Can't make up my mind

[Hardbody]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Am I the only one that can't make up their mind between applying to med school or applying to dental school? I am almost like a bipolar person. For one month I swear I only want to apply to dental school, then I have this sudden shift in feelings and want to apply to dental school. I have done some shadowing with both and I know I would be happy doing either. Enough rambling, I was just wandering if I was the only one.

 

[lgreen_aci]

Am I the only one that can't make up their mind between applying to med school or applying to dental school? I am almost like a bipolar person. For one month I swear I only want to apply to dental school, then I have this sudden shift in feelings and want to apply to dental school. I have done some shadowing with both and I know I would be happy doing either. Enough rambling, I was just wandering if I was the only one.

Would you rather stick your hand in someones mouth, or their anus? 😱 😀

 

[beannaithe]

If you'd be happy doing both, then do either one.

Though when you graduate dental school you'll own your life instead of having a hospital own it.

Good luck deciding though.

 

[toothealer12]

Would you rather stick your hand in someones mouth, or their anus? 😱 😀

chuckle 🙂 I do think you should probably weight the pros and cons of each, b/c there are some major differences.... do you want to work with a specific area of the body for the most part (mouth) or work with the whole body? do you want to be on call all the time (like many physicians are) or be able to work when you want? That's just a couple...

 

[Hardbody]

All very valid, very compelling truths. Thanks guys.

 

[syn_apse]

For one month I swear I only want to apply to dental school, then I have this sudden shift in feelings and want to apply to dental school.

sounds like you already made up your mind, at least subconsciously 😎

 

[Copacetic52]

You are definitely not alone. It's like that for me, except a bit worse. I can't decide between pharmacy, dentistry, or medicine. And this changes back and forth. And i'm currently at the stage where I don't think I can do any of them. blahhhhhhh

 

[Hardbody]

You are definitely not alone. It's like that for me, except a bit worse. I can't decide between pharmacy, dentistry, or medicine. And this changes back and forth. And i'm currently at the stage where I don't think I can do any of them. blahhhhhhh

I have thought about pharmacy myself, but at this point in the game for me (junior will take either dat or mcat, whichever route I decide to go this summer). If I was making the decision a year ago or more then I would have given pharm some more thought.

 

[Hardbody]

sounds like you already made up your mind, at least subconsciously 😎

This is my problem though, yeah right now my mind might seem to be made up one way, an hour ago it was probably made up another way. Two months ago it was made up in a different way, two months before this it was made up in a different way. It is not like I wrestle everyday between the two, its seems like every month or two I get a change of heart and totally stop thinking about the other. Maybe I am bipolar or something!

 

[Copacetic52]

Yes. Same same. It's very frustrating. It seems everyone already knows what they want to do in life. And it's worse cuz I'm indecisive. I don't mind doing anything as long as it has to do with health and helping people.

Does anyone know if we have to work with cadavers for dentistry too or is that just for medical school? And if we are afraid of dead bodies would it be wise to steer clear of medical school? Or would I get used to it? Any thoughts??

 

[Hardbody]

Yes. Same same. It's very frustrating. It seems everyone already knows what they want to do in life. And it's worse cuz I'm indecisive. I don't mind doing anything as long as it has to do with health and helping people.

Does anyone know if we have to work with cadavers for dentistry too or is that just for medical school? And if we are afraid of dead bodies would it be wise to steer clear of medical school? Or would I get used to it? Any thoughts??

No I am pretty sure no cadavers, but there are some kind of maniquans with fake grills (don't quote me on this) that are used.

 

[syn_apse]

the first two years for dental students are very similar to those of medical students. i know i'll be cutting into my cadaver in about 10 weeks (i'm so excited!) i think it will be very fascinating 🙂

ps: the mannequins with the fake grills are called "sims" and they can be very helpful in your pre-clinical years 👍

 

[Hardbody]

the first two years for dental students are very similar to those of medical students. i know i'll be cutting into my cadaver in about 10 weeks (i'm so excited!) i think it will be very fascinating 🙂

ps: the mannequins with the fake grills are called "sims" and they can be very helpful in your pre-clinical years 👍

Interesting, I guess that would be cool to cut into the cadaver. If I attend d-school I hope they give me a bone saw, that would be really cool.

 

[lgreen_aci]

It may help to consider the following issues. Talking about these things w/ a surgeon really helped me a lot.

-malpractice insurance cost
-time at work vs. time at home
-insurance companies and reimbursement
-the amount of education/experience it will take after you graduate as a Dr. to actually start practicing
-can you deal well w/ death?
-would you be more fufilled by saving a life or pulling a dead painful tooth?
-Are you more interested in ones whole health, or more specific areas of ones health?

Also think about which job is more inline with your skills, talents, and abilities. Consider other jobs that interest you and see if your other job choices are more similar to one or the other.

It is hard to decide, but once you do it, you feel like you just lost 50 lbs.

 

[drhobie7]

Sounds like you need more real world experience in each profession because dentistry is a world apart from medicine...and pharmacy for that matter (does a pharmacist ever touch a patient?). Dentistry is concerned with precision and perfection. Perfectly recreating form and function of hard and soft oral tissues. Because everything is on such a small scale and most procedures are multi-step, where each is like a link in a long chain, minute errors are magnified and intolerable. This is part of what makes it so rewarding for some and stressfull for others. Obviously, there's a lot more to it, but this is what popped into my head at this time.

Clearly I don't know a lot about what it's like to be a physician, but I know that medicine differs greatly from surgery in that illness is often cured with a drug (hence the term medicine) rather than the doctor's hands. Dentistry is a surgical discipline, except for ortho ( 😀 ).

 

[eric275]

Yes. Same same. It's very frustrating. It seems everyone already knows what they want to do in life. And it's worse cuz I'm indecisive. I don't mind doing anything as long as it has to do with health and helping people.

Does anyone know if we have to work with cadavers for dentistry too or is that just for medical school? And if we are afraid of dead bodies would it be wise to steer clear of medical school? Or would I get used to it? Any thoughts??

During the first semester here at Case our gross anatomy class consisted of both classroom and lab. The lab consisted of many hours spent with cadavers. One of the most memorable labs was removing the top of the skull to gain access to the brain. Our group was lucky enough to have a new blade on our bone saw. Another group next to us had a pretty dull blade that actually started to burn the bone and tissue producing a lovely smoke. There's nothing like the smell of burning tissue after lunch, lol.

Also for studying the head and neck we had a bunch of sagittally cut heads in five gallon buckets. Usually there were two or three heads in each bucket and when studying for the practical you had to fish through them and find the ones that had the relavant items discted out.

Anyway, my point is don't think that your going to get out of good ole "cadaver time" by going to d-school because we had plenty.

 

[drhobie7]

During the first semester here at Case our gross anatomy class consisted of both classroom and lab. The lab consisted of many hours spent with cadavers. One of the most memorable labs was removing the top of the skull to gain access to the brain. Our group was lucky enough to have a new blade on our bone saw. Another group next to us had a pretty dull blade that actually started to burn the bone and tissue producing a lovely smoke. There's nothing like the smell of burning tissue after lunch, lol.

Also for studying the head and neck we had a bunch of sagittally cut heads in five gallon buckets. Usually there were two or three heads in each bucket and when studying for the practical you had to fish through them and find the ones that had the relavant items discted out.

Anyway, my point is don't think that your going to get out of good ole "cadaver time" by going to d-school because we had plenty.

Oh how I loved anatomy. We used hand saws. I split that cranium down the middle with many long strokes from the blade. Then I practiced a little urology/plastic surgery and gave my cadaver a longer wang by cutting the penile suspensory ligament! Hey, look at me! 😱

 

[coral2005]

Would you rather stick your hand in someones mouth, or their anus? 😱 😀

😀 So true!!!

 

[Arsenalista]

Why don't you do some shadowing? That would probably make the decision a lot easier than just thinking about one over the other. Dentistry and medicine are similar, but still very different.

 

[SuperC]

While this has never been an issue for me, I might be able to offer you a different pathway. Consider the DMD/MD

I have always wanted to go into dentistry, however now that I have made it in I have been considering where I will go after dental school. I shadowed an oral surgeon and LOVED it. I love the blending of the two disciplines. Sure it is a lot of school, but I love the more invasive procedures but still with the focus on head and neck.

Just another path to consider.

-C

 

[nir1009]

Dude, I am going thru THE SAME EXACT thing. I am currently in a 7 year BS/MD program. I had always been between dentistry and medicine during high school but when I was accepted to this program, it just seemed too good to pass up. And now I am just going thru a cycle just like you (switching every few months). I even talked to a radiologist and my cousin who is a dentist.

The thing is I STILL cant decide. Ive always wanted to do medicine but I don't know if I am ready to work 60-70hrs/week. I want to have time for myself.

I am taking my MCATs in april and am considering also taking the DATs right after. It is so frustrating. But either way I know I will be happy and I think you will too. Good Luck! I hope we both can decide soon.

 

[Hardbody]

Dude, I am going thru THE SAME EXACT thing. I am currently in a 7 year BS/MD program. I had always been between dentistry and medicine during high school but when I was accepted to this program, it just seemed too good to pass up. And now I am just going thru a cycle just like you (switching every few months). I even talked to a radiologist and my cousin who is a dentist.

The thing is I STILL cant decide. Ive always wanted to do medicine but I don't know if I am ready to work 60-70hrs/week. I want to have time for myself.

I am taking my MCATs in april and am considering also taking the DATs right after. It is so frustrating. But either way I know I will be happy and I think you will too. Good Luck! I hope we both can decide soon.

Good luck to you also. We are probably weighing the same pros and cons considering both. I know they are both great paths, I just hope I that when I decide and go through with it I have no regrets either way.

 

[fightingspirit]

Would you rather stick your hand in someones mouth, or their anus? 😱 😀

i am sure meds stick their hands in other places though.... great comparison though!!!1