predental programs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi there!
Im a junior this year and I recently decided to pursue a dental career (to be specific, an orthodontist). I really want to be admitted to ANY predental accelerated program to save the trouble of having to reapply to dental school. Im not sure which schools are way out of reach and which schools I have a decent shot at. Please give me any ideas on what predental accelerated programs would I have a good chance in! I want to go to Upenn CAS-Upenn Dental or any other program that would eventually get me to Upenn Dental (ex. Lehigh), but I would be extremely happy with any dental program.</p>

<p>First off... my academics
Freshmen year (public high school)
H English (B+)
H Bio/Lab (A)
H US History 1 (A)
H Geo (A)
Spanish 2 (B)</p>

<p>Basically its the hardest schedule possible... Now during my sophomore year I transferred to a top private school and I was given certain "restrictions" like not being able to take AP modern Euro History b/c I was new... but I made sure that I was in honors for math and science (no AP available).</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
CP English (A) (basically the History and English comes as a "package" so since I took CP History, I had to go to CP English)
CP History (A)
Precalc H (A)
Chem H (A)
Chinese 1 (A)</p>

<p>Junior year: So I aced sophomore year so they let me in AP (WOO)
AP Lit
AP US History
AP Calc BC
AP Chem
Chinese 2 </p>

<p>Senior year Im planning to take:
AP modern Euro. History (This is the AP history class that I was not allowed to take during my sophomore year and I was thinking of going back and taking it... what do colleges will think of this???)
Exploring Western Jap. culture (Its a mandatory elective for English so I have to take it)
AP stat
AP Bio
Chinese 3</p>

<p>Overall, I would have taken 6 Honor classes and 7 AP classes by the time I graduate... Im not sure if this would qualify me for the most demanding course load and I have really no clue on how my GC is going to judge me since I wasn't even there freshmen year.... will she just look at my 10, 11, and 12th grade years????? </p>

<p>I didnt take the SAT yet so I cant post my results but I took the SAT 2 and got:
Math 2 (800)
Chem (750... should I retake this????) </p>

<p>Now my big question comes here: How imp. is EC for predental programs that arent really related to dental???
For example, I have a big passion for music. I play the violin and study at the Juilliard School of Music, which is one of the most famous music conservatories in the world. I have concerts all over the world, toured with some of the most famous conductors, and was published in countless numbers of newspapers all over Europe. I have also volunteered to play violin in many nonprofit organizations, and I am currently concertmaster at my school's orchestra. I have also won first prize at one of the largest international violin competitions in Lublin, Poland and many other national competitions. But with all this said, will all this even help me in get into a predental program? </p>

<p>Sorry for making this so long, but plz any suggestions or comments would really help me understand what to except...
Thanks so much! </p>

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<p>bump</p>

3

<p>bump… plz ANYONE?</p>

4

<p>TLDR.</p>

<p>Most colleges lump pre-dental under their pre-health advising programs. Like pre-med, there really is no such thing as a pre-dental major. Just try searching the website for any colleges that might interest you, but in short, the answers should be the same for pre-dental as they are for pre-med or pre-vet. And you can always contact the pre-health advisor at those schools for any questions that are specific to those schools.</p>

5

<p>OP, more important than any of these criteria for fit is what your family can afford and what the college is likely to cost you. So run the net price calculator on each school’s financial aid page and talk to your parents about what they contribute. It’s never too early to know what schools you can and cannot afford to go to.</p>

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<p>@MrMom62 sorry its so long! However, I think you missed what I was trying to say. I know theres no predental major but Im sure that there are certain predental accelerated programs that some colleges offer. In other words, once you get into the program, your pretty much guaranteed a spot in their dental school. But thanks anyways!</p>

7

<p>@jkeil No mean to brag but I think my family is financially well enough to send me to any dental school. My dad’s yearly income is about 500,000/year (I think thats more than enough?) so I dont think Ill be facing any financial issues. With that being said, my main questions are:
Will my incredible EC on music help me get into a predental accelerated program?
Should I retake my Chem SAT2 (got 750)?
How will colleges view that I took an AP course during my senior year that most people during their sophomore years take (AP modern Euro. history)?
Thanks so much! </p>

8

<p>well, then, here’s hoping dad will agree with you. </p>

<p>the music has a role to play in your application, of course.</p>

<p>don’t re-take the Chem SATII; 750 is, what, 3 correct answers from 800? Don’t worry about that. Plus you have an 800 in Math2, so your preparation for chem and math courses is strong. </p>

<p>7 APs is plenty. The GPA is good so far. Start preparing for the SAT, if you’re not already.</p>

<p>I see no reason to go accelerated admission to a dental school. Major in whatever you want and take the dental school requirements. I’m not one to recommend that young people commit to a career when they’re 17, or 15.</p>

9

<p>The thinking for accelerated dental is the same for accelerated medicine - super competitive and if you’re good enough to get in those programs, you’re going to be good enough to get in the regular way, with way more (and usually better) choices.</p>

<p>Someone just mentioned on another thread that manual dexterity is valued in dental school applications. Definitely keep up those skills, it won’t hurt.</p>

10

<p>@jkeil911 Thanks so much! What do you think taking such an easy 10th grade schedule will affect my applications? I made sure to talk honors math and science, but I wasnt allowed to take AP modern euro history cuz I was “new” to the school. Im thinking of going back to this AP history course during my SENIOR year. Do you think colleges will look at this in a good or bad way (FYI in general, sophomores take this AP class)?</p>

11

<p>If you’re to major in STEM, Top 100 schools will want to see that you’re capable of doing well in AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Calc, etc. A couple of those AP STEMS will be enough to convince them since you have done well on the STEM SATIIs. The rest of the APs they won’t much care about except that you get good grades. They might care a little about your AP test scores, but as long as there are 4s in there with one or two 3s the AOs are not going to care so much whether you’re able to opt out of any college gen ed courses. With scores as high as yours, they’re going to be looking for red flags, not 750s on the SATII or when you took APUSH or APEuroHistory. This is trivial stuff. Nail the SATI and you’ll be good to go. Any of the Top 100s are going to be a great education, and the difference between them is not all that great. Don’t do anything dumb like quit your instrument or let somebody take you to a party where drugs will be present until you get the FA packages from the colleges.</p>

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<p>@jkeil911 Thank you so much for your advices! They were a great help :wink: </p>