*Have a life before/after dental schools*

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siba

siba
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I am just simply curious about your view on choice of going straight to dental schools after undergrad and taking a year off before attending dental schools. I'm studying pretty hard and plan to attend dental schools right after college. Sometime, I become ambivalent and do want to take a year off just to travel and gain more clinical experience. However, I know applying is becoming more competitive each year, So I better get it over with and I can still have fun after graduating from dental schools. Which view would you guys support?

Also, how much knowledge and experience in dentistry they really want you to know and gain before attending? Will it be a waste of time to work in clinic for a year before attending to avoid struggling through dental school? Will dental school teach you EVERYTHING from the very basic? I know different people have different opinions, but it'll be interesting to hear what your perspectives are.
 
from the single interview i have had so far, dental schools are most interested in candidates who display a certain level of maturity. I'm a non-trad myself, and the interviewer told me it was something that worked in my favor since I and others like me have a much better handle on who we are and what we want from life.

All that being said, I can't speak for the other 50-something dental schools in the US, but it makes a lot of sense to me. Scores and stats are important, but personal maturity and development is even moreso, IMO.

if YOU feel that you are at a level of maturity where you can pursue and attend dental school with no regrets, or without wondering what it could have been like if you had taken the year off, then I say go for it. But if you're young, went straight to college from HS and plan to go straight to DS from college, you may not have had the chance to take some time to figure out who you are and what you want. A year off to travel and not necessarily do clinical work may be vital for your growth as a person.

Think of it this way: either you spend a year off figuring yourself out, or you spend up to 4 in dental school figuring yourself out, possibly learning that dentistry wasn't the right idea.


and if dental schools don't teach you everything about dentistry from the basics, i'd say they aren't doing their job and I would demand more, especially since i'd be paying 30K+ a year for it.
 
By the time I enter dental school this fall, I will have taken 2 years off between undergrad and dschool. I didn't do anything particularly ground-breaking, but I took the opportunity to retake some classes I felt I wanted/needed better grades in, get involved in a little research here, some shadowing there, some volunteering there... most importantly, though, I spent a lot of time becoming more aware of what's going on in the world. In college, I spent so much of my time with my nose buried in my textbooks or organizing events through my student groups that I almost forgot that there was world outside my little pre-dental bubble.

Personally, I feel like I am a completely different person now than I was when I was a senior in college. I have a deeper respect for the value of education, but I also think I gained a sense of the "bigger picture" in life... ie, I think had I gone to dental school with my "undergrad self" in tow and gotten a C on a test, I would have allowed myself to get far more upset about it than I would now. Today, I have a stronger sense of why I want to go to dental school, and clearly, realistically defined goals for what I want to accomplish when I get there... two years ago, I think I would have arrived at dental school not knowing my arse from my earlobe. 😛
 
drdoodle said:
By the time I enter dental school this fall, I will have taken 2 years off between undergrad and dschool. I didn't do anything particularly ground-breaking, but I took the opportunity to retake some classes I felt I wanted/needed better grades in, get involved in a little research here, some shadowing there, some volunteering there... most importantly, though, I spent a lot of time becoming more aware of what's going on in the world. In college, I spent so much of my time with my nose buried in my textbooks or organizing events through my student groups that I almost forgot that there was world outside my little pre-dental bubble.

Personally, I feel like I am a completely different person now than I was when I was a senior in college. I have a deeper respect for the value of education, but I also think I gained a sense of the "bigger picture" in life... ie, I think had I gone to dental school with my "undergrad self" in tow and gotten a C on a test, I would have allowed myself to get far more upset about it than I would now. Today, I have a stronger sense of why I want to go to dental school, and clearly, realistically defined goals for what I want to accomplish when I get there... two years ago, I think I would have arrived at dental school not knowing my arse from my earlobe. 😛
Click to expand...


I agree 110% I also will have had 2 years off by the time i start school again next fall, and i think taking this time off was the best decision i've made. I lived abroad the 1st year off and am doing research now in my 2nd year off, and I feel like i'm so much more of a complete person now, with a truly greater understanding of the world and of myself. I feel like i have a much better idea of what i want out of life now, and i think i'll get more out of dental school because of my time off. I realize i didn't really add aything to what drdoodle said, but i think its worth repeating.
 
i also agree with what lemoncurry said, that it helps your application. In my own case, i had a ton to talk about at interviews (i wasn't once able to cover everything i wanted to discuss), and i think i come off as more mature and unique than many candidates.

I think its important that you can demonstrate how you've benefited from the time off, but that should be easy once you're there. If you have any doubts at all about going straight into dschool, i would definitely recommend taking time off. A few years from now, I think there's a much better chance that you'll regret not having taken time off than having taken time off.
 
I took a year off to make sure dentistry was the career for me. I was also considering medicine and research. I did some exploring, got more exposed to each field, and made the best decision. When the interviews rolled in, I could say assertively why I wanted to pursue a dental education and what qualities I possess that will aid my success in this career. I also had time to travel, chill, properly prepare and fund my application and interviews, and have some fun. This is not necessarily the best choice for everyone, but if you are uncertain about your career decisions or your potential for success in the dental field, it is an option that will be a huge asset if you use it wisely. Good luck!
 
Thanks so much for you thoughtful opinions! I'll certainly take them into consideration.I'm just really worried and always trying to plan out everything (and I do change my plans sometimes) I think I am pretty mature comparing to my peers, I don't know if that's because I don't feel fit-in in any groups in college. However, I know I'm not street-smart, or people know that I'm too naive and innocent, (if that's a signal for not attending DS.)
The reason that I ask this question now as a 2nd year in college is that I heard it's better to take DAT after taking all the pre-req science, which I will be by the end of this summer. However, if I take DAT before my junior year, and I may have to apply to DS next year and attend the year after. I know DAT expires in three years and I definitely don't want to retake it if I take a year off. Well...I guess I just have to think more about it. Please shoot me with more comments and suggestion if you do have again! 😳 Tough decision to make in a few months...
 
siba said:
Thanks so much for you thoughtful opinions! I'll certainly take them into consideration.I'm just really worried and always trying to plan out everything (and I do change my plans sometimes) I think I am pretty mature comparing to my peers, I don't know if that's because I don't feel fit-in in any groups in college. However, I know I'm not street-smart, or people know that I'm too naive and innocent, (if that's a signal for not attending DS.)
The reason that I ask this question now as a 2nd year in college is that I heard it's better to take DAT after taking all the pre-req science, which I will be by the end of this summer. However, if I take DAT before my junior year, and I may have to apply to DS next year and attend the year after. I know DAT expires in three years and I definitely don't want to retake it if I take a year off. Well...I guess I just have to think more about it. Please shoot me with more comments and suggestion if you do have again! 😳 Tough decision to make in a few months...
Click to expand...


In my opinion (others might disagree), it doesn't make much of a difference when you take the dat. On the one hand, taking it early you'll have most of the material fresher, on the other hand upper level classes can help to strenghten your knowledge. But it comes down to how much you put into it... if you study, you'll do well. If you don't, you won't. So i would say take it when you feel comfortable doing so, but don't let the dat (or the fear of having it expire) dictate your plans.
 
I'm on my 3rd year off. I always wanted to be a surf bum, so I spent 2 winters doing that in Hawaii. Now I'm taking pre-reqs. I will have a 4-5 year gap, depending on if I decide to skip work this summer.

I think the break is good for you to work out all the crazy random travels you may want to do. If I didn't do the Hawaii thing, I would always wonder. Now I have some memories, realize I'm not content bieng a "slacker", and never have to wonder 'what if'.

My only problem with this long path is that I have this sense I will be a broke student for a very long time, while I'm starting to see others my age more successfull. I would rather be building assets than debt at this point in my life.

I think it is certainly worth it though, it makes you realize most jobs/careers suck, and might help that "grass is always greener" feeling that seems to trouble many working professionals.

1 years is very short... I'm not sure its enough time to even have significant other life experiences, when you consider that you will be dealing with applying and interviews that winter. I wouldn't hesitate to take a couple years and explore anything else you've ever wanted to do before you get locked into this path. It will most likely reaffirm your decision, and if not, well, thats probably for the better!
 
if your only concern is that it gets more competitive the longer you wait, i wouldn't stress too much. i'd take that year off and explore. you'll be working for the rest of your life...enjoy your youth. sure it will be slightly more competitive, but not drastically within a year, so i wouldn't let that dictate your decision.

i didn't take a year off but only because i studied abroad for half a year, so i considered that my break. had i not went through that experience, i think i would have for sure taken a year off
 
Wow....very thoughtful of you guys! There's a lot for me to consider.......:luck:
 
I definitely suggest the year off or more, but there is a common trap that people doing this can fall into. I almost fell into it, but luckily had a lifeline thrown my way.

It is great if during your 4-5 year stint in college you are smart and save up a decent amount of money so that when you finally finish in May and decide to take a year off to travel and bum around with short term, low key jobs, you have money to do that, but I think there is a decent number of people who come out of college thinking they will take a year off and then attend school again and then...oops, they don't have traveling money or living money. So now they have to get a job and they want to work in the dental field, but they have minimal experience and, unless they want to lie about it to these employers, they will only be around for a year or so, so most employers don't want to bother training them if they are just going to leave soon. People then find it hard and frustrating to find work and are barely able to scrape by on whatever they have month to month, so this vacation or break becomes a hassle of looking for jobs and not being able to afford going out or traveling.

Anyways, I suggest that while you are in school, you try to settle into a decent paying part-time job that you like. It doesn't need to be dental related...you will learn what you need to learn in dental school...use this time to be happy with whatever position you get (the people you work with, the financial compensations, the hours, etc.) Then, when school ends, hopefully you can start working full time and use that money to enjoy yourself, travel on your vacations, or save for school. The summer before your dental school starts, if you really feel the urge, take everything you have left saved and go travel to your favorite places and then come back to dental school refreshed...

obviously, this is a suggestion. Some people want and need more than a year of traveling, but realistically, you have to consider whether you'll be able to afford it or get jobs while traveling and bumming around for an entire year.
 
djeffreyt said:
I definitely suggest the year off or more, but there is a common trap that people doing this can fall into. I almost fell into it, but luckily had a lifeline thrown my way.

It is great if during your 4-5 year stint in college you are smart and save up a decent amount of money so that when you finally finish in May and decide to take a year off to travel and bum around with short term, low key jobs, you have money to do that, but I think there is a decent number of people who come out of college thinking they will take a year off and then attend school again and then...oops, they don't have traveling money or living money. So now they have to get a job and they want to work in the dental field, but they have minimal experience and, unless they want to lie about it to these employers, they will only be around for a year or so, so most employers don't want to bother training them if they are just going to leave soon. People then find it hard and frustrating to find work and are barely able to scrape by on whatever they have month to month, so this vacation or break becomes a hassle of looking for jobs and not being able to afford going out or traveling.

Anyways, I suggest that while you are in school, you try to settle into a decent paying part-time job that you like. It doesn't need to be dental related...you will learn what you need to learn in dental school...use this time to be happy with whatever position you get (the people you work with, the financial compensations, the hours, etc.) Then, when school ends, hopefully you can start working full time and use that money to enjoy yourself, travel on your vacations, or save for school. The summer before your dental school starts, if you really feel the urge, take everything you have left saved and go travel to your favorite places and then come back to dental school refreshed...

obviously, this is a suggestion. Some people want and need more than a year of traveling, but realistically, you have to consider whether you'll be able to afford it or get jobs while traveling and bumming around for an entire year.
Click to expand...

Good point! Thanks & I'll definitely keep it in mind! 🙂 Kinda an off-topic question: Say I apply in my junior year and got in! (haha..) Can I ask for a deferred matriculation for a year although I'm supposed to attend DS after graduation?
 
I think most schools would ask you to apply again. If they were to start letting people defer a year without some kind of probable cause, like a medical illness or something, it would be setting a bad example that other students in the future might try to take advantage of from that school.
 
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