Considering Dental.

[ga1000]

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Hey everyone,
So I'm in my second year at a community college and I am going to be transferring next year either to UCLA UCSD or Berk. I have a 3.84 and I'm a psych major right now. I think that I will be going to UCSD though and switching my major to economics. For a while I have contemplated what It is that I want to do. I went from wanting to do pre-med to investments and back and forth.

I think that my true passion is to get into the health field, I am obviously turned off by the long schooling but in the end I think it will pay off ( not just financially). I never really even looked into dentistry until about a week ago, for some reason it just never really crossed my mind. Now that I am looking into it though it seems that it is more suitable to be than becoming a physician.

From what I have gathered as a dentist I will be able to help people, live comfortable, and be in the health field while also being able to be a businessman which I like.

What convinced you guys to be a dentist? Have you heard of people getting a degree and economics and going to Dental school? I am also doing this because just in case i end up hating dental, med, or w.e I pursue, I will have other opportunities with an econ degree. This post is kind of just a ramble, but any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ga1000]

Also, can anyone point me in the direction of some books or websites about the dental field.

Thanks

 

[mcchuster]

I'm a bio major but you can definitely do economics and go into dental. Just take your prerequisites. Check to make sure your prereq match up with the schools. Some schools are adding on Biochem, microbio, etcc.. as prereqs now. So i guess the trend will keep going, not stopping at the usual prereqs anymore. With that degree you will actually be better off than us bio major with the money aspect cause god forbid, we suck at money management as bio major. I have no knowledge of business management.
What convinced me to be a dentist: i love health care field. I love sciences. I like the majority of the fields but got to pick one and family is very important to me so the lifestyle of a dentist is the best fit for what i want to do with the rest of my time (i wanna build a obstacle course/martial arts facility and a zen garden in my house lmao).
Good luck. UCLA or Berk? Those are really good schools. Remember to apply to their dental schools 😀 Great schools.

Hey everyone,
So I'm in my second year at a community college and I am going to be transferring next year either to UCLA UCSD or Berk. I have a 3.84 and I'm a psych major right now. I think that I will be going to UCSD though and switching my major to economics. For a while I have contemplated what It is that I want to do. I went from wanting to do pre-med to investments and back and forth.

I think that my true passion is to get into the health field, I am obviously turned off by the long schooling but in the end I think it will pay off ( not just financially). I never really even looked into dentistry until about a week ago, for some reason it just never really crossed my mind. Now that I am looking into it though it seems that it is more suitable to be than becoming a physician.

From what I have gathered as a dentist I will be able to help people, live comfortable, and be in the health field while also being able to be a businessman which I like.

What convinced you guys to be a dentist? Have you heard of people getting a degree and economics and going to Dental school? I am also doing this because just in case i end up hating dental, med, or w.e I pursue, I will have other opportunities with an econ degree. This post is kind of just a ramble, but any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mcchuster]

u mean study books? I suggest DAT destroyer. You will ace the science portion with at least a 20.
For information regarding the grades and GPAs, go to prehealth advisor in the school u attend. They have great resources.
Here's the cost of attendance: http://dent.osu.edu/admissions/ADEA Cost of Attendance 2009.pdf

Here's some stats on school admission. Some of the stats are kinda weird, but majority is correct: http://www.predents.com/index.php?page=school&school_id=22

Good luck..

Also, can anyone point me in the direction of some books or websites about the dental field.

Thanks

 

[ga1000]

Thanks alot Mcchuster, gna check out those links.

I'm also into Martial Arts , I don't know about the whole Zen thing though. lol

 

[duycuonggg]

Wasup ga1000, if you want to learn more about dentistry then the best thing to do is to shadow a dentist. For some reason there are a lot of folks that claim they want to be a doctor or a whatever and never really know the day to day things that a doctor deals with. Shadowing will give you direct insight as well as the opportunity to see whether or not you would enjoy the profession. Can you see yourself doing the procedures and working with patients while you are shadowing? This is really important.

Theres a post around here somewhere by doctoothache that lists the different majors and the percentage of dental applicants with those majors. You would be surprised to see that theres a lot of different majors and not just Biology. Make sure about econ though, I have three friends that all graduated with econ degrees here in Washington and they are still looking for jobs after graduating a few years back. But then again it might be just them lol.

For me personally I decided on dentistry after going back and forth between pharmacy and optometry. Back then I was way naive and the thought of shadowing and really discovering the profession never crossed my mind. It wasn't until I started shadowing my cousin dentist that I really got intrigued. I play a lot of piano and guitar, love working with people, wanted to be my own boss, wanted to be financially sound and wanted to do something that would be dynamic and not the same thing everyday. All these aspects got me into it and I can't wait to start practicing!

 

[mcchuster]

Agree. Def shadow. I shadowed at a hospital, the dental school, and private practice. Maybe go shadow a doctor to see how you like it or dislike it when comparing to dental clinic. I shadowed at a NICU unit in a babies hospital for 2 years in high school (interesting experience but that's when i realized I definitely can not deal with sick and dead babies).

 

[ga1000]

Ttt

 

[jk5177]

Look around SDN, there's a lot of post about dental profession, don't just post and expect a comprehensive answer.

You missed out, that dentist is heavily hands-on. It's much more crafty than the science, and you need to be physically fit. Most dentist have some sort of work-out routine, or like to exercise.

Oh, yeah, it is just teeth, and teeth, even though connected to the body, but it really isn't for the most part.

 

[Seahawk]

I would first suggest trying to get your hands on a dental textbook. The first thing I did when I got seriously interested was to attempt to read some of a textbook to see what the course material would be like in dental school. Luckily my dad caught me and was like WTF? That's so dry (I had grabbed a really advanced book)...He recommended I read Wheelers Dental Anatomy...Which was a very easy to understand book and gave me an idea of some of the course material.

Next I shadowed a dentist...Which was really cool because I got to see the environment they work in and the kind of work they do.

After that I had a meeting with the dean of admissions at my states dental school and talked with him about the whole process.

If you can do any of these it would be great. They were all very helpful to me.

And yes you can definitely be a business man...I was just out getting something at target and I saw a local dentist in a GT3 RS...He also has a GT3 Cup Car and a 599GTB Fiorano...I am sure he has others too...
I would say that is a sign of comfort in your lifestyle. lol.

You definitely help people in the career too. If you want to take it to the next level... some oral surgeons near where I go to college run their own free dental clinic (they are retired). But I am acquainted with plenty of dentists who still practice and also do lots of public outreach work.

Best of luck to you!

 

[mitrieD]

As for the experience, shadow a dentist to see how it feels to treat in people's mouths. Dentistry is an interesting, yet rewarding career. Make sure you know you would want to do it for the next 30 years 😀

 

[jk5177]

was like WTF? That's so dry

LOL. Totally agree.

And yes you can definitely be a business man...I was just out getting something at target and I saw a local dentist in a GT3 RS...He also has a GT3 Cup Car and a 599GTB Fiorano...I am sure he has others too...
I would say that is a sign of comfort in your lifestyle. lol.

You definitely help people in the career too. If you want to take it to the next level... some oral surgeons near where I go to college run their own free dental clinic (they are retired). But I am acquainted with plenty of dentists who still practice and also do lots of public outreach work.

I have no intention of spilling money on expensive cars, for me cars is a prideful toy. I'll be happy with nice leg-powered bike or something. There is real value to be humble and to appreciate what we are given.