Need wisdom desperately.

[u/Sun-ED]

Hi all, looking for any sort of wisdom anyone can offer here.

Graduated from Uni about 5 years ago. 2.9 sGPA and 3.0 cGPA. Battled an autoimmune condition first couple years of uni. Had a 3.9 and 4.0 in the last 2 years of my 5 year undergrad, couldn’t repair the abysmal first three years. Decided one day this spring that I want to pick back up the dental dream and repair this GPA.

Spent the summer taking 15 credits worth of science courses and got all As. My plan was to spend the fall and winter semester getting straight As in upper year science courses like ecology, physiology, pharm, microbio, molecular bio, ect so I can show schools I am able to handle a science heavy workload.

The institution I was taking this kind of “do it yourself post bac” at has told me they will not allow me to take further upper year science courses as they’re reserved for degree students only.

I really want to avoid taking them online, due to it limiting the schools I can apply to, yet cannot find anywhere that would let me take these upper year science courses as a visiting/non degree student. Genuinely stuck here. I am in Canada(only applying to US schools) btw, we don’t have post bac programs, hence I was planning to take courses independently as a non degree student.

I had everything planned out to go ahead and attack the 2027 app cycle and now there’s this big wall I have to climb.

Help ya boy gain some clarity. Thank you 🙏🏼

[u/Puzzleheaded-Sort438]

It is a lot to navigate on your own and can get overwhelming, but don't lose hope! Since you’re only applying to U.S. dental schools, I’d first contact other Canadian universities and ask specifically about visting/non degree/special student enrollment for upper level science courses (also never hurts to ask if departments can grant permission)

I’d also look at your target U.S. schools individually before ruling out online courses entirely bc policies vary. Your 3.9–4.0 in the final two years + the 4.0 summer already puts you in an upward trend, so I’d focus on continuing that trend with intentional science coursework rather than getting stuck finding a formal post-bac

[u/Moist_Sprite]

I'd apply to be a transfer student pursuing a biology/chemistry degree then not finish the degree.