mechanical engineering major

[gmcsierra]

i have been thinking about going into medicine for a long time, so i have been working on my major requirements for mechanical engineering so far. i am a sophomore with a 4.0 and 40 credits. i have finally come to the reality that i want the lifestyle of dentistry and that dentistry is basically a specialty of medicine more or less. my problem is is that i only have one semester of general chemistry and am completing my second semester of physics now. i am kicking myself because for dentistry you don't need a major. some people are getting in at the age of 20 (i'm 19). i'm thinking that i'll be wasting an extra 2 years. to get in after 4 years while getting my bacchelors, i will have to take at least one summer of summer school i think. does anyone know how many credits one can take during a summer session? anyway, enough babbling, and thanks for any help in advance.

 

[ecdoesit]

i have one question for you.
if you are so worried about an extra year or two.
why are u in Mechanical engineering?

 

[UBTom]

to Gmcsierra:

Getting into dental school in your early 20s is no biggie-- You still have a ~40-year career in front of you. 1 or 2 years ain't going to make that big a difference in the long run.

 

[Omahahahaha]

It's always nice to see a fellow South Dakotan on SDN. I am also and aspiring dentist.

I'm not sure what classes you have taken besides physics and chemistry, but you're not going to get accepted to any dental or medical school without Organic Chemistry and at least one year of Biology. From reading your post I assume you go to SDSU, and they should have classes that will fit your needs.

It's always good to ask questions before it's too late. I'm glad that you are considering dentistry, because as you know are state has too few of them. But here is one word of wisdom for you. I have read some of your past posts, and people in this forum do not think very highly of people choosing dentistry as a back-up profession or "just because you want that lifestyle".

If you want the lifestyle of a dentist, that's fine. But you should also want the joy and compassion that comes with providing oral health care to others and the resolve to make dentistry your lifelong craft, not just some job that brings in the big bucks.

If you have any questions for me feel from the pm me or just post on this board.