I really need some advice, so confused and disappointed

[JaniceM]

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Okay, I was so confused and saddened my friends said I should maybe just join this site to get some intake from other people. He also warned me though I might get a lot of negative responses because of what I did, but I just need some advice.

Basically the story is I applied to dental school this year, still haven't heard back from anyone and was really sad. My parents then, my dad is a pharmacist, pretty much gave me threatened that I should apply to pharmacy school or they wouldn't let me stay with them next year, so I'd have to move out. I caved under the pressure and applied, also have been accepted now. The problem is I know deep down I don't want to do pharmacy and i finally stood up to my parents. My mom understood, but my dad is still angry.

The problem now is when I reapply next year to dental school when the question comes up if I applied to other programs when a reapply and I'm almost sure I will get rejected since I applied to pharmacy school last year after applying to dental. I really don't know what to do about it and was hoping to get some advice of what to do. I'm sure some people have done the same thing and lied about not applying, but I can't do that since my conscious will not allow me to lie about that.

I'm just hoping to get some advice of what to do since I really don't know how I should handle this situation and my friend is trying to be comforting, but he has no clue how to handle the situation. I hope someone here can help me since I have just been feeling absolutely sad about this entire situation for the past 2 weeks and don't know what to do about it.

 

[persenmi]

Okay, I was so confused and saddened my friends said I should maybe just join this site to get some intake from other people. He also warned me though I might get a lot of negative responses because of what I did, but I just need some advice.

Basically the story is I applied to dental school this year, still haven't heard back from anyone and was really sad. My parents then, my dad is a pharmacist, pretty much gave me threatened that I should apply to pharmacy school or they wouldn't let me stay with them next year, so I'd have to move out. I caved under the pressure and applied, also have been accepted now. The problem is I know deep down I don't want to do pharmacy and i finally stood up to my parents. My mom understood, but my dad is still angry.

The problem now is when I reapply next year to dental school when the question comes up if I applied to other programs when a reapply and I'm almost sure I will get rejected since I applied to pharmacy school last year after applying to dental. I really don't know what to do about it and was hoping to get some advice of what to do. I'm sure some people have done the same thing and lied about not applying, but I can't do that since my conscious will not allow me to lie about that.

I'm just hoping to get some advice of what to do since I really don't know how I should handle this situation and my friend is trying to be comforting, but he has no clue how to handle the situation. I hope someone here can help me since I have just been feeling absolutely sad about this entire situation for the past 2 weeks and don't know what to do about it.

If you tell us your stats you will get a better consensus on whether or not you will have a shot at acceptance if you reapply. Of course there are never any guarantees but you will get a better idea of the probability.

Tell your dad "I'll go to Pharmacy school if you pay for it." That way, if it sucks you can pursue something else at no cost to you.

 

[JaniceM]

Okay when I applied this application cycle I had a 3.22 gpa with like a 3.17 science gpa. Now after taking a summer semester and I know what I will pretty much more or less know what grade I will be getting since my finals are barely part of my overall grade for a total of 16 semester units each semester classes like endocrinology, biochem, organic chem 2 lab, anatomy, and cell biology I will have a 3.35 gpa with a 3.25 science as well as taking more classes in the spring, which should increase my gpa even higher.

DAT wise I have a 20 AA: 20 TS and 19 PAT.

I am more concerned with what the admissions committee will think and if they will automatically throw my application away since I applied to dental this cycle and then applied to pharmacy because of my parents with the threat of kicking me out.

 

[Destiny11]

The problem now is when I reapply next year to dental school when the question comes up if I applied to other programs when a reapply and I'm almost sure I will get rejected since I applied to pharmacy school last year after applying to dental. I really don't know what to do about it and was hoping to get some advice of what to do. I'm sure some people have done the same thing and lied about not applying, but I can't do that since my conscious will not allow me to lie about that.

I'm just hoping to get some advice of what to do since I really don't know how I should handle this situation and my friend is trying to be comforting, but he has no clue how to handle the situation. I hope someone here can help me since I have just been feeling absolutely sad about this entire situation for the past 2 weeks and don't know what to do about it.

It is not a problem. Just tell the truth and show your passion for dentistry and adcom will understand. I know people who have even finished pharmacy school and decided to go to dental school and were accepted and vice versa.

 

[JaniceM]

Okay im just concerned since everything I've searched pretty much points to being blacklisted, so ive just been really worried about what I should do

 

[BizzyV]

Communicate very clearly that you had a shot at pharmacy and you got in and all was well, but you knew deep down you wanted dentistry. And you confirmed that through X number of shadowing numbers at Dr/ Y's office because or reason Z.

 

[MrAvicii]

Okay when I applied this application cycle I had a 3.22 gpa with like a 3.17 science gpa. Now after taking a summer semester and I know what I will pretty much more or less know what grade I will be getting since my finals are barely part of my overall grade for a total of 16 semester units each semester classes like endocrinology, biochem, organic chem 2 lab, anatomy, and cell biology I will have a 3.35 gpa with a 3.25 science as well as taking more classes in the spring, which should increase my gpa even higher.

DAT wise I have a 20 AA: 20 TS and 19 PAT.

I am more concerned with what the admissions committee will think and if they will automatically throw my application away since I applied to dental this cycle and then applied to pharmacy because of my parents with the threat of kicking me out.

Apply to d-school again. Your stats are relatively OK (lower GPA and a low sGPA might hurt you more than the pharm school fiasco.) I dont know if you have to disclose the pharm thing to them. If you do then you should, but if its not clear then call them up and confirm.

Dont listen to your dad, he sounds like a jerk. You can take out loans and live on your own, if your mom doesnt stand up to your dad or you cant then just move out and do your own thing.

You have one life to live, do you really wanna regret it?

 

[crax]

think youre good, add in more more shadowing, volunteering, get involved in your spare time with some sort of dental charity program and really show you are interested. think youre doing the right thing. it's your life, do whatever you want (which may also parallel with what your parents want). best of luck!

 

[benyamin]

agree!

 

[ChubbyBaby]

Okay im just concerned since everything I've searched pretty much points to being blacklisted, so ive just been really worried about what I should do

Communicate very clearly that you had a shot at pharmacy and you got in and all was well, but you knew deep down you wanted dentistry. And you confirmed that through X number of shadowing numbers at Dr/ Y's office because or reason Z.

If anything, this experience may make you look even more committed to dentistry. I wouldn't hold back on telling the entire story even with all the nastiness with your dad. You might even consider including it in your personal statement, although you'd have to hit just the right tone, and have a positive spin on the experience with your family. (For example, your dad LOVES you so much, and wants what he thinks is best for me, etc.etc.). It may make your application really stand out actually. Adcoms reading your story understand family pressures, we're all human.

If you don't think you'd like pharmacy definitely don't go. Pharmacy school is no joke. I couldn't imagine learning all those drugs. They even do crap in a lab titrating garbage and making stuff. I'd kill myself.

 

[JaniceM]

Yeah i know i wouldn't be happy since one of the main things i want is a lot of interaction with patients something I can achieve with dentistry not pharmacy. I just hope the committe will be understanding of the situation when I reapply. Also i hope they consider how two years ago i had 3.1 gpa and in 2 years i raised it to 3.35. The adcoms is the main thing freaking me out

 

[JaniceM]

Also i have to disclose that i applied to pharmacy since there is a question that asks if you applied to another program

 

[Bereno]

Apply again. Like Chubby said, that can really show your commitment to the field. Beef up your shadowing and volunteering, along with applying broadly as well. Best of luck, I sincerely hope for the best! 👍

 

[Dig it the most]

Okay when I applied this application cycle I had a 3.22 gpa with like a 3.17 science gpa. Now after taking a summer semester and I know what I will pretty much more or less know what grade I will be getting since my finals are barely part of my overall grade for a total of 16 semester units each semester classes like endocrinology, biochem, organic chem 2 lab, anatomy, and cell biology I will have a 3.35 gpa with a 3.25 science as well as taking more classes in the spring, which should increase my gpa even higher.

DAT wise I have a 20 AA: 20 TS and 19 PAT.

I am more concerned with what the admissions committee will think and if they will automatically throw my application away since I applied to dental this cycle and then applied to pharmacy because of my parents with the threat of kicking me out.

"Students should have a GPA of 3.2 or higher to be competitive. The average GPA for students accepted to dental school is approximately 3.5... The average DAT scores for students accepted to dental school are approximately 20s or higher."
(http://www.uvu.edu/csh/prehealth/programs/predental.html)

In my opinion your GPA is slightly below average and your DAT is good. If the rest of your application is solid, I think you have a shot. Tell the admissions committee exactly what you said here. Explain to them why you applied to pharm and have a good reason for being certain about the dental path. They WILL NOT throw your application out just because you've applied to another professional school.

Your friend was right about SDN. Many people on this site ARE RIDICULOUS, simply trying to find a pissing contest to indulge themselves in.

 

[evanyou]

You must have good extracurricular activities already, but involve something directly relates to dentistry. Some school has predental courses or programs. Its also very important to address good reasons why you choose dentistry. But be careful not to bash other professions. Since u will reapply dental school again with improved GPA, EC, most likely they will know u r serious. Don worry too mich and it's time to study hard to boost ur GPA.

 

[deleted390966]

Then don't apply to Pharm.
Your dad should know very well that Pharmacy is experiencing oversaturation now and in the future; it's not how it used to be.
Tell your dad that you are not going to apply because (1) you're not interested, and (2) even if accepted, you won't go.

 

[yankeefan86]

Janice- When did you apply to dental school and where did you apply?

 

[JaniceM]

Phoenix I don't mean to be rude, but I said in my post earlier I already applied and was accepted, but I finally stood up to my dad and told him he can't decide what I will do with my life. Also that I would be happier in dentistry.

Also I applied this year and didn't get in. I knew I didn't have a good chance because of my grades, which is why I took more classes to improve my grades, which I have from a 3.2 to 3.35 and will be taking more classes in the spring where hopefully I can get it to a 3.4.

Also I applied to USC, NYU, ASDOH, Roseman and Detroit Mercy. I knew my chances were low and only applied to those schools since those are the ones I was most interested in.

 

[deleted435584]

"Either you die trying to get into dental school or forget about it entirely". Personally I think dental schools shouldn't hold it against applicants who disclose that they have applied to other professional programs. They should understand that dental admission is extremely competitive and that many people have backup plans.
Med schools are cool about it.
Pharm schools are cool about it.
Ego is a huge problem nowadays.

 

[bing12]

1) Take more recommended upper level bios ( if you havnt already) and invest all your time and energy to doing great in them.
2) Apply to atleast 10+ schools, 5 is not enough, unless you have great stats ( yours are descent).

 

[dentalWorks]

Okay, I was so confused and saddened my friends said I should maybe just join this site to get some intake from other people. He also warned me though I might get a lot of negative responses because of what I did, but I just need some advice.

Basically the story is I applied to dental school this year, still haven't heard back from anyone and was really sad. My parents then, my dad is a pharmacist, pretty much gave me threatened that I should apply to pharmacy school or they wouldn't let me stay with them next year, so I'd have to move out. I caved under the pressure and applied, also have been accepted now. The problem is I know deep down I don't want to do pharmacy and i finally stood up to my parents. My mom understood, but my dad is still angry.

The problem now is when I reapply next year to dental school when the question comes up if I applied to other programs when a reapply and I'm almost sure I will get rejected since I applied to pharmacy school last year after applying to dental. I really don't know what to do about it and was hoping to get some advice of what to do. I'm sure some people have done the same thing and lied about not applying, but I can't do that since my conscious will not allow me to lie about that.

I'm just hoping to get some advice of what to do since I really don't know how I should handle this situation and my friend is trying to be comforting, but he has no clue how to handle the situation. I hope someone here can help me since I have just been feeling absolutely sad about this entire situation for the past 2 weeks and don't know what to do about it.

As others suggested already.... your situation is not bad at all.

You never attended pharmacy school, you simply got a change of heart last minute.... there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[JaniceM]

More that I finally decided to live my own life and stop letting my dad control it.

Dental-You don't think it would be an issue that i applied to both this past year though?

 

[JaniceM]

That potential problem is my main concern.

 

[bing12]

That potential problem is my main concern.

dont worry too much about a problem you cant fix. instead, try to be prepared to answer why you applied to pharmacy school previously, and try to improve your application. noone will really know if it will negatively impact your app. There are ppl out there that have applied to other schools and have gotten into dental school.

 

[JaniceM]

I talked to an AZ midwestern Counselor today and I was told it would negatively influence my application. Now I'm just really depressed and also now angry at myself for not standing up to my dad.

 

[wantveneers]

In my opinion, this makes for a potentially KILLER personal statement. If you put this experience on it and make it flawless, I think DS's will love you and want to meet you.

I really amped up my personal statement the second time around, as well as improved on one LoR, and I've had much greater success this year.

Another note, I know that some schools will see that check mark of "applied to different professional school" and not even consider you. I heard this first hand from Marquette's Admissions Director, Brian Trecek. He'll throw that application to the side immediately because obviously "Dentistry is not your passion." Try to set up phone meetings with AD's of schools that you're interested in and see if they're similar. That way, you'll know who not to waste your $$$ on.

Cheer up. Here's a four-leaf clover just for you.

 

[Bereno]

In my opinion, this makes for a potentially KILLER personal statement. If you put this experience on it and make it flawless, I think DS's will love you and want to meet you.

I really amped up my personal statement the second time around, as well as improved on one LoR, and I've had much greater success this year.

Another note, I know that some schools will see that check mark of "applied to different professional school" and not even consider you. I heard this first hand from Marquette's Admissions Director, Brian Trecek. He'll throw that application to the side immediately because obviously "Dentistry is not your passion." Try to set up phone meetings with AD's of schools that you're interested in and see if they're similar. That way, you'll know who not to waste your $$$ on.

Cheer up. Here's a four-leaf clover just for you.

+1 heres another clover just for a little extra cheer

 

[evanyou]

dont worry too much about a problem you cant fix. instead, try to be prepared to answer why you applied to pharmacy school previously, and try to improve your application. noone will really know if it will negatively impact your app. There are ppl out there that have applied to other schools and have gotten into dental school.

👍 His statement is clear! Don hate yourself about the problem u now can't fix. Try to improve ur application. I am not an adcom obviously, but I also know quite a lot of application process. after reading your situation, I would offer u an interview to hear more about ur decision, if I were an adcom. Welcome to dentistry and Good Luck.

 

[doc toothache]

Applying to ds and pharmacy school at the same time is like trying to juggle dating 2 guys at the same time; You are bound to leave someone unhappy. You do need to quit blaming your poor old dad. He was probably thinking that pharmacy ain't a bad profession for you. Now that you seemingly have made your choice, you will have to do some serious convincing that indeed dentistry is what you want and using dad as a scapegoat is not going to cut it. Taking additional course to improve a gpa will rapidly reach the point of diminishing returns, which would make an additional degree a pretty good alternative.

 

[Kobe08]

Janice, out of curiosity, have you graduated yet? Or are you still a senior?

 

[kevinlawton]

Doc i don't mean to be rude, but I dont't agree that she needs to not blame her dad.

It's one thing to offer it as a suggestion, but to threaten to kick your own flesh and blood out if she doesn't pick the profession he wants is ridiculous. When you're dependent on someone and you are threatened with that at a fairly young age, what would you do. Also we don't know her cultural background since in some cultures you have to listen to your elder family members or else you are pretty much exiled. I have a friend who married someone of a different ethnic background and his family doesn't even talk to him, we could be on this type extreme.

Also if she is giving up an acceptance to pharmacy school to continue pursuing dental school I think that speaks volumes of how bad she wants dental. If she didn't wouldn't she just go to pharmacy school? People in there 20's are still young, people make mistakes and I would hope adcoms would understand that plus pressures from family due to cultural beliefs.

Also if shes rought up her gpa to 3.35 region close to 3.4 with an apparent increased gpa trend, I don't think she is really that far off if not right there to have a good chance

 

[JaniceM]

5th year senior. This semester I have 122 units and at the end up fall I will have 138.

At the end up this semester my gpa will be 3.33-3.35
When Spring 2010 ended I had a 3.1 overall gpa so in that time I have increased by gpa by
.23

 

[ChubbyBaby]

You do need to quit blaming your poor old dad. He was probably thinking that pharmacy ain't a bad profession for you. Now that you seemingly have made your choice, you will have to do some serious convincing that indeed dentistry is what you want and using dad as a scapegoat is not going to cut it. Taking additional course to improve a gpa will rapidly reach the point of diminishing returns, which would make an additional degree a pretty good alternative.

Her question to us was essentially: "i applied to pharmacy, was accepted, don't want to do pharmacy, is this going to look bad when I apply to D-school next year? how should i now manage? " Answer her question, or F off.

 

[JaniceM]

well technically the question chubby was i applied to dental, know i have to improve my grades, didn't get in. Dad puts crazy pressure on me to apply to another health program i got in, don't want to do it. Now what should I do since I'm reapplying to dental after not being strong enough to stand up to my family in the first place and applying to pharmacy, but pretty close.

I talked to a couple schools today that I am actually interested in, some said it doesn't make a difference since they understand people are still trying to decide and it wasn't like I dropped out of a program just a change of heart. Some said it will look like I wasn't committed, one said the same thing, but if I can bring up the situation in my PS to show I really want DS I will be fine and another told me I'm pretty much screwed.

 

[doc toothache]

Her question to us was essentially: "i applied to pharmacy, was accepted, don't want to do pharmacy, is this going to look bad when I apply to D-school next year? how should i now manage? " Answer her question, or F off.

Ahh. You need help connecting the dots.

 

[JaniceM]

Chubby I'm guessing you are not very fond of doc

 

[wantveneers]

Just feeling like you need another one of these today.



Thinking of you.

XOXO 😍

See ya in dental school.