Help a Non-Traditional Candidate

[sailinx]

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Hello everyone,

This is my first post on this forum. I am posting my questions to Dental Forum because I am looking for some information which most likely people in Dental School can answer much better.

I am in Mid 30's and I am very motivated to change my career to Dentistry. I have 10+ years of experience in Information Technology both as a independent consultant and employee of big corporations.

Education background: I have Master's in Electrical Engineering with ~3.7 GPA (Graduated in 1992). I feel I have a strong background in Math and Physics (because of my EE background).

Now some of the questions:

1. I am working fulltime and would like to start my prerequisite ASAP (hopefully summer this year). I have been reading alots of thread on this site talking about community college vs. 4 yr. university to do prerequisite and I AM HELL CONFUSED !!!!. People are throwing all sorts of ideas and information and its hard to really deduce any result. My question is, as I am working fulltime, the community college schedule fits much better than the university. Is it OK to go to community college to do prerequisites? How does the dental school admission committee looks at the community college? What kind of response I can expect from them ? Would they 1) outright reject 2) may consider or 3) don't care about the prerequisite school ? BTW, I am planning to goto MCG.

2. Can I ask the dental school for waiver in Math and Physics courses as I have enough of that background?

3. How about English ? I don't have college level English but I have written and worked on a lot of technical documents at work and also I did my Masters with Thesis.

4. Is age going to have any negative impact on my candidacy?

5. If I take DAT by next September (2005) and apply for 2006. Would dental school reject my application as I won't be done with my prerequisite coursework by September 2005 (I definitely would be done by 2006).

Sorry for such a long message. I would really appreciate help with some answers.

Atleast please give me your input regarding Q1.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Yah-E]

1. With your hectic working and family schedule, I would start your science pre-reqs ASAP. If that means taking them at a CC, then, by all means do it! Since you already have a bachelors degree and a master degree from an accredited US University, taking your science pre-reqs at a CC won't hurt you so much!

2. This will not be possible, in your dental school applications (AADSAS), math grades are calculated into your science GPA, those pre-reqs will not be waived due to your working experiences and/or backgroud. Pre-reqs are requirements for applications purposes, therefore, they are not negotiable.

3. Again, English courses are pre-reqs, therefore, not negotiable. Since you have great writing skills, these basic English coures will be easy "A"s for ya.

4. NO!

5. Your timing will be fine. Just keep in mind that dental schools will not consider your application fully until all your pre-reqs grades are in.

Good luck and welcome to SDN Dental Forum. Dentistry rock!

Andy

 

[trypmo]

Originally posted by Yah-E
5. Your timing will be fine. Just keep in mind that dental schools will not consider your application fully until all your pre-reqs grades are in.

Yikes!!

Does this mean that one's chances of admission are significantly decreased if every single one of the prereqs isn't completed, even if they're, like, planned in stone??

Have ppl here gotten acceptances before having completed all prereqs? I'd like to hear from you for some reassurance if possible!

I plan on taking prereq courses right up till the month before dent school starts. I wasn't anticipating that this would be problematical, but now I'm getting a little panicky.

Perhaps it depends on the schools as to what "consider one's application fully" really means... ?

Thanks for the info!

 

[sailinx]

Andy,

Thanks for the reply. I just wanted to clarify that my B.S is from India but my Master's is from USA (Michigan State Univ.). Now could you please clarify on your comment regarding the CC:

" Since you already have a bachelors degree and a master degree from an accredited US University, taking your science pre-reqs at a CC won't hurt you so much!"

And also you mentioned:
" 5. Your timing will be fine. Just keep in mind that dental schools will not consider your application fully until all your pre-reqs grades are in."

As you mentioned that pre-reqs would be non-negotiable then it seems like I won't be able to apply for 2006 because I would be taking 2 courses/semester (Summer, Fall, Spring). Which means I have to have atleast 5 semesters worth of work done before Dental school would even consider my application.

My understanding of pre-reqs is that, I need,

2 Semester of English
2 Semester of Bio
2 Semester of Math
2 Semester of Chem
2 Semester of BioChem.

This will take me to Fall 2005 to finish my course work and I think complete applications are usually due by Oct 15ish.

Any comment !

Again Thanks alot. I highly appreciate your help.

 

[drPheta]

For sailinx

Since you graduated from an accredited university, what math and physics courses have you taken? Or have you not taken them, but picked up the information from working within the field?

If you took those courses in undergraduate, just find out what they're called and see if they're applicable. Courses may have different names to them, but teach the same thing. If you can somehow show that you've learned the cirriculum the dental schools want, you're fine. The only problem with this is working it out with each individual school. Your transcript will need to be explained to every dental school if you go this route.

For example, Tufts requires biochemistry, whereas many other schools do not. I had taken biochemistry, but it was called "Molecular Biology and Biochemistry" and was a two semester course. Tufts wasn't sure I had learned all that I needed to learn in biochem, so they made me send them a course syllabus.

AADSAS doesn't check your transcript. It's the schools that do, and this is why the hassle lies in explaining your situation to every school.

Go ahead and take the courses at the CC, but you must do very well on those courses. Granted, it's accredited and all, but no matter what is said, and who says what, the admissions committees everywhere look at CC's as being easier than universities. Therefore, an A from an applicant at a university will mean more than an A from an applicant at a CC.


For trypmo
Do not worry about your prospective prereqs. Since you're an undergraduate, the dental admissions knows that you're going to take those courses within the next year or years. What they do, if/when you're accepted, is have you sign a contract indicating that you promise to fulfill your requirements. Failure to comply results in a breach of contract and withdrawal of your acceptance.

As long as you meet the deadlines (they're different for every application requirement), you're fine. For instance, paying your deposit/application fees by the deadline, graduating before matriculation (if that's what the school requires, since some schools no longer accept w/o a degree), sending in of various forms in on time.

The application is a big timetable of different deadlines. Fortunately, the prerequisite courses deadline is the day of orientation. Keep up to date with your apps, and you should be fine.

 

[scandalouslj]

I say just go talk to MCG and see exactly what they want. Most adcomms have no problem sitting down with you and telling you where your application is weak, or in your case what you need to do to get in. That will be the best advice instead of guessing from what a bunch of people say.

 

[Supernumerary]

sailinx, I believe you will find that you are a lot less non-traditional at MCG than you think. There are plenty of people in their 30's and even 40's in my class. I kind of suspect that the admissions committe actually favors candiates like yourself who have some life experience and maturity.

I really think the admissions commitee will understand that you won't have all your pre-reqs completed before you apply; you just need to be sure and do well in the ones that you do complete to give them an idea of what they can expect from you. If you have other questions specific to MCG, I would not hesitate to call/email Dr. Hanes or someone else in admissions. They are really great and I'm sure will be more than eager to help you. In fact, you could probably e-mail Dr. Hanes a list of the community colleges and universities you might be attending (if they are in Georgia) and I bet she would you give you a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on all of them.

Also feel free to PM me if you have any questions a current student might be able to answer. Good Luck.

 

[Supernumerary]

I was going to give you Dr. Hanes contact info here but decided to PM you with it instead.

 

[Energon]

sailinx, I would suggest that you go to a less competitive but well known 4yr undergrad than a community college. It all depends on where you live. there are a lot of colleges that have extremely fexible schedules. Besides, it really shouldnt be that hard for you to manage. Dent School apps are rising and small things like going to community college instead of a 4yr school may possibly hurt your chances... its just not worth it. You sound really dedicated and should thus give yourself the best shot.
Best of luck
ammd

 

[johndental]

a 3.7 with a masters in EE is very very impressive

I predict real high DAT scores for you and I wouldnt worry about cc in your case because youve already proven yourself. Its after the fact.

Call the admissions office and see if you can write a short statement concerning math requirements. With a degree in EE I think you are set. Didnt you have to take diffeq and and calculus as undergrad? I would think this would take care of any math requirement. Cant imagine you needing any more math unless your degree is technology based and not engineering ( but you clarified this )

Congrats on a high GPA in a tough curriculum. I bet you will do real well when you matriculate.

Good luck. Dont know what georgia schools are like but I bet you wouldl get in easily just about anywhere.