Dentists, please help...

[dgutie17]

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Hello, this is my first post on the Forums but I'll try to keep this concise.
I'm a:
1) 1st generation college student I don't know anyone who's even been to college and my parents didn't graduate high school...so I feel so lost....and I feel the pressure to succeed

2) I will be entering my senior year of college with a 3.7 GPA and trying to decide whether to take the DAT vs MCAT

3) I have shadowed 7 physicians (3 of them for several months) and several supporting health fields such as PA, Optometrists, chiropractor.

4) EC: summer of hands-on research
President of 3 clubs
Assistant Manager at work
Volunteer tutor for underclassmen in Chem, anatomy, physio, physics and micro.
Several community service events

Problem: out of the 7 physicians I have shadowed 6 have discouraged me from entering the medical field. I was heartbroken.

They blamed their misery on insurance companies and loss of physician autonomy.

One physician cited medicine as the source of his failed marriages.

My main reason for wanting to go into medicine is quite personal to my heart. I had two love ones pass away from cancer during my senior year of high school. At the time I was a dishwasher at the time and i was finishing up the dishes late one night. Then it just clicked for me... I just knew that there had to be more to life than just making money and then dying..
It was crippling to watch two healthy individuals deteriorate into skin and bones...
Being the oldest and a 1st generation college student, I have been feeling the weight to succeed since my early childhood...I want to show my younger brothers what the possibility of an college education can do...

Sorry for the cliche...

I'm just feeling so lost right now...

Some physicians recommended looking at dentistry claimed that's where I should go.

This is what I want for my life:

1. To do meaningful work/1.my family

2. I don't want to be a cog in a machine.(complaint by physicians)
I would like to be self employed.

3. I want to see how far I can go, I'm not afraid of hard work and am fully willing to plow ahead. (Medicine or dentistry)

I've been blessed that I love to learn and have always been naturally curious.

And so naturally, medicine seemed like a perfect choice.

However, due to the circumstances my family
(Younger Brothers) are equally as important to me.

The physicians said medicine was a strain on their marriage and other relationships their hours were long and some said they missed their children grow up...

I don't want to get to the end of this journey with regrets...

If I went the dental route,I would have always wondered "what if"

And I don't want to complete medical training with a disastrous personal life.

If I went the dental route, I would have the business aspect and sciences In one career..but I don't know how fulfilling it would be...

Best advice from the only physician who loved his job:
" When you die, it's over....meet God exhausted with nothing left to give."- a family physician.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[alexeb91]

Why don't you try and shadow some dentists and see if that is something you are interested in? Dentistry has some medicine sides to it as well (Oral Surgery) where you can even get your MD on top of your dental degree.

One thing about medicine is that after medical school you are required to do a residency (not sure how long but most are 4-5 years I believe). This is not the case in dentistry.

My father (oral surgeon) always told me when he was younger that he was always annoyed that he didn't get an MD. Now, he is SO thankful he went into dentistry instead. It is true, dentists have a TON of autonomy compared to physicians. You can open your own business, be your own boss; essentially be IN CONTROL. Although, some say dentistry is the next target for regulation so......

In the end, just shadow some dentists. Ask them what they love/hate about their career choice.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

Good post.
First, you do have some time, so don't rush into making a decision.
Second, no matter what anyone else tells you about a profession, if you are CALLED, you WILL follow and do it. I had several seasoned dentists try to talk me out of dentistry when I was younger and many talked negatively about the field. I am SO glad I followed my heart. I went into the military, spent time in private practice, spent several years in Public Health and Community Dentistry and I am now transitioning into my passion for teaching. With dentistry, I had the freedom to test the waters in so many different areas and to include hospital dentistry and I still think often how sad it would have been if I had listened to these other dentists years ago. People mean well but you and only you can make a decision for yourself.
Third, take time to shadow several dentists in various office settings. Find some specialists to shadow as well. Research the field of dentistry. Read up on all the areas of dentistry where you can practice. There are many.
Again, you KNOW what's in your heart to do and as you get closer to making a decision, you will know what to do. I would definitely suggest that you relax, write down your vision for your future in medicine and dentistry, don't make a decision off your emotions because that is always up and down, seek advice and suggestions from others who can encourage you and personally, ask God where you should be and what you were placed here to do. Without fail, that has always led me over the years.
Most of all, don't allow this decision to become an overwhelming burden. Enjoy the journey along the way. You will be utterly surprised at how doors open to your destiny and what you are called to do. You will know!!

 

[TrevorG2221]

Hello, this is my first post on the Forums but I'll try to keep this concise.
I'm a:
1) 1st generation college student I don't know anyone who's even been to college and my parents didn't graduate high school...so I feel so lost....and I feel the pressure to succeed

2) I will be entering my senior year of college with a 3.7 GPA and trying to decide whether to take the DAT vs MCAT

3) I have shadowed 7 physicians (3 of them for several months) and several supporting health fields such as PA, Optometrists, chiropractor.

4) EC: summer of hands-on research
President of 3 clubs
Assistant Manager at work
Volunteer tutor for underclassmen in Chem, anatomy, physio, physics and micro.
Several community service events

Problem: out of the 7 physicians I have shadowed 6 have discouraged me from entering the medical field. I was heartbroken.

They blamed their misery on insurance companies and loss of physician autonomy.

One physician cited medicine as the source of his failed marriages.

My main reason for wanting to go into medicine is quite personal to my heart. I had two love ones pass away from cancer during my senior year of high school. At the time I was a dishwasher at the time and i was finishing up the dishes late one night. Then it just clicked for me... I just knew that there had to be more to life than just making money and then dying..
It was crippling to watch two healthy individuals deteriorate into skin and bones...
Being the oldest and a 1st generation college student, I have been feeling the weight to succeed since my early childhood...I want to show my younger brothers what the possibility of an college education can do...

Sorry for the cliche...

I'm just feeling so lost right now...

Some physicians recommended looking at dentistry claimed that's where I should go.

This is what I want for my life:

1. To do meaningful work/1.my family

2. I don't want to be a cog in a machine.(complaint by physicians)
I would like to be self employed.

3. I want to see how far I can go, I'm not afraid of hard work and am fully willing to plow ahead. (Medicine or dentistry)

I've been blessed that I love to learn and have always been naturally curious.

And so naturally, medicine seemed like a perfect choice.

However, due to the circumstances my family
(Younger Brothers) are equally as important to me.

The physicians said medicine was a strain on their marriage and other relationships their hours were long and some said they missed their children grow up...

I don't want to get to the end of this journey with regrets...

If I went the dental route,I would have always wondered "what if"

And I don't want to complete medical training with a disastrous personal life.

If I went the dental route, I would have the business aspect and sciences In one career..but I don't know how fulfilling it would be...

Best advice from the only physician who loved his job:
" When you die, it's over....meet God exhausted with nothing left to give."- a family physician.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

You should definitely try shadowing some Dentists. Once you finish dental school, there are a variety of specializations. For you, you can look into oral maxifacail surgery. It's surgery that has to do with the face and neck. You can work full time at a hospital or work both in a private practice and an hospital, which most surgeons do. So, you have to get a degree from a university for 4 years, get in to dental school, after 4 years of dental school, it's usually another 4 years for specialization/residency. You help people everyday, improve their life, take away their pain, and save lives. They make a lot of money too.