Deferring for one year

[HumbledDDS]

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Has anyone deferred for one year (or more) prior to entering dental school?

Could you share your story a bit? The rationale behind your doing so, when and how you decided, and how difficult it was to convince the school to grant you a one-year deferral?

If anyone has knowledge re: deferring and NYUCD specifically, that would be even more incredibly helpful to me... but any -- even anecdotal stuff regarding ANY school -- would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[toofache32]

I did it at U of Tennessee. After I was accepted, I decided I wanted to take a year off. So I just called them and told them. The Dean of Students said, "that shouldn't be a problem" and that was the end of it.

 

[USUaggie]

I did it at U of Tennessee. After I was accepted, I decided I wanted to take a year off. So I just called them and told them. The Dean of Students said, "that shouldn't be a problem" and that was the end of it.

Was it worth it? or do you wish you were a year further ahead now?

 

[Dentalhopeful]

I have a friend that is considering deferring for one year. The school told her that she needed to write a letter stating reason. She decided to go on some service tour in south america. I think she has a lot of guts. The reason I say this is because they also told her that there might not be guarantee since a board will have to review her reason. Also, once she has submitted the letter that is it. If they do not approve she loses her spot for this year. SUCKS RIGHT!!!! But I don't think she would have any trouble since she is going out on community service.

 

[toofache32]

I am definately glad I did it. All it means is that I'll practice for 39 years instead of 40. I was a bum, lived in Alaska, and did all kinds of other stuff I will never be able to do again.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I did it at U of Tennessee. After I was accepted, I decided I wanted to take a year off. So I just called them and told them. The Dean of Students said, "that shouldn't be a problem" and that was the end of it.

I didn't know that you suffered through Tennessee. Cool stuff (maybe?).

 

[Profchaos]

Has anyone deferred for one year (or more) prior to entering dental school?

Could you share your story a bit? The rationale behind your doing so, when and how you decided, and how difficult it was to convince the school to grant you a one-year deferral?

If anyone has knowledge re: deferring and NYUCD specifically, that would be even more incredibly helpful to me... but any -- even anecdotal stuff regarding ANY school -- would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hey I might be with you.
As of right now, I'm leaning toward defering for a year.

 

[txdent2be2007]

I was accepted to San Antonio and after sending in the "yes I'll come to your school" card (and rejecting the other schools that had accepted me) my wife was offered a scholarship to complete her master's. Not wanting to live apart, I called our dean of student affairs...she said it was no problem. I still had to make a written request and get it approved by the dental dean's office, but the next year I was the first one "accepted" into the class. In the year off I worked as a dental assistant and got to see more about what dentistry involves...I also got to observe specialists in practice and get myself geared up to study hard in dental school. The year off was really good for me...if I had started right out of undergrad I probably would have the same slacker attitude I had then and would be struggling through dental school.

 

[doctordental]

I was accepted to San Antonio and after sending in the "yes I'll come to your school" card (and rejecting the other schools that had accepted me) my wife was offered a scholarship to complete her master's. Not wanting to live apart, I called our dean of student affairs...she said it was no problem. I still had to make a written request and get it approved by the dental dean's office, but the next year I was the first one "accepted" into the class. In the year off I worked as a dental assistant and got to see more about what dentistry involves...I also got to observe specialists in practice and get myself geared up to study hard in dental school. The year off was really good for me...if I had started right out of undergrad I probably would have the same slacker attitude I had then and would be struggling through dental school.

Take that year off buddy. besides if you're almost guaranteed to get in the next year, this year you'll be taking off will be TOTAL relaxation. You won't have to worry about gettin in or not bullsheeet. Take a breather.

 

[Okazaki]

Hey I might be with you.
As of right now, I'm leaning toward defering for a year.

Really?!! 😵?!?!

Why are you deferring a year? So you're deciding not to go to UNLV?

 

[Profchaos]

Really?!! 😵?!?!

Why are you deferring a year? So you're deciding not to go to UNLV?

Hey bud, you didn't leave to Japan yet?
I'm debating whether to defer or not. While shadowing some more dentists, I will get some more ideas. Will keep you updated on this 🙂

 

[EyeAmCommi]

I want to travel the world too after college hell is over. You guys know any school that absolutely rejects the idea of defering? Help me avoid asking the wrong school the wrong questions 😳

 

[sk1684]

hello all,
this is my first post in pre-dental...i posted something similar to this in Allopathic..so this is my story..
i got permission to defer for a year. what i really want to do is immerse my self in religious/spiritual learning at a suitable center/monastery. I had made plans for this one center in India (my homeland). However, my parents freaked out at the idea. They do not want me to pursue any sort of religious learning since they think it has nothing to do with medicine and the center was located in an unsafe city. So that got cancelled and i found a unique research position in the area of spirituality and health in the U.S. However, being an international student, i am having major Visa issues which make the job very unlikely. So i am basically stuck with two options-either goto med school in the fall (yes, they can still give me a spot) or go back to India and somehow fight with my parents to let me do what i want to do. Finding a suitable religious learning center would require a lot of travelling and taking risks. I am dependent on my parents financially and its unsafe to travel all alone in India and probably the whole Indian subcontinent. However, i feel this something i have to do because i won't get to do this any other time in my life and i need to prove to my parents that i am serious about spirituality. So what would you do if you were me?

(sorry for the one big paragraph..i couldn't figure out where to split it!)

 

[Gurl21]

hello all,
this is my first post in pre-dental...i posted something similar to this in Allopathic..so this is my story..
i got permission to defer for a year. what i really want to do is immerse my self in religious/spiritual learning at a suitable center/monastery. I had made plans for this one center in India (my homeland). However, my parents freaked out at the idea. They do not want me to pursue any sort of religious learning since they think it has nothing to do with medicine and the center was located in an unsafe city. So that got cancelled and i found a unique research position in the area of spirituality and health in the U.S. However, being an international student, i am having major Visa issues which make the job very unlikely. So i am basically stuck with two options-either goto med school in the fall (yes, they can still give me a spot) or go back to India and somehow fight with my parents to let me do what i want to do. Finding a suitable religious learning center would require a lot of travelling and taking risks. I am dependent on my parents financially and its unsafe to travel all alone in India and probably the whole Indian subcontinent. However, i feel this something i have to do because i won't get to do this any other time in my life and i need to prove to my parents that i am serious about spirituality. So what would you do if you were me?

(sorry for the one big paragraph..i couldn't figure out where to split it!)

It's a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I think that what you wish to do is very commendable, and it is important to pursue your deepest interests while you still have the time. But on the other hand, since you are still financially dependent on your parents, you should respect their wishes. Good luck to you whatever you decide

 

[mlsripathy]

Hi!
I was accepted to Dental School at UNC, and deferred for a year bc I found out I was pregnant and my child was due last August. I have no regrets since this has been the BEST year of my life, and would not trade this for the world...
Good luck!

 

[sk1684]

Thanks for your responses...After giving a lot of thought and consulting many people, I decided to go back to India...i just had to listen to my gut feeling!

 

[Mustt Mustt]

Thanks for your responses...After giving a lot of thought and consulting many people, I decided to go back to India...i just had to listen to my gut feeling!

I am going to India on July 21st and coming back to US on sept 6. I am graduating in december and after I get admission(if I get one) I am planning on going to India from March 2006 - untill school starts. Where you from by the way in India.

 

[HumbledDDS]

I have made the decision to defer for a year, to attend NYUCD's entering class of 2006. I wrote a formal letter to the admissions committee, and they got back to me in 2-3 weeks. Thank you to all who posted advice/opinions.

This coming year, I'll continue to work as a management consultant with a global healthcare/pharma consultancy, based out of Boston. Perhaps more exciting is that I'll have a chance to help start the firm's new Shanghai, China subsidiary office -- a unique opportunity that was too hard to pass up, and one that I believe will widen my perspective of life, of different cultures, and of myself and my own future goals in dentistry, healthcare, and service to those in need. And besides, I strongly believe/hope that business/strategy experience goes hand in hand with dentistry and healthcare administration.

I sometimes doubt whether my skills as a management consultant can be directly applied to dentistry, and my friends/parents think I am only doing it because of the prestige and high salaries. But more than anything, I feel that I need to get the work-bug out of me before I commit to 4+ (potentially more) years of academia...

On a more 'boring' level, I think working one more year will allow me to save up some more bling-bling, so that I can invest in a condo/apt before I enter school.

To all those who've decided to/been planning on deferring for a year, best of luck to you, and may you return in a year with even greater enthusiasm and purpose for dentistry...

 

[Dental08?09]

I wouldn't have deffered a year because you never know what twist life will turn.

Look at me, I'm going to miss two years of school because of cancer ( diagnosed in my D2 year). If I deffered a year I would be 3 years behind!!!

And don't say the odds are small and it can't happen to you because I said the same. I do not smoke or drink...damn thing just poped up. Oh well and life goes on. Time for my vacation from dental school 🙂