Alternate Pathways to Dentistry

[ChrisM07]

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Hello all!

So I am in my Spring semester of my Sophomore year. I am a biology major and my goal at the end of my 4/5 years is to go into dentistry. I KNOW it is for me. I really enjoy my classes now but find that I really need to struggle just to keep my head above water which is usually just about a C+. (I got my O Chem II midterm grade back today, that's what is prompting me to post this thread actually). I am afraid that I might need to repeat O Chem II (not sure yet). This wont be the first class I have retaken but I am afraid that if I keep going down this road it wont be the last. My GPA isn't so hot either which is also why I think I might need to try something else.

My question is, what are some other options I can choose that will still allow me to enter the dental profession. I know some of you will say that if I cant handle it now, you wont be able to when you are in but I feel that there may be something else out there that I can do well in and still make it. Every time i think about it I just draw a blank. So, what else is out there that can still lead one to enter dentistry?

I would appreciate the input!

P.S. I don't know if it has been talked about already but I did my searches and couldn't find and results. I found alternate routes when people DON'T get in to D school but not before.

THANKS!

 

[airsimon]

Ever see "Catch me if you Can"? 'Nuff said.

 

[ChrisM07]

Years ago. I think in the end, Tom Hanks does catch Leo.

 

[airsimon]

Yeah but what a rush while you're living large!

 

[ChrisM07]

I'm sorry I don't know what all this means.

 

[CMistry]

If it's chemistry that's your problem, you're not the only one and you just have to plug through it until you're done with Orgo II. If the Bio classes are giving you trouble, have you considered switching your major? There's no real "other" route - you have to go through college and you have to take the pre-reqs. If your situation doesn't improve, then you should look into post-baccs and masters programs like everyone else. Your situation is similar to many others here, but an important difference is that you are catching it early. 🙂

-Cyrus

 

[alanan84]

I like the "Catch me if you can" reference. Nice.

Dude if dentistry is for you then you need to just work harder. Study more. You're going to need a good DAT. The truth though is that Dental Schools look at alot of things other than GPA. (which is a good thing or I'd be screwed) Make sure you're stellar in all your EC's and you have a good DAT score and you'll get in somewhere at some point. You need a sweet DAT to make up for a subpar GPA and then all your EC's can separate you from the crowd. At least thats what I'm banking on.

Dental Hygienists make between 40 and 70 grand a year. That of course IS an option if you want to.

 

[SugarNaCl]

Agree with others... If you get far below a 3.0, even an MS may not help but if you keep a respectable GPA even if it isn't great and get an MS then you have to DOMINATE the DAT...undergrad GPA matters most. Without a good GPA, a high DAT for the most part is a MUST! Around 20-21 + in my opinion from reading numerous posts on SDN and my own research.

 

[ChrisM07]

Thanks for the replies!

I guess what I was asking is whether or not there were different majors I could choose that could still lead me to the dentistry career. But then I thought about it and it seems like that I can choose anything, I just need to do the pre-requisites for D school.

 

[ummjoey]

just like everyone else said, you need to just study more. i had the same problem my first quarter in college. i never studied in high school. i really needed to figure out how to study.

my school had a tutoring center. our school offered free tutoring from students who have taken the classes and done well. i just went to the tutors and asked how they all studied and i tired a bunch of different study methods.

eventually, i learned how i study best and each quarter i just improved my study habits and studied more efficiently. this made more time for me to do other ECs.

good luck,
joey