Help with Dental questions?

[tkfan1000]

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Okay, so I'm going into the 9th grade next year. I'm pretty sure I want to be an orthodontist. Please help me answer some questions.

Will a GI bill aid all of the cost/most of the most of the cost of college and dental school?

While in dental school, can I be something like a general dentist while still in it?

What electives/AP/Honors classes in highschool should I take for dentistry?

What courses in college should I take?

Is a university or community college most appropriate prior to medical school, and does it matter what courses I take?

How much total schooling is needed in order to be an general dentist, and then an orthodontist?

I'm in North Carolina, so I have two dental school options. Those being

• University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill
• East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, Greenville

which would be better?

Would it be worth it to start my own practice up?

Is dental school/the job itself a stressful/difficult environment?

If I think of any other questions, I'll ask. Thanks.

 

[ajj70]

Yes, the GI bill will help with costs. How much depends on years of service, etc. In high school, take the most challenging courses you can, AP's work best going into college so focus on those. If you take 4 years of math and 4 years of science in high school, you will be well prepared for the courses you need in high school, provided you take the AP levels of those when you can.

Avoid taking community college classes as much as you can. It's just easier to go to a 4 year college when it comes down to your application. Some dental schools do not accept community college credits anyway.

As for your in-state schools, not something to really worry about now but usually going instate is less expensive. Depending on what you have for the GI bill or if you are interested in going into the military yourself, there are other programs to pay for dental school.

Dental school is 4 years. If you decide to become an orthodontist it's another 4 years. Many general dentist, however, do some ortho work so keep your options open. It's very difficult to get into the Ortho residencies--or any of the dental residencies for that matter.

It's too far down the road to say it's its worth starting your own practice but in general, that is what most dentists would like to do.

In college, you will have a pre-dental advisor to help you but basically you take biology, chemistry, math, psychology and sociology for your pre-reqs for dental school but you don't have to major in a science to go to dental school. The requirements will probably change before you start but these are the basics.

 

[tkfan1000]

So what courses should I take in college, do they even matter?

 

[tkfan1000]

Also I looked at the university of flordia at gainsville, and it's half the tuition of the prestegious dental school in my state.

flordia http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/basics/cost-of-attendance/

north carolina https://www.dentistry.unc.edu/academic/dds/documents/tuition.pdf

so should i go to florida or is nc the better school? please help

 

[Digitalangel]

go to the cheapest school. you have about a decade to make sure you have the gpa and appropriate stats to get into those schools. good luck!

 

[tkfan1000]

go to the cheapest school. you have about a decade to make sure you have the gpa and appropriate stats to get into those schools. good luck!

thanks, does it reall matter what school I go to? thanks

 

[BYU4you]

thanks, does it reall matter what school I go to? thanks

Short answer no. (It's not like Law school where you get hired based on where you go)

Long answer it depends. (Location, costs, if you like the way the school teaches more clinical or pass/fail schools etc)


You are young though. I commend you for asking very mature questions but you've got a while to worry about it.

 

[tkfan1000]

thanks guys, 1 last question. does it matter which courses i take at all, or do they have the pertain with the things a guy said above

 

[FTA]

.

 

[BYU4you]

thanks guys, 1 last question. does it matter which courses i take at all, or do they have the pertain with the things a guy said above

Honestly, no. It's worth taking AP classes to push yourself, college material will seem easier also.

A lot of schools won't let you waive college chemistry or biology with AP credit but again it will make college easier.

Math and English classes more often than not can be waived using AP credit.

But overall just get a good gpa and get jnto the best cheap college you can find. (Avoid community colleges if you can)