How uncommon is a 30+ y.o. dental student in your class?

[PharmDCandidate2014]

Hi guys,

Just wondering: is an older non-traditional student, i.e. 30+ year old age group an uncommon sight in the typical class of dental medicine? I know they're NOT uncommon in medicine (MD/DO/PA/RN/NP), as career-changers have flocked that direction since the 2008 crash. How about dentistry? I know it becomes a little bit difficult to practice dentistry as one gets older, i.e. wrist/arthritis/lower back issues - so perhaps that's a reason in which there may not be as many older dental students as there are older medical students?

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[CMistry]

It's not uncommon. There are several in most classes.

 

[Electrophilic]

I would say about 5% of our class at the beginning of the first year, probably closer to 10% by the time we're done.

 

[StrugglingDS]

Not uncommon. My class has every age group, from as young as 20 to as old as 57.

 

[sjv]

I think we had 8-9 entering and many more will turn 30 during dental school.

 

[Mediumrare]

5 D1s started in my class who were above 30 years of age. Don't let age be an issue, but run the numbers on the return on investment...

 

[sbdento]

We've got a couple 30+ year old students in my class.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2012-age-and-ds-admission-2006-2011.945567/

 

[Lspear]

At Maryland it is no big deal! Everyone is same regardless of Age!

 

[ktran17]

About 5% here at MN