Advice needed

[Lifetime2Drill]

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I have just entered my second year and things are going about as good as last year, which is poorly. I have come to the realization that I'm just not that great of a student and that admissions probably made a mistake by letting me in. I enjoy dentistry and think I will be a good dentist, but these basic science courses are really putting a hurt on my GPA. It seems that no matter how hard I study I always score in the bottom 10% of the class.

People tell me that I have a good personality and that I'm pretty good in lab classes so I will make a good dentist. However, I am getting so discouraged by my grades that now I am starting to have doubts. Now that you have my background, here are my questions:

1.) What are the best ways to study for an overload of material? What methods best work for you? (I realize this may be a stupid question but maybe my problem is fundamental.)

2.) What skills, traits, or habits should I work on NOW that will help me be a great dentist when I get out of school? It can be related to interpersonal skills, time management, lab skills, practice management, anything. In other words, I know that knowing the etiology of thromboembolic disease isn't going to make me a great dentist, so what does? Any input would be appreciated, especially by practicing dentists.

Thank you for your input and best of luck to you.

 

[Daurang]

If you made it through the first year, then you're gonna make it all the way. Anyone else that haven't made it pretty much already got kicked out by now. Just hang in there and don't sweat over the ranking because you're a doctor even if graduate last. It'll get easier from this point on as you move more toward handsons, which is your strong point. Think of how lucky you are that thousands of other rejected applicants is now depressingly at work washing testtubes, dreaming to be in your place. I was in the bottom 10%ile in my class and razorthin from getting the boot after the first year, too. Now I make a couple hundred grand a year and my income easily rank top 10%ile in my class. DON'T GIVE UP.

1. Everyone has their own way of studying so ask around and see what your roommates/classmates are doing to see what works best for you.

2. Don't worry about any other skills just concentrate on passing didactic courses for now. Come back with the same question at the end of the school year.






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[youngmc27]

If you really enjoy dental work then work hard and you will get through. Remember even the last ranked in a class gets a degree and no one will ever know any different.

 

[skinetic]

I have just entered my second year and things are going about as good as last year, which is poorly. I have come to the realization that I'm just not that great of a student and that admissions probably made a mistake by letting me in. I enjoy dentistry and think I will be a good dentist, but these basic science courses are really putting a hurt on my GPA. It seems that no matter how hard I study I always score in the bottom 10% of the class.

People tell me that I have a good personality and that I'm pretty good in lab classes so I will make a good dentist. However, I am getting so discouraged by my grades that now I am starting to have doubts. Now that you have my background, here are my questions:

1.) What are the best ways to study for an overload of material? What methods best work for you? (I realize this may be a stupid question but maybe my problem is fundamental.)

2.) What skills, traits, or habits should I work on NOW that will help me be a great dentist when I get out of school? It can be related to interpersonal skills, time management, lab skills, practice management, anything. In other words, I know that knowing the etiology of thromboembolic disease isn't going to make me a great dentist, so what does? Any input would be appreciated, especially by practicing dentists.

Thank you for your input and best of luck to you.

A DDS/DMD is a DDS/DMD. Grades don't matter unless you want to specialize. No offense, you sound hard on yourself. Relax, Dental school is only as hard as you make it.

Think of basic sciences as a trial by fire kind of thing. What's really important is working on procedure speed.

Basic things to work on in Dental School: speed/efficiency, business knowledge, interpersonal communication + salesmanship, and be competent enough to prevent any tort claims against you

I probably did not address your first concern, but that is dependent on the individual. Cram and dump works well for some, but not all. Constant studying for some, but not all. There is probably no solution valid for all.

 

[Saddleshoes]

Look at the situation from the schools frame of reference....

They have a lot of time and money tied up in you at this point. If they lose you they lose more time and money. They also look bad in the "retention rate" category when comparing to other schools.

The point is..... They do not want to throw you out the door, but if you walk out the door they can not stop you. So hang in there! You will survive! When you get to the clinical part of things it will all look different.

Good Luck.