I am in my first year of college, but credit wise it's actually my junior year. Yes, I'm a freak child. I'm only taking 16 credit hours a semester too. I also skipped a grade in high school . I have a double major and 2 minors, but I am still going to graduate spring 2013. At that point I will be 19 years old. I am involved with different clubs, have job shadowed a dentist, and do undergraduate research, but I don't feel like a dental school will accept a 19 year old. Also my gpa will end up being around a 3.5 which isn't outstanding. Does anyone have any experience with this? If there's no chance of being accepted, I will simply get a master's and try for dental school when I am 21 or so. However, 21 is still really young!! I need advice and tips on how to manage this. Thanks!
am i too young to be accepted?
- Thread starter alycat
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There are no limitations based upon age...
You will have a dual degree upon graduation before you start dental school?
What year were you born if you don't mind me asking 🙂
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Nice, more power to you!
If you are anticipating your graduation to be spring of 2013, then I would suggest that you apply during the summer of 2012.
Also try to get your DAT done before June of 2012 if possible...
Also secure all of your LORs and/or committee letter BEFORE June of 2012.
My biggest worry is that a school will not take me seriously at this age. Like if i'm compared to a 24 year old, clearly they have more experience in life, even if I'm smart. Thanks though for the recommendations though 🙂 It's really scary to realize that I have to start studying now though.
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Life experience is indeed very important but it is the quality not the quantity that matters. Give it your best on your personal statement 😛
Most importantly of all, competent individuals are highly desirable and it appears that you may be one of them! On the surface at least.
If you have a good application I doubt they will be concerned with your age. And to be honest with you a 24 yo vs a 19 yo really wouldn't be that big of a difference as far as maturity goes or life experience. I would only see age being a factor when someone is in their late 20's or older and they have a family to support. If you think you have a good app at age 19 then go for it.
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Age is nothing but a number!
I say go for it, and apply next cycle if you have everything necessary to apply and you feel ready. 🙂
My former apartment mate is also really young for his age. He skipped two grades. While my friends and I sometimes joke about him being younger, I would say that he is definitely mature. He acts older than his age, or around the grade level he should be. This is because even though he is a lot younger than us, he still has to go through the same school environment and rigorous classes that we had to go through.
He would have applied to med school this summer, had he had everything ready, such as letter of recommendations and more ECs.
Since it is just your first year of college, I would just wait it out a little bit to get adjusted to college and prepare to apply if you feel ready. My apartment mate is quite smart, but he still has to go through 4 years of college just like everybody else, but just at 2 years younger than normal.
If you think your maturity can be shown through interviews, then go for it!
I say go for it, and apply next cycle if you have everything necessary to apply and you feel ready. 🙂
My former apartment mate is also really young for his age. He skipped two grades. While my friends and I sometimes joke about him being younger, I would say that he is definitely mature. He acts older than his age, or around the grade level he should be. This is because even though he is a lot younger than us, he still has to go through the same school environment and rigorous classes that we had to go through.
He would have applied to med school this summer, had he had everything ready, such as letter of recommendations and more ECs.
Since it is just your first year of college, I would just wait it out a little bit to get adjusted to college and prepare to apply if you feel ready. My apartment mate is quite smart, but he still has to go through 4 years of college just like everybody else, but just at 2 years younger than normal.
If you think your maturity can be shown through interviews, then go for it!
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There were a few students in my sisters dental class that we're not even 21 when in dental school. If you have the grades, the scores, the shadowing and show interest it shouldn't matter how old you are - you can still get an interview and thats how they will base if your maturity level is ready for dental school! Go for it!
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You can a be a dentist version of Neil Patrick Harris!
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go for it! i know someone that went to d-school very early too. as long as you have your bachelor degree and do well on your DAT you will be accepted. they cannot reject you if you have the above 2 items. The higher your GPA, the worse you can do on the DAT. Try to aim for at least a 19 if you have a 3.6 or for a 20 and above if you have a 3.5 or below.
good luck my friend and may the force be with you!
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This makes me so jealous sometimes haha. My mom refused to let me skip any grades in elementary school, middle school, and high school. I look back on it sometimes and I wonder would I have been better off had I graduated at age 15 or 16 or gone to college 3 years early
.Ill never know lol. I will say that a lot happened to my life the years that I did stay in school and I doubt those things would have happened had I skipped, but again, who knows!
To the OP-if you can get great rec letters and take your DAT early summer, Id definitely say apply now. That way, you can go in right after you get your degree! If the first year is more rough that you imagined, you could postpone, but I dont see you needing to.
To the OP-if you can get great rec letters and take your DAT early summer, Id definitely say apply now. That way, you can go in right after you get your degree! If the first year is more rough that you imagined, you could postpone, but I dont see you needing to.
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I enjoyed learning from all of the mistakes that I've made... so if I was in your position, I wouldn't regret a thing. 😉
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let me put it to you this way....
The earlier you start dental school, the sooner you get to make 6 figures a year.
Do you wanna make that kinda income when your closer to 30 or before hitting 25?
If you wanna do things like "enjoy" your youth, you can always do that after DS. At least you'll be youthful AND make a decent living. God I wish I started dental school in my early 20s..... I woulda been sooo much better off today
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You barely finished one semester in college and you already are worried how seriously someone will be taking you in a few years, not to mention the pesky pre requisites you still need to take.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=649117
That is one bold statement.
I'm worried about how seriously they will take me in about 9 months because that is when I'll be applying. Secondly, I have taken most of the pre requisites already or will be taking them this spring. After this year I only need physics and anatomy to satisfy the requirements. I wouldn't be concerned if this wasn't near future.
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whats ur gpa? if its 3.00 you will have problems. if its a 3.6 and above just aim for 20+ on the dat and you will be fine. I have a friend who went to d-school at 21, she finished her undergrad and had no problems.
age is not a reason you would get rejected, if you have a low DAT, low GPA or no undergrad then yes you will get rejected. otherwise calm down.
I have a 3.9 at the moment with the classes I took in high school that transferred in. I am guessing at my grades in my classes now, but if they continue as is and I should have a 3.65. I know I will graduate with at least a 3.5 overall because one of my minors is incredibly easy and a gpa boost.
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get a 19+ on the DAT and you will be fine. i cant imagine why a person with an undergrad degree and a decent dat score would be rejected just based on age. It wont happen so dont worry.
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lmao.... THIS IS EVEN BOLDER
They won't take you seriously.... because the facial appearance of a 19 year old looks very different from the average age of 22-23.
I am graduating at age 19 (this spring). Unlike you, however, I just decided that I want to pursue dentistry 2 months ago. I will probably complete an informal postbacc, study over summer for the DAT, and work- but this is beside the point.
In my undergraduate career thus far, I haven't noted any discrimination due to my age. I purposely keep a small, neatly trimmed beard to make myself look older. The vast majority of my professors and classmates (aside from a few close friends) don't know that I am 18 🙄 and sometimes I even get mistaken for a graduate student.
I advise you to change your appearance to make yourself look older. Like it or not, we live in a society where we get judged on our appearances. We have to shape ourselves, and build a professional demeanor so we don't get discriminated against.
I am sure you already know this, as it is common sense advice. 👍
In my undergraduate career thus far, I haven't noted any discrimination due to my age. I purposely keep a small, neatly trimmed beard to make myself look older. The vast majority of my professors and classmates (aside from a few close friends) don't know that I am 18 🙄 and sometimes I even get mistaken for a graduate student.
I advise you to change your appearance to make yourself look older. Like it or not, we live in a society where we get judged on our appearances. We have to shape ourselves, and build a professional demeanor so we don't get discriminated against.
I am sure you already know this, as it is common sense advice. 👍
what are you worried about? you keep saying you're worried about them not taking you seriously.
WHO CARES. there's nothing you can do about it except give it your all.
apply, and hope for the best. if you dont get it, try again and again.
quit worrying too much about being too young and this and that. no one will like you if you act like this.
WHO CARES. there's nothing you can do about it except give it your all.
apply, and hope for the best. if you dont get it, try again and again.
quit worrying too much about being too young and this and that. no one will like you if you act like this.
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you should dye your hair grey and walk with a cane! 🤣
your advise makes 0 sense, schools would respect an application who applies at a such a young age (having completed undergrad AND getting a good DAT score), not spit on him! lol
You wont get discriminated against for being young.. thats a very silly argument.
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Also, you might want to make sure that those classes that you took in highschool (AP I am assuming?) will be accepted by the dental schools you apply to. Just a heads up. 🙂
Otherwise, go for it.
Dr. Dillenberg from ASDOH said they accepted a 16 years old I believe 2 years ago. As long as you show them you're mature and know what you want, I'm sure any dental school would be happy to have you in their school. 🙂
Agreed. Some schools limit the number/classes they'll accept with AP credit...I would think post-secondary credits taken while in HS would be accepted, but again, ask! Oh, and CC credits too...
