RN to dentist, When, What, How

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Hi guys,

This is my first post on SDN but I am a frequent flyer when it comes to getting info on here. I really appreciate all of the good info on here. About me: I am currently working as an RN and am planning to go to dental school soon. I have researched the dental field alot including shadowing and I am sure this is the career I would like to pursue. So ofcourse I took only nursing sciences and I will have to take all of the pre-reqs for dental school. (Biology 1&2, Chem 1&2, Organic Chem 1&2 and Physics 1&2). I have not been able to come up with a plan on getting into dental school and I know other people have been through the process of applying to dental school so I figured I would ask. Can someone help me come up with a plan to get into dental school. By that I mean what steps should I be taking, when to take the DAT, a realistic timeline of when I would be able to apply to dental school. I am going back to school this August to start on my prereq's. My current plan is to take 2 sciences at a time and include electives to become a full time student. I have 8 classes to take, so it would take me 4 semesters to complete. Im thinking Fall 12', Spring 13', Summer I and II 13'. Well that would not leave me much time to study for the DAT and I would like to apply to Dental school next year 2013 so I can be enrolled in Dental school in 2014 . Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by RNDDS

Hi guys,

This is my first post on SDN but I am a frequent flyer when it comes to getting info on here. I really appreciate all of the good info on here. About me: I am currently working as an RN and am planning to go to dental school soon. I have researched the dental field alot including shadowing and I am sure this is the career I would like to pursue. So ofcourse I took only nursing sciences and I will have to take all of the pre-reqs for dental school. (Biology 1&2, Chem 1&2, Organic Chem 1&2 and Physics 1&2). I have not been able to come up with a plan on getting into dental school and I know other people have been through the process of applying to dental school so I figured I would ask. Can someone help me come up with a plan to get into dental school. By that I mean what steps should I be taking, when to take the DAT, a realistic timeline of when I would be able to apply to dental school. I am going back to school this August to start on my prereq's. My current plan is to take 2 sciences at a time and include electives to become a full time student. I have 8 classes to take, so it would take me 4 semesters to complete. Im thinking Fall 12', Spring 13', Summer I and II 13'. Well that would not leave me much time to study for the DAT and I would like to apply to Dental school next year 2013 so I can be enrolled in Dental school in 2014 . Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I think it would be a lot easier for you to spread your requirements over 2 years. Dental schools are probably not going to invite you for an interview/accept you Pre-Dec 1st because you will still have 4 pre-req classes that have not been completed in your application, if you submit your application at the beginning of June (when the app opens). You could "apply late" sometime in August/September when you have finished your pre-reqs, but that will put you at a disadvantage.

If you are not in a super rush I would do the following:
Fall '12- Take Chem 1 and Physics 1 (+labs)
Spring '13- Take Chem 2 and Physics 2 (+labs)
Fall '13- Take Orgo 1 and Bio 1 (+labs)
Winter '14- Study for DATs and take in early Spring (Note you have not taken orgo 2 and bio 2 for DATs)
Spring '14 Take Orgo 2 and Bio 2 (+labs), get all of your application material in order.
Summer '14 Apply to dental schools

If you are rushed:
Fall '12- Take Chem 1 and Physics1(+labs)
Winter '13- Study for DATs and take early Spring (or you can study for DATs now and take it early Fall)
(*Note you have not take any orgo and bio and no chem2)
Spring '13- Take Chem 2 and Physics 2 (+labs), and prep to apply
Summer '13 Take Orgos and Bios (+labs) apply

As you can see it'll be tough to get everything in order to apply in 1 year without any pre-reqs. Plus if you spread it over 2 years, you can elect to take certain electives, which some schools require (biochem, micro bio, etc.). Don't forget you also need a year of english and calc for some schools.

A huge thing to watch out for is the fact you haven't taken the pre-reqs to prepare you for the DATs. It's optimal to study for the DATs once you have taken all the pre-reqs.

Tothepark,

Congrats on being accepted into dental school and thanks for the reply! It was very helpful. I see where you are coming from but I am unfortunately kinda rushing myself. That is because I realize that I will have to take pre-req's, apply and then I would not start dental school until the year after applying. So I wanted to be able to finish pre-req's and apply by next year (2013) to hopefully start dental school in 2014 . Is it better to take Chem 1 with Physics 1 and not Bio 1 with Chem 1? I am trying to figure out a way to be finish with pre-reqs before taking DAT. I wonder how would it work to apply in July which isnt considered late and I would be finishing up classes at that time. But then again, when would I make time to study for DAT. Also, I have take some electives including biochem, anatomy, physiology and micro bio so hopefully that wouldn't delay me. So I may have to spread it over 2 years, I just wish I didnt have too.

Originally Posted by RNDDS

Tothepark,

Congrats on being accepted into dental school and thanks for the reply! It was very helpful. I see where you are coming from but I am unfortunately kinda rushing myself. That is because I realize that I will have to take pre-req's, apply and then I would not start dental school until the year after applying. So I wanted to be able to finish pre-req's and apply by next year (2013) to hopefully start dental school in 2014 . Is it better to take Chem 1 with Physics 1 and not Bio 1 with Chem 1? I am trying to figure out a way to be finish with pre-reqs before taking DAT. I wonder how would it work to apply in July which isnt considered late and I would be finishing up classes at that time. But then again, when would I make time to study for DAT. Also, I have take some electives including biochem, anatomy, physiology and micro bio so hopefully that wouldn't delay me. So I may have to spread it over 2 years, I just wish I didnt have too.

Some reason the general agreement in terms of difficulty for most is Orgo>Physics>Chem=Bio (I loved/enjoyed orgo). Thats why I suggested you split up the classes accordingly. However, in terms of preparing for the DATs, it would be helpful for you to take chem and bio first, but taking orgo and physics together might be tough, plus it will take away more time from DAT studying. In order for you to apply during July (meaning everything submitted to AADSAS) that means you need to take the DATs in April-Early June. I have also heard that take major core-prereq science courses during the summer is not preferable, but then again you are non-traditional so it won't affect you. Will you be working while taking classes?

Originally Posted by tothepark

Some reason the general agreement in terms of difficulty for most is Orgo>Physics>Chem=Bio (I loved/enjoyed orgo). Thats why I suggested you split up the classes accordingly. However, in terms of preparing for the DATs, it would be helpful for you to take chem and bio first, but taking orgo and physics together might be tough, plus it will take away more time from DAT studying. In order for you to apply during July (meaning everything submitted to AADSAS) that means you need to take the DATs in April-Early June. I have also heard that take major core-prereq science courses during the summer is not preferable, but then again you are non-traditional so it won't affect you. Will you be working while taking classes?

Are you saying that Bio is the hardest? Quote: "Orgo>Physics>Chem=Bio". No I wont be working so I will be able to take a full course load including electives.

unless your old cGPA needs pulling, taking electives is useless, or even counterproductive

take a year's load of prereqs so you have as much as possible by the time you apply

personally i'd take an extra year

take 2-3 courses a semester to get back into school mode + make As

and have a few months left over to do my statement and study for dats

especially the dats, it's not about just knowing the material, it's about knowing hte material better than other people, and idk if you have enough resources for that if you try to cram eveyrhting in too quickly

Just do a post bacc and take the DAT right after. That way you'll get a new GPA.

Originally Posted by RNDDS

Are you saying that Bio is the hardest? Quote: "Orgo>Physics>Chem=Bio". No I wont be working so I will be able to take a full course load including electives.

Instead of > meaning an arrow, he/she was using it to mean greater than. So they meant Orgo is harder than physics is harder than chem which is equal to bio.

Originally Posted by yellowishbluish

unless your old cGPA needs pulling, taking electives is useless, or even counterproductive

take a year's load of prereqs so you have as much as possible by the time you apply

personally i'd take an extra year

take 2-3 courses a semester to get back into school mode + make As

and have a few months left over to do my statement and study for dats

especially the dats, it's not about just knowing the material, it's about knowing hte material better than other people, and idk if you have enough resources for that if you try to cram eveyrhting in too quickly

Thanks,

I didnt realize that adding electives would be counterproductive and I want to have plenty of time to study for the DAT.

"I have researched the dental field alot including shadowing and I am sure this is the career I would like to pursue."

This is what I like to see.

The I would consider price before starting school. Undergrad + dental school may prove to be expensive. Be sure you're in a good financial situation before taking out loans.