High school student looking for advice

[KTH55555]

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Hey guys,

I just joined this forum and it seems really interesting and insightful. Just a little bit about me just so you know who you're dealing with (not in a bad way though): I'm 15 and in high school, and most importantly I am considering being a dentist when I grow older. I realize my age and how I shouldn't get so much into the future, but I wanted to ask a couple of harmless questions.

1. I have a dentist that I see and a orthodontist. I really like my dentist and I was thinking about shadowing him to see how things work for a dentist. If I were to do that regularly, is it something I could be putting on my college app for college?

2. For college, does it matter if I were to go to a liberal arts college rather than a regular college as long as I take the required classes for dentistry school?

3. I'm sure you get this a lot but, is going to an o.k college and getting a 3.8 gpa > going to a good college and getting a 3.2? What do the dentistry schools think?

4. Can a student that is not the smartest ever but works hard be successful in the dentistry field? (Like an above-average hard-working student like me).

Again, sorry if it seems like I'm getting too ahead of myself. I just want to make sure this career option if a good one. I understand it is a ton of work preparing for it, but it seems promising.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[In2Infinity]

1. shadowing any dentist is great, the specialist will be a good insight, but remember, shadowing a general dentist would be most important/helpful. Shadowing is to see if you really see yourself doing that work, also for D schools to know you actually put thought/ time into pursuing dental school

2. Don't know much about the differences for US colleges (I'm Canadian). There are quite a few biology and chemistry prereqs for D school, make you sure make a list of them. Getting them all is much easier if you were to choose a bio or chem major.

3. I'm assuming it depends if the college and the D school are public, and in the same state. Other than that, the various D schools will go by the highest GPA no matter what college you attended, except for attendance into an ivy school.

4. If you work hard and put your mind to it, it can be possible. Getting 70s and Bs in every single course won't cut it though. A few marks in the 90s or As will be needed to have a competitive application. Being only 15, you have a long way to go and you wont develop your true study habits until second or third year university/college.

 

[PrinceJ]

Hey guys,

I just joined this forum and it seems really interesting and insightful. Just a little bit about me just so you know who you're dealing with (not in a bad way though): I'm 15 and in high school, and most importantly I am considering being a dentist when I grow older. I realize my age and how I shouldn't get so much into the future, but I wanted to ask a couple of harmless questions.

1. I have a dentist that I see and a orthodontist. I really like my dentist and I was thinking about shadowing him to see how things work for a dentist. If I were to do that regularly, is it something I could be putting on my college app?
Could you put it on a college application.... possibly, but it certainly won't be something they look for much (unless you apply somewhere like Boston with a 3+4 track

2. For college, does it matter if I were to go to a liberal arts college rather than a regular college as long as I take the required classes for dentistry school?
Not too much, I would say as long as it's a four-year university, state college, etc it doesn't matter too much.

3. I'm sure you get this a lot but, is going to an o.k college and getting a 3.8 gpa > going to a good college and getting a 3.2? What do the dentistry schools think?
It all depends on how big the GPA gap is. If we are talking about a 3.4 from an Ivy league vs a 3.6 from any little state school, then sure, the Ivy would be an advantage. On the other hand, going to the lower ranked school and having a 3.8, that would be favored over a slightly more well-known 3.2 GPA. Lastly, if they're looking at two students with near identical stats, I would say the one from a "better" undergrad may have ad advantage.

4. Can a student that is not the smartest ever but works hard be successful in the dentistry field? (Like an above-average hard-working student like me).
Someone who works hard enough can excel in most any field.

Again, sorry if it seems like I'm getting too ahead of myself. I just want to make sure this career option if a good one. I understand it is a ton of work preparing for it, but it seems promising.

Thanks,
Jordan

You're way ahead of yourself. You could shadow a couple of times if you want, and if you love it, then great. But, slow down and enjoy high school, a career shouldn't be on your mind yet in my opinion.

 

[93geo]

Hey guys,

I just joined this forum and it seems really interesting and insightful. Just a little bit about me just so you know who you're dealing with (not in a bad way though): I'm 15 and in high school, and most importantly I am considering being a dentist when I grow older. I realize my age and how I shouldn't get so much into the future, but I wanted to ask a couple of harmless questions.

1. I have a dentist that I see and a orthodontist. I really like my dentist and I was thinking about shadowing him to see how things work for a dentist. If I were to do that regularly, is it something I could be putting on my college app for college?

2. For college, does it matter if I were to go to a liberal arts college rather than a regular college as long as I take the required classes for dentistry school?

3. I'm sure you get this a lot but, is going to an o.k college and getting a 3.8 gpa > going to a good college and getting a 3.2? What do the dentistry schools think?

4. Can a student that is not the smartest ever but works hard be successful in the dentistry field? (Like an above-average hard-working student like me).

Again, sorry if it seems like I'm getting too ahead of myself. I just want to make sure this career option if a good one. I understand it is a ton of work preparing for it, but it seems promising.

Thanks,
Jordan

1. You could put it on your college app but I doubt it really matters for undergrad. You could put it down on your dental school app when you apply in 4 or so years.

2. no

3. the higher the gpa the better. that is all
4. yes

 

[Amr Elbakry]

Hello i'm in grade 12 in high school and i'm considering dentistry as a career i understand that there is no under graduate program called " dentistry " i searched a bit and found out that i have to be in diploma or a bachelor first then apply for post-graduate , first question what are the recommended undergraduate programs that will help me get into dentistry ? and what are the courses required to get into these programs ?

 

[SeattleRDH]

Hello i'm in grade 12 in high school and i'm considering dentistry as a career i understand that there is no under graduate program called " dentistry " i searched a bit and found out that i have to be in diploma or a bachelor first then apply for post-graduate , first question what are the recommended undergraduate programs that will help me get into dentistry ? and what are the courses required to get into these programs ?

Start your search at www.ada.org

 

[seattlesun]

Since you are from CT, also look at your local dental school prospective student page.
http://sdm.uchc.edu/prospective/index.html
You can also go to the undergrad advising center of the school where you want to do you bachelor and ask to talk to a pre-health adviser.