What are my options?

[gamer1000]

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[Vicviper]

I went to the CC and took 5 years to graduate, so that option is always there, but if you're going to be able to graduate without overloading yourself in 4 years I would suggest applying at the end of your junior year and seeing what happens, and if you don't get in, you could stick around and take classes that additional year.

About your bad grade, I had a similar situation, My mom was diagnosed with Leukemia while I was in the second semester of Ochem, and it took a real toll on me and my family, and I ended up getting a D in the class. I retook it later and got a better grade (A C... but whatever, still better!) I then did well on the DAT in that section, and was able to prove to my interviewers that I did learn the material, and that really made up for the bad grade.

There is also a section in the AADSAS application where it asks if anything affected your academic career, and this would be where you talk about your experience. The Adcoms take this section very seriously, and if you show honest improvement and do relatively well on the DAT they will completly understand the few bad grades, and it won't significantly hurt you, and not nearly as much as if you were just flaking off.

Don't stress, I know it is a trying time, but keep on keeping on and you'll get to dental school soon enough! Good luck!

 

[gamer1000]

I went to the CC and took 5 years to graduate, so that option is always there, but if you're going to be able to graduate without overloading yourself in 4 years I would suggest applying at the end of your junior year and seeing what happens, and if you don't get in, you could stick around and take classes that additional year.

About your bad grade, I had a similar situation, My mom was diagnosed with Leukemia while I was in the second semester of Ochem, and it took a real toll on me and my family, and I ended up getting a D in the class. I retook it later and got a better grade (A C... but whatever, still better!) I then did well on the DAT in that section, and was able to prove to my interviewers that I did learn the material, and that really made up for the bad grade.

There is also a section in the AADSAS application where it asks if anything affected your academic career, and this would be where you talk about your experience. The Adcoms take this section very seriously, and if you show honest improvement and do relatively well on the DAT they will completly understand the few bad grades, and it won't significantly hurt you, and not nearly as much as if you were just flaking off.

Don't stress, I know it is a trying time, but keep on keeping on and you'll get to dental school soon enough! Good luck!

hey thanks for the great response man let me ask you, do you think i should take organic chem and physics in my junior year. Or take organic chem alone and take physics in the summer or my senior year? and if i do decide to stay another year, how many science classes should i take to be competitive?

 

[Vicviper]

As far as when to take Ochem, I would say take it the year after you finish Gchem, that way you're still in the chemistry lecture / lab groove. As far as physics, as long as you're taking say Ochem, Physics, and maybe a bio elective or something you'll be fine. I wouldn't suggest taking much more than 12 or 13 units though. I took the second half of physics during the summer and it wasn't too bad, but it's very dependant on the teacher.

If you do stay that last 5th year, as long as you've got a full load, 12 units, you'll be good. I've been doing research all year and just finishing up my requirements to graduate, plus microbio this quarter because the dental schools reccommend it, and I said I would on my app.

 

[gamer1000]

As far as when to take Ochem, I would say take it the year after you finish Gchem, that way you're still in the chemistry lecture / lab groove. As far as physics, as long as you're taking say Ochem, Physics, and maybe a bio elective or something you'll be fine. I wouldn't suggest taking much more than 12 or 13 units though. I took the second half of physics during the summer and it wasn't too bad, but it's very dependant on the teacher.

If you do stay that last 5th year, as long as you've got a full load, 12 units, you'll be good. I've been doing research all year and just finishing up my requirements to graduate, plus microbio this quarter because the dental schools reccommend it, and I said I would on my app.

as far as the research component is concerned, how important is it? and will i be able to do research considering i'm an economics major?

 

[Vicviper]

As far as research, it's definitely not necessary, but it's something that makes you stand out. And even though you are an Econ major, it depends on the school, but you're still taking a significant amount of science classes, and for example at my school UCI, most bio research professors only want you to have completed a year of bio and then gchem or ochem. The key part of getting into research is researching professors and seeing what their projects are about, and then getting in touch with them about research spots - I'd start looking around now if you're really interested, because often research professors require a 1-2 year commitment.

 

[gamer1000]

As far as research, it's definitely not necessary, but it's something that makes you stand out. And even though you are an Econ major, it depends on the school, but you're still taking a significant amount of science classes, and for example at my school UCI, most bio research professors only want you to have completed a year of bio and then gchem or ochem. The key part of getting into research is researching professors and seeing what their projects are about, and then getting in touch with them about research spots - I'd start looking around now if you're really interested, because often research professors require a 1-2 year commitment.

so i'm guessing i can go to the bio department and ask around

 

[Vicviper]

Exactly, go to the bio sci office and ask there, they often have many of the details, my school has a huge list of all the professors and a little blerb about what their project is and what they're looking for in students.

Also, you don't have to stick to Bio, you could also do chem or physics if you were really interested in that, it just needs to be Scientific research.

 

[UCLAzy]

so i'm guessing i can go to the bio department and ask around

Actually i would suggest email. It is a lot less pervasive and the professor can get back to u when they have time. If u catch them at a busy time on an office visit, they might just brush you aside and that opportunity is wasted. Make it a short email with a cover letter and resume attached. Really make it only a few sentences just letting them know of your interest and attachments. Making it short allows them to read it quickly and decide what to do about it. You can write all u want about your interests in your cover letter.

Good luck. Dont get discouraged if the first prof doesnt want you. It took me 4 emails to find someone who wanted me and i am a science major(all of the reasons being that their lab was already full), so just keep on trying until someone lets u work with them. Again, good luck. Research is rewarding in so many ways

 

[Vicviper]

so i'm guessing i can go to the bio department and ask around

Oh, yeah, as far as TALKING to the professors email is always better. Though for getting info on research, just go to the bio sci office - some schools have a few hoops you have to jump through before you can start.