How often do you predents study?

[hafido]

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Curious as to how many hours predents put into there studies. I just quit my full-time job of three years to go back to school full-time and have set a goal to study somewhere around 25-30 hours per week, aside from class lectures. I am taking Physics, Chem 2 and Cell bio. This might seem like alot to some of you, but the way I figure it is if I am going to do it, I might as well do it right. I am a non-traditional student by the way, and when I was is undergrad I studied about a third of that. We shall see how it pays off.

 

[busupshot83]

Curious as to how many hours predents put into there studies. I just quit my full-time job of three years to go back to school full-time and have set a goal to study somewhere around 25-30 hours per week, aside from class lectures. I am taking Physics, Chem 2 and Cell bio. This might seem like alot to some of you, but the way I figure it is if I am going to do it, I might as well do it right. I am a non-traditional student by the way, and when I was is undergrad I studied about a third of that. We shall see how it pays off.

usually 15 hours a week

 

[blankguy]

Curious as to how many hours predents put into there studies. I just quit my full-time job of three years to go back to school full-time and have set a goal to study somewhere around 25-30 hours per week, aside from class lectures. I am taking Physics, Chem 2 and Cell bio. This might seem like alot to some of you, but the way I figure it is if I am going to do it, I might as well do it right. I am a non-traditional student by the way, and when I was is undergrad I studied about a third of that. We shall see how it pays off.

Hafido, is not a matter of how many hours, is a matter of understanding the material. If you student you brains out and understand everything if it happens to take 25-30 hrs a week fine. If it takes less great.

 

[mochafreak]

I'm a non-trad also...this semester I'm taking forensic bio, anatomy and physiology II, gen chem, biochem, genetics, and a 1 credit senior level independent study (dental science/hematology). I have labs for gen chem, genetics and A+P II. I have no idea how many hours a week I study, but it's pretty much all I do. I don't have a job this semester so I can concentrate on my classes. I sure hope the adcoms will appreciate this workload, because its no fun. Guess what...I have to start studying again now. 😳

 

[blankguy]

I'm a non-trad also...this semester I'm taking forensic bio, anatomy and physiology II, gen chem, biochem, genetics, and a 1 credit senior level independent study (dental science/hematology). I have labs for gen chem, genetics and A+P II. I have no idea how many hours a week I study, but it's pretty much all I do. I don't have a job this semester so I can concentrate on my classes. I sure hope the adcoms will appreciate this workload, because its no fun. Guess what...I have to start studying again now. 😳

Now that you guys mention not working. I work pretty much full-time(14hrs on Saturday alone!) and I am taking Orgo I and Biology I.

 

[dr_benj]

I think studying 25-30 hours a week for UNDERGRAD is insane. I don't even study that much in Dental school as a D1 and I am doing great. In undergrad I studied about 5 hours a week, 7-10 hours a week if I had an exam. Now I study 15-20 hours a week TOPS (often much less). Don't set a certain number of ours to achieve. Study smarter, not longer.

 

[Biogirl361]

i probably study about 15 hours a week this year, but i only have 13 credits a semester as it is senior year (albeit 13 credits of hard upper level science). now, let's talk about junior year... with 16 credits of hard science classes, especially *physiology and genetics* i would say the 25 to 30 a week is about right. disclaimer: i 4.0'd all 16 credits. 25 to 30 hours a week in undergrad is not neccesary to do average to good in classes.

 

[RaiderNation]

I think studying 25-30 hours a week for UNDERGRAD is insane. I don't even study that much in Dental school as a D1 and I am doing great. In undergrad I studied about 5 hours a week, 7-10 hours a week if I had an exam. Now I study 15-20 hours a week TOPS (often much less). Don't set a certain number of ours to achieve. Study smarter, not longer.

I totally agree. Sometimes you might be up until midnight studying material so you understand it, and other times you might go catch a movie or something. It just depends. If you study smart and understand the material, there's no reason to kill yourself. Don't think about it in hours, think about it in understanding the material.

 

[busupshot83]

WHen it comes to studying, there IS a point of diminishing returns.

 

[blankguy]

WHen it comes to studying, there IS a point of diminishing returns.

There is no such thing unless you are talking about cramming. If you don't learn anything that specific day then review what was learned previously.

 

[ItsGavinC]

...and have set a goal to study somewhere around 25-30 hours per week, aside from class lectures.

In my opinion, this is ridiculous. Shouldn't the goal be until you have sufficiently mastered the material? That might take only 5 hours a week, or it could take 40 hours a week.

Studying for the sake of studying usually doesn't yield great results. JMHO.

 

[ItsGavinC]

There is no such thing unless you are talking about cramming. If you don't learn anything that specific day then review what was learned previously.

I disagree. Based on our individual personality types, I think there IS a point where nothing more is obtained, and this is largely due to our personalities.

I know that several of my classmates acheive excellent marks simply because they are able to pick out points that will be on the exam. Often these are points that I would gloss over no matter how many hours I put in, simply because my brain/personality type doesn't find them to be of importance.

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Curious as to how many hours predents put into there studies. I just quit my full-time job of three years to go back to school full-time and have set a goal to study somewhere around 25-30 hours per week, aside from class lectures. I am taking Physics, Chem 2 and Cell bio. This might seem like alot to some of you, but the way I figure it is if I am going to do it, I might as well do it right. I am a non-traditional student by the way, and when I was is undergrad I studied about a third of that. We shall see how it pays off.

I usually study maybe 2 or 3 hrs. for a particular test. Therefore, those weeks that I have several tests I study whatever time it takes it takes for me to feel comfortable with the material, which normally is less than 10 hrs. If I have no tests, then I don't study and enjoy the time I have until the next test. I just pay attention in class. That being said. Everyone assimulates info at different rates. I know someone on the same test I had that studied 16 hrs. while I studied about 2 hrs. I made a 96 and she made a 100. The key is determining the amount and best way of studying for yourself and do that and don't worry about the next guy or gal. Also, quality is much more important than time spent on studying. FYI: I am a non-traditional student as well and take two science prereq a semester while working until they are all completed. Just stay determined and do what works for you. 🙂

 

[favabean]

study tidbit: a study has proved that chewing gum while studying anatomy increases your chances of scoring higher on anatomy tests! whether this is exclusive to anatomy, I don't recall. However, chewing inceases Hb transfer to the brain! so, reduce the hours, and start chewing gum!!!!

 

[hafido]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

 

[v&andy_yankee]

study tidbit: a study has proved that chewing gum while studying anatomy increases your chances of scoring higher on anatomy tests! whether this is exclusive to anatomy, I don't recall. However, chewing inceases Hb transfer to the brain! so, reduce the hours, and start chewing gum!!!!

i would disagree, it would grind down your teeth way too much. we are going to be dentists, gotta be role models for our patients as well.

butbut, studying really depends on your major. as an enginerd, schoolwork crap takes up at least 2-3 hours every weekday, more during the weekends. but strictly relating to classes for predentistry? (ie physics, bios, etc?) when i was taking those classes, it was probably 2 hours total for the entire week.

 

[aphistis]

i would disagree, it would grind down your teeth way too much. we are going to be dentists, gotta be role models for our patients as well.

butbut, studying really depends on your major. as an enginerd, schoolwork crap takes up at least 2-3 hours every weekday, more during the weekends. but strictly relating to classes for predentistry? (ie physics, bios, etc?) when i was taking those classes, it was probably 2 hours total for the entire week.

Chewing (sugar-free) gum is harmless. It's hard to generate much attrition when your teeth are discluded by a wad of gum between them. Further, it stimulates salivation, which we all hopefully know has a number of caries-defense activities.

 

[favabean]

Chewing (sugar-free) gum is harmless. It's hard to generate much attrition when your teeth are discluded by a wad of gum between them. Further, it stimulates salivation, which we all hopefully know has a number of caries-defense activities.

Good point!

 

[v&andy_yankee]

Chewing (sugar-free) gum is harmless. It's hard to generate much attrition when your teeth are discluded by a wad of gum between them. Further, it stimulates salivation, which we all hopefully know has a number of caries-defense activities.

i totally agree with the last point, that salivation will help with anti-caries by washing it out more, not letting stuff sit and ferment.

butbut chewing gum establishes a habit, it strengthens the jaw muscles. even though you won't have much attrition while you actually have gum in your mouth, it establishes a habit of chewing/grinding. one of the key points for ppl trying the kick the habit of clenching/grinding is to stay away from chewing gum.

 

[qaztake82]

dude i am gonna be a dentist so that i don't have to study

 

[msf41]

Now that you guys mention not working. I work pretty much full-time(14hrs on Saturday alone!) and I am taking Orgo I and Biology I.

Just a thought...take out a loan and work less. You will thank yourself later. If you are pulling straight A's then go ahead and work that much, but it is more likely that your grades are suffering due to your work schedule.

If you think about it a few thousand dollars in undergraduate debt will matter very little compared to the >$100,000 debt you will aquire once in dental school. However, if your GPA goes into the toilet because of spending to much time at work and not enough time studying, you may never get into dental school.

I worked full time my first two years of college and got ~3.3 GPA. I cut back to working part time and borrow about $500 a semester and my GPA has been ~3.8 since then.

 

[trypmo]

dude i am gonna be a dentist so that i don't have to study

Then you're really going to love all the Continuing Education you have to do to keep your license once you start practicing!

 

[Biogirl361]

i don't think ce requires studying... i think you can just attend seminars and listen to speakers and stuff 👍

 

[trypmo]

Dunno, perhaps some of the dentists here can attest to what it's like. And still, for someone who wants to be a dentist because s/he won't have to keep studying, having to do CE at all may be an unhappy surprise. I've heard dentists complain about having to do it!

 

[justsusan]

I study < 20 hours a week, more if there's a test. I'm taking cell culture & lab, micro & lab, genetics & lab, biochem, and senior seminar.

 

[2thDk]

Just a thought...take out a loan and work less. You will thank yourself later.

After working 60+ hour work weeks, my wife had the same brilliant idea. We took out school loans while she recieved her degree in mechanical engineering, I finished my undergrad and continued to a masters program. After a major improvement in my undergrad and a 3.8/4.0 Masters G.P.A., I highly recommend it!

I'm so glad I have a wife that would rather go into debt than have me abandon my dream! 😍 We are currently paying for her school loans (only about $80/month after refinancing), but mine are deferred until I graduate and the $15,000 or so that I racked up during undergrad will be chump change compared to my debt after dental school. 😱

Seriously consider it if you need to concentrate more on your studies. Good grades are a big part of dental school acceptance!

 

[Sprgrover]

...Seriously consider it if you need to concentrate more on your studies. Good grades are a big part of dental school acceptance!

I agree 100%. I didn't want to go into debt even farther, but I decided that in the long run the few thousand dollars I would borrow so that I could focus on my pre-reqs would go a lot farther than anything I was making per hour. I still held down a part-time job, although there would have been no way for me to have dedicated myself to my studies and tried to work 40+ hours a week. Sometimes you have to put a little water down a well in order to have a lot come back up, likewise, if you want to have a steady income and become a dentist then you might have to buckle up and give a little for a great return.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Seriously consider it if you need to concentrate more on your studies. Good grades are a big part of dental school acceptance!

Agreed. And educational debt isn't "bad" debt--it's not like blowing money on a car or on clothes or racking up enormous amounts on a credit card. Educational debt, while still debt (don't forget this), is necessary for most of us to acheive higher levels of education and higher earnings in the future. There simply isn't a way around it for the average person.

 

[Sprgrover]

...And educational debt isn't "bad" debt...

True, true. Educational debt (if it isn't so terribly high that is throws your income to debt ratio way off) is regarded as a seperate kind of financial obligation by creditors and the government so a person shouldn't be too concerned with how their school loans will impact their credit rating, chances of purchasing this and that, and so on.