Advice for High School Senior

[chris2k5]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am a graduating senior this year and I have committed to pursuing a career in dentistry ever since sophomore year.

Needless to say, I bombed my SAT's but I have a decent GPA at 3.5. I applied to some nice schools and got turned down but I have been accepted to:

-SUNY at Buffalo
-Quinnipiac University
-University of Vermont

I know my choices are limited but for a career in dentistry, which schools do you guys recommend I choose for my undergraduate experience?

I know Buffalo has an Early Assurance program I can apply to but is it realistic for me? Do I even have a chance?

Do you guys recommend that I go to the cheapest one and after a year I transfer out to a different school? If so, what schools do you recommend?

I sucked at the SAT's and I basically dug my own grave. I just need some guidance to get myself out of the hole before it is filled.

 

[mx41]

Go to the cheapest public university you got accepted to. It doesn't matter where you go, just as long as it's a 4-year university.

As for the "early assurance" program, I believe these are very competitive and require a very high GPA/test scores and extracurriculars so do not be disappointed if you don't get in.

 

[chris2k5]

I read up on the Buffalo Early Assurance program. Basically, during your sophomore year at Buffalo, you apply and they take into account ONLY your GPA and credentials at Buffalo. Required GPA is 3.3/4.0 and 3.5 is required to stay in the program? Is it worth it? Right now Buffalo is the most expensive even with financial aid.

 

[dentstd]

This "go to the cheapest school" philosophy has got to rest. Not everybody came from a more disadvantaged background. Too many of you guys don't know the benefits of going to a good school, because you've never seen recruiters come to your school. Or seen someone else get the job for no other reason than he went to UPenn undergrad. If you've ever tried to get the high position jobs, you'll realize that the best person for the job doesn't always get the job. Not to go all Jimmy Choo on you all, but many of you don't know what that's like because of lackluster backgrounds.

 

[DrReo]

This "go to the cheapest school" philosophy has got to rest. Not everybody came from a more disadvantaged background. Too many of you guys don't know the benefits of going to a good school, because you've never seen recruiters come to your school. Or seen someone else get the job for no other reason than he went to UPenn undergrad. If you've ever tried to get the high position jobs, you'll realize that the best person for the job doesn't always get the job. Not to go all Jimmy Choo on you all, but many of you don't know what that's like because of lackluster backgrounds.

You do make a good point. I attended a Harvard, UPenn, Stanford and Duke recruitment. I was impressed, unquestionably. As a dentist, how many people ask where they went to undergraduate? I applied to Hopkins and Cornell. There are amazing institutions, no questions asked. I didn't attend Hopkins because the price is outrageous. Is it a mistake? Who knows. Did it limit me? No, I was accepted to many dental schools and have little student loans.

 

[dentstd]

You do make a good point. I attended a Harvard, UPenn, Stanford and Duke recruitment. I was impressed, unquestionably. As a dentist, how many people ask where they went to undergraduate? I applied to Hopkins and Cornell. There are amazing institutions, no questions asked. I didn't attend Hopkins because the price is outrageous. Is it a mistake? Who knows. Did it limit me? No, I was accepted to many dental schools and have little student loans.

It's hard for it to matter when there are about 50 students in the country applying from those schools. It won't matter in terms of getting into dental school, but if your dreams ever get larger than just getting into dental school, then that's a different story.

Ever sought out the intensely fierce scholarships? Or a position at top management firms. Take a look at the Barry Goldwater Scholarship winners from the past several years. It's one of the highest awards possible for science in college. About 300 students get it per year, but not one predent. A similar situation for the Fullbright, Winston Churchill, Gates, and the slew of competitive scholarships. The sad story remains true for dentistry. It's not for the high achievers. I hope that changes one day, but it's still overwhelmingly not the case.

 

[mx41]

There's no doubt that you should go to a school that you're happy with. Usually the schools that are very impressive are private schools, with huge tuitions. For many people who do attend private schools, they have to pull out a student loan. After graduating dental school you would not only have to deal with the debt from dental school, but also the debt from your undergrad loans. In 8 years time you may ask yourself, was it really worth going to a private school, because you earned the same degree as anyone else?

I go to one of the cheapest public schools in my state and I am very satisfied with what I have been given, and I came from one of the top high schools in my state.
I do agree that it is a matter of opinion. Some have a preference for public schools and some have a preference for private schools

 

[dentstd]

There's no doubt that you should go to a school that you're happy with. Usually the schools that are very impressive are private schools, with huge tuitions. For many people who do attend private schools, they have to pull out a student loan. After graduating dental school you would not only have to deal with the debt from dental school, but also the debt from your undergrad loans. In 8 years time you may ask yourself, was it really worth going to a private school, because you earned the same degree as anyone else?

I go to one of the cheapest public schools in my state and I am very satisfied with what I have been given, and I came from one of the top high schools in my state.
I do agree that it is a matter of opinion. Some have a preference for public schools and some have a preference for private schools

For many fields, a degree is a degree is a degree. Dentistry is one of those fields. In more competitive fields, it matters more.

 

[dentstd]

I am a graduating senior this year and I have committed to pursuing a career in dentistry ever since sophomore year.

Needless to say, I bombed my SAT's but I have a decent GPA at 3.5. I applied to some nice schools and got turned down but I have been accepted to:

-SUNY at Buffalo
-Quinnipiac University
-University of Vermont

I know my choices are limited but for a career in dentistry, which schools do you guys recommend I choose for my undergraduate experience?

I know Buffalo has an Early Assurance program I can apply to but is it realistic for me? Do I even have a chance?

Do you guys recommend that I go to the cheapest one and after a year I transfer out to a different school? If so, what schools do you recommend?

I sucked at the SAT's and I basically dug my own grave. I just need some guidance to get myself out of the hole before it is filled.

There's no appreciable difference in these schools. Do your finances, find out which one you like most, and enjoy your time there.

 

[ToldYouSo]

It's hard for it to matter when there are about 50 students in the country applying from those schools. It won't matter in terms of getting into dental school, but if your dreams ever get larger than just getting into dental school, then that's a different story.

Ever sought out the intensely fierce scholarships? Or a position at top management firms. Take a look at the Barry Goldwater Scholarship winners from the past several years. It's one of the highest awards possible for science in college. About 300 students get it per year, but not one predent. A similar situation for the Fullbright, Winston Churchill, Gates, and the slew of competitive scholarships. The sad story remains true for dentistry. It's not for the high achievers. I hope that changes one day, but it's still overwhelmingly not the case.

Oh well for all the poor under-achieving dentists in America, I guess they will have to settle for a 6 figure salary, unlimited earning potential, relatively good hours and comfortable lifestyle as well as being called Dr. and having the ability to do surgery and other things. What a shame.

 

[Lemons]

Pick a major that is "easy" yet useful. It will give your GPA some padding and provide a good backup plan if you don't get into dental school. Remember, most people in college today do not have good enough grades to get into professional school, you need to pick a major that can get you a "real job". Also, if you pick a non-science major you still have to keep your science GPA very high as well to prove to dental schools you can cut it.

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Pick a major that is "easy" yet useful. It will give your GPA some padding and provide a good backup plan if you don't get into dental school. Remember, most people in college today do not have good enough grades to get into professional school, you need to pick a major that can get you a "real job". Also, if you pick a non-science major you still have to keep your science GPA very high as well to prove to dental schools you can cut it.

This is good advice. Don't feel like you simply HAVE to major in Biology. With that being said, I don't know of any liberal arts degrees that actually train you to have a "real job," except perhaps journalism, graphic design, or accounting. I majored in English, and all I got was a well-stocked bookshelf. Choose Spanish or something that will make you uber-marketable.

Regardless of where and what you choose, your performance in college is what will matter to dental schools -- not your SATs. You'll start over with a clean slate! 🙂

 

[WilsonJing]

My favorite class in high school was recess.

 

[paulbunyun]

I am a graduating senior this year and I have committed to pursuing a career in dentistry ever since sophomore year.

Needless to say, I bombed my SAT's but I have a decent GPA at 3.5. I applied to some nice schools and got turned down but I have been accepted to:

-SUNY at Buffalo
-Quinnipiac University
-University of Vermont

I know my choices are limited but for a career in dentistry, which schools do you guys recommend I choose for my undergraduate experience?

I know Buffalo has an Early Assurance program I can apply to but is it realistic for me? Do I even have a chance?

Do you guys recommend that I go to the cheapest one and after a year I transfer out to a different school? If so, what schools do you recommend?

I sucked at the SAT's and I basically dug my own grave. I just need some guidance to get myself out of the hole before it is filled.

ahh any college will do...just get good grades and meet the required classes and start VOLUNTEERING and JOB SHADOWING...get good REFERANCE letters study DAT... any questions? and start sucking up to the proper professors, lol

 

[Lemons]

Regardless of where and what you choose, your performance in college is what will matter to dental schools -- not your SATs. You'll start over with a clean slate! 🙂

Sadly, this isn't true. I'll be honest with you. Freshman year for most people who took lots of AP classes, had close to 4.0s, and high SAT scores will be easy. It may be hard for you.

Only around 10% of people get As and freshman year the odds are the As will go to people who have already taken those courses in high school. Not only have they seen the material before, they already have excellent study skills. You will see kids in calc 1 that already took calc 2 and even calc 3 in high school. This is your competition to get an A. That doesn't mean you can't get an A, just expect to work a lot harder for that A.

When you see people who have rough freshman years but do well the other 3years it's usually because they didn't obtain the necessary study skills in high school (or just didn't control their drinking). Start reviewing material over the summer, it won't give you too much of a head start but it will help you figure out what does and doesn't work for you when studying.


I'll stop with the unsolicited advice. Good luck.

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Sadly, this isn't true. I'll be honest with you. Freshman year for most people who took lots of AP classes, had close to 4.0s, and high SAT scores will be easy. It may be hard for you.

I never said it would be easy for him. 😕 I only pointed out that his SAT scores wouldn't matter after he got to college -- and his GPA doesn't carry over from high school, so it IS a clean slate. There seems to be a lot of SDN-ers who were slackers in high school. You are right, he will have to work really hard, but it can be done. I was a freshman with many kids who AP'ed into sophomore status, and it sucked. That's one of the reasons that I'm back in school at age 30. But the poor kid is using rhetoric like "dug my own grave" and I was simply trying to be encouraging. He can still turn it around and get into dental school with a good performance in college.

I also pointed out that you gave good advice.

 

[Lemons]

I never said it would be easy for him. 😕

Misunderstanding. I just wanted to remind the OP not to fall into the trap of only working as hard as your friends.

And yes, you're a very supportive member on here and as a fellow non-trad. I have a lot of respect for everything you're doing to get into dental school. 😀

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Misunderstanding. I just wanted to remind the OP not to fall into the trap of only working as hard as your friends.

And yes, you're a very supportive member on here and as a fellow non-trad. I have a lot of respect for everything you're doing to get into dental school. 😀

Awww, likewise, Lemons! Big hug! 😍 Thanks, I really appreciate that.

 

[setdoc7]

This is good advice. Don't feel like you simply HAVE to major in Biology. With that being said, I don't know of any liberal arts degrees that actually train you to have a "real job," except perhaps journalism, graphic design, or accounting. I majored in English, and all I got was a well-stocked bookshelf. Choose Spanish or something that will make you uber-marketable.

Regardless of where and what you choose, your performance in college is what will matter to dental schools -- not your SATs. You'll start over with a clean slate! 🙂

Accounting, teaching, nursing, architecture, engineering, culinary, hotel management.....all 4 year degrees (maybe 5 for arch or eng). There is life beyond pre dent.

 

[setdoc7]

This "go to the cheapest school" philosophy has got to rest. Not everybody came from a more disadvantaged background. Too many of you guys don't know the benefits of going to a good school, because you've never seen recruiters come to your school. Or seen someone else get the job for no other reason than he went to UPenn undergrad. If you've ever tried to get the high position jobs, you'll realize that the best person for the job doesn't always get the job. Not to go all Jimmy Choo on you all, but many of you don't know what that's like because of lackluster backgrounds.

1. These rules do not apply for dentistry, which is does not play by Fortune 500 rules.
2. Pre dents do not become Goldwater scholars because they are not scientists, they are pre professional students. Unlike medicine, which attracts scientists into well paid research (aka drug company and device company), dentistry does not offer those opportunities.
3. Not fun being the poor kid at the Ivy when your roomate spent their last four years at Choate and summered in the south of France.
4. Let's face it, the cirriculum is the same at a state school and a private school. The experience is different. It's like staying at the Hilton or the Four Seasons. The amenities are different. It's still a bed for the night.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I read up on the Buffalo Early Assurance program. Basically, during your sophomore year at Buffalo, you apply and they take into account ONLY your GPA and credentials at Buffalo. Required GPA is 3.3/4.0 and 3.5 is required to stay in the program? Is it worth it? Right now Buffalo is the most expensive even with financial aid.

I'd say go to SUNY BUFFALO without question. A few thousand K more now may save you $100K in the future if you get into Buffalo through Early Assurance, since Buffalo is one of the cheapest dental schools in the country.

 

[chris2k5]

My deposit is due in 4.5 days. I think I should include this info:

Quinnipiac's cost/year: $18k
SUNY Buffalo's cost/year: $15k
Uni of Vermont's cost/year: $8k

Based on this given information, can you guys help me decide now that the numbers are there?

Also, does anyone know how competitive the Early Assurance Program at Buffalo is? Like how many apply and how many get in? I know the DAT scores to stay in the program this year were AA 20 and PAT 18.

 

[chris2k5]

Very sorry for the double post but,

Which major do you guys suggest I go for? At each of those schools I am currently going to be Biology majors. Can you guys recommend me some majors that I can go into that will complement the required PreDental courses?

 

[Alfy]

I don't think you can apply for the Early Assurance program at this point. I was one of the last people interviewed (I went up to Buffalo for an interview) and received my acceptance approximately two hours following the interview (I think this was two weeks ago?). Difficulty to get in? They say they take 12 people at a max but I wouldn't know how competitive it was considering I had a 4.0 GPA and 2200 SAT. :-/

 

[cyrano]

.

 

[cyrano]

.