Worried, flustered, confused. Help.

[GSMcGuire]

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Hi, it's my 1st semester at the University of North Florida. I graduated Valencia College with a General AA Degree. I didn't take any "important" science courses at Valencia and waited until I got to UNF so I looked more competitive when I applied to Dental Schools. Well this semester has sucked! I had to withdraw from my Biology I course because my teacher was impossible (25% pass-rate), then in Chemistry I Lecture, I'm going to end up with an A but a D in lab because my professor wouldn't take my lab assignments late even with a doctors note. So my 1st semester I already have a D and W! I knew coming to a University was going to be hard but, I feel so defeated already what are Dental Schools going to think of this?

Also what are there thoughts on learning disabilities? I have ADD and I have signs of dyslexia which I am getting tested for this break.

Also my school pre-med advisor is never around so I don't know what I should be doing on the side on top of school. I'm in a sorority, Delta Gamma so there's my service/volunteer, I work as a waitress part-time some weeks full-time, I'm in the pre-dental society at UNF, I would like to shadow more dentist but, for how long? Do I need paperwork?

....I'm a mess. Help, advice and wisdom is welcome.

 

[II H5 II]

Hi, it's my 1st semester at the University of North Florida. I graduated Valencia College with a General AA Degree. I didn't take any "important" science courses at Valencia and waited until I got to UNF so I looked more competitive when I applied to Dental Schools. Well this semester has sucked! I had to withdraw from my Biology I course because my teacher was impossible (25% pass-rate), then in Chemistry I Lecture, I'm going to end up with an A but a D in lab because my professor wouldn't take my lab assignments late even with a doctors note. So my 1st semester I already have a D and W! I knew coming to a University was going to be hard but, I feel so defeated already what are Dental Schools going to think of this?

Also what are there thoughts on learning disabilities? I have ADD and I have signs of dyslexia which I am getting tested for this break.

Also my school pre-med advisor is never around so I don't know what I should be doing on the side on top of school. I'm in a sorority, Delta Gamma so there's my service/volunteer, I work as a waitress part-time some weeks full-time, I'm in the pre-dental society at UNF, I would like to shadow more dentist but, for how long? Do I need paperwork?

....I'm a mess. Help, advice and wisdom is welcome.

First off you need to go look in the mirror and ask yourself "Am I willing to give whatever it takes from now through the rest of undergrad to reach my goal of dental school?" Because you have some what of a bad start but you CAN recover. Honestly I don't think dental schools take too kindly to community coursework which makes your UNF pre-req science courses and other courses that much more important. First you need to get into contact with a GOOD pre-dent advisor or even a competent dental student to plan out what science courses and when to take them in the coming years. Then you need to give everything you have academic wise starting next semester to prove that this semester was just a small adjustment period.

Idk about learning disabilities and dental school.

You need to start shadowing now. I think a minimum of 50 hours is about right but having more is better. Get into contact with a dentist whether its through a friend, family, or through your pre-dent group. Also I would look into volunteering at a local dental clinic which looks good.

I'm from jax and went to UF so I'm kinda familiar with UNF.

 

[BlackThought]

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[ttpharm]

Nothing wrong with a learning disorder. Go get it diagnosed if you think you have it instead of having an excuse. I messed up my first 2 years. I learned from my mistakes and showed the adcoms a big improvement. It's better to show a 2.8 -> 3.6 improvement than a 4.0 to a 3.6 decline and thats what I did. Good luck. You can do it if you're determined and driven to be a dentist.

 

[petro244]

To be straight with you, is seems like you are allowing yourself to accept these as excuses. There are no excuses. If the attention deficit you experience prevents you from retaining information or focusing on tasks at hand, maybe you shouldn't consider a profession that carries the liability of the physical well being of others.

Idk anything about your sorority, but often activities like that require social and time commitments that would interfere with time you need to be spending in library. Even Friday nights if you have exam the following week.

Finally, as constructive criticism, if someone receives poor grades, it is 99% the fault of the student. Do not let yourself think any excuses make a difference.

And even if only 25% of students are passing in your bio class. Oh well, get in that 25%. There's really no other choice.

 

[RSalha17]

Hey. So let me say this and I mean it in the most constructive way possible. First, a short story. I was a 'problem child' and I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 12. All of intermediate school (gr 5-8) I justified bad grades/behavior with the 'Oh I have a disorder' cop out. I didn't know any better. One day I snapped and threw the whole concept of ADHD out of my head around grade 11 after getting fed up with it being called a 'disorder'. I swear it made the biggest difference in my life. Sure, go get diagnosed, but just don't let it be an excuse for your missteps. This sounds cheesy and I know ADD is a bit different but imo, all you need is a change in mentality I think. You control what happens from this point on. Not a paper from a doctor that says you have ADD.

Good Luck.

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