Majoring in Engineering

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Hatak

Hatak

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Do you guys believe I would be able to hit all of my pre-reqs for dental school with a ME (Mechanical Engineering) major? Also do you guys believe it would be smart on my GPA to go with this major or should I just do the usual Biology or Chemistry major?

Idk if it matters but my school is Georgia Tech
 
I think you'll find most people will say major in what makes you most happy. That being said, I graduated with a degree in ChemE. Yes, it's possible to fulfill your dental pre reqs, but it does take effort. As for your gpa, you'll have to put in serious work to hit that ~3.5 range. At my school, the average gpa within my major was around a 2.8 and I ended with a 3.2. To me, that was a huge success, but to dental schools, it looks mediocre. I don't want to discourage you because if you're willing to put in the time, you can absolutely do much better. All that to say, being a pre-dental ME is certainly possible, but it'll be a bit of an uphill battle.


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Georgia Tech's a hard school. I had a decision in high school between my current undergrad, GT, and an easier school in my state and at times I wish I went to the easier school. But hindsight is 20/20 and it's hard to know what you want to do in the future when you're a high school student. Personally, if you 100% know you want to shoot for dental/medical school, id do my best to keep my GPA high while also majoring in something that I enjoy.
 
Engineering is an amazing field to go into if you don't get into dental school. My younger brother did mechE and architecture, and is always positive about the fields.

Honestly, you will almost be guaranteed to get a lower gpa in any engineering field than if you study general biology or something. The name of your school will not help with admissions, so don't think "ok I'm in a hard major at a hard school, they will understand my 3.0". It won't work like that. The 3.8 from a random college/easy major will beat you out every time.

I'm inclined to say dodge engineering. It can be done, but I think the risk and added stress of attempting it at a competitive school isn't worth it if you know you are pursuing dentistry.


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Why not just pursue engineering?
 
allantois said:
Why not just pursue engineering?
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I like and prefer dentistry just I'm not all that hardcore about science that much, otherwise I would major in Biology or Chemistry. Engineering has always been a second love of mine, but I find it to be something that I will be willing to give up for dentistry. Since dentistry has been something I've been into since I was a little kid just the field in general has always amused me. Personally I would become a hygienist or even a tech but I also want to pursue my dream of attending tech especially since it won't really hurt my wallet attending there since I am a resident of Georgia. Also with engineering I don't see myself being able to pursue my own business (it's possible) but not something I'd be too passionate about and my main goal is to be my own boss.
 
I started out as a MECE as well... I ended up changing my major especially when I wasn't very happy with the aspect of engineering, I found myself forcing myself to like machines and stuff but never really did enjoy it. I say you pick a major you're happy with, if MECE is your thing, go for it. Just try to maintain at least a 3.5, earn high grades in your prereqs, and smash the DAT and you should be fine.
 
I thought chem was hard, but engineering makes chem look like a joke (and apparently, electrical makes mechanical look easy).

I would attend the easiest (but still decent) 4 yr university you can, major in something easy/enjoyable, and prepare well for the DAT, assuming that dentistry > engineering for you. In hindsight, that's what I would've done.

Majoring in bio/chem probably doesn't help you do THAT much better on the DAT, if you study intensively for it.

Good luck OP!
 
Honestly, I'd try to figure out which one you're more committed towards (engineering or dentistry) and focus on that completely. Pursuing engineering in undergrad if your goal is just going to dental school is going to add a lot more work and stress than is worth it. Hitting all your pre-reqs will be fine but keeping your GPA up at the same time will be a lot more difficult.
 
Imagine having to take Physics based Calc + Lab, Calc II, Chem + lab, and some minor elective. If that sounds fun to you and you believe you can maintain a 3.4 gpa or higher for 4 years with this course work then by all means go for out.

As a non-traditional applicant, I would say go the route of biology or any other natural science major. You will not hit any of the pre-reqs for dental school as an engineering major as most of your required courses will be math intensive and engineering related unless you take the dental pre-reqs as your electives to fulfill your lib ed requirements. As other have said, doing that will add a ton of stress on you as you will want to do well in the dental pre-reqs (As) on top of doing well in your engineering courses to keep your GPA up. As a side, I believe 40-60% of engineering students change their major once they've gotten in to the intro courses.

Again, if you beleive you can suceed in engineering with a good 3.3+gpa and ace all the dental pre-reqs go for it. Else get a bio major.
 
Why is everyone suggesting either a natural science major or engineering? There's MANY other majors out there. I myself am majoring in an interdisciplinary major that has a bit of natural science and a bit of liberal arts mixed in.
 
blablabla1 said:
Why is everyone suggesting either a natural science major or engineering? There's MANY other majors out there. I myself am majoring in an interdisciplinary major that has a bit of natural science and a bit of liberal arts mixed in.
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He's expressed interest in engineering and in going into dentistry, in which case a natural science major is the most straightforward path that will overlap with most of his pre-reqs. There are many other majors out there but the OP hasn't said anything to suggest they want to pursue one of them.
 
Hatak said:
Do you guys believe I would be able to hit all of my pre-reqs for dental school with a ME (Mechanical Engineering) major? Also do you guys believe it would be smart on my GPA to go with this major or should I just do the usual Biology or Chemistry major?

Idk if it matters but my school is Georgia Tech
Click to expand...
Hatak said:
Do you guys believe I would be able to hit all of my pre-reqs for dental school with a ME (Mechanical Engineering) major? Also do you guys believe it would be smart on my GPA to go with this major or should I just do the usual Biology or Chemistry major?

Idk if it matters but my school is Georgia Tech
Click to expand...

I would talk to your academic advisor and let them lay out what types of schedules you'd need to take over the next few semesters to graduate with a ME degree and hit all the dental pre-reqs. If you think its too much, then you might want to consider another major thats easier.
 
If I could go back I would have done engineering. Even if it had taken me a little longer to finish school because my Bio degree is useless. I can do research or take a biologist job of some sort that makes no money. If I had done engineering I could be making big bucks while waiting to get into school and maybe even designed something as a dentist and sold it for millions. Every job I have had until becoming an RDA was completely unrelated to my major and I have yet to get a job that actually makes me money. Not to mention the added stress of years passing by having no money while my friends with other degrees make big bucks. I would be less stressed waiting for admission if I had become an engineer.
 
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Hatak said:
I like and prefer dentistry just **I'm not all that hardcore about science** that much, otherwise I would major in Biology or Chemistry. Engineering has always been a second love of mine...
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I studied mechanical engineering and worked as an engineer for a few years designing airbags. Although I contributed to the 30,000 lives saved annually, I became tremendously discouraged by the amount of time behind a computer screen and felt like I could do more to give to my community. So I quit my job and went back to school to knock out dental pre-reqs.

I think you may have a misunderstanding of what being an engineer and what engineering school is like. It's not just tinkering in a shop to build cool things. It's some of the most intense science and math classes you'll ever take. Some highlights: all 3 sections of calculus, ODEs, PDEs, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, dynamics, etc.

I'd put all those courses on par with O-Chem (some are worse, honestly). Biology classes, even upper division, are a breeze compared to those. So, for someone to say they're "not hardcore about science" and then contemplate engineering, I just assume there's a disconnect between expectations and reality.

As for dental applications, I think engineering is one of the best degrees to have. But I kept a 3.5ish GPA. Honestly though, dentistry is nothig more than "tooth engineering" and all of those principles of engineering will help me as a dentist.
 
In my opinion as a ChemE graduate, majoring in engineering would benefit you more than a regular bio or chem degree. It would expose you to more difficult coursework that would better prepare you for the material in dental school, it will also force you to be better at time management through balancing all of the coursework and projects assigned (depending on how many semesters you take), and engineering school trains you to think a certain way to be more problem-solving oriented which will help you with your DAT and your life in general.
 
People need to get off their high horses. Any major can claim that it helped them for dental school. Business - running a business. Psychology - understanding patients' psyche. Biology - easier time in dental school. Art - better dental work. Engineering - tooth mechanics? 😕
 
I've heard engineering is the best pre dental degree you can acquire. Schools single out engineering majors solely for the design skill they experience in undergrad. Definitely a great fallback career as well!
 
ZBehr93 said:
It would expose you to more difficult coursework that would better prepare you for the material in dental school
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I really don't think difficult coursework in undergrad would better prepare you for material in dental school, especially not engineering. It's certainly more challenging, but it doesn't build up the critical skill you need in dental school (memorizing absurd amounts of information).
 
I went to a workshop this past summer at a dental school. It was all summer long and they covered the entire application process. They told us that the major that is being most highly and widely accepted now are engineering majors! kinda cool
 
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