How long can I remain a "pre-health" in college?

[Kurk]

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I thought I wanted to pursue dentistry until I found out that their debt-to-income ratio is even worse than that of physicians.

So I'm undecided again...as an upcoming college freshman

How long do I have until I need to make up my mind and graduate in 4 years? I'm majoring in cell bio so pre-reqs shouldn't be a problem between Dentistry, Medicine, Podiatry, and law (medical malpractice).

When do I need to get shadowing hours in by and prep for the standardized tests? By end of sophomore year?

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Part of the reason to shadow is to help you make the decision, so start shadowing immediately. Shadow with doctors, dentists, and podiatrists. You don't need to prep for standardized tests until junior year, but you should be set on your path by then.

 

[efle]

Many people take the MCAT/DAT during their Junior spring

Also it is weird to choose what you do 5 days a week for most of your adult life just based on how favorable the debt:income ratio is

 

[Kurk]

You're right guys. Shadowing is the only way for me to stop making these ridiculous threads, but I don't know how to do it effectively.

I'll be able to ask the ER doc who I do my clinicals with for emt class, but dentists here are very uptight and think the shadowing portion is unnecessary being that they're "older". My primary dentist is incredibly stressed and cheap so I'm afraid to ask.

 

[Turkishking]

You're right guys. Shadowing is the only way for me to stop making these ridiculous threads, but I don't know how to do it effectively.

I'll be able to ask the ER doc who I do my clinicals with for emt class, but dentists here are very uptight and think the shadowing portion is unnecessary being that they're "older". My primary dentist is incredibly stressed and cheap so I'm afraid to ask.

Yes shadowing is the best option.

 

[cactusman]

There's no set date, just like there's no year in which you have to enter professional school. If you get to the summer before your senior year, and you still aren't sure what you'd like to do, don't apply. Nothing says you have to enter directly out of undergrad and plenty of people wait without having to worry too much about their debt-to-income ratio.