What to do?

[noverdict]

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Hey all. I'm a GED recipient who wants to be a dentist in the future. My almost 4 years of HS were terrible. I hung with the wrong crowd, had a lot of family problems, house burned down over one summer, etc. I regret all the stupid decisions I made during those 4 years and I think about it every night. But that's in the past now and I want to move on. Anyways, I was finally kicked off roll my senior year with something like a .99x GPA because I never got the credits for my freshman year (not that it would have made any big difference). I acquired my GED last year and since then I've been confused as to what I should do.

I could go to a CC and then transfer to a 4 year uni for Biology or I could take the SAT this year and apply directly to the university. They said they will need my HS transcript if I have no/less than 24 college credits. Problem with the CC route is that I would need to take something like general education so I can then transfer to the uni but I don't know if they would accept many of those courses for a Biology major. There's also the fact that it would be better if I took the science courses at uni instead of CC but that could bring some scheduling problems after transferring. If I take 1-2 years to transfer, I would then have to cram a huge number of science courses all into my 3rd and 4th years. Actually I don't even know if they would even let me do that.

I'm 19 and I really want to start college but I just don't know how I should go about this. I don't want to mess up and waste a 2 years taking some courses that will not end up transferring/will mess up my later education. Would really appreciate any advice you guys might have.

 

[doc toothache]

I'm 19 and I really want to start college but I just don't know how I should go about this. I don't want to mess up and waste a 2 years taking some courses that will not end up transferring/will mess up my later education. Would really appreciate any advice you guys might have.

You wasted 4 years in hs but now you are worried about "wasting" 2 year at a CC to get your act together?

 

[Jake8]

Your path is going to be difficult but it is doable if you really stay focused. Go to CC and get your AA, and get a 4.0 in it, then transfer to a real university. Most likely any major university will not accept you with your current stats, so CC is your proving ground. Best thing going for you is that dental school really doesn't care about your high school so if you work hard those years can be shuffled under the rug and not come back to haunt you.

 

[noverdict]

Your path is going to be difficult but it is doable if you really stay focused. Go to CC and get your AA, and get a 4.0 in it, then transfer to a real university. Most likely any major university will not accept you with your current stats, so CC is your proving ground. Best thing going for you is that dental school really doesn't care about your high school so if you work hard those years can be shuffled under the rug and not come back to haunt you.

Alright so they don't really check your HS record in Dental school.. that's great. Guess I gotta start applying to CC since it looks like I have no chance of getting into a 4 year anyway.

You wasted 4 years in hs but now you are worried about "wasting" 2 year at a CC to get your act together?

No that's not what I meant. I want to get my act together.

Anyone here went from CC to 4 year and then Dental School? would love to read about others experiences.

 

[dentalWorks]

Here is a simple solution.

Don't even attend a CC, instead, join a 4-year university and obtain a bachelors degree in SOMETHING (it doesn't have to be science related). Make sure you keep your GPA high...... Through out those 4 years in college, make sure you take your pre-dental courses (biology 1 and 2, general chemistry 1 and 2, organic chemistry 1 and 2, physics 1 and 2). Keep your GPA high, take the DAT in the summer before you start senior year.

The BEST advice im going to give you is.... GPA GPA GPA, when you start college courses, keep your GPA ALWAYS above 3.5

 

[New2Philly]

I went to a CC first, because it was cheaper, and I barely passed science, and math classes in HS. It is doable, but you might take longer, and have extra units; the key is to always take a full load (15 units). This might be better, because the CC will have more prep classes for Math, Bio, and Chemistry. I took the courses that would count for DS at a Uni, but I took non-transferable prep courses for those classes at CC. This helped me close the gap between the other students in Uni who actually payed attention in HS, and made my transition easier (even though it took longer). For example I took prep courses for Gen Chem, Bio, and Calculus, and when I got to Uni I found that I was able to get A's in all of them. I ended getting an AA in 2 years and transferring. I got 5 interviews, and three acceptances. The key is to always keep your schedule full (In CC do 15 units a semester, and try to fit in as many summer/winter units as possible). Also, sit in the front row, get to know the teacher, and start your shadowing. You will be drilling teeth before you know it.

 

[benlittle]

I went to a CC first, because it was cheaper, and I barely passed science, and math classes in HS. It is doable, but you might take longer, and have extra units; the key is to always take a full load (15 units). This might be better, because the CC will have more prep classes for Math, Bio, and Chemistry. I took the courses that would count for DS at a Uni, but I took non-transferable prep courses for those classes at CC. This helped me close the gap between the other students in Uni who actually payed attention in HS, and made my transition easier (even though it took longer). For example I took prep courses for Gen Chem, Bio, and Calculus, and when I got to Uni I found that I was able to get A's in all of them. I ended getting an AA in 2 years and transferring. I got 5 interviews, and three acceptances. The key is to always keep your schedule full (In CC do 15 units a semester, and try to fit in as many summer/winter units as possible). Also, sit in the front row, get to know the teacher, and start your shadowing. You will be drilling teeth before you know it.

Awesome.😀

 

[noverdict]

Just want to say thank you all who have posted and pmed me! Will get to reading now.

I went to a CC first, because it was cheaper, and I barely passed science, and math classes in HS. It is doable, but you might take longer, and have extra units; the key is to always take a full load (15 units). This might be better, because the CC will have more prep classes for Math, Bio, and Chemistry. I took the courses that would count for DS at a Uni, but I took non-transferable prep courses for those classes at CC. This helped me close the gap between the other students in Uni who actually payed attention in HS, and made my transition easier (even though it took longer). For example I took prep courses for Gen Chem, Bio, and Calculus, and when I got to Uni I found that I was able to get A's in all of them. I ended getting an AA in 2 years and transferring. I got 5 interviews, and three acceptances. The key is to always keep your schedule full (In CC do 15 units a semester, and try to fit in as many summer/winter units as possible). Also, sit in the front row, get to know the teacher, and start your shadowing. You will be drilling teeth before you know it.

Thank you for the great advice. I am looking into various CCs now. Hopefully will be starting this fall 🙂