Dental School too late?

[Keberson]

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Dental students and predents,
I have applied to medical school already through TMDSAS (texas medical schools) and have recently decided that I want to try for dentistry as well. I am interested in working overseas occasionally for mission work and have thought that dentists are really needed in certain areas...particuarly africa. I wonder if its too late to apply now? I have not taken the DAT ( took the MCAT and got an average score (so perhaps I am more prepared than sombody starting from scratch) I have completed my BS with a 3.59 sci GPA and have excellant EC's...
is it possible?
when should I take the DAT? how do I prepare?
do i need to shadow a dentist and get a LOR? (i know one)
what else to I need?

please help!!!
thanks, keberson

 

[BeachLuvr]

You might want to rethink applying to both medical and dental schools at the same time. From what I've heard, that seems to be percieved (at least on the part of dental schools) like you really don't have a direction for either one...but that whichever way you can become a doctor will do. I'm not trying to say this to discourage you, just...what the word is...

Good luck!
Beachluvr

 

[Halitosis]

Dental students and predents,
I have applied to medical school already through TMDSAS (texas medical schools) and have recently decided that I want to try for dentistry as well. I am interested in working overseas occasionally for mission work and have thought that dentists are really needed in certain areas...particuarly africa. I wonder if its too late to apply now? I have not taken the DAT ( took the MCAT and got an average score (so perhaps I am more prepared than sombody starting from scratch) I have completed my BS with a 3.59 sci GPA and have excellant EC's...
is it possible?
when should I take the DAT? how do I prepare?
do i need to shadow a dentist and get a LOR? (i know one)
what else to I need?

please help!!!
thanks, keberson

i agree with beachluvr....you should check this thread out:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=28123

but, it's definitely not too late to apply to d.schools. you should take the dat asap! since you've studied for mcat, go take a diagnostic dat first. if you like what you see, take the real thing. if not, buy the kaplan dat study book, study hardcore for 1 month. november 1st(?) is the deadline for turning in everything for texan d.schools.

yes, you should shadow a dentist to see if this is what you really want. you'll only need lor from dentist for baylor and ucsf(the only two i know for sure).

good luck

 

[HBomb]

It's definitely not too late. Just start ASAP. You need to get the DAT under your belt. So start preparing for the exam. Seems like you already have a lot of science under your belt with the MCAT, but it'll still take some prep work in addition to the new PAT material. I think it's a one-month, full-time committment at the minimum. Use Top Score to gauge your scores.

You should get your online application to d-school started right away. Look up AADSAS on google. Get your letters of recs in (ones specific to d-school) and get your transcripts in. You can send your DAT scores later.

Some schools start late in the cycle and/or have slots late in the cycle...like USC, so do your homework and make sure you apply for those schools in addition to the ones you may prefer.

Do some searches in these forums for the info you're looking for. But then stop looking at this site, kick some serious butt on the DAT, and we'll see you back in a month, after the exam. What I mean is don't get addicted to this website like lots of us here!!!

 

[SillyRabbit]

Study and take the DAT by Sept. and apply now. You can apply to as many different programs as you want so dont' worry about anyone telling you it's wrong to do that. Go for it! You really dont' have much to lose except a thousand dollars maybe but you have a future to gain and you'll probably end up with some loans anyway.

 

[DDSSlave]

From what you've said, you have the choice to do either medicine or dentistry and be successful at it. I'd go ahead and study hardcore for 1-2 wks for the DAT, visit a couple dentists and apply. But most importantly, you should put a lot of thought into which you'd rather do. I did the same - med vs dent. I chose dentistry and still think it is more interesting for various reasons. I will put my biased opinion in that dentistry is easier to manage a private practice and still engage in mission trips.

GL

 

[grettlin2]

I have another opinion. I don't think dental schools are happy to see the applicant who applies both medical and dental schools. During my interviews, some schools (out of 11) asked me if I applied for other professional schools. Are you going to tell them you apply both or you won't tell them the truth?

Make things simple. If you are in average GPA and MCAT scores, try to boost your GPA by studying graduate program and retake mcat (maybe). Or wellcome to join us in dentistry. It is a really wonderful professional career and lots of fun.

 

[drtagman]

hey keber-

i took the mcat and before i got my score i decided i wante dto do dentistry. Here are a few tips
- work with a dentist, applying to both types of schools is pretty crazy, in terms of work load, you should prolly decide on one

- if you cant, i took the mcat and got a 28, 9 10 9, and studied for the DAT part time for 3 weeks, get the blue kaplan book and go over everything you dont know so well again, and learn taxonomy and the stupid animal crap, but also work on PAT just practice and get in a habit of doing the diff problems.

good luck bro

 

[Keberson]

You might want to rethink applying to both medical and dental schools at the same time. From what I've heard, that seems to be percieved (at least on the part of dental schools) like you really don't have a direction for either one...but that whichever way you can become a doctor will do. I'm not trying to say this to discourage you, just...what the word is...

Good luck!
Beachluvr

I can understand why dental schools might question my dedication to the field if I am applying to medical school as well. I guess the point of all of this is that I love the healthcare field and want to do something that I can use to help people. I wanted to become a doctor so I could both be satisfied intellectually and perhaps work overseas. I didn't think about dentistry being something that was needed to terribely over medicine but I've learned that it is. My heart is in the idea of helping people and not so much in the exact way I do that (fixing teeth or treating diabetes).
I'm not trying to find an easier way persay...though I agree that dentistry may make it more easier for me to take the time out of work to help in mission work...I'm just trying to find my niche in that big picture.
I've though of dentistry and have decided that I want to apply but of course I am WAY behind and worried that it might be percieved badly that I am applying to both.
thanks for all of the help....and advice, I appreciate it very, very much

 

[Calculus1]

The Texas dental schools are not going to like playing second fiddle to the med schools. Plus, they are going to see your TMDSAS stuff for med school, so it's not like they won't know you applied to both. I hate to say it, but it will be perceived badly. The Texas Dental schools don't like being looked at as a last resort to healthcare, rather than another avenue. I don't want discourage you or anything, but be prepared to do a lot of explaining. If you're serious about D school, apply out of state as well.I agree with the others that said you should shadow a few dentists ASAP as well as take your DAT(study hardcore for 2 weeks like someone else said). Good luck!

 

[Keberson]

Is it really as bad as everyone says? I mean, i am above avg for GPA and I'm sure I can do well on the DAT. What's wrong with me applying to dental school?

 

[HBomb]

Is it really as bad as everyone says? I mean, i am above avg for GPA and I'm sure I can do well on the DAT. What's wrong with me applying to dental school?

You already know the implications of applying to both, so you know that going in. I don't think it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be. There are folks in the forum who say they've gotten into both in the same year, and I have no reason to doubt that. So you can do the same.

There's nothing wrong with you applying to d-school. You have to do what's right for yourself (and family and future family). But do be prepared to answer the questions that come up from adcoms because it'll be asked.

I'd also ask this same question to the various schools you are applying. Perhaps they can add a new perspective to this or at least confirm our suspicions.

 

[toothcaries]

personally...
i think u need to be just a bit more decisive.

since u already made an app into medical programs.. i'd put all my energies into that area.
you'd hate to look back and think u half-@ssed something.


if u are gonna apply to both..
..just be honest with the adcoms...



as always,
jmo.

 

[Keberson]

personally...
i think u need to be just a bit more decisive.

since u already made an app into medical programs.. i'd put all my energies into that area.
you'd hate to look back and think u half-@ssed something.


if u are gonna apply to both..
..just be honest with the adcoms...



as always,
jmo.

put all my energies in to that area, huh? But what if I'm becoming more and more attracted to dentistry every day? Should I drop it all and wait till next year?

 

[bigsmile]

This is one of those "damn is you do, damn if you don't"

Took both MCAT and DAT, but decided just go with dental. Not an easy decision. Good luck.

😀

 

[toothcaries]

put all my energies in to that area, huh? But what if I'm becoming more and more attracted to dentistry every day? Should I drop it all and wait till next year?

u should do whatever u want.

i posted what i'd do in that given situation knowing what i know. (not much)



apply to both if it would make u happy.
just be prepared to be able to explain it during interviews.
it is critical to be honest about everything
the admission folks see the same crap...every single year.
BS'ing, imo, is the easiest way to have decisions concerning your potential career made for you.

🙂

 

[hockeydentist]

Howdy, texan

Calc is unfortunately right, looks like you couldn't get into med school, so u decided to apply to dental school. no one likes being second place.


But then again, nothin ventured nothin gained is my motto.

Rock on, and stick it to the TMDSAS MAN! 👍

 

[Keberson]

Howdy, texan

Calc is unfortunately right, looks like you couldn't get into med school, so u decided to apply to dental school. no one likes being second place.


But then again, nothin ventured nothin gained is my motto.

Rock on, and stick it to the TMDSAS MAN! 👍

its not that I can't get into med school...as I haven't even applied yet. I'm seriously considering Dental over Medicine

 

[DDSSlave]

its not that I can't get into med school...as I haven't even applied yet. I'm seriously considering Dental over Medicine

I agree. It's not like you have a 3.0 and it looks iffy whether you can get into med school. The dental adcoms aren't stupid and will know this. Chances are that you will get interviews at the TX dental schools. It's at that time you should have your mind made up and convince them that dentistry is what you want. If you express how passionate you are about dentistry having done thorough research and shadowing, you'll get in. The bottom line is, schools do not like handing out acceptance letters that are sure to be denied.

 

[Calculus1]

All I'm saying is that TEXAS dental schools, (I don't know about other states) do NOT like people that apply to both. One of the reasons that the TMDSAS is Medical and Dental combined is so that the schools can easily tell who is applying to both. I don't care if you have good grades and ok MCATs and DATs. They (dental AND medical)don't want someone who is going to look like they've given it about one month of thought as to which one they want to do for the rest of their life.

 

[DDSSlave]

All I'm saying is that TEXAS dental schools... do NOT like people that apply to both.

I strongly agree, but since you've already applied to med school there's not a lot you can do now. If you really want to go to dental school go ahead and apply. If you do well on the DAT, you'll prob get an interview. At that time the record must be set strait. Honestly, with a very good GPA and DAT, you still have chance. With an average GPA/DAT I would not be so optimistic.

 

[Keberson]

Does anybody know this for sure? Or is this just speculation?

 

[bigsmile]

One thing for sure is that TMDSAS (ultimately all Texas schools) will know that you're applying for both Medical and Dental the same year. Talked to UT Houston Dental Branch admission about this issue, they said they will put a big red flag on your application. 👎 Whatever that means.
Is it worth the risk? You'll have to answer this one.

😀

 

[DDSSlave]

Does anybody know this for sure? Or is this just speculation?

I think this notion comes largely from anecdotes, students on adcoms, speaking with professors on adcoms, and common sense.. but not hard facts.

You may have an extra hurdle to get over compared to other applicants, but if it's for you then dentistry is well worth it.

For what it's worth, here's a post of mine under a similar dent vs med thread - http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=28123 :

"Just browsing this thread you've resurrected, there seems to be a lot of hostility towards this indecision and indirectly towards medicine. I think most of it is exaggerated. I have 2 immediate family members in medicine. It's a great profession, and to suggest physicians have no time for family is proof enough to me they don't know what they're talking about. Needless to say, there are many differences and similarities between the fields. For a long time I too struggled with this indecision. I even took the MCAT and (at the risk of sounding defensive) got my 30+. But for many reasons I decided on dentistry and wouldn't change it for the world.
I will tell you that applying to both at the same time is a big negative IMO. I ONLY applied to dental schools, but through a clerical error San Antonio had down that I was applying to Med School also and frowned upon it heavily. I had to straiten it out with my interviewer who said that it was imperative that we speak with the dean to fix the mistake. For me it ended up ok. The dean was very nice about it. However, I could tell that applying to both is a big NO NO."