Which courses should I start with?

[blankguy]

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Since you people are suggesting that I repeat General Chemistry,
what other course should I take with it? Physics with lab?
😕

 

[ecdoesit]

I am sorry. Could you give us more info?
Did you fail the class? If not, they probably are not going to let you repeat.
Why is GChem linked with physics?
What kind of learning method works for you?
Cos I basically turn on my TV and start flipping through chemistry books. Dont ask me how it works, but it works for me

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by ecdoesit
I am sorry. Could you give us more info?
Did you fail the class? If not, they probably are not going to let you repeat.
Why is GChem linked with physics?
What kind of learning method works for you?
Cos I basically turn on my TV and start flipping through chemistry books. Dont ask me how it works, but it works for me

I was told that since I took the course well over 10 yrs ago it would be wise to retake it to refresh my memory and prepare for the DAT. I'll have to check with the people that I sign up to take the prereqs(either BU or Harvard). The other prereqs like Organic chemistry require the chemistry as a repreq, not remembering chemistry I thought it would be unwise to jump right in blindly.

As to learning that's what I'm trying to figure out aside from reading the text book over.

If they don't let me take it over then I'll consider auditing.

I just talked to dr. Paxton(sp?) from the Health Careers office at Harvard. He recommended that I take it for grade since it has been so long nobody will care about the fact that I repeated. However they will endup averaging it with my first grades, also they don't have an audit option for this course, even if they had he still recommended that I take it for grade.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I would NOT take physics, simply because it isn't tested on the DAT and therefore there is no reason to review it!

Take some general biology classes if you'd like a nice review.

If you cannot audit, then another option is to take a "lesser" class. If you are taking it ONLY for review, then this is probably all you will need.

For example, most universities have a general chem class that is lower than the general chem class that the pre-professional students take. Many nursing students/students from non-science majors take this course. You might want to check into this, since these courses cover the exact material on the DAT, without the extra bulk of the regular classes.

 

[blankguy]

I think Physics is one of the required prerequisites for Pre Dental eventhough it isn't tested in the DAT. Also who should I really talk to about the issue of repeat courses? The admissions people at a dental school or the people that run the post bacc? Who should I put more weigh?

 

[aphistis]

Physics is a prerequisite for dental materials courses, as I understand. The different physical/chemical properties of the different materials apparently require at least a rudimentary background in physics.

 

[wimmcs]

I would definitely say the adcoms know more, since they are the ones selecting who gets into dental school or not. I have a friend of mine who took Gen Chem 1 and 2 and got A's back in 1993, and someone in the adcom told her to re-take them in order to do well on the admission test and since they are pre-reqs for OChem, she might need to review them. She and I took both classes together and she said she was very glad since she had forgotten almost all she learned 10 years ago. I would strongly suggest for you to talk to the schools you are interested and ask them for advice. Like Gavin said, I would put off taking Physics for now since it's not required on the DAT, even though for most schools it's a required course for matriculation. What's big in the DAT like Gavin said is Biology. So definitely plan on taking a course in Biology and do your research on what you need to do on your Gen Chem. You probably need to be moving fast, since most schools will be starting soon or have already started. Good luck!

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by wimmcs
I would definitely say the adcoms know more, since they are the ones selecting who gets into dental school or not. I have a friend of mine who took Gen Chem 1 and 2 and got A's back in 1993, and someone in the adcom told her to re-take them in order to do well on the admission test and since they are pre-reqs for OChem, she might need to review them. She and I took both classes together and she said she was very glad since she had forgotten almost all she learned 10 years ago. I would strongly suggest for you to talk to the schools you are interested and ask them for advice. Like Gavin said, I would put off taking Physics for now since it's not required on the DAT, even though for most schools it's a required course for matriculation. What's big in the DAT like Gavin said is Biology. So definitely plan on taking a course in Biology and do your research on what you need to do on your Gen Chem. You probably need to be moving fast, since most schools will be starting soon or have already started. Good luck!

Okay, thanks for the advice you guys a treasure trove of good advice. However at this point I don't know which dental schools I will end up applying(too early) I will talk to the admission people from my local schools(Tufts, BU). But from the initial impression is that I should repeat chemistry.

 

[ecdoesit]

How did you do when you took chemistry?
The thing about repeating a lower division course is that they tend to go slower. You might feel bored and overconfident for DAT. Well, you still have half a month before school starts. My advice is grab a textbook and read a few chapters. If you think you couldnt study on the book alone, that's fine and take the class and know where is your weakness and pay more attention on those subjects.

Though it might be worthwhile to take a bio or an ochem class.

(This is just my opinion)
It is very important to find out what you donno.

 

[blankguy]

I have a question about workload.
If I can't take 12 units per semester because of work commitments will the schools generally be forgiving about that?
Also since it has been a while since I've taken these science courses I plan on starting slow and gradually building up a courseload, I just don't want to rush into this foolishly and risk getting bad grades.

 

[ecdoesit]

Are you applying this year?
If so, you might have to refresh your science courses soon.
Since most of the science classes doesnt end till December, but some schools request DAT taken no later than October. Just make sure your school's deadline.

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by ecdoesit
Are you applying this year?
If so, you might have to refresh your science courses soon.
Since most of the science classes doesnt end till December, but some schools request DAT taken no later than October. Just make sure your school's deadline.

I'm just starting the curriculum so I won't be applying any time soon.

 

[ecdoesit]

hey, blankguy
i just PM'd you.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by blankguy
I think Physics is one of the required prerequisites for Pre Dental eventhough it isn't tested in the DAT. Also who should I really talk to about the issue of repeat courses? The admissions people at a dental school or the people that run the post bacc? Who should I put more weigh?

Yes, physics must be taken. I was under the impression you had completed all required classes and were merely going back for a review.

 

[blankguy]

Wise to take precalc for no credit? It's been a while since I've had math.

Also how many hours per week do you spend studying for this courses with lab? Syllabus for gen chem states around 20hrs/wk but this is coming from the professor.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Precalc or calc aren't going to help you at all in dental school, nor are they really going to help your application at this point.

Save your time and efforts and focus on something else.

 

[ecdoesit]

agree, but some math review might help a little in physics.

my opinion is to use your time wisely and go for physics and gchem for fall. if you could only take 2 classes. then you might get the two letters that you need 😛

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by ecdoesit
agree, but some math review might help a little in physics.

my opinion is to use your time wisely and go for physics and gchem for fall. if you could only take 2 classes. then you might get the two letters that you need 😛

Actually eventhough they are listed as one course gchem and physics at the extension school. I think they should be counted as 1 1/2🙂 since lab isn't listed separately. So if I were to sign up for those two, it would be the equivalent of 3, what do people think of this?

Right now I am looking over the pdf that the physics course has posted for math review. I'm glad that they don't require calculus that would have been a killer😡

The problem with taking gchem with physics is that I'll be taking new material while at the same time I want to redo and ace the repeated course work. At this point I want to concentrate on doing one thing(even if I take an extra year in the long run to complete all the courses prereq and additional advance courses.

Also what's the difference between admissions officer and admissions coordinator? Who should I talk about admissions?
Who is better to talk to?