Can anyone offer some insight?

[RSalha17]

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Hey guys,

I have been thinking a lot lately about where I may potentially go to dental school, and there is a strong possibility that I will have to go to an out of state school. I have lived in Washington my whole life and went to the University of Washington, so the fact that I may have to move away for dental school is causing a little bit of anxiety. I don't know who I would live with, or where I would stay, or know the area very well of potential dental schools that I may attend.

Can anyone offer some insight as to how they made the moving transition from either high school to an out of state undergraduate college, or from an in state undergraduate college to an out of state dental school? I am pretty good at making transitions in my life, and I know that I will learn to live with it, but for those of you who have made a similar move, was it hard to do? How long did it take you to mentally make the transition and feel like the new place was your home? Any insight will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the responses and I hope everyone is doing well with their interviews, good luck to all of you, and as always please feel free to PM me with any questions or help with anything you may need.

-Rami

 

[Bis-GMA111]

Hey guys,

I have been thinking a lot lately about where I may potentially go to dental school, and there is a strong possibility that I will have to go to an out of state school. I have lived in Washington my whole life and went to the University of Washington, so the fact that I may have to move away for dental school is causing a little bit of anxiety. I don't know who I would live with, or where I would stay, or know the area very well of potential dental schools that I may attend.

Can anyone offer some insight as to how they made the moving transition from either high school to an out of state undergraduate college, or from an in state undergraduate college to an out of state dental school? I am pretty good at making transitions in my life, and I know that I will learn to live with it, but for those of you who have made a similar move, was it hard to do? How long did it take you to mentally make the transition and feel like the new place was your home? Any insight will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the responses and I hope everyone is doing well with their interviews, good luck to all of you, and as always please feel free to PM me with any questions or help with anything you may need.

-Rami

it'll suck at first, but you'll make friends. your questions are pretty subjective as different things work for different people. for me, i went out a lot and met as many people as i could so it put my mind at ease. prob took me a few days or a little over a week?

if you're a homebody then i could see the transition being difficult. but if you're the self-starter/independent type i'd imagine it wouldn't be as difficult.

 

[fellforit]

I went out of state (about 1200 miles away) for undergrad. I am absolutely terrible at making transitions, so I'd say it probably took me about a year to really fully adjust and start thinking of school as "home." Now I'm about to graduate and get really sad thinking about leaving this place and this period in my life behind. I can't even remember the last time I was homesick. I am hoping to go to dental school much closer to my family and can't wait to live nearer to them, but at the same time, I've made a nice life for myself here and I'm going to miss it.

Anyway, you'll be fine, especially if you handle transitions well. I wouldn't worry too much. I'd imagine going to dental school is a major transition for everyone, whether they're from down the road or across the country.

 

[RSalha17]

Ok that helps a lot thanks guys. I am a really independent person and although I love my family, I moved out of the house at 18 and fully supported myself since so I don't feel like I have to see them every single weekend. So i guess the transition will be a little easier for me than maybe some others, but I still feel like it is a little bit scary just changing your whole life and trying to become fully acclimated to a whole different area and region of the US. I also am worrying about potential living situations, do you guys know how that will work out? I don't want to end up in a studio apartment by myself, but at the same time I don't want to get some random roommate and find that it sucks living with them. I guess it is all subjective and is just hit or miss sometimes huh? I just need to stop worrying about it and let the chips fall where they may and make it work as it comes along.

 

[Member902507]

Ok that helps a lot thanks guys. I am a really independent person and although I love my family, I moved out of the house at 18 and fully supported myself since so I don't feel like I have to see them every single weekend. So i guess the transition will be a little easier for me than maybe some others, but I still feel like it is a little bit scary just changing your whole life and trying to become fully acclimated to a whole different area and region of the US. I also am worrying about potential living situations, do you guys know how that will work out? I don't want to end up in a studio apartment by myself, but at the same time I don't want to get some random roommate and find that it sucks living with them. I guess it is all subjective and is just hit or miss sometimes huh? I just need to stop worrying about it and let the chips fall where they may and make it work as it comes along.

Hey, all the dental students I've spoken with have said they found roommates through the Facebook groups that were created when they found out what school they were attending. Also, you don't have to live with dental students only--many other schools have MD/DO programs or Pharm kids over there, so you could live with them too, and it'd be a whole new group of people for you to hang out with.

The transition, for me, from high school to undergrad was made easier by going out and trying to meet as many new people as possible. You gotta meet a lot of people to figure out who you can actually become really close to. Also, most dental schools have a close-knit community as it is, so don't worry about that, I'd say, because all dental students will try to make a great effort with everybody as they're starting out.

Personally, I'm not even trying to think about any of this until I know which schools I've gotten into--no reason for me to start worrying about it now. But the one thing I would say is, if you do have a lot of OOS options, go for the cheaper one and the one in a more populated location. For example, the ones that have undergraduate schools there too have a lot more going on as they are truly college towns (UMich, etc), but ones that are professional school only (i.e. LECOM, etc) have very little going on around the area. These will be some of the determining factors for me.

Best of luck though, and once you get to whatever school, I'm sure you'll love it! 🙂

 

[journeybegins]

4 words: You will be fine!

With your personality, you should have no problem adapting! 🙂

Sometimes, how I see it is.. it's really all the same if you're moving 1500 miles across America or if you're only moving to a nearby city in your state. You're by yourself. You're still moving to a new place and you have to learn the area/make friends. Everybody has to adapt. The only thing that might be different is.. weather and people may think more liberal/conservatively depending on the place.

In terms of roommates, the thing that I've always done before agreeing to move in with someone is I ask about living conditions. Are they a clean freak or light sleeper- noise, guests bother them? Just share your odd habits, and at the end of the day, if they're still okay with it, then the living situation should be at least okay. Just know what you're getting into. There are always places to live if you have the money! Whether you and your roommates will be the best of friends just depends on chemistry. Talk with each other and see how easy the conversation is.

You'll be fineee 🙂 Getting into dental school is the hard part. The rest shouldn't be too bad 🙂

 

[RSalha17]

haha ok I need to stop being a tool and freaking out for no reason, thanks a lot I do appreciate the help and it does make me feel better to hear that. Also, you guys are absolutely right, there is nothing to worry about until I am actually accepted into a school, that is the hard part and everything else is relatively easy compared to that.

Good luck to all and I hope you enjoy the short week and thanksgiving with your families!