High School Senior

[EpicDentist]

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I'm going to be a high school senior this fall and I've always wanted to become an orthodontist all my life. I currently work for an orthodontist for a year and I have shadowed a dentist and an orthodontist since I was 15. I currently volunteer my time in an aquarium, where I do water quality tests (which is chemistry). I've also worked for the same dentist that I've shadowed for about 5 months. I'm also a part of the American Student Dental Association

My Grades: I try to be as involved with the community as much as possible with volunteering and what not. I took the SAT once so far and I didn't do so great. I got a 950 out of a 1600. But I plan on getting a final SAT score of 1150 of 1600.

My junior year I took all honors classes and I had a final average of a 90. My senior year I am taking 8 classes (most of them being required) - science (College Now course), pre-calculs, physics, government (honors) and dentistry as my elective. I've also previously taken Intro Business my junior year as a College Now class. I got a B in this class.

My plan: is to get into a joint degree program where I can go to a certain school for three years and then continue on to their specified dental school for four years. Then go on to complete my specialty in orthodontics. I'm just wondering if I don't get into a joint degree program, is a community college just as good with a great GPA, work experience, and volunteer work on my plate during college when applying to dental schools?

Also, can you recommend any good joint degree schools? Or is there a list somewhere?

Thank you,
Greg

 

[DROCKINDAHOUSE]

Alright man heres how i c it. Im a 22 yr old college sr, ive lived thru a lot and seen alot too. Honestly from what i have seen and personally experienced, there isnt any 17 or 18 y.o.'s who know enough about life or themselves to decide what career they want to spend the next 30 or so years pursuin. But dont get me wrong, its great that u have motivation and that u have a drive to better urself, that part u got down. I would suggest that u dont enter into any program that places u in a professional school after 3 yrs. Remember i speak from experience and from everything I have seen (my univ has several of these programs) these kids that enroll in them never fully comprehend the magnitude of their decision, and ultimately MANY of them end up dropping out or getting kicked out. They get kicked out because they are motivated for these careers for the wrong reasons and when school gets tough they crack. If ur not doin somethin for the right reasons then any adversity u encounter will always deter u from ur path.

So whats my advice? Dont join any program. Go to college, enjoy being young. Dont try to become some "mini-doctor-in-training", cause trust me u wont fully enjoy ur college experience and thats what its all about it. U go to college to learn about life, to learn about what it means to be a man in this world and to learn about urself above all else. Education is important, but it comes second to these things. Live some time in the real world, then make ur decision. Good luck to u and God Bless

 

[AndyK]

Wow, there are a lot of these threads being posted recently... Here are some things I would consider:

1. Don't do a joint degree. You need to take your time with college, socialize, and make an effort to investigate every pro and con of any career you might consider doing... including Orthodontics

2. I highly recommend against doing community college for any pre-requisite courses or science courses

3. Anything you do in high school, including SAT scores, GPA, blah blah... it doesn't matter one single bit when it comes time to apply to dental school. Get into a university of some sort (preferably a respected one, no "university of phoenix") and then take your grades seriously

4. Orthodontics is bar none the hardest specialty to get into. You have to be in the top 5% in national boards and class rank to even be considered. Don't go to dental school if you're not prepared to be a general dentist.

 

[EpicDentist]

The reason that I wanted to do a joint degree program is because I know people who are in college now that are worrying where they are going to dental school, and Id rather know that as long as I maintain a GPA that I'm set. Rather than just applying and hoping. Although, that's not necessarily the case if you do what youre supposed to do while youre in college to prepare yourself for dental school's admittance standards..

I've also heard that you are more likely to get into a dental school coming from a state univeristy (SUNY) rather than a city university (CUNY). Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Andrew324]

Well I might post more on this topic later, I dont have anything against joint programs but you will need to seriously bring up your SAT to get into any joint program. As I understand them they are very competitive and an 1150 wont cut it. Can I ask your GPA at the moment?

 

[EpicDentist]

Well I might post more on this topic later, I dont have anything against joint programs but you will need to seriously bring up your SAT to get into any joint program. As I understand them they are very competitive and an 1150 wont cut it. Can I ask your GPA at the moment?

My junior year GPA with all honors classes was a 90.

 

[Andrew324]

what is this canada? whats a 90? like 3.7? what about cumulative?

 

[DROCKINDAHOUSE]

The reason that I wanted to do a joint degree program is because I know people who are in college now that are worrying where they are going to dental school, and Id rather know that as long as I maintain a GPA that I'm set. Rather than just applying and hoping.

just live a few yrs in the real world kid

 

[lemoncurry]

moving this to Aspire.