Dentistry... without Chemistry A level?
I'm 18, and have done three years at college [I flunked my first year because of sheer laziness]. I currently have ABaac in my A/AS levels [English Lit., Biology, Psychology, Media Studies and ICT consecutively]... Hopefully AAABc by the time I finish this year.
I applied for English Literature and was accepted by five out of six Unis that I applied to... Though now I'm doubting my choice of degree. Dentistry has always been something that has interested me, hence why I chose to continue a science at A level.
What are the chances of me being accepted to do Densitry without Chemistry at A level? Is there any way that I can get past this, or would I have to do a Chemistry A level before any school of dentistry would consider me?
I applied for English Literature and was accepted by five out of six Unis that I applied to... Though now I'm doubting my choice of degree. Dentistry has always been something that has interested me, hence why I chose to continue a science at A level.
What are the chances of me being accepted to do Densitry without Chemistry at A level? Is there any way that I can get past this, or would I have to do a Chemistry A level before any school of dentistry would consider me?
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to be honest i do not think you will even be considered for dentistry with the subjects you chosen, due to the fact the courses that you are doing have no direct link with dentistry, maybe biology but not to the extent that chemistry would have done so if i where i will choose some thing that is related to the courses you are doing or drop them all and do the specific dentistry courses such as maths physics (hey looks good) and chemistry or complete the alevels your doing now and do the above 3 but that’s 2 more yr's or if your are UBER then 1 and plus your a retaker and that’s not good if your want to do dentistry
I hear what you're saying, but I don't really like the idea of three years of misery... I think I'd rather just take some time off, get some experience, save some money, and think about other things that I could do.
I'd heard that there are 6-year courses at some of the dental schools which cater for people who do not have the required sciences by offering a foundation year. I wonder if they are as competitive/more accepting of resitters..? Bearing in mind that I did my Biology A level in two years, not three, maybe they would consider me. Hmm...
I'd heard that there are 6-year courses at some of the dental schools which cater for people who do not have the required sciences by offering a foundation year. I wonder if they are as competitive/more accepting of resitters..? Bearing in mind that I did my Biology A level in two years, not three, maybe they would consider me. Hmm...
why dont you ring universities and tell them your situation. you cant do dentistry without chemistry but you may still be able to do something dentistry related. for example dental nursing, where you can work towards a nvq qualification i think.
I got 4A*'s,3A's and 3B's for my GCSE's and predicted 4A's for my Alevels. I applied to Kings, QM, Manchester and Bham and got rejected from everywhere.
Tazzie
What about doing a chemistry A-level? Its a bit late inthe process for this eyar- but take a gap year next year, do a a chem A-level, and apply to dent with a good set of A-level grades?
But would I be classed as a resitter if I did that? Because I've already spent 3 years in college doing A levels... Though each A level was completed in two years, if that makes sense.
they could say you are already a resitter- as you spent three years in college - or if they say you are not, then you wouldnt be if you did chem in year either.
its best to phone individual uni's. if oyou can show them that you have enough experince froom those years with dental stuff, and that you genuinely want to do dentsitry- you may have a chance. I guess its up to them- but if you get an interview then its defo down to you.
its best to phone individual uni's. if oyou can show them that you have enough experince froom those years with dental stuff, and that you genuinely want to do dentsitry- you may have a chance. I guess its up to them- but if you get an interview then its defo down to you.
I know that Manchester definitely offer the 6 yr (pre-dental) dentistry course. entry requirements are as follows:
A level: Grades AAB. This should be three A-levels in arts subjects (one science permitted) or two A-levels at grades AB and two AS-levels at grades AB in arts subjects (one science permitted).
At cardiff they have a foundation course for people studying only one science but i believe that entry requirements are AAB.
Bristol also has a pre-dental year dentistry course where entry requirements are AAB.
however, i think you would be best contacting each university individually in your circumstance.....and remember that the pre-dental year means that you will be studying for 6 Years!!
A level: Grades AAB. This should be three A-levels in arts subjects (one science permitted) or two A-levels at grades AB and two AS-levels at grades AB in arts subjects (one science permitted).
At cardiff they have a foundation course for people studying only one science but i believe that entry requirements are AAB.
Bristol also has a pre-dental year dentistry course where entry requirements are AAB.
however, i think you would be best contacting each university individually in your circumstance.....and remember that the pre-dental year means that you will be studying for 6 Years!!
The foundation year dental course is competitive and you really will have to be very motivated to get into it, lots and lots of work experience etc and lots of extracurricular activities. You would have to have a very good reason why you didn't apply for dentistry first. You said the reason you carried on with biol is because you were always interested in dentistry, so interested in fact you didn't check the entry requirements, I know people you have had no biol a-level but have chem so can do dentistry, I can only speak for Bristol but you definately need chem, the course involves so much in the 1st year, you'd be so stuck without it! But as you said there is the foundation year of course. The fact you re-sat will put you at a very big disadvantage, they are really not going to look very kindly on you failing from sheer laziness as dentistry is an intensive and hard course and it is very expensive to train a dentist, if they think there is a chance you could get caught up in the whole student fresher thing and do no work then they will never accept you.
If there isn't anything which interests you at uni, I'd say do as well as you can in your a-levels, take a year to think about what you'd like to do with your life, look at what you need to do and work towards it. Do some volunteer work, lots of work experience in a few different things, travel etc and hopefully you should be able to decide if you need to go to uni or get a job to get to your target!
Good luck!
If there isn't anything which interests you at uni, I'd say do as well as you can in your a-levels, take a year to think about what you'd like to do with your life, look at what you need to do and work towards it. Do some volunteer work, lots of work experience in a few different things, travel etc and hopefully you should be able to decide if you need to go to uni or get a job to get to your target!
Good luck!
I'd have thought that without A-Level Chemistry your chances of gaining admission onto a fiver year programme would be impossible as I am under the assumption that every dental school in the UK requires Chemistry (and possibly Biology) at A2 level.
Howver some universities may only require it to AS level and there are universities which offer 6 year "foundation programmes" with one year of the course involving the teaching of A-Level standard sciences.
However the six year option would usually only be available to students who did non-traditional A-Level combinations (e.g. English, Geography, Histroy) and would hence benfit from a year's science teaching.
I would strongly recommend you research your options very carefully.
P.S: I've just re-read your post. It seem that seeing as you took Biology to A-level already you may not be eligible for the foudnation programmes as like I pointed out those are only available to students without Science A-Levels.
It would also seem you took beyond the normal two year period to complete your A-Level education and hence in the eys of some dental schools you may well be viewed as a 'resit student'. Dental schools will have policies on such candidates. Some may well consider them for admission in line with other candidates, some may ask for mitigating circumstances in order to be considered, and others may well simply say that they won't consider your application.
Like I said, email the various dental schools and explain them your situation and perhaps send them a brief CV and ask them if they would consider you for 2008 entry if you were to sit Chemistry A-level next academic year (some colleges offer One Year A-Level programmes).
I hope you will not take any of this advice negatively, I am simply putting across an opinion based on information gathered from other students and what I know myself about the admissions process. Dentistry is a very difficult course on which to gain admission however it is by no means impossible, regardless of circumstances. If it is something you really want to do then you will find a way. Even if it invovles sacrifices like taking a year it, surely it would be worth it if you got to where you want to be at the end of the day?
Howver some universities may only require it to AS level and there are universities which offer 6 year "foundation programmes" with one year of the course involving the teaching of A-Level standard sciences.
However the six year option would usually only be available to students who did non-traditional A-Level combinations (e.g. English, Geography, Histroy) and would hence benfit from a year's science teaching.
I would strongly recommend you research your options very carefully.
P.S: I've just re-read your post. It seem that seeing as you took Biology to A-level already you may not be eligible for the foudnation programmes as like I pointed out those are only available to students without Science A-Levels.
It would also seem you took beyond the normal two year period to complete your A-Level education and hence in the eys of some dental schools you may well be viewed as a 'resit student'. Dental schools will have policies on such candidates. Some may well consider them for admission in line with other candidates, some may ask for mitigating circumstances in order to be considered, and others may well simply say that they won't consider your application.
Like I said, email the various dental schools and explain them your situation and perhaps send them a brief CV and ask them if they would consider you for 2008 entry if you were to sit Chemistry A-level next academic year (some colleges offer One Year A-Level programmes).
I hope you will not take any of this advice negatively, I am simply putting across an opinion based on information gathered from other students and what I know myself about the admissions process. Dentistry is a very difficult course on which to gain admission however it is by no means impossible, regardless of circumstances. If it is something you really want to do then you will find a way. Even if it invovles sacrifices like taking a year it, surely it would be worth it if you got to where you want to be at the end of the day?
Kings won't be offering the 6 year course from 2009
(edited 2 years ago)
Some universities accept either chemistry or biology at AS but it has to be a grade B minimum. You can't have both at AS, 1 of biology and chemistry needs to be at A2 standard.
The conversion is not running from 2009 entry. This was taken from the website:
''Dentistry Conversion Entry Programme BDS (not running for 2009 entry)''
Here is the link if you don't believe it, http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp09/course_atoz/D.
You may be looking at the 2008 prospectus.
''Dentistry Conversion Entry Programme BDS (not running for 2009 entry)''
Here is the link if you don't believe it, http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp09/course_atoz/D.
You may be looking at the 2008 prospectus.
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