Im currently a first year dental student and having academic difficulties. Im failing one class and really struggling. Everyone keeps telling me time management and other things but its just not working. I've been barely passing everything and feel like Im not going to make it.. It's the hardest thing Ive had to do and dont want to fail out. Im a bright student and just having some difficulties. Ive never been weak, but just being around all these other bright and smart students is really making me worry. What kinds of things work for you all? As far as study schedule, social aspect, dealing with professors etc? I have been having trouble with professors, and students know Im struggling and that really bothers me. Let a student know personal problems im dealing with and now its a mess. Don't want to sound like a baby, but I seriously go home and cry almost everyday because im scared of failing. Im so upset and cant even study- sleep- and barley function. So desperate and dont know what to do. Please help.
Dental School Trouble
- Thread starter DentalG
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Im also a Christian and have just been feeling so much opposition- spiritually IDK because I really believe that dentistry is the correct career and path for me but Im dealing with so many other things that are affecting my work. Im so uptight and anxious and scared when I step into clinic or the classroom- idk why never have been this way in my life. The weirdest thing, I feel so lonely and dont have any friends in the class to support or have fun at all. I think the social and personal aspects are really starting to get to me. Dont know what to do.. Ive worked so hard to get here and cant believe this at all./.😱
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Is there any counseling available at your school to help you deal with the personal issues? It sounds like those may really be affecting your performance, and modification to study habits may not be effective till you get some balance and control back in your life. I would also talk to administraters and let them know you need help. There should be a system in place to help you out; Dental schools don't like attrition b/c they lose out on $$ if you drop out or are held back a year. Finally, keep praying, keep working hard, and don't give up! Dental school is not easy. The hardest part is getting in, and you did that! Your school selected you over hundreds of other very competitive applicants because they believed YOU had the talent and ability to not only make it through their program, but to someday become a great dentist! So take a deep breath, know that you do deserve to be where you are, and evaluate and try to mend those areas in your personal life that are affecting your performance in dental school. I wish you all the best in your journey.
~cjb04
~cjb04
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I am not a dental student yet, I'll be joining next semester. However, I don't like seeing people struggle or feel over whelmed so I hope i could offer some advice...
In my undergrad career i did TERRIBLE year one and two. I felt completely lost with no hope. I seriously needed to do something. I usually would go to class sit alone, or try to meet a girl, and let school just pass me by.
Junior year things changed, most importantly I made friends with students in class. I made friends with students that performed better than me and formed study groups. I spent about 80% of the time studying alone, and 20% in the gorups, but sometimes that 20% was SOO much more efficeint than the alone time.
Keep your head up, take a break, sit down, and take an hour to really see what your doing right, wrong, or what needs work.
I hope you can come out of the slump. You got into D-school for a reason. Your not incapable of doing well, you're just psyching yourself out.
goodluck!!
In my undergrad career i did TERRIBLE year one and two. I felt completely lost with no hope. I seriously needed to do something. I usually would go to class sit alone, or try to meet a girl, and let school just pass me by.
Junior year things changed, most importantly I made friends with students in class. I made friends with students that performed better than me and formed study groups. I spent about 80% of the time studying alone, and 20% in the gorups, but sometimes that 20% was SOO much more efficeint than the alone time.
Keep your head up, take a break, sit down, and take an hour to really see what your doing right, wrong, or what needs work.
I hope you can come out of the slump. You got into D-school for a reason. Your not incapable of doing well, you're just psyching yourself out.
goodluck!!
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Hi Dental G I woudl like to help you if I can. This is one of the reasons why I am writing a guide to help what has happened to you virtually be avoided. No one tells us what to expect once in dental school. We are thrown into a pool of quick sand and if you don't know were the rope is well you know the rest.
It is vital that you tell me exactly what has happened. If you don't want to say it in here then you can email me at :[email protected].
Don't be discouraged. There is a solution to every problem. I was in this position in my Junior year. I was ready to quite. Something told me not to. And guess what.... Now I have been a dentist for 22 years and I love what I do. I also have helped many patients to improve their dental health and possibly save their lives.
Maybe God sent me into this forum today to try to help you. Please email me and give me more details. God Bless!
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I could tell you the truth 4 you but its not good and you dont want to hear it. Maybe you need to try something else you are good at before you get into too much debt and cant pay it back.
Are you like some movie that has to say it's title someowhere in it's dialogue? ...except you have to stick your name somewhere in your post?
strange, that's all i'm sayin...
We are in "clear and present danger!" oh no!
Thank you all for your kind words and support during this time. I've prayed and spoken to my family and have decided to take a break for a while to get back on my feet. I know this is what God wants me to do, just not at this time. Im at a very good school, everyone seems supportive and amazing, they just don't know what has been going on with me. I know this is my purpose and God's divine plan for my life. I fully trust him and commit all that I am and all that I have to him and his kingdom to serve him and serve others. I just need to get myself together and don't want to make foolish choices without being at full strength mentally physically and most importantly spiritually. I don't want to mention the schools name, but it truly is one of the best dental schools in the nation and its an honor and privledge to have even been accepted. Let me know what you guys think about my decision, God bless . 🙂
It sounds like you're getting more worked up than you need to be.
Health Professions in general, attract a lot of type A personalities. If you fill a class with 100 people who are all used to being in the top ten, 50 are going to need to get used to the idea of being in the bottom half of the class.
Even if you graduate ranked dead last, you're still going to be a dentist. Your class rank has nothing to do with your success as a practicing dentist. Graduating is all that's really important. Your class rank won't mean much (unless you intend to specialize and even then, time and experience can make up for a lower rank)
Bottom line, don't let your position or your view of how your viewed by your peers affect you academically. Don't let it psyche you out. Just do what you need to to graduate. You could leave school with a C average and still end up being the most successful dentist from your class.
Good luck
Health Professions in general, attract a lot of type A personalities. If you fill a class with 100 people who are all used to being in the top ten, 50 are going to need to get used to the idea of being in the bottom half of the class.
Even if you graduate ranked dead last, you're still going to be a dentist. Your class rank has nothing to do with your success as a practicing dentist. Graduating is all that's really important. Your class rank won't mean much (unless you intend to specialize and even then, time and experience can make up for a lower rank)
Bottom line, don't let your position or your view of how your viewed by your peers affect you academically. Don't let it psyche you out. Just do what you need to to graduate. You could leave school with a C average and still end up being the most successful dentist from your class.
Good luck
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Why are you trying to discourage the OP? I'm sure everyone wasn't 'good at' dental school before they became a dentist. Obviously, if they wanted to do something else they would be doing that and they wouldn't be concerned about trying to do well in dental school.
Just stay strong. Regardless of what is happening with you remember there are other people in dental school in a similar situation, maybe even worse. Life is a process. I feel like everyone should and will have to go through some type of struggle at some point in order to make life worthwhile. This is your struggle so embrace it and don't let it defeat you, Years from now you will look back at your time in dental school and at this thread an take pride in the fact that you were able to overcome the situation you are in.
I wish you the best.
I wish you the best.
It is really hard to operate on a high level when depression is holding you back. I had a hard time with this as well in dental school, and wish I would have sought professional help sooner. My damn pride kept getting in the way.
Talk to your physician and see what treatment options are available for you. Antidepressants alone are not the solution, talk therapy is an important part of the cure.
Talk to your physician and see what treatment options are available for you. Antidepressants alone are not the solution, talk therapy is an important part of the cure.
Maybe religion isn't the answer. Put faith in yourself before you put faith in anything else. If you believe you can do the work and be successful, then you will succeed. But belief in oneself will be the first step towards a positive lifestyle. Right now is the time to be selfish and think about what you can do to get good grades and pull through rough times. Putting faith in myself above and beyond anything else is what did it for me.
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You have made a wise decision and found out the truth 4 U!. You need this time to take that break and find something else. Dentistry is obviously not for you.
"It is possible to fail dental school in many ways... while to succeed is possible only in one way and DentalG has not found that way."
-thetruth4U
I don't think you made a wise decision at all.
If the school you were in is really that good then why would you leave it? Why would you risk not being able to get back in to that school or any school for that matter later on down the road?
I think you should have sucked it up and kept pushing through. My situation is more than likely worse than yours. One of my parents just died suddenly in the middle if midterms D1 second semester and two other very close family members are both in the hospital with life threating issues. Despite being severely depressed, pissed off, and feeling like quiting i'm still in dental school finishing what I started. Being out of dental school would have made me more depressed as I would no longer be pursuing my goal of becoming a dentist AND my family would have been falling apart all at the same time.
I don't think you made the right choice.
Tomorrow is not promised let alone is the opportunity to be in dental school. If its not to late I strongly encourage you to reconsider.
I agree with one of the posts above me. Stop relying so much on religion and God's plan. You dont know God's plan. God may have it in his plan to make your life much harder than it is now a year from now. Nobody knows what the future holds. The only thing you know is what you have right now. And thats the opportunity to become a dentist. You should hold on to that.
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And now that my friends is truly THE TRUTH 4 U! Couldnt have said it better. DentalG is just weak and never had what it took. I guess it just took a bit longer to weed him out.
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All I'm saying is, what if this is as good as it gets?
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Couldn't agree with you more 👍
ugh--dental school sucks. I am going through the same thing. Just keep your head up and make sure that you are aggressive about getting extra help when you need it.
PS..most people go home and cry---there were days when I (and a few others...) would even have to step out of lab for a few minutes to go calm down.
PS..most people go home and cry---there were days when I (and a few others...) would even have to step out of lab for a few minutes to go calm down.
i also think that is one of the worst parts--you can't just be left alone to practice. Everyone see's you practicing in the lab and can see that you are struggling in classes. It would be so nice if you could drill at home...
What classes are you struggling with?
Good luck!!!
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Welcome to dental school! All those years of hard work in undergrad only to bust your butt for another four years.
Dental school will be, with out a doubt, the most rigorous and difficult four years of your life. Unless you've already gone through medschool (or dental school) you will never experience anything quite like it.
You have been accepted into dental school along with many other bright students. Some will shine but others will be put into their place. If you think you're the only one having trouble, you're sadly mistaken. Stop being so self conscious. Don't compare yourself to others because you will always be let down.
This is something that every student really needs to figure out for himself. Develop your own game plan on how to deal with the rigors of school. Talk to upperclassmen about your situation, they'd be able to better tailor comments suited specifically to your situation.
Dental school is a humbling experience. Not everyone will get a 4.0 GPA and excellent marks on all their practicals. Get over it. You do the best that you can. Study hard and practice, practice, practice.
All that energy that you waste crying and worrying should be instead channeled into something more useful like studying or relaxing. It takes a while to get adjusted to life in dental school, but you need to have the patience and determination to get there. As an applicant, you've already met the dental schools standards of someone who should be able to reasonably succeed in dental school. Now it's time to prove them right.
