I was matched through the Questbridge College Match program to Grinnell College. My parents are worried that since it is a small school, I would not get the necessary experience there to succeed at my goal of becoming a dentist. Can anyone tell me how good their biology or chemistry program is, and if anyone had a personal experience of the college, how is it?
Congratulations! Grinnell is a prestigious college and offers one of the finest science programs in the country. They are a top producer of Biology and Chemistry PhDs (in the top 10 or 20 nationally, including universities), a testament to academic quality and preparedness for advanced degrees.
You will not be at a disadvantage for going to Grinnell in applying to dental school. Be sure to take the necessary coursework, do well academically, seek out pre-dental experiences (look into SMDEP), and study for the DAT. Take advantage of Grinnell’s internship funding program to shadow dental assistants and dentists. Grinnell has a robust summer research program that you can benefit from as well.
I am not a Grinnell student, but I attended a peer liberal arts college. Two of my close friends went on to the best dental schools in the country: Harvard and UCLA.
It’s an excellent school, populated by bright, unpretentious, thoughtful, individualistic students. The location – right smack in the middle of Iowa cornfields – is not for everyone, but for those who love the institution, no barrier to an excellent undergraduate experience. The school has a superior endowment, and many, many resources.
You can read a bit more about it here:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/2002009-why-grinnell-a-continuation.html#latest
Also, to clarify @nostalgicwisdom’s post, it does not - because it is a strictly undergraduate institution – actually produce PhDs… but rather it produces students who are well prepared to GO ON to get PhDs.
Congratulations! Grinnell is a wonderful LAC and will give you every opportunity you need to meet your goal of becoming a dentist. While it is not as widely know as some other schools (mostly because it is a liberal arts college in Iowa with no big time sports), any grad school admission officer will know of it.
Also: A quick Google reveals a number of dentists whose CVs indicate they got their undergraduate degree from Grinnell. It might be worth sending a few of them a quick polite email inquiring about their experiences.
Also, poke around the Grinnell website and check out their CLS (Careers Life and Service) offerings, and also information on health careers.
Also, bear in mind that you may ultimately change your mind about dentistry, so that shouldn’t be the sole factor.