downside to having attending Berzerkly was that it brought down my overall GPA. And dental schools in general don't care about the reputation of your undergrad institute. It's all about the "numbers" you crunch.

 

[cute_in_pink]

im a kinesiology major, its the best major...all about the body, ull have to take all the anatomy and physiology courses too (but all human, not stupid plants) which is def. plus for dental!

 

[dentalman]

60 -70% of dental students majored in the sciences, including engineering or math. But that means 20 - 30% major in something else. Your actual major is not important. What is important is that you take your prerequisite classes, and do exceptionally well in them. Do that, and pick any major you would enjoy.