what to do if I don't get into classes

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fakebun

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Thanks all to your previous replies. Now I came across this problem...

Because of the California Budget cuts, and as a post-bac, it will be extremely hard to get into classes such as anatomy and microbiology.

1. If I can't get into any classes at my current school and other schools, what are some stuff that I can do that will increase my chances for dental school?

2. is anatomy absolutely required?

3. is it unforgiving if I don't have 16 units per semester?

4. is it ok if i take upper div bio classes like "stem cell biology" ?

thanks!
 
fakebun said:
Thanks all to your previous replies. Now I came across this problem...

Because of the California Budget cuts, and as a post-bac, it will be extremely hard to get into classes such as anatomy and microbiology.

1. If I can't get into any classes at my current school and other schools, what are some stuff that I can do that will increase my chances for dental school?

2. is anatomy absolutely required?

3. is it unforgiving if I don't have 16 units per semester?

4. is it ok if i take upper div bio classes like "stem cell biology" ?

thanks!
Click to expand...

I would take anatomy at some point just because they cover a lot of good stuff. But to answer your Q, not all schools require A&P. UW doesn't require it. But much like calculus, some schools have A&P as one the core prerequisites and not a recommendation. The school's website should have a Admission's Requirement section where they lay out what the school considers to be core prereqs.

As for Microbiology, you can fulfill the 2 semester requirement by taking it online. I ended up taking in person but I inquired a while back when one of the dentists I shadowed said he took it through BYU online and it satisfied the requirements since lab isn't required. I checked with the school too and they seem to be fine with it.

Whether "Stem bio" meets any of the requirements should be verified through the schools admissions. Only they would know if they will take it.

Check it out. How this helps!
 
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wow that is great info. thanks winnie bear!

I just don't know if dental school will hate me for having so many different transcripts from different schools
 
fakebun said:
wow that is great info. thanks winnie bear!

I just don't know if dental school will hate me for having so many different transcripts from different schools
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With record high enrollment, I'm sure schools already know that students are competing for the same classes and have to go to whichever school they get a spot in. I have 4 different transcripts so it's common for those returning to school.

Don't worry. Chin up!
 
If you can't fulfill fulltime student, I would add more shadowing or volunteer hours? Just a suggestion.

And off topic but I hate this budget cut. I seriously don't know what they are thinking.
 
ya i don't know. I already have 120 hrs of shadowing. I just hope there are some stuff other than school that can help with my chances if I can't fulfill full-time or get any classes at all
 
fakebun said:
ya i don't know. I already have 120 hrs of shadowing. I just hope there are some stuff other than school that can help with my chances if I can't fulfill full-time or get any classes at all
Click to expand...

hmmmmm.. what about research position? 🙂
 
I've never done research before. I have no idea how to look and apply for one.
 
fakebun said:
I've never done research before. I have no idea how to look and apply for one.
Click to expand...

One of my professors told us his story: he literally emailed 40 professors about research position, interviewed about 3, got into 1.

Some of my friends went directly to professors and talked directly to them. I've never done myself either so I'm sorry I won't be much help, but from my guess its bunch of lab work, collect data from it.
 
Sigh this is so sad... Cal state fullerton doesn't offer a lot of classes I need and for those that are offered, they are full. Same thing with Long beach and UCI. I'm telling myself to be optimistic but realistically, it's hard to. Am I f**ked?

I emailed schools and they don't have a clear answer (or any answer) for my questions regarding taking online classes or at community college.
 
fakebun said:
Sigh this is so sad... Cal state fullerton doesn't offer a lot of classes I need and for those that are offered, they are full. Same thing with Long beach and UCI. I'm telling myself to be optimistic but realistically, it's hard to. Am I f**ked?

I emailed schools and they don't have a clear answer (or any answer) for my questions regarding taking online classes or at community college.
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Firstly, I like your username. It makes me giggle.

Secondly, try a variety of classes

Genetics
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Anatomy
Physiology
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Analytical chemistry
Environmental chemistry
Chemical biology
Pathology
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Histology
Biology of Human Disease
Cell bio
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Developmental Biology
Evolution of Vertebrates
Animal Behavior
Nutrition (from chem department)

Of the 3 departments chemistry, biology, and neurosci, I don't see why you can't get into a single class like the ones I listed above. Try to get into 4 if you can and ace them. Or do distance learning. Ones don't require lab is a bargain and can be taken online through the school. And sign up for class EARLY for Spring and hopefully get anatomy & phys and the more relevant upper division sci classes.

Just look at course catalog e.g.

http://www.bio.unc.edu/courses/courses.htm#100Courses

Heck even medical ethics would be good to add. It's a big part of D-school curriculum.
 
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Ahh I see. Thx kitty. I've been focusing only on the upper division bio classes that sounded like body related. I'll double check my school's schedule and see if they have some of those classes. Being an extension student I have the lowest priority possible when enrolling classes. It sucks that schools don't give me a direct and clear answer. I wonder if I could take 4 of the classes listed above online for a semester...that would really help...
 
fakebun said:
Ahh I see. Thx kitty. I've been focusing only on the upper division bio classes that sounded like body related. I'll double check my school's schedule and see if they have some of those classes. Being an extension student I have the lowest priority possible when enrolling classes. It sucks that schools don't give me a direct and clear answer. I wonder if I could take 4 of the classes listed above online for a semester...that would really help...
Click to expand...

See if you can do distance learning. i hear a lot of D-schools don't accept online credit whatsoever. OR write emails to all the instructors who teach those classes and express how interested you are in the class. generally, adding 1 student to a class isn't a big deal. email 15 instructors, i bet you 4 would be ok writing you a permission slip to overbook an extra student.
 
hmm from the way you phrased it it sounds like distance learning and online classes are different =/. I would have a better idea on how to work my schedule if schools would respond to me. If I don't get anything tomorrow morning I'll straight up call them. What worries me is that the front desk girl who picks up the phone won't know anything about this and just randomly BS me some answers
 
Yeah they are sort of different. Depends on what your school offers.

Just go to the place directly. Show up and say you mean business.
 
fakebun said:
hmm from the way you phrased it it sounds like distance learning and online classes are different =/. I would have a better idea on how to work my schedule if schools would respond to me. If I don't get anything tomorrow morning I'll straight up call them. What worries me is that the front desk girl who picks up the phone won't know anything about this and just randomly BS me some answers
Click to expand...

showup on the first day of classes to the classes u wanna get into, act like u know whats going on, and get the professor to sign ur drop add slip.
im not kidding.
do wat u gotta do. this works most of the time, if u email them and call these ppl on the phone theyre most obvi gonna say no to you bc ull have to explain ur situation. whereas if u catch the prof after class on the 1st day they wont have time to think or process wats going on and will just sign ur slip...........
ummmmmm yea this is normal advice.
 
Oh no I don't mean emailing the professors of the class I want to get into. Ya I'll be going to first day of classes until add period is over. Freshmen waitlisted (double lowest priority) will still have priority over me. I meant I'll call dental schools and ask them about online classes from a 4-year university.

I do have another question though.

UCLA and UCSF both require general psychology (probably 101) and if I take that, will it look bad on my part for other schools that doesn't require it?
 
fakebun said:
Sigh this is so sad... Cal state fullerton doesn't offer a lot of classes I need and for those that are offered, they are full. Same thing with Long beach and UCI. I'm telling myself to be optimistic but realistically, it's hard to. Am I f**ked?

I emailed schools and they don't have a clear answer (or any answer) for my questions regarding taking online classes or at community college.
Click to expand...
I had no problem getting into most my classes but i took my pre-req's as an upperclassman. If your in yr 1 or yr2 of college dont sweat it, you will be able to get in much easier as an upperclassman.
 
is it hopeless for someone like me to get into UCSF, UOP, UCLA, and Columbia even if I can get straight As of 16 units for a year?
 
fakebun said:
is it hopeless for someone like me to get into UCSF, UOP, UCLA, and Columbia even if I can get straight As of 16 units for a year?
Click to expand...

Sort of depends on your current grades as well as future ones and approximate, given the avg stats of the schools you listed which I'm familiar with. I can do a general calculation for you. But you have to give me

1) Your current GPA
2) How many credits you've taken thus far.
3) What sorts of classes they were, preferably a list of it.
4) What did you get on the DATs, if you've taken it.
 
fakebun said:
is it hopeless for someone like me to get into UCSF, UOP, UCLA, and Columbia even if I can get straight As of 16 units for a year?
Click to expand...

fakebun, what is your sci gpa /bcp right now?
what do you mean by 16 units? you mean 16 credits for the whole upcoming school year? or 16 credits per semester? ie 32 total?
 
The reason I ask is because UCLA and UCSF are my dream schools. Since it's impossible to satisfy every school's requirement I figure I should establish where I want to go first and then work toward it. If it's impossible for me to get into UCLA, I shall find other schools that are closer to my level and work towards that.

My sGPA is 2.45 oGPA is 2.89. Currently about 90 quarter units taken. I got 20AA 20TS 18 PAT 27QR 21RC.

I meant 16 units per semester. 32 a year.

My parents want me to, no matter how much it costs, just hurry the F up and be done with this school thing. They hate to see me wanting dental school and not getting anywhere.
 
You need about 1.5 years of schooling at least to bring up your GPA to the necessary stats. Doing post-bac is great bc it'll be factored into your current undergrad GPA as well as create a separate column of its own GPA for adcoms to see that you've improved.

I know of people with your DAT scores that got into UCLA, but I'm positive that Columbia and UCSF want much higher DATs like at least 21+ across the board. In all honesty, I don't think it's worth it for you to retake your DATs because you already have competitive scores. Your GPA is the main problem. If you can bring up your

sGPA to 3.5
oGPA to 3.6+

And if you can get great letters and get a lot of assisting/shadowing hours I do think you have a chance with all of the schools you've mentioned. The main thing is dedication and hard work.

Also, don't ever overestimate yourself by declaring that you'll be getting straight A's. What if you get an A-? Or work your butt off and get a B+? Stuff happens. Just make sure that in every semester, you make sure you get a 3.8 GPA then you should be okay.

I'd take 3 science classes + other class (literature, philosophy, ethics, humanities, psych courses) every semester. Good luck and let me know if you have other questions.
 
thanks kitty. Ya I plan on taking 3 science classes and 1 elective. Sadly I believe by next year my DAT will expire. Means I have to really aim for 21 across. Deep down I think no matter how hard I try I will not get straight As, but maybe saying it enough will make it true somehow, supernaturally haha. You mentioned if I bring my sGPA to 3.5 and oGPA to 3.6+, I'm sure you mean my cumulative grade right? not just the post-bac part. 2.4 to 3.5....that is almost impossible unless I spend like 5 years.... =(
 
youre going to need to do probably a year + of postbacc. im talking like 50 credits worth of science classes to bring your sci gpa up to a 3.0 because of all the credits youve already taken. im assuming thats like about 3 semesters worth of classes. and thats assuming if you get as close as posssible to a 4.0 in all of these classes. once youre done this postbacc, you should retake your DAT (which i guess you will have to as you mentioned its going to expire) & aim for 20 / 21+
at the end of this, i personally say you apply once you reach a 3.0 sci gpa/bcp , and hope that schools look at your upward trend however, even after you apply i think you should STILL continue to take more classes or enter a masters (maybe?) in the fall after you apply in the summer because 3.0 is bare minimum and i think youd only have a shot if schools cared about your upward trend/EC;s etc. (pick your schools carefully) to see your dedication and what not. itll take you alot of hard work, but if youre willing to do it i think you can make it. obviously you need to do something differently with your studying to get better grades this time around.
goodluck! private msg me if u have any other questions. im also doing a postbacc & i think it was a good idea for me.
 
thanks molar. I guess dental school is out of the question because there is just no way to take that many classes the way Cali runs their school system. Not all classes are offered and I think I will exhaust the number of classes I can take before my GPA is anywhere near 3.0. UOP is definitely out of the question because they require two years of continuous workload of 3 sci classes + 1 elective. However, UOP pointed out that they focus mainly on BCP instead of sGPA. Not that UOP is my dream school, but are all dental schools focusing on BCP more? If that is the case, does that mean as long as it counts toward BCP, any classes I take will be fine? Or I still have to look at the relevancy of the class to health professions?

Lastly. this is what I plan to do with my fall schedule....2cents please =)

Cal state - General Psychology (not so good professor review, currently full), Anatomy and lab (currently open, UCI doesn't offer anatomy)

UCI - immunology and infectious disease (both are full).

Lastly, does the class title "Health Science 421 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology" sound like a relevant class towards BCP? Because that class is open.

Thank you so much guys. Have a great weekend
 
fakebun said:
thanks molar. I guess dental school is out of the question because there is just no way to take that many classes the way Cali runs their school system. Not all classes are offered and I think I will exhaust the number of classes I can take before my GPA is anywhere near 3.0. UOP is definitely out of the question because they require two years of continuous workload of 3 sci classes + 1 elective. However, UOP pointed out that they focus mainly on BCP instead of sGPA. Not that UOP is my dream school, but are all dental schools focusing on BCP more? If that is the case, does that mean as long as it counts toward BCP, any classes I take will be fine? Or I still have to look at the relevancy of the class to health professions?

Lastly. this is what I plan to do with my fall schedule....2cents please =)

Cal state - General Psychology (not so good professor review, currently full), Anatomy and lab (currently open, UCI doesn't offer anatomy)

UCI - immunology and infectious disease (both are full).

Lastly, does the class title "Health Science 421 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology" sound like a relevant class towards BCP? Because that class is open.

Thank you so much guys. Have a great weekend
Click to expand...
Dental school is NOT out of the question. I think you're giving up too early. If you're willing to take postbac for 1.5years and study really hard for the DATs then I think you still have a chance. They'd prefer a more mature candidate with a stronger science background anyways. All of the classes you listed seem to be very interesting. They are also quite related - you can't study infectious diseases without studying immunology and vice versa. And epidemiology really puts things in perspective. I think those are great classes to take so go for it!
 
Thanks guys. You all have been very very helpful.

Status update as of 8/22

Anatomy: 24 students/lab and there are 4 lab sections. 38 people want to add. I'm going again on wed to test my luck

Psychology 101 - from the tone of the professor, it sounds like he can add me, just not today.

gotta keep hopes up and stay positive...Right now I'm looking for anatomy from CCs
 
fakebun said:
The reason I ask is because UCLA and UCSF are my dream schools. Since it's impossible to satisfy every school's requirement I figure I should establish where I want to go first and then work toward it. If it's impossible for me to get into UCLA, I shall find other schools that are closer to my level and work towards that.

My sGPA is 2.45 oGPA is 2.89. Currently about 90 quarter units taken. I got 20AA 20TS 18 PAT 27QR 21RC.

I meant 16 units per semester. 32 a year.

My parents want me to, no matter how much it costs, just hurry the F up and be done with this school thing. They hate to see me wanting dental school and not getting anywhere.
Click to expand...

DO NOT TAKE DAT AGAIN, your GPA is a big issue. Do atleast 3-4 science courses per semester including summer too for 1 year. I don't think you can do more than 4 science courses.
 
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Ya I plan on taking 4 science classes per semester (that is if I can get in). I will have to take the DAT again if it expires though, but hopefully I can raise my GPA before that happens. Can I find out when my DAT score expires?

Just curious... does dschool focus more on sGPA or BCP? I was looking into infectious disease epidemiology, but the professor said that doesn't count as biology course. Now I'm confused whether to take that or not. Professor has a good review and its a 3 hour class, once per week.
 
fakebun said:
Ya I plan on taking 4 science classes per semester (that is if I can get in). I will have to take the DAT again if it expires though, but hopefully I can raise my GPA before that happens. Can I find out when my DAT score expires?

Just curious... does dschool focus more on sGPA or BCP? I was looking into infectious disease epidemiology, but the professor said that doesn't count as biology course. Now I'm confused whether to take that or not. Professor has a good review and its a 3 hour class, once per week.
Click to expand...

When did you took your DAT? Scores expire after two years. Both sGPA and BCP are imp. Epidemiology course can be towards other science so take the course. Don't just sign for courses (make wise decisions). As a grad student, I asked syllabus from the professors beforehand or went to class first day to make my decision.
 
I believe I took my DAT in 09...I gotta check. I'm so stressed right now that I guess I'm just getting my hands on all the relevant science classes first that count towards sGPA.

I'm taking psyc 101 in case anyone is wondering because UCLA and UCSF requires it. My dream school is UCLA and I'm and I will work my a** off for it.
 
fakebun said:
I believe I took my DAT in 09...I gotta check. I'm so stressed right now that I guess I'm just getting my hands on all the relevant science classes first that count towards sGPA.

I'm taking psyc 101 in case anyone is wondering because UCLA and UCSF requires it. My dream school is UCLA and I'm and I will work my a** off for it.
Click to expand...

Psych course should be your last priority. Fix your science GPA first.
 
Since I will have to take it sooner or later and anatomy being a hard class. This could balance the hardness of fall semester. Unless that's not allowed?
 
fakebun said:
Since I will have to take it sooner or later and anatomy being a hard class. This could balance the hardness of fall semester. Unless that's not allowed?
Click to expand...

List your potential courses this Fall, then I can give you my advice. Plus, let me know how many credits you are planning to do.
 
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Right now it's looking like

Anatomy (5 sem units) at a CC
Psyc 101 (3 sem units) at cal state

hoping to add 2 of the following: immunology, human parasitology, or infectious disease at UC irvine. Don't know my chances because UCI doesn't start until late September.

If infectious disease epidemiology is suggested then I just need 1 class from UCI.

IF by some weird miracle, cal state's anatomy opens up and CC's anatomy is still open. Should I take it at Cal State and risk of only have 3 classes and find a class to fill it to 4 (depending on lab schedule) or at CC for a good solid 4 classes? I don't plan on applying to Tuft of BU because they are not CC credit friendly.
 
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fakebun said:
Right now it's looking like

Anatomy (5 sem units) at a CC
Psyc 101 (3 sem units) at cal state

hoping to add 2 of the following: immunology, human parasitology, or infectious disease at UC irvine. Don't know my chances because UCI doesn't start until late September.

If infectious disease epidemiology is suggested then I just need 1 class from UCI.

IF by some weird miracle, cal state's anatomy opens up and CC's anatomy is still open. Should I take it at Cal State and risk of only have 3 classes and find a class to fill it to 4 (depending on lab schedule) or at CC for a good solid 4 classes? I don't plan on applying to Tuft of BU because they are not CC credit friendly.
Click to expand...

Have you done any courses at CC before?

I suggest you should do A&P I and Microbiology at CC, immunology and infectitious disease at UC Irvine. Attend first day of class for the courses you are waitlisted.
 
yes I was a cc transfer to ucla.

Status Update:

Anatomy @ CC = all closed
Psychology 101 @ Cal state = closed

My only chance left is to try to add microbiology at CC tonite and drop by the closed anatomy tonite as well. What is left are the UCI classes that I need to add and this infectious disease epidemiology class Wed night.

I guess if I can't get into any psychology I have UCI's intro to psyc on as backup. It's so confusing to juggle all the adding and scheduling of classes around 3 colleges. What I worry about the most is that if I don't get into anatomy or microbiology, I'll need another class fast
 
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