Going back...what would you have done differently?

[UW09]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Curious on what pple would have done differently starting from the first day of college. I'm a freshman at UW and got another 3+ years ahead of me before applying to dentals school so I'm really curious 🙂 .

 

[sarahkate235]

My freshman year I was pre-med. The best decision I made during undergrad was not to be dead-set on going to medical school (or dental school). I actually decided that I did not want to go to medical school. This relieved the pressure and I did well because I wanted to do well in a specific class not because I "had" to get a specific grade in order to get into medical school. It was not until the second semester of my Junior year that I decided I wanted to attend dental school.

This being said, I have found that a good science gpa is very advantageous (in some cases more so than a high score on the dat). However, if you RELAX and try to enjoy your classes you will probably do better than if you are constantly stressing. I would also suggest that you get involved with a community service organization at your school.

I hope this helps and best of luck!

 

[SuperC]

Start studying for the DAT now.

-C

 

[Gl4di4tor]

1. Start taking Math courses [I didn't know Pre-cal is a prereq for CHem 😕]
2. Visit SDN often for reading old threads and posting new ones [just found out about this forum a month ago]
3. Try to have a balanced life in terms of a social life while studying.
4. Start studing for the DAT
5. DON'T LOSE FOCUS OR PROCRASTINATE!!!! [Antiprocrastination Technique ]
5. DOn't quit on Physic no matter what.
Good luck!

 

[coral2005]

OK... I guess that explains why studying for the DAT took 2 months for me!! I should have started my freshman year and gotten a 4 year head start.


Did anyone actually do that???

 

[starbright]

go abroad. have a music minor.

 

[tinman831]

Stop procrastinating. Telling yourself you'll just try harder next semester... never worked for me.

 

[phremius]

stayed a full extra year or two in undergrad

 

[sumozmom]

Curious on what pple would have done differently starting from the first day of college. I'm a freshman at UW and got another 3+ years ahead of me before applying to dentals school so I'm really curious 🙂 .

First I would be some science MJOR not accounting and than I would right in to D-school- not take a 18 yr brake - + 2 kids

 

[Audio]

First I would be some science MJOR not accounting and than I would right in to D-school- not take a 18 yr brake - + 2 kids

well, from your picture, you don't look a day over 32. Keep up the good work 👍

 

[sumozmom]

thnx

it's the regular beef marrow bones 🙂

 

[Audio]

thnx

it's the regular beef marrow bones 🙂

hahaha 😀

 

[DUBS]

most important thing: keep ur gpa high. start doing extracurricular activities (volunteering, shadowing, join clubs, get leadership positions, etc.) right away. plan your schedule of courses in college relatively well so that you can plan when to study for the DAT. but don't forget, make sure you have fun as well....you want to remember these 4 yrs. for many years to come...

 

[bloodygums]

I would have done more research. Research takes a long time to get used to (like learning a new language) so EVERYONE feels very out of place when they first start and for a long time after that. I started doing research but got discourged, half-assed it, then quite.

I would also say that studying for the DAT in advance is well worth it. I started studying off and on 2 years before I took it and then spent an entire month doing nothing but review just before I took it. I got a 24/25/19 AA/TS/PAT and I'm not really as smart as that score says I am.

On the flip side of the coin, I don't think you should dedicate yourself entirely to dentistry. There are a lot of other things you can do with a pre-dental education. I'm not sorry about where I ended up, but I think that my tunnel vision prevented me from exploring a lot of other options. Just keep your grades up and if you still want to do dentistry; Great, but you might find that you like something else more. A lot can change in 3 years of college.

 

[Shoota39]

Major in whatever makes you happy or what you are interested in, it doesnt have to be biology or any science for that matter as long as you take the pre reqs (Gen Chem, Bio, Physics, Orgo... etc). I would definitely consider studying abroad, there is a wealth of knowledge outside of your university's walls, it is up to you to find what works for you. Also, go out. You cannot succeed if you dont get your mind off of that 5/10 you got on the bio quiz. Go out with your friends at school, and maintain a balance between partying and school. Dont listen to what all the other people in your classes say because chances are they are just as confused about the whole process as you are.
Lastly, wrap it up.

-PF

 

[William Olympus]

Don't feel like you have to go to dental school the fall after graduation. I think a number of the students that come right from college wish they had taken some time off before coming here, but that's a very personal choice. Living in the "real world" for a year or two might help your perspective once you do start classes again. If you do decide to take time off, do something you find enjoyable, but be productive, volunteer/shadow, study for the DAT, even take more classes if you think they will help. Contrary to popular opinion, life does not end after senior year.

You are definitely allowed to major in anything you like and apply after graduation. I honestly don't know how some people prepare for the DAT while in their junior or senior year. If I can get in with an Asian Studies major four years out of college, there's hope for other students with non-science backgrounds.

However, I do wish that I had taken Histology back in the day. Testing out of our Histo lab would have been great.

 

[MC Wiggles]

Lastly, wrap it up.

-PF

Best advice in this thread.

 

[UW09]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm currently working in a dental clinic where I see dental students everyday which motivates me even more. I really love my job even though it's doing little things like washing instruments and organizing charts. As for the DATs I think I'm going to start skimming through the general chem (currently taking) and math (done for bio major) over the weekends. Last quarter I got a 3.5 cum gpa (3.3 chem, 3.8 phil, 3.4 eng) but I will try to bring that up...especially the sci gpa since that seems to be an important factor. I'll probably have to start research next year since I live away from campus right now (1hr drive) which makes having a social life extremley difficult. I will be moving in the university area next year so that should give me much more free time for research/clubs/leadership positions.

 

[phremius]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm currently working in a dental clinic where I see dental students everyday which motivates me even more. I really love my job even though it's doing little things like washing instruments and organizing charts. As for the DATs I think I'm going to start skimming through the general chem (currently taking) and math (done for bio major) over the weekends. Last quarter I got a 3.5 cum gpa (3.3 chem, 3.8 phil, 3.4 eng) but I will try to bring that up...especially the sci gpa since that seems to be an important factor. I'll probably have to start research next year since I live away from campus right now (1hr drive) which makes having a social life extremley difficult. I will be moving in the university area next year so that should give me much more free time for research/clubs/leadership positions.

you're way too uptight, have some fun!

listen, if you don't have a frigging blast and possibly the best time of your life EVER in college then you definitely missed out. It will be depressing for you if you get to dental school and all these kids in your class has all these crazy random totally sweet! stories from their undergrad days and the best you can muster is "cheesecake night with the gals in research lab" ????

Go have fun! Obviously keep it under control, but definitely enjoy college! It comes once, make sure it doesn't just slip by. LIVE IN THE DORMS ASAP! If you're open minded and friendly you will never have as singularly of an amazing as well as personally-cultivating experience as being a young college kid in a dorm with your fellow peers. Oh yeah, try to find and hang out with the craziest kid you know, they will bring you some great experiences and memories to last a life time!

Whatever you may be saving in commuting you're losing ten-fold in life experiences. Obviously you can live off of campus all 4 years and have a good time, but still, you will have missed a lot that comes uniquely with the dorm + college + young experience.

 

[Rezdawg]

Im with Phremius on this one...work hard and maintain that GPA, but you need to enjoy college. Dont worry so much about the DAT, doing research, holding leadership positions, etc... You will have plenty of time to get involved in things, so dont cramp up your schedule to accomodate everything.

Take your classes, work hard in them. During the weekends, throw that out the window and have some fun.

 

[Dentalist]

I wish..

I took a manageable course load and did well on them. (I overloaded myself and did mediocre my first two years..)

I picked a major which I could excel in. (though bio major gave me a solid foundation in science, it was never my strength..)

I made a few best friends, instead of many good friends..

I knew that sometimes grades depended on the kinds of professors & courses, and not necessarily the efforts I put in.

I knew that getting a few B's and C's was not a big deal as long as I kept getting A's in other courses.

I knew that shadowing/working at the private dental office would expose me to a totally different aspect of dentistry.

I put extra efforts in pre-req courses so it would make my DAT studying much easier.

I focused on my priorities.. (got distracted by many little things..)

I traveled over the summer instead of taking a summer school..

I realized that life was a journey, not a race and tried to enjoy the moment.

-Dentalist 🙂

 

[supraman]

Thread starter just can't wait huh

 

[beannaithe]

- Gotten started early in research.

- Gone to a different school my first year so I didn't have to *transfer*!

- Been a bit more social.

- Decided earlier then fall of junior year between dental and grad school so I didn't have to run around like crazy trying to finish up everything I needed for my pre-health committee. 😱

 

[phremius]

addendum:

I wish I did the exact same thing I did in college because I had a blast, made random unique memories that can never come again, snagged some ass, met the girl I'm probably going to marry for the good part of the next decade, and hey! guess what? ended up somehow in dental school, laughing at my classmates in the same place I am but have given themselves hernias studying and running around doing all these volunteering/shadowing/extras ****....

Go log off this cursed website, and have fun! Come back in 2 years : )

 

[jpollei]

Take a class or two in something you will never get a chance to do again. Once you start any professional program, that will be the academic/intellectual focus of your life for a long time. I wish I'd taken that first year Welsh class I dropped my senior year so I could only take 14 hours of class. Or taken advanced folk dancing (even though I sucked at the intermediate one). My point: do something different for your mind.

 

[duh?]

Nothing really. I have no regrets and since there really wouldn't be a 'next time' I am satisfied that so far, I have lived this life the best way possible. No regrets at all! 😀

 

[duh?]

Nothing really. I have no regrets and since there really wouldn't be a 'next time' I am satisfied that so far, I have lived this life the best way possible. No regrets at all! 😀

Wow. I just added that to my journal of Quotable quotes. Oh Duh?, you inspire me! 😍 😍 😍