Dental Program or Traditional Route?

[Nahmed]

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i'm pretty set on becoming a dentist for various reasons and so I really want to do a combined degree dental program. At the same time, though, there's some really great undergrad options. I'm a bit stuck. Help?

Program:
less time
less tuition
focused path


Traditional Route:
more options
regular college life
freedom to do whatever

i'm weighing the advantages/disadvantages but i need some help. Feedback would be lovely. Thanks!

 

[journeybegins]

I'm a pre-dental, recently graduated from undergrad.

I wish I knew how much I wanted to pursue dentistry in high school. I didn't know that until the end of my second year in college.

With that said, if you knew FOR SURE that dentistry is what you want to do, I would do dual programs 100%. You can shadow some dentists to see if that's something that you really want to do.


You do still get a regular college life either way. Because it'll still be college courses. However, I see so many more benefits to getting into a dual program. You're more likely to focused instead of drifting to something else, or letting your grades slip. Whatever school you get into also might probably just have a certain DAT cut off that you need to meet. These are most likely easier to meet than going the traditional path where you have to aim for a higher score.

Make sure you do well and study hard for that SAT. =)

 

[Seahawk]

I'm not sure about your personal stats and what not...But the combined programs are extremely hard to get into...I wouldn't act like that's just another choice.

And to be honest, you never know whats going to happen to you even if you're "100% sure" on dentistry.

Would be nice not to be locked into anything.

 

[deleted357625]

i'm pretty set on becoming a dentist for various reasons and so I really want to do a combined degree dental program. At the same time, though, there's some really great undergrad options. I'm a bit stuck. Help?

Program:
less time
less tuition
focused path


Traditional Route:
more options
regular college life
freedom to do whatever

i'm weighing the advantages/disadvantages but i need some help. Feedback would be lovely. Thanks!

i wish i knew about the combined degrees for med school or i woulda done it straight out of high school myself. do whatever you like

 

[Nahmed]

I'm not sure about your personal stats and what not...But the combined programs are extremely hard to get into...I wouldn't act like that's just another choice.

And to be honest, you never know whats going to happen to you even if you're "100% sure" on dentistry.

Would be nice not to be locked into anything.

how hard is extremely hard?

-300+ volunteer hours at the hospital
-shadowed a dentist
-president of National Foreign Language Honor Society
-member of NHS
-mock trial member
-JV tennis participant
-some other random activities
-good grades (around 3.7 gpa)
-within top 10%
-1980 on SAT (taking again to hopefully cross the 2000 mark)

do you think this is good enough?
and, are you in one of these programs?

 

[Nahmed]

I'm a pre-dental, recently graduated from undergrad.

I wish I knew how much I wanted to pursue dentistry in high school. I didn't know that until the end of my second year in college.

With that said, if you knew FOR SURE that dentistry is what you want to do, I would do dual programs 100%. You can shadow some dentists to see if that's something that you really want to do.


You do still get a regular college life either way. Because it'll still be college courses. However, I see so many more benefits to getting into a dual program. You're more likely to focused instead of drifting to something else, or letting your grades slip. Whatever school you get into also might probably just have a certain DAT cut off that you need to meet. These are most likely easier to meet than going the traditional path where you have to aim for a higher score.

Make sure you do well and study hard for that SAT. =)

Thanks so much for the information! Where did you graduate from, may I ask? And, are you in one of these programs?

 

[Seahawk]

how hard is extremely hard?

-300+ volunteer hours at the hospital
-shadowed a dentist
-president of National Foreign Language Honor Society
-member of NHS
-mock trial member
-JV tennis participant
-some other random activities
-good grades (around 3.7 gpa)
-within top 10%
-1980 on SAT (taking again to hopefully cross the 2000 mark)

do you think this is good enough?
and, are you in one of these programs?

I'm not in one.

As far as your stats, to be honest, I'm not sure what kind of a chance you would stand. I've seen people coming through here who had basically cured cancer and people were still skeptical of them getting in. I'll let someone with experience comment on that.

I have just been reading these forums for a long time and have seen lots of talk on how hard these things are to get into.

I was just worried because I read your post and it seemed as if you were debating something like "Coke or Pepsi to drink today?"...If you get what I am saying.

 

[Nahmed]

I'm not in one.

As far as your stats, to be honest, I'm not sure what kind of a chance you would stand. I've seen people coming through here who had basically cured cancer and people were still skeptical of them getting in. I'll let someone with experience comment on that.

I have just been reading these forums for a long time and have seen lots of talk on how hard these things are to get into.

I was just worried because I read your post and it seemed as if you were debating something like "Coke or Pepsi to drink today?"...If you get what I am saying.

No, i mean, i'm aware of the high competition, believe me. I just posted this so i could figure out if it was worth applying to.

 

[navypeds]

If I would have known about the fast track I would have done it, as with my office mate who is also a dentist. I didn't find out about combination programs until I was in school and my lab partner was like 5 years younger than me.
If you already know that's dentistry is what you want to do I say do it as long as your motivated and driven.

 

[shintas09]

Hi i am an International student just recently moving to a community college in seattle. Shoreline exactly. Since i would like to take dentistry as a career, i decided to take associate of science in my CC (Inorganic-Organic Chemistry, bio, Physics, calculus and etc) Since I am new to this major, I would like to know can this be my Pre-dental courses? And after 2 year of CC i shall move to a dental school?
or is this not enough and I should move to a university after my CC for pre-Dental? And if yes, is it possible to take one year CC and move on to pre-dent?

 

[longhornpride]

Hi i am an International student just recently moving to a community college in seattle. Shoreline exactly. Since i would like to take dentistry as a career, i decided to take associate of science in my CC (Inorganic-Organic Chemistry, bio, Physics, calculus and etc) Since I am new to this major, I would like to know can this be my Pre-dental courses? And after 2 year of CC i shall move to a dental school?
or is this not enough and I should move to a university after my CC for pre-Dental? And if yes, is it possible to take one year CC and move on to pre-dent?

You need to transfer to a 4 year university. Many schools don't accept CC credits. The ones that do, usually don't want to see all your pre-reqs at a CC.

Transfer to a 4 year university. Either retake your pre-reqs at the university or do really really well in your upper division science classes and do well on the DAT.

 

[deleted357625]

i'm pretty set on becoming a dentist for various reasons and so I really want to do a combined degree dental program. At the same time, though, there's some really great undergrad options. I'm a bit stuck. Help?

Program:
less time
less tuition
focused path


Traditional Route:
more options
regular college life
freedom to do whatever

i'm weighing the advantages/disadvantages but i need some help. Feedback would be lovely. Thanks!

if your really sure, go through the dual program, less headache when it comes to applying in the future. Get it over with. good luck