how can I go to dentistry school with an electrical engineering bachelor degree

[danny11418]

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I am currently a third year student majoring at Electrical Engineering, and both of my parents work in dental field. They have been hoping that I can work on dental field as well, and I heard I can go to dentistry school after getting my engineering bachelor degree. The question is how can I go to a dentistry school with the knowledge i learned, because I won't take any course related biology or chemistry by the time I graduate except a general chemistry course . Please help me with this question.

 

[BTown DDS]

Need to look up the schools you want to go to and take the prerequisites that are required.

 

[wizi]

I am currently a third year student majoring at Electrical Engineering, and both of my parents work in dental field. They have been hoping that I can work on dental field as well, and I heard I can go to dentistry school after getting my engineering bachelor degree. The question is how can I go to a dentistry school with the knowledge i learned, because I won't take any course related biology or chemistry by the time I graduate except a general chemistry course . Please help me with this question.

There is something called pre-rep courses where bio, physics, chemistry,english classes are required.
You can have any degree you want but you have to finish those pre-reps. No other way around.

 

[danny11418]

thanks for replying. Does that means I waste my time for getting a electrical engineering degree, because I will switch to dentistry to be a dentist. What's the point of spending more than 4 years to get a Engineering degree and then start taking prep course? If that's the case, I might as well drop out now and start to take prep course...I know a fair number of people go to medical school or dentistry school after getting their engineering bachelor degree?

 

[teddyllama]

Most schools now require or at least strongly advise a BS/BA degree. It doesn't matter what it is in, but it would be best to have your degree. That said, every school has certain pre-requisites in basic sciences, which would be damn helpful for the DAT. What you major in and how you do it is up to you. That said, get a degree, fulfill the pre-requisite classes. GL

 

[danny11418]

thx. For some people who went to dentistry school after getting BS, why would they do that? Does it open more doors after you got your BS? You could go to work as engineer, go on master, or try to meet the requirement of dentistry school and go to dentistry school. Is this the reason why people would do it? More opportunities for them after graduating.
Thanks for all info..

 

[wizi]

thx. For some people who went to dentistry school after getting BS, why would they do that? Does it open more doors after you got your BS? You could go to work as engineer, go on master, or try to meet the requirement of dentistry school and go to dentistry school. Is this the reason why people would do it? More opportunities for them after graduating.
Thanks for all info..

I go for dentistry because of the girls...

It seems like you dont know how hard it is to get into a dental school yet. You should volunteer at a dental clinic for like 20+ hours, see what dentistry about. If you still want to go for dentistry after that, then finish those pre-reps --> study like hell for the DAT --> pray + check aadsas + email every freaking day + get stressed out on dec 1st...

 

[dentalWorks]

I am currently a third year student majoring at Electrical Engineering, and both of my parents work in dental field. They have been hoping that I can work on dental field as well, and I heard I can go to dentistry school after getting my engineering bachelor degree. The question is how can I go to a dentistry school with the knowledge i learned, because I won't take any course related biology or chemistry by the time I graduate except a general chemistry course . Please help me with this question.

You can't get into dental school without finishing the appropriate pre-reqs (end of story).

You can however apply without having 100% of your pre-reqs complete (it takes about a year to apply, interview, get accepted, and finally matriculate).... This 1-year 'gap' is where you use it to finish your pre-reqs. The only problem with this strategy is, you won't be as prepared for the DAT

 

[danny11418]

thanks for all replies, I have some ideas now. BUT one thing still confused me is that does it means all my four years knowledge about studying electrical engineering is useless? I have to start over in another field. All I got is a degree. Am I right?

 

[dentalWorks]

thanks for all replies, I have some ideas now. BUT one thing still confused me is that does it means all my four years knowledge about studying electrical engineering is useless? I have to start over in another field. All I got is a degree. Am I right?

If you don't use electric engineering as a career.... answer = yes....

However its not all that uncommon for engineers to go into healthcare. Most people whom go into medical / dental / pharmacy / etc have some kind of bachelor degrees, yours is in EE, many others is in biology/chemistry related fields. At the end of the day, the "Dr." title is what you'll use, not the undergrad degree

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

BUT one thing still confused me is that does it means all my four years knowledge about studying electrical engineering is useless? I have to start over in another field. All I got is a degree. Am I right?

This may surprise you but the majority of people's bachelors degrees are pretty useless.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As a director of admissions, I will say we'll consider anyone with any major or any past work experience... as long as you have done at least the prerequisites.

But I will strongly disagree that electrical engineering is a useless degree for dentistry. What you learn may become completely irrelevant in a few years, but I think having to machine your own circuits to do something creative and useful can be very insightful for your future in medicine. It's just in the way you look at applying your knowledge. EE's are very valuable in crafting simulators like what you see below...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhzbFaNueKU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[doctor123456789]

thanks for replying. Does that means I waste my time for getting a electrical engineering degree, because I will switch to dentistry to be a dentist. What's the point of spending more than 4 years to get a Engineering degree and then start taking prep course? If that's the case, I might as well drop out now and start to take prep course...I know a fair number of people go to medical school or dentistry school after getting their engineering bachelor degree?

Because with a degree in electrical engineering you will make over 100k even with a 2.8gpa.. (I have a 2.8gpa electrical eng, and got a 96k offer to start).

Now if you had a useless bio degree, and lets say you didnt get into dental or medical school, you are stuck being a teacher working for 40k a year. Be happy you are an engineer major.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Because with a degree in electrical engineering you will make over 100k even with a 2.8gpa.. (I have a 2.8gpa electrical eng, and got a 96k offer to start).

Now if you had a useless bio degree, and lets say you didnt get into dental or medical school, you are stuck being a teacher working for 40k a year. Be happy you are an engineer major.

That's IF he didn't get into dental/med school. If he was originally a bio major, he wouldn't have to spend the next 2 years of his life/money taking pre-req classes just to apply.

But I digress. This isn't a EE vs bio/chem/biochem debate.

 

[hockeykspiky]

Because with a degree in electrical engineering you will make over 100k even with a 2.8gpa.. (I have a 2.8gpa electrical eng, and got a 96k offer to start).

Now if you had a useless bio degree, and lets say you didnt get into dental or medical school, you are stuck being a teacher working for 40k a year. Be happy you are an engineer major.

I should've chose EE..... 96k starting! Us structural E are unemployed ....

 

[yappy]

My friend who was a bio-major-failed-premed last year went into pharm sales. His starting salary was 110k + bennies + company car with the ability to just about double that as he gains experience and does more specialized sales.

BTW the average starting salary for EE is no where near 100k.

I should've chose EE..... 96k starting! Us structural E are unemployed ....

 

[hockeykspiky]

My friend who was a bio-major-failed-premed last year went into pharm sales. His starting salary was 110k + bennies + company car with the ability to just about double that as he gains experience and does more specialized sales.

BTW the average starting salary for EE is no where near 100k.

What a lucky guy. Which company?

 

[easydent]

thanks for all replies, I have some ideas now. BUT one thing still confused me is that does it means all my four years knowledge about studying electrical engineering is useless? I have to start over in another field. All I got is a degree. Am I right?

If my response helps you at all in thinking about your career and discussing this issue with your parents -
Yes, your undergraduate degree in EE may not be directly useful and related to your potential dental career. However, your diverse experience in a different field or multiple fields can only benefit you. I know a plenty of people in dentistry, including myself, who were not pre-dental and were not even a science major. However, by expending your knowledge and experience in different fields and issues in the world, you are able to better accommodate various types of people and issues you will encounter in your career, in this case dentistry.
Unfortunately, we are sort of forced to think that the moment you decide on your college major, you are determining the course of the rest of your life. And for most of us, that happens when we are only 18 or younger. However, do not be afraid to make changes and adjustments as you go on. Nothing has been determined unless you want it to be that way. And your past experience will not be a waste.
And most of all, choose what you like to do! Good luck!

 

[euphaire]

thanks for replying. Does that means I waste my time for getting a electrical engineering degree, because I will switch to dentistry to be a dentist. What's the point of spending more than 4 years to get a Engineering degree and then start taking prep course? If that's the case, I might as well drop out now and start to take prep course...I know a fair number of people go to medical school or dentistry school after getting their engineering bachelor degree?

I was in your shoes and I squeezed all the prereqs into my elective slots to graduate on time. For your degree you do have to take electives right? You can save some time taking bio/chem courses as electives although the courseload won't be easy.
thankfully most dschools have identical prereqs so it's easy to take care of.

 

[doc toothache]

I am currently a third year student majoring at Electrical Engineering, and both of my parents work in dental field. They have been hoping that I can work on dental field as well, and I heard I can go to dentistry school after getting my engineering bachelor degree. The question is how can I go to a dentistry school with the knowledge i learned, because I won't take any course related biology or chemistry by the time I graduate except a general chemistry course . Please help me with this question.

Not exactly convincing evidence that you truly want to be in the "dental field".