how many hours a week for dental students?

[ddschris]

How many hours a week do average student spend in dental schools?
Including lab, lecture, and of course self-study time?

I am expecting around 50 hours.
am i dreaming?

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[Cold Front]

Sounds about right.

1st year at my school was ~40 hours/week.

2nd year (this semester) is ~30 hours/week.

plus 5-10 hours each week of study time, depending on whether we had/have exams.

 

[IceMan007]

How many hours a week do average student spend in dental schools?
Including lab, lecture, and of course self-study time?

I am expecting around 50 hours.
am i dreaming?

Every waking hour of your life if you want to be even in the top half of your class.

 

[Istr8nthem]

Sounds about right.

1st year at my school was ~40 hours/week.

2nd year (this semester) is ~30 hours/week.

plus 5-10 hours each week of study time, depending on whether we had/have exams.

I wish I went to whatever school you go to. When I was in school, our class/lab/clinic time was 40 hours/week, then labwork+studying+any other project for school brought it closer to 60-70 hours per week. However, you are still able to make time to do things you enjoy doing, it's called time management, you will become a pro at it, or you will drown.

 

[maksidaa]

depending on which school you go to it will be different from others of course, but usually we're in class from 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm depending on the circumstances and which classes we're taking at the time. i think you should expect 8-5 with an hour for lunch no matter where you go.
outside of class i would say an average of 2 hours studying every night is good, and sometimes more depending on up coming exams.

 

[HenryH]

Are there any dental schools that have 8AM-12PM class schedules like many medical schools do?

 

[armorshell]

Are there any dental schools that have 8AM-12PM class schedules like many medical schools do?

 

[Streetwolf]

We have 9:30-5 all days (9-5 Thursdays). Thursday has 1 hour lunch and all other days 1.5 hrs. So that is 31 hours of class per week. Sometimes a random extra hour for anatomy. So about 30-35 hours of class per week. Then add about 3 hours of studying onto each night. That's near 50 hours per week.

 

[HenryH]

We have 9:30-5 all days (9-5 Thursdays). Thursday has 1 hour lunch and all other days 1.5 hrs. So that is 31 hours of class per week. Sometimes a random extra hour for anatomy. So about 30-35 hours of class per week. Then add about 3 hours of studying onto each night. That's near 50 hours per week.

Wow...what makes it so much more time-consuming than many med. schools? Is it the labs?

 

[VCUDDS]

i dont know about the rest of you guys, but for me second year of D school felt like we lived in the lab doing all the stinky pre-clinical lab work, festooning dentures and making sure there isn't a 0.00000005 mm of undercut on you crown preps!. not to mention keeping up with the didactics. i think it's fair to say that every midterm/final was an all nighter affair.

 

[Superhuntress]

We are in class from 7:40AM-4:30PM Monday, 10:00AM-4:00PM Tuesday, 7:40AM-Noon Wednesday, 8:00-Noon Thursday and Friday, so we have plenty of half days. I spend 8 hours a day studying on the weekends, 2 hours a day on weekdays if it is a full day on a light week, and 4 to 6 on half day weekdays if it is a light week. During midterms I study 8 hours a day on weekdays.

 

[crazy_sherm]

Wow...what makes it so much more time-consuming than many med. schools? Is it the labs?

It's more time consuming because you're learning both the didactic and hands-on stuff at the same time. At most dental schools, the first two years are spent on books and pre-clin labs, then the last two years are spent primarily seeing patients. One big advantage of dental school being busier is that there is no required residency once you graduate in most states. 4 years (3 at UOP 😀) and you're done, ready to practice and let the real learning begin... None of this being a peon at a hospital for 3+ years, unless you want to specialize of course.

 

[dreaming2k5]

Sounds about right.

1st year at my school was ~40 hours/week.

2nd year (this semester) is ~30 hours/week.

plus 5-10 hours each week of study time, depending on whether we had/have exams.

only 5-10 hours each week? You should be ashamed of yourself. No, seriously man.

 

[armorshell]

only 5-10 hours each week? You should be ashamed of yourself. No, seriously man.

🙄

 

[toothfairy85]

We are in class essentially 8-5 (except Mondays) with an hour lunch break at noon. We get out at 3 on Mondays. We have gross anatomy twice a week, and our dissections usually extend past 5, sometimes 6 in the evening depending on how long lecture was in the afternoon and how many structures we have to identify. Then we have rotations on certain days (radiology, shadowing in the clinic, etc.) and the days we don't have rotations we get off at noon.

 

[wizziefiend]

My weekly schedule sucks...more so because i have lofty goals and I'm not naturally loaded with smarts.

Monday - 7-5 (9)
Tuesday - 7-5 (9)
Wed - 7-5 (9)
Thursday - 7-5 (9)
Friday - 7-4 (9) & 6-9 (3)
Saturday - 10-1 (3)

So at school total: 51 (and i often stay after 5pm....so it is more)

In the evenings I study from about 7-11pm (16/wk)
All day sunday: 10 hrs

So I hit 75+ easily.

But if I was smarter or didn't want to specialize....I'd be chillin. Dental school is easy to pass so far.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

i dont know about the rest of you guys, but for me second year of D school felt like we lived in the lab doing all the stinky pre-clinical lab work, festooning dentures and making sure there isn't a 0.00000005 mm of undercut on you crown preps!

gaaaah, I'm there right now in fixed....gaaaaah. It was a GORGEOUS prep, too! gorgeous. 😡 🙄 😀 <--what I went through in 10 minutes before I got over it

To the OP: For my experience, it went like this:
First year: Approx. 30 hours/week for class, avg 2-3 hours a night if you're an efficient studier

Second year: 80 hours/week with class, lab and studying

From what I've heard from third and fourth years, just 8-5 daily and VERY little to catch up on at night...much more relaxed.

 

[jmick101]

I am a mid-range student here at Pacific, just aiming to pass with respectable grades. I havent pulled an all nighter, I go to bed at 11 (even during finals), and I spend a good part of the evening with my wife and son. I also dont study on Sundays.

I study from 830 pm to 10 at night and if I have a quiz or test I will get up early. Saturdays are study days. So far I have been keeping my head above water and that is what matters to me. I do take my hat off to all those out there really putting in the work to get excellent marks. It takes a special someone to study all the time, do extra-curriculars, and then pile on research.

Stress is the feeling that the obligations placed on you exceed your abilities. By that definition, dental school has not been stressful. With some organization, prioritizing (just say "no" to the TV, internet), its really not that bad.

 

[blankguy]

I've heard of people not getting their studying done until around 11pm.
Also been told by a top ranking student, no parties.

 

[beannaithe]

Sounds about right.

1st year at my school was ~40 hours/week.

2nd year (this semester) is ~30 hours/week.

plus 5-10 hours each week of study time, depending on whether we had/have exams.

WHOA! Where do you go??

My schedule (first semester, 2nd year is)

Monday - 8 - 3 lecture classes
3 - 7 stay after and finish up lab projects or drill

Tuesday - 8 - 12 lecture class / denture lab
12-5 - work on lab projects

Wednesday - 8 -10 - lecture class
10-1 - clinic assisting
1 - 5 (?)- exam block, other classes or working on lab projects

Thursday - 8-9 - lecture class
9 - 5 (i usually stay until 7-8) - lab

Friday - 8 - 12 lecture classes
1 -5 - clinic assisiting (sometimes)

So that puts me around 40 - 50 hours. for being at school. I'm not counting the studying like 2 hours a day and 1 day on weekends. But mind you our schedule is incredibly light this semester when it comes to labs and being in class. It's more heavy on the didactic.

 

[Superhuntress]

So my schedule today was: studied until 2AM, woke up at 5AM to study, class 8-12, test from 1-2, work on lab projects at school until 7 PM, then finish lab projects at home until midnight.

 

[johntara04]

WHOA! Where do you go??

My schedule (first semester, 2nd year is)

Monday - 8 - 3 lecture classes
3 - 7 stay after and finish up lab projects or drill

Tuesday - 8 - 12 lecture class / denture lab
12-5 - work on lab projects

Wednesday - 8 -10 - lecture class
10-1 - clinic assisting
1 - 5 (?)- exam block, other classes or working on lab projects

Thursday - 8-9 - lecture class
9 - 5 (i usually stay until 7-8) - lab

Friday - 8 - 12 lecture classes
1 -5 - clinic assisiting (sometimes)

So that puts me around 40 - 50 hours. for being at school. I'm not counting the studying like 2 hours a day and 1 day on weekends. But mind you our schedule is incredibly light this semester when it comes to labs and being in class. It's more heavy on the didactic.

Why are you in the lab so much? Also, why do they have you guys assisting? Do not get enough experience when you are in clinic yourself? I am just wondering, because those seem like two things that, to me, seem a little excessive. I am just curious.

 

[Chrono1984]

A lot of it depends on your background and ability to pick up all the pre-clinic skills.

I never finish a wax-up project during the allotted lab period while many of my classmates get done early. Some of these same classmates however have never taken courses like histo and are spending their extra time studying for that. This is just one example.

A rough estimate:

class 8-5
studying fluctuates greatly with our exam schedule but I would say I hit no less then 2 hours a night (obviously more with tests the next day).

The most interesting change in mentality comes in how you view your weekends though. A year ago I used to think...oh yea, weekend is here - now I can go party and laze around for a few days. Now I think - oh great, the weekend is here - now I can catch up in all the classes I am hopelessly behind in.

So far things have been tough, but not overwhelming. Then again, the first semester here is 'light' compared to next.

The main point though is to take what you hear on this site lightly. The school has a lot less to do with your study time than your own ambitions, background, and natural talent.

 

[pmantz]

Why are you in the lab so much? Also, why do they have you guys assisting? Do not get enough experience when you are in clinic yourself? I am just wondering, because those seem like two things that, to me, seem a little excessive. I am just curious.

Marquette has us assisting from the get go, I think it might help with gettting used to treating patients. I think it also might make the time I'll spend as an operator in the clinic more worthwhile. About the lab, isn't ones hand skills one of the things that determenent of how good someone will be as a practioner? More time in lab, better hand skills.

 

[vaio]

~40

 

[johntara04]

Marquette has us assisting from the get go, I think it might help with gettting used to treating patients. I think it also might make the time I'll spend as an operator in the clinic more worthwhile. About the lab, isn't ones hand skills one of the things that determenent of how good someone will be as a practioner? More time in lab, better hand skills.

Ok. I'll give you that. I still think it is a little excessive, BUT if it is proven to help students when they get to the clinic, and you feel it will benefit you when you practice, then what do I know. 😉 Good luck and it sounds like you will be a great doc. 😀

 

[beannaithe]

Why are you in the lab so much? Also, why do they have you guys assisting? Do not get enough experience when you are in clinic yourself? I am just wondering, because those seem like two things that, to me, seem a little excessive. I am just curious.

My school has us assisting because they want us to learn how the clinics are run before we get there. I think it's good, becuase then I know they way things are run and I feel as though I'll be more comfortable when I get up there next year. It was a new program that they started a few years ago because previous years complained about wanting exposure to the way that the clinics work. We are only there once a week for about 3 hours.

I spend so much time in lab because I'm a second year and we do have a fair number of projects. We're taking fixed partial dentures and complete denture lab. So I'm scheduled for 3 hours of CD and 6 hours of FPD. I'm in there a lot because I know that I need the practice and it takes me a little bit longer to catch on then everyone else. Crown preps are pretty hard to make look PERFECT. Don't even get me started on the provisionals. 😛

 

[johntara04]

My school has us assisting because they want us to learn how the clinics are run before we get there. I think it's good, becuase then I know they way things are run and I feel as though I'll be more comfortable when I get up there next year. It was a new program that they started a few years ago because previous years complained about wanting exposure to the way that the clinics work. We are only there once a week for about 3 hours.

I spend so much time in lab because I'm a second year and we do have a fair number of projects. We're taking fixed partial dentures and complete denture lab. So I'm scheduled for 3 hours of CD and 6 hours of FPD. I'm in there a lot because I know that I need the practice and it takes me a little bit longer to catch on then everyone else. Crown preps are pretty hard to make look PERFECT. Don't even get me started on the provisionals. 😛

Like I said above, I still think it is excessive, BUT if it helps then great. 🙂

 

[xdianaax]

3 hours of studying each night doesn't sound too bad...😳