Well, I am rekindling my idea of being a dentist. I'm 21 and have about 2 years in college. I have most of my generals done. I have been considering attending a school like University of North Texas or Berklee and majoring in my first love of music. I will also satisfy the science requirements and hopefully apply to Dental school. I know I've read that the Dental schools love a variety of majors coming in, but can you think of any things I would need to prepare for or be cautious of? I would think taking my science classes after or as my major comes to an end would be better than doing them this next year. I have a year or so before I can be accepted into music school so I could be taking some classes at my local community college. What do you guys think?
I went to UMass, and was debating whether I should major or minor in music (it was actually my predent advisor who suggested it in the first place!!!). Anyway, I chose to minor because at my school, the major was 5 years and the minor was 3, with something like 25 credits. I auditioned and was accepted for piano, and did the minor with a biology major (though I think I was in the fine arts center more than the bio buildings
😀.)
Since I was a bio major, I was able to take some upper-level science courses, but I had a piano major/premed friend who took some as electives, so it's not like you can only take the prereqs. It sounds as if you have the patience to wait for the major you want, so if you need the 5th year it wouldn't be the end of the world, and would be worth it if it gave you the time to take some biochem or histo.
My music minor was discussed enthusiastically a LOT more than my bio major...I think it was brought up in every one of my interviews, and at Penn, the first words out of the guy's mouth were "So, I have a piano in my office and your entire interview is based solely on your audition. Hope you brought music!"
(He was great
😀. I realized this after my heart stopped for a moment, but then I realized he was great.) I got into all the schools I applied to except for one, so I don't think it hurt me.
Also, and more importantly, you tend to do better when you're studying what you love. And it will indeed improve your hand skills.
Music is NOT an easy major...not by any means! You are cooped up with the same people in the same building, taking 22 credits a semester, and many of those are only 1 credit ensembles that take up a HUGE amount of time while still only giving the 1 credit. Adcoms know this and know the time it takes, but you need to be very dedicated (or be a minor, so that you have SOME moments around the rest of campus....there tends to be a lot of drama amongst any art majors.) If music is what keeps you sane, then definitely do it!
Also, when I moved to Buffalo I joined the community chorus here, and have lots of fun! So you can keep playing in school, and if you play something you can get gigs with, you can help earn money whenever you have a free moment in a semester.
I had a great time with it - good luck to you, and have fun!!
