do i need move forward on Dentist program?

[robertz]

---

Members don't see this ad.

i have spend almost a year to work out the DAT test(17/18/22).
when i begin to apply for the school, i found most of school will not accept oversea transcript to satisfy the pre-required courses requirements.
I am 47 years old father with 2 kids, i obtained my biochemistry degree from oversea(not Canada or USA).
also in order to be competitive, i may need do a lot of shadow service or other service jobs at clinic or hospital.
so at this time, my Dilemma is
if i retake all pre-required courses, it will take another extra 2 years with lot of investment(it is particular hard for a father with 2 kids, one is 10 , one is 7 years old) plus adding more shadow services or volunteer jobs.
since I am 47 years old, i am not sure if the age will be matter for the school to accept me even i spend a lot of effort to retake my DAT, retake pre-required courses.
i am looking for advise and help, where i should go, do I need move forward or give up because it is impossible for a 47 years old father like me?.

thanks for your suggestions.

 

[dentalWorks]

Your situation is a bit difficult but not impossible. If you devote the next 2 years properly toward your pre-dent requirements then I think you'll have a good shot of making it and starting DS by time your 50-51 (not that different from starting @ 48 if you ask me)

Second, the shadowing deal isn't a life breaker, all you need is 50-100 hours TOTAL (anyone who says you need more doesn't know what they are talking about). You can do one 4-5 hour session every week, thats about 20 hours a month. Do the math.

In my DS right now, in my class, we have a few 40s fathers with kids, I think one guy is 53 lol.

As far as volunteering goes, you DON'T HAVE TO DO IT if you have a busy life schedule (kids + supporting family + job + pre-dental requirements) is plenty of busy, you physically don't have the time to volunteer. If you can volunteer, then do it, but understand that it is NOT a mandatory.

If you wanna feel better, call up some dental school admissions office and ask (politely) to speak with an admission counselor (or set up a face-to-face meeting), simply ask the following "what would I need to do to make my self competitive for your school?"

Your situation is not hopeless, you just have a few obstacles to overcome

 

[MARKZHANG]

cancel the post

 

[doc toothache]

Admission to ds does not come without sacrifice.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=791511
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=698800
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=650441

 

[pacificNW]

since I am 47 years old, i am not sure if the age will be matter for the school to accept me even i spend a lot of effort to retake my DAT, retake pre-required courses.
i am looking for advise and help, where i should go, do I need move forward or give up because it is impossible for a 47 years old father like me?.

thanks for your suggestions.

So, following are just my opinions, and there are multiple points of view, but...
I have just graduated, and owe >$200,000 in loans. This is a common amount to owe.
If you are rich and can get through dental school without any loans then go for it.
If you are not rich, and will need to borrow, I think the return on investment is going to be bad for you. I had a classmate who was 40+ when he graduated, but he was retiring after 20+ years in the military and would have had a pension.

You could probably get in to a dental school somewhere, but given your situation, I would be very, very careful about becoming a dentist. There are other healthcare professions that are better financially.

Granted, you could be the unusual top 1% sort of fellow and make it though and out and be a millionaire by the time you are 60, but I feel old myself to just be starting out in my mid-30's. Starting out as a dentist with 200k+ loans in your early/mid-50s seems like a very risky undertaking. Also, student loans never go away, even if I file for bankruptcy and lose everything and destroy my credit (just for example) I will still owe the loans that I have taken out.

If you really really want to do this, you'll ignore me. But, I can tell you that as a new graduate, who is so far happy to be a dentist and enjoys improving the lives of my patients, I would tell you not to pursue a DDS/DMD due to the debt you will have and the decreased number of years to practice to make it back.

 

[robertz]

thanks for everyone's feed back
frankly, i never want to be millionaire. i just want to have a decent life.
now my house has been foreclosed, i am living at the apartment with my 2 kids.
maybe i donot have much things to pass to my kids, but i think another big asset i may pass to my kids is the spirit: working hard, not give up even i am so old to start a new career.
of course, since application is so restricted, and my disadvantage on oversea academic background, it is very tough as i feel for my ages. but i don't know what will be better choice.

thanks for everyone.