Any non-trads out there?

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How was transitioning back to school for you? What made you finally make the decision to jump ship??

Jump ship? As in significantly cut my hours at work?

It's a long story but I decided I couldn't live with myself if I didn't give this a shot. I slowly got my feet wet before giving up hours. I retook Algebra because it had been over 15 years since I took it (best decision!). I then jumped into Gen Chem 1 and used that as my litmus test to see if I could score an A, which I did. I took Gen Chem 2 last summer and enrolled in school full-time last fall. The transition was a little shocking at first. I'm married with 2 kids and older than most, so initially I felt a bit awkward. I soon found that many non-trads go to my school and I've made good friends of all ages. I found out my strength is in Chemistry. It's been quite a journey so far and I get tired and have lot's of anxiety but I some how keep my eye on the prize.

PM me if you want to chat ( :

Also a non-trad. Finished all my prereqs at CC last semester. I started with Physics 1 as my litmus test. Then doubled up on night classes, which ended up being 10 units a semester. It was tough, especially because I was still working 40 hrs a week. I finished my prereqs in 5 semesters, and got all A's. I start D school in July. Feel free to PM if you have any other questions.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by predent8314

How was transitioning back to school for you? What made you finally make the decision to jump ship??

There are threads similar to this already; only mention that for your own benefit in case you want to see more feedback that already exists on this topic, not to deter a post on the same topic.

I personally continuously took classes from the time I left HS, through the military, after I finished my respiratory program, and up until this very semester before dental school. How transitioning to FULL TIME school (dental school) will be, is a different story, and one I'm scared ****less about.

Why I decided to seriously do this route... probably when I was finishing my AAS, watching my then gf at the time get called up onto the graduating platform as "Dr. bitch face", that was motivating. Then experiencing more low-mid level work, further pushed me. Honestly though, I still have doubts, still think about continuing a life of mediocrity and just letting my potential dry up and die.

Money is also an issue, my biggest passion is travel/exploration, and that isn't cheap, especially when you want to do things like Antarctica, space, etc.

What's your story OP?

Originally Posted by predent8314

How was transitioning back to school for you? What made you finally make the decision to jump ship??

This is a great question. For me, I was 26 around the time I was contemplating switching out of my current career. By my estimates, if I were to "jump ship" and pursue dentistry, I would be 33 years old by the time I graduated from dental school...if all goes as planned. So it would obviously be a long and difficult road ahead.

So what made me finally take the leap and make the decision to pursue dentistry? I thought to myself, "I'm going to be 35 years old either way...would I rather be a dentist at that point, or would I rather be stuck in the same position I'm in right now?.

...and that's what did it for me. It was simple, yet effective logic. I asked myself where I'd want to be at age 35, and that allowed me to focus less on the difficult path toward becoming a dentist, and instead focus more on the end goal of being in such a rewarding and valuable profession.

So, since then I've quit my job (I had to b/c I wouldn't be allowed to work part-time) and left everything in order to pursue dentistry. I'll be applying this cycle.

Please feel free to PM me if you any other questions. I'm always happy to help out and advise a fellow non-traditional pre-dent.

Good luck!

For you nontrad students,

what route did you take when completing prereqs? Did you complete them before applying to dental school? I ask because at the time I plan to apply and take the dat I would still have to take physics 2 as well as biochem and microbiology. It seems some schools dont mind you applying even though prereqs have not been completed yet, as long it's done before you start their program. As of now, i'm more concerned with finishing the main courses that are needed to do well on the dat.

Originally Posted by breeqt84

For you nontrad students,

what route did you take when completing prereqs? Did you complete them before applying to dental school? I ask because at the time I plan to apply and take the dat I would still have to take physics 2 as well as biochem and microbiology. It seems some schools dont mind you applying even though prereqs have not been completed yet, as long it's done before you start their program. As of now, i'm more concerned with finishing the main courses that are needed to do well on the dat.

I completed mine at CC. I still had two prereqs to take when I applied last round. The three classes you mentioned aren't needed for the DAT, so as long as you study hard you should be prepared.

I was recently accepted to DS as a post-bac non traditional student. I had the same mentality as others above...stay in my crappy job, or still do work (school vs. office job 8-5) for the next 6 years. After six years of work, either school or a job, where would I be? Enjoying my life as a dentist or sitting in a grey cubicle looking at a computer screen answering to the idiots above me. When you think about it that way the decision is pretty simple...

I took a couple "test" course at a CC to gauge my skills like Pre-calc and Intro to Chemistry. Once I aced those I quit my job and began taking courses full time while shadowing/volunteering around the clock. I knocked out Chem1/2 over the summer sessions then did Bio1, Ochem1, Physics 1 over fall and then second round over spring. Took the DAT over the summer and applied...got into 4 schools...

Now I am just taking some extra classes to help in dental school such as Biochem, Micro, Anatomy etc....

Good Luck!!

Kahr, you asked for my story, so here it is.

Graduated in 2006 from a Univ (was at the Univ for all 4 years). Graduated with a GPA between 3.95 and 3.99. I was on the pre-med route for a couple years, but veered off that path and decided to just graduate and "get to work." I am currently working in the area of finance (nothing worth writing home about). Ever since graduating I have been interested in dentistry. I have shadowed dentists and know that many of them absolutely love their career. I like the fact that you are a learner for life, your own boss, and a respected figure in the community (among many other things) as a dentist. I took a few of the pre-reqs back when I was an undergrad... Gen CHEM1/CHEM2 + labs, BIO1/BIO2 + labs, getting As in all the classes/labs. I also took Calc 1 and got an A in that. Now I am considering going back for an informal post bacc to take the remaining prereqs (I would audit Gen CHEM and BIO to relearn the material for the DAT). I would start this summer by taking A&P1 and A&P2 while also auditing general chemistry. Then I would move on to ORG CHEM starting next fall.

Any advice, recommendations, or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I'm a non-trad career changer as well. Sick of working in corporate America and dreamed of being my own boss. Decided it was now or never, and just went for it. I was able to keep my job so I was lucky.

After being out of school for 7 years, I was scared because I wasn't the best performer in undergrad and I didn't have a history of academic success. I got a C in Gen Chem when I took it 12 years ago, but dove right into Orgo. My first exam was the scariest because I forgot how it felt. I rocked all my classes and would be the top performer in my classes, sometimes by a wide margin. Being older, more mature, and more focused leads to kicking the asses of the 20 year undergrads around you. It was a massacre I tell ya. One exam, the class average was a 61% and everyone complained. My score? 98%. Some poor beer pong playing undergrad must have gotten a 37% to even out my 98%. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

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