Engineer wants to become dentist

[awef]

Hello, I am sure this has surfaced before on this forum but I wanted to know your opinion on this.

I have my BSc. in Mechanical Engineering degree from Top ten nationally ranked school in US but my GPA is not so high standard as health profession school wants. My GPA is 3.1 and I have not taken DAT nor some required science courses. But I do have GPA of 3.6 from graduate school if that helps.

My question is with my background and school work, do I have chance of getting into dental school? Should I apply to post-bacc program? if so which one is good to take pre-requisite courses and apply for dental school after taking DAT. Also, I am sure I need to do further extra curricular activity in dental field and how should I proceed?

If you were engineer and became dentist or got into dental school, please let me know. Thanks for your time.

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[The Anhedonia]

i was a practicing civil engineer for nearly 2 years, then i decided to go into dentistry (i was interested in dentistry before i graduated, but hey, an engineering degree is an engineering degree 🙂 ).

from my interview experiences, it seems that dental schools like engineers (this is what i was told in all 3 of my interviews). it's different from the run of the mill biol or chem majors that apply. plus, if you have any sort of professional experience, that's a big plus too.

i was in a similar situation with my GPA (was a 3.4 when i finished my degree). i started my post-bacc work in biol and chem courses last January and just worked my butt off to bring up the GPA. yes, you should take most of your pre-req's before you apply and even take the DAT. if you kill that DAT, you'll have no problem getting in.

pm me if you want more details

 

[subdoc]

Nuclear engineer for the past nine years, but was an English major for undergrad. All I had for pre-reqs were Chem, Physics and English courses. Studied for DAT, took it, applied, and now I am polishing off my pre-reqs (Bio/OChem/MicroBio/BChem) getting ready to attend school this August.

Your engineering background will make you unique, especially if you have certificiations and project manager experiences. You may be surprised to how closely engineering and dentistry are related: precision, quality assurance, process improvement, self-assessment, logical analysis, sequential diagnostics and treatment, leadership in small group environments, etc...

Some schools like the more "seasoned" (read older) applicant. The extra miles on the tires afford you more life experiences, especially in regards to deciding what career best suits your personal and professional goals.

That being said, you still need to take the DAT and do well. You also need to maintin good post-bac grades and above all, knock 'em dead with your personal statement, LoRs and resume. Unfortunately, many engineers fit the stereotype of introverted geeks. Dental School Admissions Committees like to see extroverted, friendly, and professional individuals. Make sure those qualities shine, and not the former.

Best of luck! It is not an easy process...but with hard work, and keeping your eyes on the prize (D School offer) you will be just fine.

 

[Mgobowl]

I was kind of in the same boat as you minus the masters. Same GPA, same program ranking. All I can say is rock the DAT and apply early. Had I applied earlier, I think I would have received more offers.

 

[The Anhedonia]

Your engineering background will make you unique, especially if you have certificiations and project manager experiences. You may be surprised to how closely engineering and dentistry have in common: precision, quality assurance, process improvement, self-assessment, logical analysis, sequential diagnostics and treatment, leadership in small group environments, etc...

Some schools like the more "seasoned" (read older) applicant. The extra miles on the tires afford you more life experiences, especially in regards to deciding what career best suits your personal and professional goals.

well said. 👍

 

[awef]

PM sent to hajibandeh

Thanks everyone for advice!! I am planning to apply to post-bacc soon and get into the program for year 2010-2011 to get my pre-requisite done for dental school.

Did all the engineers who are in dental school now go to post-bacc?

 

[JPGator3]

I've been a Chemical Engineer for the past 3 years and I'm going to dental school in the fall. I had a 3.4 in undergrad, so I was in the same boat as you. It's tough to prepare for dental school when you have a full-time engineering job, but it can be done.

I recommend that you buy a DAT review book and get the test out of the way as soon as possible. Spend all of your free time studying and taking practice tests. You absolutely have to do well on the DAT, because it will have to make up for the low GPA. The DAT is much more important for you than it is for someone with a 3.7-3.8.

After the test, use your free time to shadow as many dentists as possible. Ask your own dentist, ask family members to ask their dentists, and cold call, if you have to. Try to find offices that are open on Saturdays. It's important for you to show an interest in dentistry, because you won't have the same background as a lot of other applicants. Other applicants have wanted to be dentists for a while, so they have a lot of experience/research in the field that you won't have.

Lastly, apply to as many schools as you can. Apply to all of your in-state schools and any Out of State schools that take a lot of OOS students. Dental school admissions is a crap shoot, especially for people like us. It's impossible to know what every school wants. Some schools will write you off because of the GPA (ignoring the fact that you took a much more rigorous course load than their average applicant), but others will be impressed that you were able to handle it.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Palmetto914]

I just quit my engineering job of 6 years to finish up my pre-req's before starting D-School this July. I have a mechanical engineering degree (BS), and I worked for a large corporation, working throughout the US and Europe.

For the last two years, I had pretty much been working and going to school at night (two courses at a time, for the most part). What's worse, in order to afford it all, I had to live 100 miles away from work! Still, I stuck with it, and it payed off.

Call up dental offices, and ask to shadow whenever they'll let you. Do different offices, for sure, as this will show you've given it some thought, and it allows you to see different styles of practice.

Make sure you leave plenty of time for that application, especially your personal statement (the adcom's told me mine got me the interview).

Subscribe to regular dental e-newsletters (Dr. Bicuspid.com is a good one). This will help you stay current with what's going on in the dental world. Then, when you get that interview, you'll be able to show them you've actually done some homework (the adcom's told me my interview got me the acceptance).

Check my DAT; it's by no means impressive. I am a prime example of proof of the "total package" application (simply put: "The DAT isn't everything.")

I'm sure if you stay confident and keep your focus, you'll do just fine. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hi all,

Having engineering degree is a plus in my experience. It really "turned heads" while I was applying to DS and post graduate programs. Aerospace engineer is simply cool! 👍 Yeah, baby. DP

 

[bbqbot]

Good to hear. I am a Mechanical and Aerospace engineer and am gearing up to apply to dental school next cycle (July '10), finishing my pre-reqs now. Undergrad GPA was abysmal, but so far, all 'A's in the necessary and suggested sciences.
I am getting nervous about the DAT (which I plan to take late-May...is that enough time to get scores in to schools/AADSAS?), since I'm taking orgo now. Oh well, nose down, plow ahead!

 

[subdoc]

Good to hear. I am a Mechanical and Aerospace engineer and am gearing up to apply to dental school next cycle (July '10), finishing my pre-reqs now. Undergrad GPA was abysmal, but so far, all 'A's in the necessary and suggested sciences.
I am getting nervous about the DAT (which I plan to take late-May...is that enough time to get scores in to schools/AADSAS?), since I'm taking orgo now. Oh well, nose down, plow ahead!

Plenty o' time. I took my DAT in August and mailed out in late Sept and I got in this year. I would not follow my lead and apply as early as possible to give yourself the bast chance. (you can also apply prior to taking DAT.)