Just starting college

[Dental Dreamers]

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Hello,first timer here,what a wonderful forum for like-minded..ness 😛

anyhow I am currently 26 years old.27 in october and i have decided with the help of my dear wife to go back to school to pursue my lifelong dream of being a dentist.

I live in Westchester county,ny and i am currently enrolled in Westchester community college.Havent been to school in 10 years as i left in 10th grade,but i started my quest as it were in February and have gotten the much needed GED with scores placing me in the top 1% of the 2009 graduating class. woohoo!

so I am taking a liberal arts and sciences track here and i was wondering a couple of things.

Ive done a bit of research and from what it looks like the school i would like to transfer to is University of Stoney Brook in long island as its pretty close to home and it has a "predent" program which im assuming just means biology or biochem degree and the price is quite nice,ive spoken to someone there at admissions and its only a 3.0 to transfer with 24 credit hours ( 2 full time semesters) which is perfectly doable for me and since im already in a SUNY school its just about a lock if i decide to go definitly.

first question! -- I am recieved over 8500.00 for a full year at the community college here with just grants(no loans or work study)..and the tuition + fees only equals 2038.00 so im recieving a very generous amount of living expense monies on top of working at night in a Stop and Shop Deli(yuk,i hate it) so my question is should i just get my associates in biology here and forgo an extra year of expenses or transfer for fall 2010,
I believe i read on predents . com that dental schools look down on community colleges because the grades achieved are easy peasy.is that definitly true?

second question!! -- Ok so im getting conflicting stories,some places say i can get into dental school after 2 years and some say i need 4 years no matter what...whats the deal? im not looking for the easy road,but i want a clear cut on how everything flows to the end result if ya know what i mean.

Thank you everyone for your time and consideration on these simple yet not so simple questions.Be Happy and Be Well 🙂

 

[Flipper405]

first question (which appears to actually two questions) - I would look into completing general curriculum classes at the community college and taking your sciences at Stony Brook. I have also read frequently that community colleges are looked down upon.

second question - I have never heard of anyone getting in after 2 years, and it's also quite rare to get in with only 3. However, the typical thing is to apply the summer after 3rd year and just list the classes you plan to take during your 4th year. You update the schools with your grades during your 4th year.

The short answer is: you need all 4 years.

 

[Kneecoal]

a few things: stony brook isn't that close to westchester - it's at least an hour and a half - 2 hour drive without traffic (however, we long islanders have some sort of reputation for thinking any drive longer than 15-20 minutes is far).

a predent program doesn't mean a bio/biochem degree. a predent can major in whatever they'd like - the program just means it helps you organize when to take your prereqs (bio, general chem, organic chem, physics, and maybe calculus), getting letters of rec in order, and general guidance about the process.

like the 2nd poster said, i wouldn't get an associates in bio there. take other general requirements like history or writing or something instead. dental schools would prefer to see that you took your sciences at a 4-year college. that being said, be forewarned (but not discouraged!) that stony brook is very rigorous in the sciences. you're going to have to work really hard. and yes, it's much easier to get a good grade in a community college than at a 4-year school.

as for your second question, i think what people are telling you is, again like what the 2nd poster said, people typically apply at the end of their 3rd year of school, and find out in the winter of their 4th year whether they got in to start dental school the august/september after they graduate. so technically they'll have completed all 4 years of college before starting dental school. any other "less-schooling" route is verrry rare.

hope this helps. good luck!

 

[Dental Dreamers]

Thank you both for the replies,cleared that up for me nicely.

lol i plan on taking the train back and forth,god knows im not going to drive through nyc at any hour of the day.When my wife was going to PACE down in manhatten i was working 2 full time jobs and still took the train 2 hours every other day to see her so i dont mind traveling home on the weekends.

The other reason I decided on Stony Brook was because of how intense their sciences departments are,i figure if i can do well there,i can do well anywhere.

I heartily enjoy all aspects of biology which is why i would get my 4 year in that but I dont want to pigeonhole myself if some or most schools want a more "well-rounded" education.

So heres a dreaded question that kinda scares me,say i just dont get into any DS that i apply to,is that normal? if my GPA and DAT scores are mediocre am i screwed and have to wait another year or...?

 

[whatzuppal]

So heres a dreaded question that kinda scares me,say i just dont get into any DS that i apply to,is that normal? if my GPA and DAT scores are mediocre am i screwed and have to wait another year or...?[/QUOTE]

The first question is kinda weird, Yes and no, if with bad DAT and GPA, it is of course normal that you don't get in any DS. So I think the GPA is the most important thing you want to focus since you are just starting the college. If your GPA is way below average, you might find it hard to rescue. On the other hand, you have 3 chances on DAT and shouldn't be a problem if you study the right materials.

 

[Dental Dreamers]

Yeah well the only reason i ask is because im supposed to take the DAT after my second year arent i? i could have sworn that was the case.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527335
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=640363
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602095

 

[OC1314]

Really you can take the DAT anytime, better when you fulfill the pre req courses. Generally though, people take it sometime in their third year right before the end bc that is when you apply.

 

[Dental Dreamers]

oh alrighty,thank you 🙂