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Dental School is 4 years everywhere in the country except UOP (3 yrs.)
You graduate as a dentist and can start working.
If you want to specialize (orthodontics, oral surgery, etc.), plan on 2-6 years after that. There is no required residency like physicians.
Four years from now you have to be somewhere, so might as well be learning to do what you like to do.
You graduate as a dentist and can start working.
If you want to specialize (orthodontics, oral surgery, etc.), plan on 2-6 years after that. There is no required residency like physicians.
Four years from now you have to be somewhere, so might as well be learning to do what you like to do.
M
mjs853
Thank you. Also, is it possible to go back into residency after working as a general dentist for a couple of years? I am thinking about paying off loans first...what would you suggest?
mjs853 said:
I suppose you could go back and do a residency, although most individuals that do a GPR do so after graduation. The reason behind such a decision is usually to sharpen their skills before entering into private practice. Also realize that if you do go back you will do so with a significant pay-cut. I think it makes better sense to enter a GPR immediately after graduation, round off your education, and then go out into the 'real' world and focus on your practice versus leaving your establishment to go do more of the same that you have already been doing except for less money.
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mjs853 said:
Definitely. In fact this is required for some endo programs. But you're getting way ahead of yourself. By the time 3rd year of dental school rolls around you may not want to specialize. Or you may realize that you can manage your $800 a month student loan payment while you're in residency.
M
mjs853
Thanks, doing residency right away does make sense because it will end up being less expensive in the long run. As you mentioned, I will have to get used to a pay cut if I go back to school after practicing for a few years.
One more thing, since I just started looking into UIC and dentistry, my only choice of schools right now is a community college because application deadlines have already passed to get into universities in the area. Is that going to go against me when I apply?
One more thing, since I just started looking into UIC and dentistry, my only choice of schools right now is a community college because application deadlines have already passed to get into universities in the area. Is that going to go against me when I apply?
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mjs853 said:
I would really hope that they don't hold the CC against you. In your situation it sounds like you just didn't have enough time to secure a spot at the University but alot of people just can't afford to go to an expensive University. They shouldn't be given lesser of a chance if they did just as well as a 4year school student. Just my opinion. Also, some schools say they will count 2 year school classes as long as they transfer to a 4 year institution. You also need a degree in most cases to matriculate so you have to have upper division units from somewhere. I also read at one point that a university needs to write a letter saying it will transfer or something along those lines. This was 2 years ago when I read that because I didn't want to pay tuition over the summer for University courses so I may not remember exactly.
Take your generals at the CC if you have to. I've sat in on a lot of interviews at my school and Admissions committees aren't overly impressed with a transcript full of A's in Physics, Chemistry and Bio at CC's. Most schools have a minimum of credit hours that must be completed at a University. If you have to do it that way, do the classes like history that count towards your GPA but Admissions committees could care less about. Then do really well in the applicable classes at a University.
From my experience, Admissions Committees are lenient about CC's when there are extenuating circumstances (sole breadwinner at 16 for your family of 12) but want to see that you can excel in classes that really count at a university.
Good luck.
From my experience, Admissions Committees are lenient about CC's when there are extenuating circumstances (sole breadwinner at 16 for your family of 12) but want to see that you can excel in classes that really count at a university.
Good luck.
M
mjs853
I have a bachelor's in business (major = computer information systems) which I earned in 1999 so I guess those courses won't count anymore because it has been more than five years. I have an appt. with a counselor at UIC so I'll keep my fingers crossed! 🙂
