Is it too complicated?

[LNJLV]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi!
I am 22 yrs old and arrived in the US 6 months ago (Nevada) from Canada. I am a US citizen from non US citizen parents (who reside in Canada). I moved in the US to start my life all over after ruining my high school/ college in Canada. I dropped college at 18 because I started a career as a Flight attendant for a major Canadian airline and also started flying school (which I also "dropped" after realizing it's more a hobby than a career, a very pricey hobby! But would LOVE to complete the licence!)
After months of reflection, many sleepless nights, I finally realized ...I want to be a dentist (childhood dream!) but I have a very long road in front of me!

My plan is: start community college on fall (i will be almost 23) to do all classes I need in order to be admitted at a 4 years college (biology major or any other related major) to do all my pre req.
so by the time I will be ready to apply for dental school i will be around 29 (estimate) IF everything goes well!!
Do you think it's worth it? Am I realistic? What if I don't get in dental school? is there anything I can do with a biology major?
My whole family is pushing me to complete my pilot licence, but I keep telling myself if I don't try dental school now I will never be able to! I need an outside perspective !
thank you 🙂

 

[BrutalViking]

First make sure you want to be a dentist by shadowing one. After shadowing, if you're still interested then go for it...of course, you can shadow while taking classes.

 

[crax]

agree with shadowing, do it, and do alot! then make the decision and go all or nothing. if you give it your all, yes its worth it, yes its realistic. yes you can get in. youre setting your life on this path so make sure you do your best to get stellar grades in school (and strong dat scores), along with everything else it will take to get accepted. i definitely dont think a 5 years older than the standard (college straight to dental school) is any big difference. additionally, im almost positive the average age is greater than the aforementioned "standard" due to non traditional and gap year students.

if it's your passion, and your confident in giving it your all, then go for it!.

How long would it take to complete the pilot program, could you complete it later on if you needed?

 

[LNJLV]

thank you for you advice! Is it easy to shadow a dentist? I mean are they pretty open to that? You just walk in a dental office and ask if you can shadow? I would love to do that I have lots of time before fall semester ! I checked to be a dental assistant, but they all ask for experience, just thought it would help to be around dental office!
The pilot program I will have to re do everything, it's minimum of 2 years depending on how well your training goes! I could complete it later on but having a commercial pilot licence straight out of school will get me nowhere without hours experience, hence the reason why I decided it might not be the career for me. After 3 years in the aviation industry, the lifestyle started to be hell...I am engaged and would love to have a career that is "family friendly" since I am planning on having one. As a pilot I will most likely spend the next 6-10 years trying to get those hours up (minimum wage pay) then get hired by a decent airline to finally be gone minimum half of the month!
I wanted to just try dental school (after shadowing 🙂 and make sure it's really for me) if I make it then i will just complete a private pilot licence (takes few months) and keep it as a hobby!
I always was fascinated by dentistry and health science itself but was intimidated by the academics it takes to get in. I don't even plan to tell my friends and family back in Canada because they will pressure me like they are doing for my flying! I want to do this for me and not to please them, plus if I don't make it they will say "it was expected" because i dropped out of college and flying already!

 

[OldDocGJ]

As someone who just got into dental school at 30, it's definitely possible and never too late in life if it's truly what you want to do. I've worked in laboratories and got my PhD, but my undergrad grades weren't great and my DAT scores were good, but nothing to be bragging about on this forum. It sounds like you have made the first step in your journey, and you'll have a great story for when you apply. Just talk to as many people in the field to make sure it's what you're looking for in a career. It'll be a long road over the next 5 years or so, but as someone who just did it, it'll be worth it for sure.

On a positive note, I know for a fact schools aren't only looking for the highest DAT or GPA. (Though they do help🙂)

 

[Silencio]

Do what you love.
Love what you do.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

Do what you love.
Love what you do.

If you love what you do, you'll never work a day.

Many times people go to the path of least resistance, but that path may lead you to a field you completed hate.

 

[iralex801]

Eh, I know there is a lot of older applicants that get into dentistry, but I never understood why they would go through so much at such an older age to get in. I mean if you love dentistry that much and are willing to sacrifice so much to get there, then by all means do it. Many older applicants get in. Personally, if I was in your situation, I would not be willing to do it. I would be missing out on too many things.

 

[Silencio]

If you love what you do, you'll never work a day.

Many times people go to the path of least resistance, but that path may lead you to a field you completed hate.

That's because you're thinking of adult film lol.

 

[LNJLV]

Eh, I know there is a lot of older applicants that get into dentistry, but I never understood why they would go through so much at such an older age to get in. I mean if you love dentistry that much and are willing to sacrifice so much to get there, then by all means do it. Many older applicants get in. Personally, if I was in your situation, I would not be willing to do it. I would be missing out on too many things.

Well the reason why it took me so long to decide to be a dentist is because I did enjoy when I was younger : travel the world and get paid for it (France, Italy, Spain, Cuba, and so on !!!) pay cash for my flying school (i had a blast) party all the time, not worry about mid terms while my friends were ! Trust me I enjoyed but then reality hits ..got engaged, flight attendant lifestyle didn't fit anymore, jet lag kicks in, commuting from Canada to Las Vegas was killing me (did it for 2 years, 48hrs awake was normal thing to me) I just couldn't keep up. Plus the fact that I do not have anything beside High school freaks me out!
So I figured I have 4 options:
1) keep working those minimum wage jobs / struggling for the rest of my life.
2) Get into a "normal" major that I have no interest in (like a LOT of people I know do just to say they are "doing" something)
3) Finish my pilot licence to get back to that crazy aviation lifestyle
4) Go for something I always was curious about : dentistry

Now if you think of other options for me, please do suggest 🙂

 

[Ullr]

So I figured I have 4 options:
1) keep working those minimum wage jobs / struggling for the rest of my life.
2) Get into a "normal" major that I have no interest in (like a LOT of people I know do just to say they are "doing" something)
3) Finish my pilot licence to get back to that crazy aviation lifestyle
4) Go for something I always was curious about : dentistry

Now if you think of other options for me, please do suggest 🙂[/QUOTE]

Go for it. It won't be easy but don't let that stop you.