Understood.
Don't quote me on this, but with your high GPA, as soon as you get 500+ on your mcat, applying in January should be no problem. AZPOD has a very small class size (around 30 I believe) so their seats tend to go quick. DMU and Kent both have pretty large classes. Even if you apply in January and don't get your score back til Feb, I am certain you'll get interviews. Your GPA itself already puts you leagues ahead of the average.
I understand the age thing, turning 24 this fall. Some schools however like to see more mature students in their class. It may play in your favor. There are a lot of older students in this thread as well. You are not alone!
May feel demoralizing to finish so old, but age is only a number. Short term pain, long term gain. We have to suck it up and get over it.
As for the benefits between dental versus pod- I cannot say 100% which one is better. I've seen problems in both. Saturation, the decrease of private practices due to legislation/older docs not wanting to turn their practices over to newly grads/ increased cost of running one......these are problems in both camps that won't go away any time soon.
Personally know 2 in the dental field. One is starting his third year and one just finished his 2nd year of working for another office. The one who's graduated makes enough to get by at a starting pay. But he's still living in an apartment near the med center and living conservatively to pay off loans. Pod school isn't any better in terms of debt. There's a resident who just finished this summer and is going out with 270k+ in loans. Even the attending I'm shadowing is worried for him. To get your foot in the door of a private practice along side with saving up to raise a family, buy a house, life in general....its not easy.
