How do I go about getting in???

[Matty44]

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[Matty44]

🙂

 

[Danny0230]

First of all, its very very nice to see someone changing from medicine to dentistry and not say 'my grades weren't good enough for med schools so I figured I'd go dental.' So 👍 for your reasons for being interested in dentistry, seems like they're the right reasons.

As far as your grades, your gpa is slightly below the average for those accepted, but the upward trend is definitely something adcoms look favorably on, so I think you're okay there. Give yourself a good amount of time to study for the DAT, aim at an AA of 20 with consistent scores and youll be a competitive applicant. Also, I'd really recommend doing some shadowing/volunteering in a dental office. Adcoms will want to know why you switched from medicine to dentistry, so youll want to have some experience to talk about. The work you've done in medical fields will look good, but you NEED some in dentistry, probably atleast 50 hours.

Good luck.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

those are all fine highlights of a career in dentistry but I wouldn't call it all "surgery." It seems best to try and get a 20+ AA on the DAT. You'll need to get some shadowing experience as well.

 

[Matty44]

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[AndyK]

Well, it's DDS for a reason, right? 😀

Thanks for your replies guys! Now, I can still make pretty good money as an ER tech ($13.50) and hour, so....should I just keep working 'til I apply and just try to get some shadowing in, or should i try for a dental assistant job? What does a DA do exactly? I've only seen dentists and hygienists.....Also, what does a dental assistant get paid and what kind of training are required?

Any other comments on my original post are welcomed still....🙄

I don't think it's worth going through the training necessary to get a DA position just for purposes of looking better to adcoms. I think DA training programs are about 6-12 months long and if you get certified, you can make between 12-18 an hour depending on where you live. DA's basically act as assistants to dentists: they pass instruments and provide suction, etc. during procedures, do x-rays, do some office work. I think you're better off finding a dentist to shadow.

 

[jigabodo]

those are all fine highlights of a career in dentistry but I wouldn't call it all "surgery." It seems best to try and get a 20+ AA on the DAT. You'll need to get some shadowing experience as well.

Yup, just do those 2 things and you should be set. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Matty44]

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[Matty44]

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[Matty44]