wait or not?

[wvupredent]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a current sophomore wanting to go to dentistry school...preferably WVU. I'm a student at WVU planning to complete a biochem degree, but it took me a few semesters to make a final decision on a major, so I'm slightly behind on my pre-reqs and was just wondering if you all think I have a shot at admission next year as a 3rd year applicant. During those two semesters that I wasn't sure, I took courses in several subjects....accounting, econ, literature, art, italian, humanities, history, etc.

By the end of the summer, I'll have the following credit:

8 hrs general chem
8 hrs general biology
8 hrs organic chem (taking during summer sessions)
8 hrs calculus
3 hrs microbiology
3 hrs animal physiology
3 hrs anatomy

I'll have to take Physics next year. Will missing courses like cell biology and biochemistry hurt me? I plan to take Physics, cell biology, biochem, genetics, pathology, reproductive physiology, physical chem, and adv molecular biology DURING my junior year, but it won't be on my transcript if I apply over the summer. Do the admission committees consider the courses you're taking during your junior year or do they expect you to have course like cell bio completed already?

Do you think I have a chance at admission? I'm currently sitting at around a 3.3 science GPA...3.4 overall. I'm planning on taking the DAT over the summer after organic. One last thing, I am an in-state applicant, so I know that definitely boosts my chances, but I'd still like to know what you all think about my admission as a third year applicant.

Thanks.

 

[2BDENT]

I would look on WVU's website and see what pre-reqs they have listed...better yet, give them a call. Most schools want you to have atleast 3/4 of your classes completed before you apply. Some schools prefer that you have a bachelor's at the time of admission (when you are actually starting dental school). It is not uncommon to apply before you have everything completed. I do know a few people that got in without getting a bachelors first. My best advice....give them a call.🙂 Good Luck!

 

[dddsmack]

Apply in may and take the DAT in June, then finish ochem in august and you will be fine.

It worked for me and I have a dozen interviews.

 

[busdent]

wvu football is awesome this year

if you're a WV resident, consider yourself 75% in just for applying.

 

[mkasu]

Apply in may and take the DAT in June, then finish ochem in august and you will be fine.

It worked for me and I have a dozen interviews.

Did you take any OCHEM before the DAT?

 

[dddsmack]

1st half, and got a 20+.

 

[mkasu]

1st half, and got a 20+.

I am planning on doing that (taking OCHEM1 and then taking the DAT).

Any advice?

How did you study for the OCHEM part without taking OCHEM2?

 

[dddsmack]

Buy organic edge form kaplan and take practice tests to learn what you don't know. Write this down now, study EAS and Spectroscopy and you will nail it. Kaplan taught me everything, I scored a 24. ( that was missing like 2)

 

[wvupredent]

I know as a WV resident I have a decent chance at admission, however, I remember reading that only 30% of accepted students are third-year. I think they accept ~75-80% WV residents to fill the entering class. I guess these numbers are still pretty favorable if I do well on the DAT.

The whole application process is just such a HUGE commitment, and I would really love to get into dentistry school early, but I don't want to go through the entire process for an unlikely acceptance. But even if there's the slightest chance of getting that acceptance a year early....I guess it's all worth it, and if not, you'll know the process the next year.

One nice thing....I was talking to my orthodontist a few weeks ago about dentistry school. He told me to apply early because you never know what the applicant pool will look like each year. He was accepted as a third-year student and completed his entire dental education here. He also told me he is a member of the WVU SoD Orthodontics faculty now and will allow me to shadow him. He also said he would show me around the school, introduce me to some of the faculty, and then write a joint letter of recommendation with the other two orthodontists in his practice supporting my application. All this came totally unexpected from a consultation appointment regarding night-grinding and a mouth guard....probably caused by all of the stressing over this. 😱

Thanks for the replies so far. There are soooo many questions starting this whole process. Can you believe that we don't have a pre-dental advisor for undergrads at this school?!? Yeah....so despite my being here as an undergrad....I'm still simply going on the info on the website. 🙄

yeah, the football is pretty exciting this year. i'm just waiting for the big game this Thursday at Louisville. 😀

 

[mkasu]

Buy organic edge form kaplan and take practice tests to learn what you don't know. Write this down now, study EAS and Spectroscopy and you will nail it. Kaplan taught me everything, I scored a 24. ( that was missing like 2)

If I just studied the Kaplan blue book, would I be OK? Or would you highly recommend the organic edge from Kaplan?

 

[dddsmack]

The material is the same. Practice tests are key.

 

[reapply2007]

Organic Chemistry Edge is approx $8 plus up to $5 shipping on Amazon - used. Excellent resource. Very good practice problems after each section plus review tests, plus the first half of the book is the lecture for the expanded Kaplan class, only in text form. I cannot recommend this enough. If you use this book and get less than a 20 on ochem then something was wrong with the computer you used to test.