Career change from IT to Dentistry... is it possible?

[Umer]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I did my bachelors in computer information systems. My overall GPA was 2.23. I have been working as Systems analyst for the past four years. I have decided to change my career and become a dentist. Had some basic questions.

Is it possible to get into a dentistry college if I complete my pre reqs and score good on DAT.

I am thinking of joining a community college and start taking Physics biology and chemistry courses. I have estimated three semesters to complete the pre req if I go full time.

Which GPA will count towards the admission IT one or the pre req one?

I called UF school of dentistry to get some idea, and they said as long as I satisfy the pre reqs I can apply. I am just concerned that my GPA was low when a completed IT.

Can I practice dentistry after completing the four year college, any residency req?

 

[daviddav]

I am pretty sure all of your GPAs will count. I don't think the community college is a good idea. Get As, nothing less in those classes and ROCK the DAT, I mean really, get 21+, nothing less. There is a former navy pilot in my class, so yes it is possible to switch careers..you just have to show you want it. Just my .02.

 

[Umer]

Thanks David , There are some pre reqs that the community college does not offer so will complete those from a university. Like bio chemistry , Genetics etc.

Thanks for the encouraging statement ... I will try my best to get a high score on DAT and get A's on the pre reqs and then leave rest on GOD.

 

[4thMolar]

I would also suggest that you take most of your pre-reqs at a university rather than a CC due to the fact that there are some schools that do not accept CC credits (although how strict they are on these rules may differ on a case-by-case basis). When you submit your AADSAS application, you will have to send them transcripts from all schools attended, including your IT classes.

Even though your GPA is really low, if you do well in all your pre-reqs, it will show you're dedicated to the field and have the potential to handle the courseload in dental school. Also, doing well on your DAT will also benefit obviously. Admissions is a numbers game, so maintaining a high GPA and getting a high DAT score will be the most significant factors.

 

[kponenation]

I did my bachelors in computer information systems. My overall GPA was 2.23. I have been working as Systems analyst for the past four years. I have decided to change my career and become a dentist. Had some basic questions.

Is it possible to get into a dentistry college if I complete my pre reqs and score good on DAT.

I am thinking of joining a community college and start taking Physics biology and chemistry courses. I have estimated three semesters to complete the pre req if I go full time.

Which GPA will count towards the admission IT one or the pre req one?

I called UF school of dentistry to get some idea, and they said as long as I satisfy the pre reqs I can apply. I am just concerned that my GPA was low when a completed IT.

Can I practice dentistry after completing the four year college, any residency req?

I've been working as a computer programmer for about 3 years.
Last year, I decided to go into dentistry and started taking prereqs. I still have like 3 more classes left to take but I applied last month. So I believe you can do it too.

Now, I don't know about your GPA. Maybe you need to go back to school and start taking more classes to raise your GPA. It certainly doesn't hurt your application to have at least 3.0. Good Luck!

 

[Umer]

if I score good on DAT and get good GPA on my pre reqs I can make it ? how ealry one can apply 😕

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

I did my bachelors in computer information systems. My overall GPA was 2.23. I have been working as Systems analyst for the past four years. I have decided to change my career and become a dentist. Had some basic questions.

Is it possible to get into a dentistry college if I complete my pre reqs and score good on DAT.

I am thinking of joining a community college and start taking Physics biology and chemistry courses. I have estimated three semesters to complete the pre req if I go full time.

Which GPA will count towards the admission IT one or the pre req one?

I called UF school of dentistry to get some idea, and they said as long as I satisfy the pre reqs I can apply. I am just concerned that my GPA was low when a completed IT.

Can I practice dentistry after completing the four year college, any residency req?

I am going to talk in just numbers because it is easist that way. I am not intentionally being a jerk here, because you can look and see I dont have the best scores myself. But heres the thing:

You have a 2.23..thats LOW. Working backwords with your 120 credits from your bachelors we get 120 * 2.23 = 267.6 quality points

Hypothetically: If you took the required Bio,Chem,OChem, and Physics and got A's in every single one.. Thats a 4.0 * 32 credits = 128 quality pts

You would now have a total of 395.6 quality points.

We now divide that by the now 136 credits you would have:

Your gpa would still be a 2.90. (Someone can check my math)

Now, that is with ALL A's in your prerecs. I am not saying its not doable. But it will be very difficult AND if you pull it off you would still be under a 3.0 and thats bad.

Ontop of this, you will not have any upper division bio classes. AND your competing with thousands of other people with 3.5+ and 20's

The good news is this is doable but it will take longer.

I would say your best bet is to smoke those pre-rec science classes (at a university not a cc) and then smoke the DAT..nothing under a 20.

Then I would apply for a single year masters program and smoke that..you need a high masters GPA

Try to do dentist shadowing and community service also.

Its not impossible, you can do it, its just going to take a little longer thats all. 🙂

ps: I dont know what your financial situation is..but it does not make sense to try and take more than 2 classes a semester. Because A: you will burn out or do poorly

and

B: You need gen chem before Ochem anyway, so even if you take Bio,Chem, and Physics one year you still have to take ochem the next year.

I would take Physics and Gen Chem on year 1, and take Bio and OChem on year two.

Take the DAT the summer after you finish those classes and apply that summer. Apply to dental schools AND masters programs and see where you get in.

Worst case you do a masters.

 

[Umer]

Thanks for the detailed reply. But correct me if I am wrong ...that there are few colleges that look at the last two years of study so that would be pre reqs ?

 

[Andrew324]

I complete my pre reqs and score good on DAT.

Really?

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

You have a 2.23..thats LOW. Working backwords with your 120 credits from your bachelors we get 120 * 2.23 = 267.6 quality points

Hypothetically: If you took the required Bio,Chem,OChem, and Physics and got A's in every single one.. Thats a 4.0 * 32 credits = 128 quality pts

You would now have a total of 395.6 quality points.

We now divide that by the now 136 credits you would have:

Your gpa would still be a 2.90. (Someone can check my math)

You weren't a math major - were you? The problem with explaining things using numbers is that in order to give good advice you have to do statistic analysis correctly. 120 credits + 32 credits = 152 credits (not 136). That would place the OP at a 2.60, not a 2.9. This is a huge difference for a sub-3.0 applicant. That can really change the how the OP should plan for getting into d-school.

 

[DrKumar43210]

.

 

[Andrew324]

andrew234...you are taking his quote out of context....notice the word BEFORE the statement you quoted....IF...

I am pretty sure adding more of the quote does not help with a failure in grammar.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

You weren't a math major - were you? The problem with explaining things using numbers is that in order to give good advice you have to do statistic analysis correctly. 120 credits + 32 credits = 152 credits (not 136). That would place the OP at a 2.60, not a 2.9. This is a huge difference for a sub-3.0 applicant. That can really change the how the OP should plan for getting into d-school.

Yes..thank you, that is why I wrote for someone to check my math... 😉