Excessive worrying

[dragonfly9]

Does anyone ever start getting really worried that they might just not make it into dental school? I guess part of it may be that I am not applying until next year and there isn't much I can do but worry without feedback. . .I have a hard time picturing myself doing anything else but dentistry. Its great knowing what I want to do, but difficult knowing how tough its gonna be

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[bad_hombre]

dude,
i feel you're pain... i'm not applying until next year either. i'm actually pretty tired of undergrad... must get into professional school soon. and must get in here in canada so i don't have to pay huge tuition in the states...yeah, i worry a lot about what i'd do if i didn't get into meds or dents. seriuosly, who wants to be a lab rat or a disrespected, underpayed field biologist? however, as you know, it's useless to worry about that kind of stuff right now. whatever happens always turns out for the best. just 'study hard and enjoy your youth' i guess is the best advice i can give you.

 

[GoatBoy]

I was in the same position as both of you - especially bad hombre, I was worried about going to an American school and paying the huge tuition. Well, I ended up not only in the States but also at the most expensive school in the country.
There really is nothing you can do about the worrying. You have to live with it. Its tough especially since it gets harder and harder coming back to undergrad in the later years (4th year was the worst for me). All I can say is try not to think about it too much.

 

[dragonfly9]

I'm doing the lab rat thing for this year at least. . .I am in a biochem/genetics lab and it is giving me great practical knowledge of biochem, but I can't imagine doing it for more than a year or two! The good thing is that not being in school will give me more time to focus on the DAT and applications when the time comes. As far as money goes, my Dad likes to tell me he's done what he can to help me build credit and the banks will give me all I want. . .

 

[dragonfly9]

In some ways I'm glad to be done with undergrad and all my requirements to apply to dental school. In some ways it scares me even more. There really isn't much more opportunity for me to study hard and improve my chances of getting in. (although I may take a class or two over then next year) I guess there is plenty of observing I have left to do, but it really feels out of my hands and out of reach.

 

[reena]

dragonfly9,

you need not be worry! doing research will definitely be a plus as far as dental school applications go. i'd graduated in 1999 and have held various research associate positions since, applied to dental schools this year, and have received interviews at nearly every school applied (11 out of 15, and anxiously awaiting west coast schools). trust me, you'll have very interesting conversations with regard to research experiences. one other thing you may want to do is to shadow a dentist, if you haven't done so already. otherwise, do well on the DATs and sit tight! you will be fine!

 

[reena]

dragonfly9,

you need not be worry! doing research will definitely be a plus as far as dental school applications go. i'd graduated in 1999 and have held various research associate positions since, applied to dental schools this year, and have received interviews at nearly every school applied (11 out of 15, and anxiously awaiting west coast schools). trust me, you'll have very interesting conversations with regard to research experiences. one other thing you may want to do is to shadow a dentist, if you haven't done so already. otherwise, do well on the DATs and sit tight! you will be fine!

 

[eschou01]

15 schools?? wow, I shudder to think what the application costs were, not to mention travel expenses!

I echo much of what reena has said. I graduated May 2001 and am applying to dental school right now. I have been doing research since graduation and it is definitely helpful to your application. I have received interviews at every school to which I applied (only 5 - I'm cheap!), and all of my interviewers have been very interested in hearing about my research (I work with newborn twins in the nurseries.....awwww....

Bottom line, doing research isn't really a deciding factor in getting into dental school (GPA and DAT are much more important), but it can't hurt you!

 

[tinker bell]

reena & eschou
It's wonderful that you both are doing well with your applications. You guys must have great GPA and DAT scores as well. Do you mind sharing some numbers with us? I have been doing research with various labs @ucb & ucsf. Still, I'm afraid that it's not good enough for my application to get interview at every schools that I apply to. I will take the DAT next year, and have worked and volunteered at dental office too; any feed back?
thanx
tink

 

[anamod]

Just to put your mind at ease I applyed to 14 school and have heard from 11 and been offered 10 interviews. I have an average gpa 3.30 overall, and 3.35 scieince. I got a 18/18(due to a miserable 16 on the math) on the DAT. I have a lot of volunteer experience,I did a year and a half of undergrad research,and have worked as a CNA on a Alzheimers and Dementia wing of a nursing home for 3.5 years. I shadowed a oral surgeon(100+ hrs) and my general dentist(~20hrs). I also was worried about getting interviews with my stats so that is why I applied to so many schools. My adviced is apply to ones you would really consider going.

 

[reena]

tinker bell,

here are the stats:
DAT (AA/PAT) - 19/20 (also did miserably on the quantitative section)
GPA - 3.4 overall, 3.5 science

not stellar, just borderline average.

 

[tinker bell]

anamod & reena!
Thanks so much for your immediate responses. My gpa is only 3.2, that's why I'm worry. I took the dat and got 19/18. I have to try to get a higher score to increase my chance of getting in. But it's good to hear that research impresses interviewers. I wish you all the best of luck as december first is approaching.
What schools do you apply to?
Thanks
tink

 

[anamod]

I personally wouldn't take the DAT again those are good scores. As long as you don't have your heart set on UCLA,Columbia,Harvard or USCF those number in my opinion are fine. Once agin this is just my opinion.

 

[tinker bell]

no, any school is fine with me. But I just want to make sure that I will be in. It seems pretty hard to get in these days.

 

[anamod]

tinkerbell top give you an idea as to the schools that I applyed to here is a list

Interviewed @
U of Minnesota (home state)
Boston U.

Interviewing @
Nova
Louisville
U of Maryland

Offered interview but declined
Tufts
Case Western
USC
Temple

Have not heard from
Marquette (I heard they only interview Wisconsin residents)
Creighton (I pretty sure they don't interview)
Detroit-Mercy
U of Michigan

Rejected
U of Iowa

Hope this helps

 

[anamod]

not top = to

 

[reena]

tinker bell,

i have interviewed at:
umaryland
uconn
columbia
upenn
temple
tufts
boston u

and declined interviews at:
nyu
nova
uop
usc
vcu

and waiting for invites at:
harvard
ucla
ucsf

 

[tinker bell]

Thanks for your reply. Now I know where to apply next year. Good luck to all of you.

 

[Makenzeey]

Right know I have 5 semesters left.The first 2 sememsters I did excellent. This semester I didn't do my very best due to over weighing my plate. If I super the next 5 semeters will the the dental school still look at the once semester I did bad in ?? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">