Dental School D2, want to go to medicine

[honorandrespect]

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Hi all,

I'm a D2(Dental Student, 2nd year). I realize I absolutely, completely, and irrevocably hate dentistry, and with my GPA at 3.5, my chances of specializing are over. I have calculated that even if I get A's in my remaining classes, the highest I can amount to is a 3.55. I want to drop out, but at this point I don't think that is wise. I took the MCAT in 2012, got a 28S. My undergrad GPA is high. I'm thinking about taking the MCAT this summer, and applying after dental school. Any ideas on what else I should do to better my chances for acceptance?

 

[osckey]

Hi all,

I'm a D2(Dental Student, 2nd year). I realize I absolutely, completely, and irrevocably hate dentistry, and with my GPA at 3.5, my chances of specializing are over. I have calculated that even if I get A's in my remaining classes, the highest I can amount to is a 3.55. I want to drop out, but at this point I don't think that is wise. I took the MCAT in 2012, got a 28S. My undergrad GPA is high. I'm thinking about taking the MCAT this summer, and applying after dental school. Any ideas on what else I should do to better my chances for acceptance?

I'm inclined to say that you should absolutely not drop out of dental school as it was hard enough getting into it in the first place. There's nothing about dentistry that you love anymore?

 

[honorandrespect]

Nothing at all. I will go mad if I have to practice dentistry at all after school. Lol, it was more or less a joke to get into dental school, I go to an "Ivy League" dental school. I just really hate all aspects of it, especially the aspect that involves hand skills. I would stick with it if I could specialize, but practicing general dentistry to me, is worse than being flayed and spending the weekend with cannibals.

 

[doctorleospaceman]

How did this not come up during undergrad shadowing/volunteering? Before you even attempt switching to medicine make sure you can actually see yourself doing that before you flush dental school down the drain.

It was more or less a joke to get into dental school. I just really hate all aspects of it, especially the aspect that involves hand skills. I would stick with it if I could specialize, but practicing general dentistry to me, is worse than being flayed and spending the weekend with cannibals.

You can't be serious that this is the first time you view dentistry this way. And to think of all the candidates who would have killed for your seat...

 

[confidentandgood]

Nothing at all. I will go mad if I have to practice dentistry at all after school. Lol, it was more or less a joke to get into dental school, I go to an "Ivy League" dental school. I just really hate all aspects of it, especially the aspect that involves hand skills. I would stick with it if I could specialize, but practicing general dentistry to me, is worse than being flayed and spending the weekend with cannibals.

Can I have your spot?

 

[Goro]

For starters, you're going have to come up with a better motivation for a career in medicine other than "I hate Dentistry".

Adcoms will want to know that you're running towards medicine, and not merely away from DDS.

There's also the worry that you'll bail on a medical career, just like you're doing now to DDS

A 28 is circling the drain for MD schools, but fine for DO.

Hi all,

I'm a D2(Dental Student, 2nd year). I realize I absolutely, completely, and irrevocably hate dentistry, and with my GPA at 3.5, my chances of specializing are over. I have calculated that even if I get A's in my remaining classes, the highest I can amount to is a 3.55. I want to drop out, but at this point I don't think that is wise. I took the MCAT in 2012, got a 28S. My undergrad GPA is high. I'm thinking about taking the MCAT this summer, and applying after dental school. Any ideas on what else I should do to better my chances for acceptance?

 

[LuluLovesMe]

OP those loans from 2 years of dental school are going to hurt you A LOT. Think about those accruing interest for the next 8-9 years then add in your medical school loans.

 

[doc05]

don't quit. dentistry is a good field. you don't need to be a specialist. it's still better than medicine.

 

[numbersloth]

You could work your tail off and try to get in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which gets you an MD on the the way.

But in all seriousness, dentistry is awesome! There are so many great things you can do and it is definitely a very important (if slightly under appreciated) part of the healthcare system. I've volunteered in remote areas for medicine and the amount of people who develop health problems as a consequence of having bad teeth (not eating right = diabetes, tooth pain = painkiller abuse, etc.) is astounding. If you apply the love you feel for medicine to your current field of dentistry and I'm sure you will be great!

 

[Mansamusa]

You may be better off with a state school PA program depending on how much dental school debt you have.

Let's say you have the average dental debt of $250K. That'll gain $110K in interest over the course of dental school and med school.

Now, say, you get into med school that is $250K (which is on the cheap end), that will gain $30K in interest.

So when interest capitalizes at med school graduation, you will have $640,000 in debt gaining $40,000 in interest a year at the start of residency. If you do 3yrs of residency, your total loan balance when you start as an attending will be $685,000. And if you go above these averages, you can easily be looking at $800,000 (+ interest throughout the life of the loan)

Unless, of course, your parents are supporting you. Don't practice dentistry if you really don't think you would enjoy your life, but it would be beyond financial suicide to add medical school on top of it

Or you could maybe do rural dentistry to pay off your dental loans quickly and then consider med school...Or find something creative and non-clinical to do with the dental degree

 

[timetraveling]

You can't be serious that this is the first time you view dentistry this way. And to think of all the candidates who would have killed for your seat...

Are you seriously degrading this guy to a 'seat?' That's pretty ****ed up.

He came here because he's clearly not confident in making the decision himself and wants some external validation. He/she is having a hard enough of a time without you objectifying him.

 

[Theseus]

If you really think you will be happier in medicine, go ahead and and do it. Work on that MCAT, gain clinical experience, and apply. Better to do it earlier than to regret for the rest of your life.

 

[doctorleospaceman]

Are you seriously degrading this guy to a 'seat?' That's pretty ****ed up.

He came here because he's clearly not confident in making the decision himself and wants some external validation. He/she is having a hard enough of a time without you objectifying him.

At this point, yes I am. OP is in a terrible situation, but if they never took dentistry seriously then this was inevitable. The decision to go into medicine should be taken seriously and not left up to strangers on a forum. Likely that's how OP ended up in dentistry in the first place.

 

[BeaverLover]

"Ivy League" dental school

Upenn?

 

[UTUT]

There's a med student who got a dental degree, matched to Maxillofacial Surgery residency, and she's doing MS2, MS3 to get her MD also. So perhaps some surgery specialty that dental grad can also do and that'll be a mix between med and dentistry.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

There's a med student who got a dental degree, matched to Maxillofacial Surgery residency, and she's doing MS2, MS3 to get her MD also. So perhaps some surgery specialty that dental grad can also do and that'll be a mix between med and dentistry.

Dr. Patricia Long-road M.D. F.A.C.S. D.D.S. D.M.D. B.D.S. M.B.B.S

 

[Mansamusa]

Dr. Patricia Long-road M.D. F.A.C.S. D.D.S. D.M.D. B.D.S. M.B.B.S

The programs I've seen are all 6 yr residencies post-DDS where you complete the med school courses during the residency....and get paid to do it. Sounds like a sweet deal to me

 

[Med Ed]

Hi all,

I'm a D2(Dental Student, 2nd year). I realize I absolutely, completely, and irrevocably hate dentistry, and with my GPA at 3.5, my chances of specializing are over. I have calculated that even if I get A's in my remaining classes, the highest I can amount to is a 3.55. I want to drop out, but at this point I don't think that is wise. I took the MCAT in 2012, got a 28S. My undergrad GPA is high. I'm thinking about taking the MCAT this summer, and applying after dental school. Any ideas on what else I should do to better my chances for acceptance?

A 2016 MCAT is a bit early for a presumed 2018 matriculation into medical school, especially since they have revamped the test. If this summer is when you have the most time to prepare, I can see why you would want to schedule it then. Be sure to do a ton of practice questions.

While highly unusual, I have seen a couple of people pull off dentistry -> medicine -> oral & maxillofacial surgery. From a medical school admissions standpoint this path is one of the few that makes decent sense. Perhaps ENT or oral pathology, but the latter is pretty niche. If you graduate from dental school and try the "I really want to be a rural primary care doctor" angle it will just make you look flighty and pandering. If at all possible, try to shadow someone in OMS.

 

[piii]

Are you seriously degrading this guy to a 'seat?' That's pretty ****ed up.

Oh god! How dare he say other people would kill to take his seat! What a terrible degrading person!!1!...

Jesus dude relax... some people on this forum are so uptight smh. What he said is neither degrading nor ****ed up lol.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

There's a med student who got a dental degree, matched to Maxillofacial Surgery residency, and she's doing MS2, MS3 to get her MD also. So perhaps some surgery specialty that dental grad can also do and that'll be a mix between med and dentistry.

A general surgeon I work with went to dental school, got into a OMS program at one of those programs that gives you the MD too, decided he didn't like OMS and applied to GS through the match and matched. He doesn't even put DDS on his badge anymore. Was in school/training for like 13 years or something, totally crazy IMO.

 

[480640]

.

 

[480640]

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[AnatomyGrey12]

Two surgical residencies one after the other?

Or did he not finish the OMS residency?

No, he finished both. Absolutely nuts. It's like signing up to be tortured

 

[PossibleDOC?]

All of these stories we hear of the cross overs are from about 10-15 yrs ago, currently if you get into one professional school stay with it. People regardless of dentistry or med school are clamoring for spots. Be grateful tat you have a seat anywhere. Be happy you'll make a good living as a dentist OP.

Are you seriously degrading this guy to a 'seat?' That's pretty ****ed up.

He came here because he's clearly not confident in making the decision himself and wants some external validation. He/she is having a hard enough of a time without you objectifying him.

and yes everyone is equated to a number, seat, and figures (MCAT, GPA, DAT, etc) I wish people would get it through their heads that this process is not about the person themselves until they cross the initial screening which is all based on numbers smh