I'm going bananas

[twinkletoes07]

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Here is the back story, I studied accounting but was disqualified from school after having a horrible experience, mainly allowing personal problems to take over. I have been working odd and end sort of jobs but i'm sick of being treated like trash at my retail job. When I was in high school my goal was to do my undergrad and apply to dental school, I was a major nerd always on top of my game, 10 years later (yes i'm almost 28) i turned out to be a complete failure. I recently applied to a dental assistant program and got in, its a 9 month program which I think after I successful complete I would like to do my prereqs for science, take the DAT and apply for dental school. Does this seem like a far fetched goal? Is applying to Dental school without a BA/BS possible?

Don't know what to do, feel like such a failure.

Thanks a bunch in advance everyone. Y'all are so lucky and goal oriented.

 

[4thMolar]

Do you plan on working as a Dental Assistant while taking pre-reqs or are you just taking the program in hopes that having completed a dental assistant program will help you get admission to dental school? If it is the latter, I'd suggest not to waste the 9 months but instead begin working on your pre-reqs right now and obtaining your BA/BS (which yes, most dental schools require). You can apply to dental school after having ~90 credit hours, and there are students who get in without having completed their BA/BS, but it is a very small number. After taking the majority of your pre-reqs, focus on the DAT and go from there. It's going to be a long process, but focus on your goal, up your maturity, and you will be able to get into dental school.

 

[321931]

Here is the back story, I studied accounting but was disqualified from school after having a horrible experience, mainly allowing personal problems to take over. I have been working odd and end sort of jobs but i'm sick of being treated like trash at my retail job. When I was in high school my goal was to do my undergrad and apply to dental school, I was a major nerd always on top of my game, 10 years later (yes i'm almost 28) i turned out to be a complete failure. I recently applied to a dental assistant program and got in, its a 9 month program which I think after I successful complete I would like to do my prereqs for science, take the DAT and apply for dental school. Does this seem like a far fetched goal? Is applying to Dental school without a BA/BS possible?

Don't know what to do, feel like such a failure.

Thanks a bunch in advance everyone. Y'all are so lucky and goal oriented.

Theres always room for change. It will a long and hard process to get "back" onto the dental school track, but there are many stories like yours ending up in success. My genetics lab partner this past spring was going back to medical school...at 51 years of age. 👍

If you want it, you can go get it. You just have to put your mind to it. GL🙂

 

[twinkletoes07]

Do you plan on working as a Dental Assistant while taking pre-reqs or are you just taking the program in hopes that having completed a dental assistant program will help you get admission to dental school? If it is the latter, I'd suggest not to waste the 9 months but instead begin working on your pre-reqs right now and obtaining your BA/BS (which yes, most dental schools require). You can apply to dental school after having ~90 credit hours, and there are students who get in without having completed their BA/BS, but it is a very small number. After taking the majority of your pre-reqs, focus on the DAT and go from there. It's going to be a long process, but focus on your goal, up your maturity, and you will be able to get into dental school.

Thank you! Yes I would definitely work as a DA while taking the prerequisites.

 

[twinkletoes07]

Theres always room for change. It will a long and hard process to get "back" onto the dental school track, but there are many stories like yours ending up in success. My genetics lab partner this past spring was going back to medical school...at 51 years of age. 👍

If you want it, you can go get it. You just have to put your mind to it. GL🙂

thank you i appreciate that, very encouraging.

 

[ivshow]

yo twinkletoes, r u a lambda?
if not, just ignore me lol

 

[Omenino]

Rule #1) Don't ever think or say that you are a failure. The first step in becoming a failure is thinking that you're a failure...Have confidence..once you have confidence in yourself...you can do ANYTHING you want.....This is more important than becoming a dentist....doing good on the DAT or becoming president of the united states

Rule #2) dont think about the past....especially the bad past...just learn from it and move on..nothing is too late

JUST DO IT!!

 

[doanh]

Yeah, going off on what others are saying...confidence is more important than anything! If you don't believe in yourself, then ADCOMS won't either.

The only person that can stop you from your dreams is yourself. So if you want to be a dentist, then go for it! Start college, it will be a fun and rewarding experience. Join some pre-dental clubs and start living your dream. You'll make life-long friends with the same goals and passions in life. You cannot change your past, but only your future. But your past is important too, if you learn good experiences from it.

The year before I started dental school, I was working retail as well and it was terrible. I felt suffocated. But, it taught me a great lesson because I am now even more motivated to do well in dental school.

Perhaps your "tragic" past is for the best and it has inspired you to do well too 🙂

 

[El Salvaje]

I hate to pry, but what exactly was your "horrible experience" which got you dismissed in the first place?

The reason I ask is because if it was an academic suspension or say cheating then you'd have a slightly tougher time but you wouldn't be out of the running. If you were caught doing something illegal, however, and had to answer to a judge then I really don't know what to tell you. Almost every supplementary I've recieved has asked about previous crimes or if there was anything you have done which would result in being denied a professional license.

 

[hoylematt]

If your "horrible experiences" were miserable grades, then most likely you will have to finish your BS, and do some science heavy post-bac work (even maybe a masters) to show that you have turned over a new leaf and that your most recent academic efforts prove who you are. For your own knowledge, every academic class that you have ever taken at a college institution will be included when factoring your GPA for dental school applications. Stuff you messed up on 10 years ago at some community college when you didn't care will be included.

Of course you need to excel on the DAT as well, but I am sure you can figure that one out.

The road will be painful, and particularly long even to get to the point where you can apply to dental school (4,5, even 6 years) It really depends how much you want it and how much you are willing to dedicate yourself to a profession that you really care about. Do some soul searching before you begin your journey because you will have to be completely dedicated to get the kind of GPA and test scores required to make it into dental school as a "Non-traditional" student.

If you are interested in Dentistry though, skip the dental assistant thing: I don't believe it will help you all that much. Instead go straight for the science pre-reqs and your BS.

 

[pinhi]

If your "horrible experiences" were miserable grades, then most likely you will have to finish your BS, and do some science heavy post-bac work (even maybe a masters) to show that you have turned over a new leaf and that your most recent academic efforts prove who you are. For your own knowledge, every academic class that you have ever taken at a college institution will be included when factoring your GPA for dental school applications. Stuff you messed up on 10 years ago at some community college when you didn't care will be included.

Of course you need to excel on the DAT as well, but I am sure you can figure that one out.

The road will be painful, and particularly long even to get to the point where you can apply to dental school (4,5, even 6 years) It really depends how much you want it and how much you are willing to dedicate yourself to a profession that you really care about. Do some soul searching before you begin your journey because you will have to be completely dedicated to get the kind of GPA and test scores required to make it into dental school as a "Non-traditional" student.

If you are interested in Dentistry though, skip the dental assistant thing: I don't believe it will help you all that much. Instead go straight for the science pre-reqs and your BS.

This is the most solid advice you will find. He is 100% accurate

 

[Denteeth]

Here is the back story, I studied accounting but was disqualified from school after having a horrible experience, mainly allowing personal problems to take over. I have been working odd and end sort of jobs but i'm sick of being treated like trash at my retail job. When I was in high school my goal was to do my undergrad and apply to dental school, I was a major nerd always on top of my game, 10 years later (yes i'm almost 28) i turned out to be a complete failure. I recently applied to a dental assistant program and got in, its a 9 month program which I think after I successful complete I would like to do my prereqs for science, take the DAT and apply for dental school. Does this seem like a far fetched goal? Is applying to Dental school without a BA/BS possible?

Don't know what to do, feel like such a failure.

Thanks a bunch in advance everyone. Y'all are so lucky and goal oriented.

I think you have a pretty solid action plan and you can do it, however, a very small advice here – tackle or focus on one goal at a time and everything will play itself out at the end… Good luck !!
Oh, one more thing DO NOT “skip the dental assisting thing”, I have dental assistants in my class who are acing waxing exercises/labs without even breaking a sweat… ;o)

 

[hoylematt]

This is the most solid advice you will find. He is 100% accurate

Pinhi is a perfect example of perserverance amidst all odds. Talk with him if you want some real advice on your situation. He has been there and now after all the work he has 2 interviews lined up, if i remember correctly!

Grats man!

 

[Omenino]

and if you want the super duper best advice...just go straight to the dental school...sit down and talk with the admissions officer/ committee or whatever and explain to them ur situation and ask them what u should do....they will give you the straight forward answer and help you plan everything out...

 

[twinkletoes07]

Hey guys, thank you so much for the great advice and for being very real. thankfully there is no criminal history.

The personal problems were mainly family issues, it was my first time away from home, I didn't focus, I didn't even party, my family was going through some major issues. I tried confiding in my advisors but they were major douche bags, being a first generation college student I didn't have the confidence to begin with so once I messed up it was just all bad.

I dream of becoming something really big and I realize I should have worked harder, it just sucks that that my past grades are 'there'.

 

[promolion]

don't do DA. university students should not be doing DA. They are supposed to be leaders.

 

[twinkletoes07]

don't do DA. university students should not be doing DA. They are supposed to be leaders.

thats not nice :-/ if anything its a start right?

 

[pinhi]

Pinhi is a perfect example of perserverance amidst all odds. Talk with him if you want some real advice on your situation. He has been there and now after all the work he has 2 interviews lined up, if i remember correctly!

Grats man!

Hoylematt....ur the man!!....some serious love here!! It has been a hard road....but its all worth it....to the OP.....when i decided to change my career....i asked my family dentist if he would take me under his wing....i did not take a DA training course....i just learned how to do it all....it took a long time..and i still have a ton of stuff to learn.....but i got 5000 hours of assisting under my belt...and they guy who said that his current dental classmates with assisting experience are killing clinical......absolutely correct man!!...
If you can handle the rigors of doing well in your college classes and learn about assisting....hook it up bro....its a great experience and will make you a better leader when u r a dentist....u will understand what your staff members responsibilities are and how to treat them with respect.......they will be all the happier and you practice will be much more likely to succeed......
GOOD LUCK to everyone!! especially the OP!!

 

[toothfairy05]

I think there are couple programs that have a BS/DDS track... NYU is one of them. So does UPitt and UMDNJ. I'm not that familiar with them, but you should look into it-- that might be easier for you since you don't have a BS yet.

 

[DunStopBelievin]

DA would improve how well you do as a dentist and at dental school, but it won't help getting in. I asked an advisor at UCLA that route and she told that someone who shadowed 100 hrs is all that's enough. My weakness is gpa and so I'm trying to do a Master's like Pinhi. If you want the best advice, read through his posts or ask him b/c I've been asking advisors a lot of questions. Their advices are what Pinhi has accomplished and as you can see, he has interviews.