Last minute switch to predental?

[supercoolturtles]

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I’m a rising senior interested in switching from premed to predental after shadowing a dentist. I would like to apply next cycle (2019) and I’m wondering if this is feasible with my stats and extracurriculars - especially since I don’t have any predental ECs.

3.92 GPA, 3.93 sGPA
No DAT score yet, but scored in 96th percentile for MCAT

ECs:
- Officer for two health-related orgs
- Member of pre-health org and served on several committees
- VP of my sorority
- 150hr volunteering in hospital
- 150hr volunteering as a mentor at low-income elementary school
- Several research experiences (2 summer, a 1.5 year commitment, and a 1 year commitment); no publications but some poster presentations
- Presented at a national health conference (not science-related)
- A couple tutoring jobs at my school (on and off for a total of 1.5 year commitment)

I plan to supplement this with as much dentist shadowing as possible. I’m also taking a gap year and will try to get a dental-related job.

Additionally, with these stats, is it feasible to ONLY apply to schools in my state (the three schools in Texas)? It’s MUCH cheaper for me and I’m really against the idea of going out of state.

 

[HKSZYU]

Sounds feasible. I'm assuming you've completed all the prereqs as a pre-med, so really the only remaining academic hurdle is DAT. DAT is easier than MCAT (in my opinion, I also took both), and MCAT studying translates well for most sections of the DAT, with the exception of the PAT. DAT Bootcamp was very helpful for familiarizing myself with the DAT and the differences between the tests.

Beyond that, you just need dental shadowing. Some schools have a minimum of 50 hours. 70-100 seems like the generally agreed upon "safe" number, although more is always better, especially for someone that is switching, just so that the adcom (and you) are sure you know what you're getting yourself into. You're gonna want to start that ASAP if you're trying to catch this admissions cycle.

In regards to only applying to Texas schools, I think that's fine. If you're able to supplement that 3.9+ GPA with a 23+ DAT, you're a competitive applicant. Why drop money on apps to schools you have no desire to go to, when you have a good chance to stay in your home state and spend 1/2 of what other people are paying? If you want to be safe, you could apply to 1-2 additional schools. It all depends on how much you desire to stay in Texas and how much risk you can tolerate.

 

[TheDentalDude]

Take the DAT and start getting some shadowing hours. Your sGPA and GPA are very competitive for most dental schools so an average DAT score will most likely suffice. I’m curious about what part of dentistry made you want to switch from medicine?

 

[supercoolturtles]

Sounds feasible. I'm assuming you've completed all the prereqs as a pre-med, so really the only remaining academic hurdle is DAT. DAT is easier than MCAT (in my opinion, I also took both), and MCAT studying translates well for most sections of the DAT, with the exception of the PAT. DAT Bootcamp was very helpful for familiarizing myself with the DAT and the differences between the tests.

Beyond that, you just need dental shadowing. Some schools have a minimum of 50 hours. 70-100 seems like the generally agreed upon "safe" number, although more is always better, especially for someone that is switching, just so that the adcom (and you) are sure you know what you're getting yourself into. You're gonna want to start that ASAP if you're trying to catch this admissions cycle.

In regards to only applying to Texas schools, I think that's fine. If you're able to supplement that 3.9+ GPA with a 23+ DAT, you're a competitive applicant. Why drop money on apps to schools you have no desire to go to, when you have a good chance to stay in your home state and spend 1/2 of what other people are paying? If you want to be safe, you could apply to 1-2 additional schools. It all depends on how much you desire to stay in Texas and how much risk you can tolerate.

Thank you so much, this is so helpful!!! Really appreciate it.

Take the DAT and start getting some shadowing hours. Your sGPA and GPA are very competitive for most dental schools so an average DAT score will most likely suffice. I’m curious about what part of dentistry made you want to switch from medicine?

I knew I wanted to work with people and work with my hands, so I was originally interested in procedural specialties in medicine like surgery and the like. However, the more I shadowed surgeons, the more I realized that I really wasn't interested in the intense lifestyle and the amount of paperwork/overhead. This was really discouraging to me. I was advised to check out dentistry and realized it has all the things I'm looking for in a career (work with my hands, patient interaction, improving someone's life), minus the drawbacks that I was finding in medicine. Plus, I'm very interested in the business aspect of dentistry; the independence and ability to be my own boss is appealing to me.

 

[TheDentalDude]

Time was a huge deterrent for me when it came to choosing dentistry over medicine. In dentistry you can have the same family commitment as any other person working a 9-5 job. In my opinion you are making a great choice.

 

[doc toothache]

Since it sounds like you have few shadowing hours, it may have the appearance of rushing on a rebound. Approach systematically.

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

I made the decision for dentistry for all the same reasons you listed.

If you shadow enough and get anything near that percentile on the DAT (the five hours will breeze by if you already sat through the MCAT), you'll have multiple offers if you're not a total weirdo in interviews.

I'd just focus on the procedure stuff more than the lifestyle, obviously, though procedures + longitudinal patient care is a nice way to look at it.

 

[supercoolturtles]

Time was a huge deterrent for me when it came to choosing dentistry over medicine. In dentistry you can have the same family commitment as any other person working a 9-5 job. In my opinion you are making a great choice.

Thanks!! I think dentistry is a better fit for me too.

Since it sounds like you few shadowing hours, it may have the appearance of rushing on a rebound. Approach systematically.

Wipe your app of premed, dont mention your MCAT, do dental stuff. Thats how I switched, I actually took the mcat and applied to medical school once before applying to dental school so if I can do it with premed red flags all over my app I am sure you can do it without them.

So it’s bad to include premed things in my application? What about things like volunteering at a hospital and shadowing? I would make it clear that I did these things because I was interested medicine at first, but it helped me realize that dentistry is a better fit.

I made the decision for dentistry for all the same reasons you listed.

If you shadow enough and get anything near that percentile on the DAT (the five hours will breeze by if you already sat through the MCAT), you'll have multiple offers if you're not a total weirdo in interviews.

I'd just focus on the procedure stuff more than the lifestyle, obviously, though procedures + longitudinal patient care is a nice way to look at it.

Is lifestyle something I should avoid mentioning? Obviously I wouldn’t make it the centerpiece of my app/personal statement, but is it taboo to mention lifestyle?

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

Is lifestyle something I should avoid mentioning? Obviously I wouldn’t make it the centerpiece of my app/personal statement, but is it taboo to mention lifestyle?

Some faculty I met seemed more willing to talk about it, but others hinted that the app/interview stage is not the right time for that topic. Never know who you're going to get, so why risk it? The procedure angle as well as the entrepreneurial angle will provide plenty of material.

 

[dent_wannabe]

Wipe your app of premed, dont mention your MCAT, do dental stuff. Thats how I switched, I actually took the mcat and applied to medical school once before applying to dental school so if I can do it with premed red flags all over my app I am sure you can do it without them.

Can you give me some tips? Because I also once applied (unsuccessfully) to medical school before. I am applying to dental school this cycle and the question of "are you currently or have you previously applied to another type of health professions school" is on the application for (I think) the first time. And I obviously have to answer yes.

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

Out of curiosity, did you guys not consider DO (not turtle - the guys with failed MD cycles)? Their entering stats are a bit lower than dental, and even more so when you consider that they've had grade replacement until recently at DO schools (unlike DMD/DDS or MD).

Unless you're just awful at the passage format of the MCAT or something (which I actually love), I don't see why jumping careers was the first thought.

If, unlike turtle, you're doing this after a failed MD app, it's totally logical for them to ask about how motivated you are towards either profession. If you're not satisfied by your own answer, IMO the only way to resolve that is through introspection. Just my 2¢

Edit: and I don't think turtle hiding the medical stuff is nearly as important as for a failed med applicant. If he just had a change of heart, that's easy to spin as a positive.
Again IMO

 

[dent_wannabe]

I was a bit of both. I also was debating about dentistry at the time but did not fully commit to giving up med yet. I ended up just riding out an application cycle for med. Also it has been three years since the application, so this time I did actually make sure I am certain about dentistry.

 

[dent_wannabe]

Its gonna be a hard road and you may find yourself without an acceptance the first round while you prove yourself to be fully predent. It was after shadowing 100's of hours and assisting for a year that I received one acceptance with a 21AA and 3.8o/3.6s. First cycle I applied and had to disclose my premed past but when I applied this past cycle it was the first year they changed the AADSAS application and I did not have to disclose any of my premed past.

I did go the past two years with strictly dental volunteering, and I did around 110 hours of strictly dental shadowing (no more med activities). I do admit that I did not take my med apps very seriously (which definitely would not reflect positively on me if I applied to dental immediately after). But it has been three years since, and I am hoping that they can look at it as I have grown a bit from that.

 

[doc toothache]

So it’s bad to include premed things in my application? What about things like volunteering at a hospital and shadowing? I would make it clear that I did these things because I was interested medicine at first, but it helped me realize that dentistry is a better fit.

Do you think the object of your new found affection wants to hear about all your exes?