Very COnfused :/

[hamburger90]

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Hi guys,

I am planning all my upcoming semesters and keep getting stuck in the same place.. I have two questions...
1- Can i finish my BA the following semesters after the application for dental school has been submitted? Do you guys recommend i do the requirements and recommended before my actual upper level science classes? in other words leave the my upper level BA required classes for last... perhaps after my dental school application... or should i focus more on that before actually doing recommended courses?
2-This is kind of dumb but... what did you guys found harder... Calculus 2 or organic Chem?

 

[Kahr]

You can apply without having your degree and required courses finished, but the required courses must be finished before you start dschool (the degree is not required at all schools to even attend, but it's probably more the exception than anything). I think you want to do this with a minimum number of classes left, else it will look very dubious to dental schools. Definitely do the requirements first, leave the "extras" for last.

I personally plan to apply in June, and take physics 2 and biochem the following fall before dental school, I'm simply banking on the possibility that biochem in progress will just be looked at positively, and the physics 2 not be scrutinized because it'll be the only concrete requirement in progress (and not one even measured by the DAT).

I never took Calculus, but I found orgo 1 and 2 to be kind of fun but challenging. I hate math, and I expect your second question will get biased reactions from just about everyone based on their own personal kind of intelligence and background. How did you like Calculus 1? Are you a math oriented person? Do you hate visualizing stuff and chemistry? 🙂 I don't even see any point to taking calculus 2, who requires it? Harvard? I'd take an upper level science instead if you have the option. 🙂

 

[fellforit]

1) You should try and do most of your pre-reqs before applying, because schools like to see the grades for those classes (and most also overlap with the DAT). That said, you don't absolutely have to have them all done, as long as you have plans to finish up all required pre-reqs before matriculation, and it won't hurt you to put a couple off (especially something like an English class or something similar). At least, that's how I understand it. So yes, focusing on getting pre-reqs done first and then upper division classes is a fairly realistic plan.

2) I thought Calc II was MUCH harder than organic chemistry. But I think it's a personal thing. I really didn't think organic was any harder than gen chem (although it is very different). Calc II was the hardest class I've ever taken, by a mile. But, like I said, it's personal -- most people I know disagree with me, even people who were in the same Calc II and organic classes as I was.

 

[hamburger90]

i took Gen Chem 1 and got A and Cal 2 on the same semester manage to get a B+ in cal 2 but like u say it was a tough class... I gave a lot of time to Chem and ended up with 20+ points extra which it made me realize that i should have spent more time on Cal, it was tough... But where am trying to get is to the fact that so many people make organic look like such a big deal... Do you think its too risky to mix it with Bio 2 or Physics with Cal 2... which one would you mix it with?

 

[jazane08]

The people above answered your first question...ask anyone else and you'll get the same answer. However, I would recommend taking cellular biology and/or genetics before taking the DAT depending on how strong you are in biology. My school didn't go as in depth during gen bios as what is seen on the DAT, so studying for bio for the DAT isn't as smooth as it could be. Some schools actually require genetics or molecular/cellular biology, so if you are going to take it anyways, take it before your DAT!

For your second question, if you are contemplating which class to take next...take orgo 2. The math portion of the DAT doesn't include that advanced of math. Orgo 2 is definitely on the DAT!

As you can tell, my answers are based on the DAT. However, if taking those classes may jeopardize your gpa, maybe take them after you apply, but then again taking those could boost your gpa while helping with the DAT....just food for thought.

 

[hamburger90]

all thoughts are appreciated man! thank you so much... and definitely am taking everything based on my preparation for the DAT... So far am planning to finish Org2, bio 2 and most probably Cell biology just 2 months before i take my DAT... which will make me be kind of fresh for it i hope for the best man... Thank you for your help! all of you! but if there is more to say keep on... lol

 

[Kahr]

i took Gen Chem 1 and got A and Cal 2 on the same semester manage to get a B+ in cal 2 but like u say it was a tough class... I gave a lot of time to Chem and ended up with 20+ points extra which it made me realize that i should have spent more time on Cal, it was tough... But where am trying to get is to the fact that so many people make organic look like such a big deal... Do you think its too risky to mix it with Bio 2 or Physics with Cal 2... which one would you mix it with?

I'd say it is perfectly reasonble to take organic chemistry with biology 2. To echo the above, I'd go with the orgo and bio first anyway as they go toward the DAT and are possibly scrutinized more by admissions folk.