Low course load okay?

[TOLDUSO]

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Hey all,

I'm a long time lurker, but just recently came back around and registered.

I'm sure that this has been addressed, but maybe not specifically for Dental. To make a long story short, I am a non-traditional student in my mid 20's with a wife and kiddos. I just got out of the military a little over a year ago and I have been finishing up my undergrad in Bio since that time.

As you can imagine, being a father, husband, homeowner, and landlord of some rentals that I own, on top of being a student at the closest Division I university that is over an hour's drive away, keeps me pretty occupied. Needless to say, I am only taking around 11-14 hours every semester. I know that a lot of schools like to see at least 15 hours/semester, if not more, but I would hope that they would consider my circumstances.

Has anyone else ever taken this road, or does anyone have any insight? I want to keep my GPA as high as possible (duh) and that pretty much means keeping my course load at or around where it already is. I've yet to fill out an application but I am wondering where or, better yet, how it can be explained or hinted at that I have a family and responsibilities but still managed to take a full load and keep a good GPA.

Another good thing going for me is that I have shadowing experience all the way back to 10 years ago with two Docs when I was in H.S. I guess that's not really pertinent to my given question, but any advice would be great!

Thanks,

 

[UndergradGuy7]

I am not in your situation, but every application you will fill out, AADSAS, secondary ones, etc. They all have a section "list any important circumstances, or things affecting your schooling," even in your personal statement you can mention it.

So yes working, family, etc. are all taken into consideration. They understand you can't do a lot of credits each semester. Just keep getting good grades.

 

[Vicviper]

I think I may have only taken 14 units or more maybe twice in my academic career, and I got in just fine, it's really not a big deal, especially with your circumstances. Most semesters I was taking 12-13. 2 Science classes, 1-2 GE, etc.

 

[baseballjunkie]

Hey all,

I'm a long time lurker, but just recently came back around and registered.

I'm sure that this has been addressed, but maybe not specifically for Dental. To make a long story short, I am a non-traditional student in my mid 20's with a wife and kiddos. I just got out of the military a little over a year ago and I have been finishing up my undergrad in Bio since that time.

As you can imagine, being a father, husband, homeowner, and landlord of some rentals that I own, on top of being a student at the closest Division I university that is over an hour's drive away, keeps me pretty occupied. Needless to say, I am only taking around 11-14 hours every semester. I know that a lot of schools like to see at least 15 hours/semester, if not more, but I would hope that they would consider my circumstances.

Has anyone else ever taken this road, or does anyone have any insight? I want to keep my GPA as high as possible (duh) and that pretty much means keeping my course load at or around where it already is. I've yet to fill out an application but I am wondering where or, better yet, how it can be explained or hinted at that I have a family and responsibilities but still managed to take a full load and keep a good GPA.

Another good thing going for me is that I have shadowing experience all the way back to 10 years ago with two Docs when I was in H.S. I guess that's not really pertinent to my given question, but any advice would be great!

Thanks,

I took only 12-14 credits a semester except for one. In your personal statement, just mention that you're a husband, father, etc and use it as a description as your motivation for dentistry (ie you want a solid career for your family). As long as your have a good GPA and decent DAT scores, they don't care that much as long as you're going to school full time.

 

[TOLDUSO]

All good news. Like I said, I have never really seen or yet to have even glanced over any of the applications, but it sounds like there is some definite consideration of circumstances and also some room to explain myself. I would have thought so, but thought it would be better to ask.

I took only 12-14 credits a semester except for one. In your personal statement, just mention that you're a husband, father, etc and use it as a description as your motivation for dentistry (ie you want a solid career for your family). As long as your have a good GPA and decent DAT scores, they don't care that much as long as you're going to school full time.

Definitely part of my motivation. I have always wanted to be a DDS as far back as freshmen year in HS and, as mentioned before, took the opportunity to shadow two separate docs in my hometown before my senior year was over. Things changed course and I didn't end up going to college right after graduation (actually it's a blessing I didn't at the time) and I later started taking college courses while on active duty. I woke up one day with a wife and kids...... and have been hard-charging the books since then and will be starting to apply to dental schools in about a year and a half. I'm already starting to study for the DAT albeit in a small-scale way.

My family has made a lot of sacrifices, from living the military lifestyle to my wife now being the bread-winner while I finish school, manage our rentals, and care for the kids (being a "mom" is tougher work than I ever thought. I have a whole new respect!). I certainly hope that they will take my family's work and sacrifice into consideration as well.

Thanks for the quick replies. 👍