Age

[jpn123]

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What is the average age of first year dental students? I just turned 27 and feel that I am too old.

 

[UBTom]

I started dental school at age 30. There are plenty of people in my class who are also over 30.

JUST DO IT! 😀

 

[Yah-E]

When we started last year, our class average age was 25.6. I'm now 28 starting 2nd year, you're fine! You're the same age I was when I started dental school.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Our class average age is 26, and we range from 20 to 37.

 

[Brand]

I'm 27.

 

[c132]

22 here and a second year!

 

[DrRob]

I started at 22, finished at 26. The average age of my class was 22-23 - The youngest student started at 20 and the oldest was 40.

I don't think 27 is too old to start - graduate at 31 - work 20 - 25 years and still retire in your early - mid 50's.

 

[Pi__Guy1]

I agree that you're never too old to start, but I really felt old when I started at NYU this past year. The average age was 23, which IMO is pretty young. All of my friends were 21-23...

 

[FMLizard]

I think the debt issue might make me a little leery of starting too late, especially at a more expensive school. Someplace like UB at 30 is A-OK, but I wouldn't want to be starting NYU or USC at age 35 or 40. Not enough time to get the return on investment.

Me, I will be starting at 25, approximately, if everything goes to plan. Maybe 26.

 

[FMLizard]

I think the debt issue might make me a little leery of starting too late, especially at a more expensive school. Someplace like UB at 30 is A-OK, but I wouldn't want to be starting NYU or USC at age 35 or 40. Not enough time to get the return on investment.

Me, I will be starting at 25, approximately, if everything goes to plan. Maybe 26.

 

[Meatpuppet]

The average age of my 1st year class was ~23. I had hoped that the age would be more similar to american dental schools (~26).
Thankfully, most of the students are quite mature.🙂

 

[c132]

Yeah they are really immature here at my school. I think the older the class the better for that reason!!!!

 

[mobius]

I have been quite concerned abou t my age and applying. I am 31 now will be 32 in a couple months and wont be ready to apply until the class of 2006 making me about 34 going in. what do you guys think? graduate at 38, that snot to bad better late than never. what about the HPSP programs any age limits?😉

 

[UBTom]

You can still get at least a 25-year career out of dentistry if you graduate at 38... Question is, will the investment in time, effort and money be worth it to you.

Civilian HPSP programs indeed do not have age limits, such as the National Health Service HPSP or Indian Health Service HPSP. However, I believe the Armed Forces HPSPs do have an age limit because participants are military officers or officer candidates.

Good luck, whatever you choose!

 

[mobius]

i believe a 25 year career is worth it. if i go hpsp i believe i am within the age limits then there is nothing to pay back and i can retire by age 53 (already have 5 years) from the services and still have a 10 year practice after that debt free and with a pension. Plus it is something i want to do. Dentistry that is. Armed forces i am still undeceided if i want to go back in so i may just get loans.

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by mobius
i believe a 25 year career is worth it. if i go hpsp i believe i am within the age limits then there is nothing to pay back and i can retire by age 53 (already have 5 years) from the services and still have a 10 year practice after that debt free and with a pension. Plus it is something i want to do. Dentistry that is. Armed forces i am still undeceided if i want to go back in so i may just get loans.

Wow! 53! 😱 Can't wait for retirement? I wouldn't know what to do with all the free time. I'm the sort of person that needs some structure in life.

 

[mobius]

What i meant is at 53 i would be retired from the military and free to have a practice as well as receving a retirement check. not that i would actually be retired.

 

[Bickle]

Wow, I thought i was old at 22! Just kidding! Anyways, I know a a dentist who graduated from UOP at 23!!! and is currently practicing with his dad in Calgary, Alberta Canada!! But I guess this young age is not the norm for most people (including me).

 

[UBTom]

The good thing about graduating from dental school young is that you got lots of time to go for advanced training or into specialties if you desire.

Shoot, if I graduated dental school at 23 I would have gone for 6-year OMFS.

 

[PashaJ]

Plenty of people at BU are older that are first years. I'd say we have a few people over 35 right now. You wouldn't stick out.

On the flip side there's a person who will graduate at age 23 here too, he's an AS student. He's 21 now and he'll be 23 when he graduates. In case you're wondering...after HS he went abroad (Pakistan) straight into dental school. Came here, took Part 1 and now getting his dmd.

 

[pookiepie]

Im 26 and will be 27 when I (HOPEFULLY!) start school.
Im happy that Im not going to dental school right out of college. I now KNOW that dentistry is the right career choice for me (I didn't feel this way after graduation) and I feel like I'll bring a little extra something to my class...some work experience, relationship experience (in a professional sense), and best of all..better study habits!!!

 

[mobius]

I have to agree i know i would not have picked this career out of highschool. i was not dedicated enough. i went into the navy nuclear power program. then i was a field service engineer for a international cnc punch press company then was promoted to manager. i left there and worked on lasers as a field service engineer and then started to think "these are just jobs they are not the career i want" so I took a maintenance position at a dairy so i could go to school. not totally sure what i wanted to do. I considered computers something IT, at the same time my wife was getting braces and I went to her appointments with her and started thinking i really liked the idea of doing something like that. the more i thought about it i know that is what i want. So here I am, took a long time to get here and even longer to complete my goal. but atleast i know what i want to do and will do it.