Daaat

[KenFred]

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I am considering changeing careers and am trying to get as much information as possible before I make this decision. I am a finance major and would have to go back to school to take my science courses. But in regards to the DAT, would I be qualified, or better yet, be capable of taking the DAT exam after taking these courses in college. I ask because I am hesitant about paying and taking these courses only to find out later that the DAT exam covers more info than the science courses I have to take.

I am actually going to school now for my MBA and have a 3.3 GPA. I know this is the the most ideal for dental schools, but would I still be considered and would my previous work experience help or not? I have worked in investment banking, consulting and banking. I can use all the leverage I can get.

I have always wanted to be a dentist, but I was stronger in math so I choose that route, but now I wish I went the dental route initally.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[umc27]

If you do well in your pre-req courses, you should be fine for the DAT. There is also a perceptual ability section, for which you will have to practice.

Which pre-req courses have you already taken?

 

[KenFred]

I have only taken one Chem class so I have to take all the sciences. I figure I can take them in one full year including summer sessions. Does this sounds right to you?

 

[Sprgrover]

That sounds fine to me. I did summer school as well (both terms of physics and worked full time - I thought I was going to die!) in order to plow through my pre-reqs. It is possible to do them as you have planned, especially if you don't have to worry about any other courses such as english which might interupt your study-science-24-7 mindset. It is never too late to change your mind, and if you do well in your science courses, you could bring that gpa up (which is about average for a lot of dental schools).

 

[umc27]

KenFred: A lot of schools look favorably on older applicants, because they have a lot of maturity and life experiences. Stay focused, maintain an "A" average in your prereq courses (Biology/Chemistry/Physics GPA is important to admissions committees), and do well on the DAT, and you'll be in dental school in no time. Good luck!

 

[tutankh]

"Mature" applicants makes me feel like the ole **art I am 😀

 

[wimmcs]

Hello Ken and welcome! I also changed careers just like you and I'm about to embark on the DAT next month. Like you, I have a previous business career, however, my function was Human Resources and I did it for over 7 years. I started taking my science pre-reqs in Jan 2003 and I started very slowly just because honestly I didn't know what to expect, I was a little scared and ultimately didn't want to "screw" up my GPA. I started with 2, then only took 1 summer class and did lots of volunteering, then I took 3 classes in the Fall and last Spring I took 4 classes, so I increased as I went along. I'm sure I would have been been completed in one year if I wouldn't have "chickened" off in the beginning, but again... coming from a non-science environment, I just didn't know what to expect. Last semester I took Organic 2, Physics 2, and two upper division Biology courses including Physiology. My courses were challenging, but I was able to cope. Out of 10 science classes I've gotten 1 B and the rest As, so it's definitely doable. Next semester I'm planning on taking Biochem, Micro and Cell Bio and in the Spring I'm planning on taking another 3 upper div. Biology courses. All in all I will have had 10 Biology courses, most of them upper division, so this will help me with my "non-science" background. If you really want it, it's attainable but it takes tons of work and dedication and strong vision to look ahead. Good luck!!

 

[KenFred]

Thanks for all your positive comments.

I have a question for wimmcs:

Why did you take all those BIO courses? Are you getting a bachelor's in BIO? From my understanding all you need is 2 courses with labs in Bio and Phy and 4 in Chem. (Atleast I think that's right). Obviously some schools recommend you take additional courses.

I just want to make sure I understand what is ahead of me.

Thanks again

 

[wimmcs]

Thanks for all your positive comments.

I have a question for wimmcs:

Why did you take all those BIO courses? Are you getting a bachelor's in BIO? From my understanding all you need is 2 courses with labs in Bio and Phy and 4 in Chem. (Atleast I think that's right). Obviously some schools recommend you take additional courses.

I just want to make sure I understand what is ahead of me.

Thanks again

No - I'm not getting a bachelor's in Biology, I only did it because 1) I have the time to do it and prepare for d-school and 2) because I want to seem as competitive as someone who's coming in with a science degree. I did some research and found that most incoming students had some sort of science degree, mostly in Biology. Yes, most schools do accept students who come from a non-science background, but not many and I want to be as competitive as I can be. In doing research, I also found that many ad-coms want to see those students that don't come in with a science degree/background take some upper division science classes and do well in them, so that's what I'm doing. I started with your attitude of only taking the minimum requirements, but I changed my mind after doing extensive reserach. This is not to say that many people have gotten accepted with the bare minimum science pre-reqs, but I just don't want to take my chances after all that I know now. Good luck!