In dent, no degree, wanting to switch to med

[rabidmoleman]

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Hi,

I am currently a first year dental student. I'd thought forever that dentistry was my calling in life, and things had been going well with this goal until I actually started dental school.

At my school, the med and dent classes are in the same lecture theatres taking the same exams about 80% of the time. Frankly, I didn't take into account the possibility that I would begin to fall "in love" with medicine. I've contacted a few lecturers (almost all of them are MDs) and taken the opportunity to shadow some of them in family medicine and general surgery. At this point, I am almost not sure what I was thinking going into dentistry. Unfortunately, I believe I am in a bit of a dilemma…

While I did do 4 years of undergraduate work, I did not actually receive a degree (didn't need one for admission to dent). I imagine that having taken a year of dental school won't really make a difference in the admissions scheme and would I be "ranked" below individuals with bachelors degrees, correct? The issue I have now, is whether I should drop out of my program and finish my original bachelors degree, or if I should finish to the end of the 2nd year of dent and get a BMedSci degree. This is a bit of an ethical problem, I believe, as there is definitely a fair bit of taxpayer money helping pay for my schooling currently.

Also, I am curious if this situation and how I resolve it will affect whether or not I am lucky enough to have a med school admit me to their program. Any information or ideas you guys have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

[justAstudent]

I think the biggest obstacle you have to gaining admissions to medical school is explaining why you are quitting dental school for medical school. A lot of admissions committee will be wary that you'll change your mind like you did more than once. You'll have to have a really good explanation as well as recent ECs to show that medicine and not dentistry is your true calling. Perhaps @Goro , @LizzyM , or @gyngyn can give you a better opinion.

 

[gyngyn]

I think the biggest obstacle you have to gaining admissions to medical school is explaining why you are quitting dental school for medical school. A lot of admissions committee will be wary that you'll change your mind like you did more than once. You'll have to have a really good explanation as well as recent ECs to show that medicine and not dentistry is your true calling. Perhaps @Goro , @LizzyM , or @gyngyn can give you a better opinion.

So true.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

You could perhaps go into OMFS, which is MD DMD

 

[gyngyn]

You could perhaps go into OMFS, which is MD DMD

This may not be an option by the time OP finishes. Programs are closing every year. Certificate programs are still an option, though

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

This may not be an option by the time OP finishes. Programs are closing every year. Certificate programs are still an option, though

Wow, really? So they are closing the 6 year MD route and leaving just the 4 year program? Do you happen to know why it is trending that way?

 

[Goro]

100% concur.

I think the biggest obstacle you have to gaining admissions to medical school is explaining why you are quitting dental school for medical school. A lot of admissions committee will be wary that you'll change your mind like you did more than once. You'll have to have a really good explanation as well as recent ECs to show that medicine and not dentistry is your true calling. Perhaps @Goro , @LizzyM , or @gyngyn can give you a better opinion.

 

[rabidmoleman]

I am confident that my current and planned/future ECs will be more than appropriate to show my change of heart. The admissions committee is definitely a worrying issue. It is definitely something I will spend significant time pondering. I am confident, perhaps I shouldn't be though, that I will be able to show I am not just going to change my mind again.

The issue of the degree is also worrying for me. Would it be worse to finish 2 years of dentistry to get the bachelors degree, or to drop out of the program and finish my initial BSc?

I have considered the OMFS route with an MD before, however a lot of them do a lot of dental work. Usually cases too taxing on a patient to be a practice builder for general dentists, I've been told, so referring them to an OMFS is the best option.

I would prefer to spend the majority of my time in a hospital working long hours at ridiculous times (sounds ridiculous, but it suits me and my personality well).

I had no idea that 6 year programs were closing. This is the first time I have heard that. Do you happen to have some sources for that info, gyngyn?

 

[solitarius]

Why is your status pre-dental?

 

[deleted547631]

This may not be an option by the time OP finishes. Programs are closing every year. Certificate programs are still an option, though

You have it the other way around. Six-year integrated MD programs will and have been expanding while certificate-only programs are on the decline. I'm sure there's a JOMS article about it somewhere but here are the most recent Match statistics illustrating overall increase in positions year to year.

Reference: https://natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2013progstats.html

 

[Silent Cool]

You have it the other way around. Six-year integrated MD programs will and have been expanding while certificate-only programs are on the decline. I'm sure there's a JOMS article about it somewhere but here are the most recent Match statistics illustrating overall increase in positions year to year.

Reference: https://natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2013progstats.html

OutRun is correct. The trend is for more 6-year programs and fewer 4-year programs. My guess is that, for logistical reasons, 4-year programs will always exist but they are currently decreasing in number.

OP: Why don't you finish the year, do 'research' for a year while on a leave of absence, finish your degree in the meantime and apply to med school? How many credits would you need to finish your BS? What's your GPA? Have you taken the MCAT?
Re: explaining yourself--I would simply say in your essay or interview exactly what you said above. If you entered dental school prematurely (ie, didn't finish a BS degree), it's perfectly reasonable to change your mind. Explaining that is hardly your biggest hurdle. Your biggest (two) hurdles are: GPA and MCAT. What are they? Those two factors most significantly affect your chances for admission.

good luck.

 

[gyngyn]

You have it the other way around. Six-year integrated MD programs will and have been expanding while certificate-only programs are on the decline. I'm sure there's a JOMS article about it somewhere but here are the most recent Match statistics illustrating overall increase in positions year to year.

Reference: https://natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2013progstats.html

Excellent! That explains a few things I've seen locally. I only saw the drop in 4 year programs where I am.

You have no idea how long I have been looking for this table, thanks.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

I am confident that my current and planned/future ECs will be more than appropriate to show my change of heart. The admissions committee is definitely a worrying issue. It is definitely something I will spend significant time pondering. I am confident, perhaps I shouldn't be though, that I will be able to show I am not just going to change my mind again.

The issue of the degree is also worrying for me. Would it be worse to finish 2 years of dentistry to get the bachelors degree, or to drop out of the program and finish my initial BSc?

I have considered the OMFS route with an MD before, however a lot of them do a lot of dental work. Usually cases too taxing on a patient to be a practice builder for general dentists, I've been told, so referring them to an OMFS is the best option.

I would prefer to spend the majority of my time in a hospital working long hours at ridiculous times (sounds ridiculous, but it suits me and my personality well).

I had no idea that 6 year programs were closing. This is the first time I have heard that. Do you happen to have some sources for that info, gyngyn?

Perhaps you can start your process by talking to the medical adcoms at your school

 

[deleted547631]

Excellent! That explains a few things I've seen locally. I only saw the drop in 4 year programs where I am.

You have no idea how long I have been looking for this table, thanks.

No problem, gyngyn!

Here's an additional table summarizing the last five years of position stats for OMS: https://natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2013sumstats.html

 

[Gentledental1]

This may not be an option by the time OP finishes. Programs are closing every year. Certificate programs are still an option, though

As an oral and maxillofacial surgery resident, this is the most bizarre and inaccurate statement I have ever seen on SDN. You might as well claim that ENT or Orthopedics might not be around that much longer. For the OP, this is completely false and not based on any sort of evidence. OMFS scope and position as the surgical branch of dentistry is only expanding. We've been around for a very long time, and will continue to be around for a very long time.

I don't quite understand why you think OMFS practices dentistry in private practice. Sure, you're most mild mannered, private practice oral surgeon will limit themselves to surgical extraction of bony impacted wisdom teeth under deep sedation, complex oral reconstructions with dental implants and bone grafting (from the ribs, anterior/posterior iliac crest, or tibia), the occasional (about 2-3/month) case of corrective jaw surgery performed in an operating room (if you've never seen it, go watch a maxilla get down fractured. Its dope.), and full temporomandibular joint replacements. Coupled with whatever else trickles into private practice, from full maxillofacial trauma to malignant pathology...etc...So my opinion is the most mild mannered, private practice oral surgery office is still pretty exciting, certainly nothing to do with what you're probably picturing "practicing dentistry" is.

However, if you want to be in a hospital until all hours of the night, by all means, the scope is there in OMFS. Our main fellowships are craniofacial, microvascular/oncology, and facial cosmetics. The first two will land you that sleepless career you seem hell bent on. You want to see someone get their face ripped off and put back together, go watch some of these bad asses. From neck dissections, huge jaw resections, cranial vault reconstructions, lefort 3 advancements...its all there.

If you have the grades and the balls, commit to OMFS. You'll get your damn medical degree. But on top of that, you'll join a profession of kings, do some of the coolest surgeries there are, and get paid a lot to do it. If you think private practice is too boring, work in a large academic center. You can't be a level 1 trauma center without an OMFS on board. Theres not a single surgery that has as profound an effect on someone's self image then when you move the bones of their face around.

Heres a video, educate yourself:

 

[eagles22]

I think the biggest obstacle you have to gaining admissions to medical school is explaining why you are quitting dental school for medical school. A lot of admissions committee will be wary that you'll change your mind like you did more than once. You'll have to have a really good explanation as well as recent ECs to show that medicine and not dentistry is your true calling. Perhaps @Goro , @LizzyM , or @gyngyn can give you a better opinion.

I switched from another health profession to medical. I was asked why I switched. I was never asked to prove myself more than the regular applicant. It was never implied that I would "change my mind" again. I was never asked about my switch in an accusatory way. n=1.

 

[gyngyn]

I switched from another health profession to medical. I was asked why I switched. I was never asked to prove myself more than the regular applicant. It was never implied that I would "change my mind" again. I was never asked about my switch in an accusatory way. n=1.

If you make it through screening, your odds of success go way up. Depending on the previous profession, the timing and the way you present the switch a good outcome can be acheived.

 

[gyngyn]

My observation was based on the fact that the 6 and 7 year programs in my region have disappeared while the certificate programs have remained. We have not seen the OMFS programs replaced.


There is no disrespect intended. I am glad to see that the trend is toward lengthening training commensurate with the complexity of these cases

 

[rabidmoleman]

To answer some of the questions...

My overall GPA is 3.78, however the MD program at my school drops the lowest year, leaving me with a 3.90 by their standards. (is this a common practice among medical schools?)

I have not yet taken the MCAT, but am preparing to and plan to take it as soon as possible. This will likely be at the beginning of August since we have classes going into July.

My status is still pre-dent because I simply haven't changed it. It will be changed now though.

We don't take 2 of the classes the medical students do (in first year), but instead take 3-4 other dental related ones instead. We are ultimately examined more during the first year, however we do not have clerkship in the 3rd year. I am told this more than makes up for the little difference in work for us the first 2 years.

 

[bambam92]

I think you should stay the course with the dental route unless you literally think you will be miserable doing it. Dental is a great gig, less than 40 hours a week typically, better insurance claims, laid back, and you can be your own boss more readily! I have had many physicians tell me and their kids to pursue dental. lol. You could always gun for omfs as many have said to get the whole dmd, md thing after your name--how suave 🙂 Good luck!

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

To answer some of the questions...

My overall GPA is 3.78, however the MD program at my school drops the lowest year, leaving me with a 3.90 by their standards. (is this a common practice among medical schools?)

I have not yet taken the MCAT, but am preparing to and plan to take it as soon as possible. This will likely be at the beginning of August since we have classes going into July.

My status is still pre-dent because I simply haven't changed it. It will be changed now though.

We don't take 2 of the classes the medical students do (in first year), but instead take 3-4 other dental related ones instead. We are ultimately examined more during the first year, however we do not have clerkship in the 3rd year. I am told this more than makes up for the little difference in work for us the first 2 years.

No, I've never heard of another MD school doing this.

 

[Ashley1989]

To answer some of the questions...

My overall GPA is 3.78, however the MD program at my school drops the lowest year, leaving me with a 3.90 by their standards. (is this a common practice among medical schools?)

I have not yet taken the MCAT, but am preparing to and plan to take it as soon as possible. This will likely be at the beginning of August since we have classes going into July.

My status is still pre-dent because I simply haven't changed it. It will be changed now though.

We don't take 2 of the classes the medical students do (in first year), but instead take 3-4 other dental related ones instead. We are ultimately examined more during the first year, however we do not have clerkship in the 3rd year. I am told this more than makes up for the little difference in work for us the first 2 years.

They drop your lowest year? Please tell me where you go to school. This sounds great! Haha

 

[Hemorrage]

My opinion may be on the conservative side of things but i personally would encourage you to stay in dental school. There are many fields in dentistry alone that may satisfy your thirst for medicine. Additionally, this really isn't a favorable time to be a medical school applicant. Competition keeps rising every year along with MCAT scores and GPAs that were 10-15 years ago fairly stagnant. If you want to put yourself through hell, i can't stop you.

 

[armorshell]

My observation was based on the fact that the 6 and 7 year programs in my region have disappeared while the certificate programs have remained. We have not seen the OMFS programs replaced.


There is no disrespect intended. I am glad to see that the trend is toward lengthening training commensurate with the complexity of these cases

Where are you located?