Would it be overkill to thin my course load further?

[BlueQuasar]

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I suppose this is a little unfounded, but my adviser likes to scare me. A lot. He said my schedule for next year looks good, but he's worried about the load and wants me to take an additional summer (already planning on one) of classes to further lighten my load. If I have to keep chipping away at the number of credits and don't take a regular amount, how would I possibly be able to handle DS?

On the surface, it doesn't sound too bad...
Fall: micro, 5 crd; orgo 1, 4 crd; bio 2, 4 crd (schedule was lopsided, taking bio 1 this spring and a bio lab in summer); 1 crd seminar

Winter: orgo 2, 4 crd; bio 3, 4 crd; medical bacteriology, 5 crd; orgo lab, 3 crd

Spring: orgo 3, 3 crd; genetics, 5 crd; vertebrate zoology, 5 crd (this can be swapped for something else, just a space-filler for now)

Is this really unreasonable? I don't have much of any record going with sGPA, only now starting gen chem, but my oGPA is nearly perfect with 15 crd a quarter. BTW, I'm currently a sophomore (at a uni that loves to force advanced planning).

 

[Chemboy23]

Well, this is really on you. If you're taking 3+ science courses now and are making B's...you want to add time. If you're making all A's this may be feasible. I would most definitely stretch that out. There's nothing worse than knowing after the fact. Those are some pretty tough courses, and I've never heard of an Orgo 3. I'm assuming these are quarter units and not semester units. To be honest, I would go ahead and plan on an extra summer. Dental schools are getting EXTREMELY competitive and your GPA has to be top notch. The classes you mention you have a "perfect GPA" in are basic classes that about 95% of predents get A's in. However, the classes you have yet to take will be increasingly difficult...so don't kid yourself and think it will be this easy all the way through. One bad semester can pretty much destroy your GPA...so just be careful. You're a better judge than any of us on here and you know your limits (hopefully). Good luck! 👍👍👍

 

[BlueQuasar]

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I realize my classes so far are easier than just about anything, but I at least wanted to mention that I don't have any gpa mending needed yet. And yep, it's a quarter system. I was thinking about doing some self studying of orgo or micro in the summer just to get any kind of help possible, but will that actually do any good?

 

[eringer]

My university isn't in quarters, so everything is just in semesters. But the fact is the same: You want to make sure that you are taking a decent load each semester. For example, an full load at my univ is considered 15 credits. I normally don't stray to far below that number. I have heard dental schools asking people about it when they take lower than 14 credits. I usually take about 16 credits, which I am comfortable with. Like mentioned before, it is up to you. However, I would stay right around a full course load and wouldn't deviate from it much...especially in going lower than the suggested level.

 

[yappy]

3 science in one term is NOT an impossible load. You need to learn to adapt and get A's in this type of schedule if you aspire to dental school IMO. I would do these 3 / term then add 1 easy general class.

Think of it this way - even if you manage to get one B+ and get A's in the other two sciences and general elective you're looking at an above average GPA for dental school & showing you can do well in a more than easy term. But like others have said - if this is a load that is too much 1.) dont wreck your gpa 2.) question if a professional program is really for you

 

[BlueQuasar]

3 science in one term is NOT an impossible load. You need to learn to adapt and get A's in this type of schedule if you aspire to dental school IMO. I would do these 3 / term then add 1 easy general class.

Think of it this way - even if you manage to get one B+ and get A's in the other two sciences and general elective you're looking at an above average GPA for dental school & showing you can do well in a more than easy term. But like others have said - if this is a load that is too much 1.) dont wreck your gpa 2.) question if a professional program is really for you

👍 That's exactly what I was thinking when my adviser mentioned more thinning - at what point would you be taking so few classes that even good grades don't really mean that you'll prepared for/can handle dental school?
I see that you mentioned taking easy general ed classes along with a few science classes, and that seems like good advice...except I'll be done with them by the end of this year. I was a little on the fence about majors and a general adviser suggested I work on GE credits until I know what I want to do. I guess in a way it'll be nice to not hassle with them anymore, but it'll probably also bite me in the back because I won't have the chance to spread out my science load.

 

[yappy]

Regarding what I said... only do it if you can get a good GPA - it wont help if you cant. With the GE/elective/non-science classes... at my school you can take any class required or not as long as you've filled your sched with required classes and are fulltime. For example - I did an AA degree before going to university. My major is science so I would have only had science classes to take to get my four year, as my AA took care of all the general/non science classes.

I still have taken at least one non-science per term in order to buffer any blow getting a B might make. By doing this I've picked up a business minor and taken alot of the non-science "suggested" classes that D-schools list to take. Also, because I have one year left i'm finishing a professional writing certificate by completing a program in the english department.

Science is great but this might be the last time in your life you can really expand your thinking by taking non science college classes. After UG it's all about dentistry and science so why not learn to think in a bunch of ways? & buffer that GPA.


PS: By taking three sciences + a non sci you can drop a class and still be full time. Somthing to think about.