Applying both med and dental

[JMD]

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I have a friend who is somewhat torn between med school and dental school, and is planning on applying to both. Anyone else that is doing or has done this? If you apply dental and med at the same school will they know about it? will they look unfavorably on your app? I realize that it would make more sense to decide on what you want to do and only apply to one type of school, but she is unsure. Any comments or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[shootin4par]

This is a frequent question and it is important that you brought it up. I was torn for sometime myself and talked to an ad-com member who was kind enough to shed some light in a very direct manner. Dental schools are very particular about this. In fact they are often a little too touchy on this subject, but then no one likes to be viewed second best. Most of the applicant who apply to both programs are applying to one as a back up and since dental school requirements aren't as stringent as med school (although they are going up each year). My advice to your friend is not to apply to both programs. Apply to the one which the want the most.
As it is, dental schools don't like students who aren't sure, and applying to both shows that your friend isn't certain. Dental schools are looking for people who LOVE dentistry, not just tolerate it. A lot of people went into it initially bc they couldn't get into medschool and hated it, hated dentistry, hated their lives. That is a major consideration.

Remember, go to that side of medicine which you love. Be persistent and you will be happy. Don't just settle for something.

 

[mcataz]

When you apply to dental school, they ask you on the AADSAS if you are applying or have applied to any other health related professional schools including medical school obviously. You could lie and click "no". It's debateable whether they do a background search or not. They probably don't but you don't want to lie. I would hate to be kicked out of school after attending for an entire year or more ,simply because I lied on my application. It's a risk not worth taking in my opinion.

 

[scandalouslj]

I would totally agree with my boy shootin. Both school will know that you have applied to both programs as it is a question on the apps. Dental schools look very negatively just like shootin said. BUT that may not mean you dont want to apply to both. If your friend has above avg grades and preferbly both med and dental experience then she might as well go for it. I know several other people on the board that did that, and did get into both, but chose dental in the end.

 

[ItsGavinC]

mcataz has a good point, but the happiness and peace of mind that shootin spoke of is also very important.

Dental students are unique in that just by attending dental school we are comitting ourselves to a medical specialty.

Medical students don't match for specialties until several years down the road, and even then they do so after going through rotations in the major specialties.

By applying to dental school, the applicant has already chosen dentistry as his medical specialty, so it requires a bit more surety. Med. students can always lean towards certain specialties if they learn they don't enjoy patient contact. They can also choose between medicine and surgery. Dental students get what they signed up for: dentistry.

 

[UBTom]

to JMD:

Hey there, welcome to UB! 😀

If your friend has a real genuine interest in dentistry and is willing to put up with all the dental stuff in addition to all the medical stuff, then she might consider going into oral surgery, because that will give her both a DDS as well as an MD to practice medicine (if she takes the 6-year OMFS track after graduating dental school).

You can come on down to Squire Hall after school starts, and talk to Dr. Richard Hall, DDS MD, the chairman of our Oral Surgery Dept. and ask about the program. He is very approachable and an all-around nice guy. We are only a short walk down from Cary/Faber/Sherman/BEB where you will be spending all your time.

Just one thing though: Like all the other posters said, if your friend is not genuinely interested in dentistry and not sure she wants to put up with all the dental stuff and associated manual skills, then it's best that she apply to med school only, and not bother with dental school. As previously mentioned, there is a lot of misery waiting for those who try to use dental school as a mere "backup".

Once again, welcome to UB South Campus! (Abandon all hope ye who enter here, LOL)

HTH!

 

[grettlin2]

I really suggest your friend does not apply dental schools. My point is based on our, the people who really like dentistry, benefits. If you read this forum, you would notice there are many people, including myself, we really love and dream to be a dentist as a life career. We observe the dentists, discuss every issue, and most important of all, care if we can get in. We do work hard to the object.
If your friend is interested in medicine instead of dentistry, I think he/she should stick on it to show the commitment. Do not choose dentistry as the backup and take some people's seats (if he/she is competive) and make some people who would be good dentists feel disappointment in the cycle.
It sounds selfish trying to restrict someone's future. My point is if you choose to be a dentist, please make sure you really love it. You have to enjoy your career and with the happiness mood to take care of your patients.