Need a little advice..

[Mr. Thirsty]

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Hey everyone,

here's my situation:

Freshman year I came to Penn State Behrend/Erie University as an undecided student. I poked around in the business and HR field up until my spring semester sophomore year (this past year) in which I uncovered my desire to become a dentist (because of personal reasons that I will not bore you with in this post). My problem with this is now I am playing catch up. Last semester was my first semester in the science field and I loved it and did phenomenal (3.6gpa) compared to my prior business semesters (3.2ish). I feel so much more motivated since the change so its definitely the right choice.

However I need to make the most of this summer if I am going to apply to dental school next June. So far my involvement includes: an HR internship at lifesteps last summer and this summer, Delta Chi fraternity Secretary and fundraising chair, and 15 hours of shadowing a dentist. This summer I want to reach at least 100 hours of shadowing and 100 hours of volunteer work to throw in there. Is that a good goal? It's going to be tough with my part-time internship and online class (Organic chem) in June but I can definitely do it. What else should I be doing though? I was thinking of maybe taking the kaplan DAT course in July since I will have all of the pre-req's by then. Is that too early for the DAT? Should I focus more on shadowing or volunteer work? Does two summers of an HR internship look good for dental school app's?

I am transferring to Penn State University Park this coming fall for the rest of my predental schooling. What should I be getting involved in there? I know they have a predental club so that's a must. And I could shadow/volunteer a few hours a week.

So basically I need to know what I should focus on this summer, and my last 2 semesters (Junior Year) before applying to dental school and when my DAT class should fit in.
Just so you know my standing:
cGPA 3.31, Last semester : 3.6, next two semesters I am aiming for a 3.6 at least. Obviously Im lacking a little bit in that side of things bc of my "undecided" year, but I can raise it.


I would appreciate all the advice I can get for this catch up work. I'm super stressed about this and I have spent hours and hours looking online for advice and trying to find out what prep I should be doing! Thanks for listening 🙂

 

[JcRoughriders]

if you want to apply next June, start thinking about recommendation letters. I really suggest asking them in February because some people take longer than others.
For DAT, if you have finished all the classes, by all means take it because the materials will be fresh in your memory. But do allot one to two months completely for studying prior to the test date.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

Thanks for the input. I want to get reccomendation letters from an endo and ortho specialist that I will be shadowing. How many proffesors should I aim for?

 

[JcRoughriders]

Well for me it's two major professors, one non-major, and one dentist.

 

[reely989]

Thanks for the input. I want to get reccomendation letters from an endo and ortho specialist that I will be shadowing. How many proffesors should I aim for?

Not gonna rain on your parade, there is nothing wrong with shadowing specialists, but be aware that some schools don't really value it highly. I know a girl who was interviewed by her school of choice, and she said they basically grilled her about why she had shadowed an orthodontist more than a general dentist.

I'm not saying not to get the letters from them, I'm just saying that I wouldn't bank on doing a majority of my shadowing with specialists. These dental schools are training you to be a general dentist first and foremost. They want to see that you know what that consists of.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

Ok thanks for the tip. I did plan on shadowing a general dentist more than the specialists but I didn't know that it affected admissions so thank you. Im still looking for responses on how many hours of volunteer vs shadowing if anyone has any input.

 

[reely989]

Ok thanks for the tip. I did plan on shadowing a general dentist more than the specialists but I didn't know that it affected admissions so thank you. Im still looking for responses on how many hours of volunteer vs shadowing if anyone has any input.

I'm not saying it directly affects admissions. But know that their primary goal is to get you through dental school to be a general dentist. If you have more shadowing with specialists, you better be prepared to answer some questions as to why. The girl I know still got in, so it isn't automatic rejection or anything.

 

[THRILLOFDAFILL]

hate to be a douche, but when you say you are not doing it for the money is complete bs. You went from being a business major to a predent student. Both make good amounts of money, while there is less risk with dentistry. So please when you go into a d school interview, tell them your boring story because no one will believe you.

Also, try your best not to take online classes, some schools will not accept them or they are looked down upon. good luck

 

[amalgamgrillz]

hate to be a douche, but when you say you are not doing it for the money is complete bs. You went from being a business major to a predent student. Both make good amounts of money, while there is less risk with dentistry. So please when you go into a d school interview, tell them your boring story because no one will believe you.

Also, try your best not to take online classes, some schools will not accept them or they are looked down upon. good luck

I really don't think you care about being a douche. lol

 

[reely989]

hate to be a douche, but when you say you are not doing it for the money is complete bs. You went from being a business major to a predent student. Both make good amounts of money, while there is less risk with dentistry. So please when you go into a d school interview, tell them your boring story because no one will believe you.

Also, try your best not to take online classes, some schools will not accept them or they are looked down upon. good luck

So, it is completely unbelievable for someone to change their major from a business field to a health care related field? I can't speak for the guy, you may be right, and it may be a purely monetary move, but you don't exactly have any basis whatsoever to go on. I began my college career as an engineering major, swapped to psychology, and I'm now a pre-dental student, and I can assure you, it isn't because of the money. And as you have done, you could bash me and say that I did it for the money, and you'd be completely wrong. Sometimes you have to look around a bit for the career that suits you. Not everyone emerged from the womb wanting to be a dentist.

I guess I just don't really see the point in calling the guy out when there is nothing to gain, and no way (or reason of accusation) to prove what you suggest.


Though, I would agree that I'd be careful with online classes. Especially Organic. That has the potential to be disastrous. If you don't learn the material, and take organic 2 in a classroom, you are going to struggle.

 

[doc toothache]

Skip the on line organic and take a real course.

 

[dentalWorks]

First of all I just want to say this: My ultimate goal/dream at this point in my life is to become a dentist. It's not something that I am just considering or thinking about; It's what I want to do, and not for the money. I shadowed a dentist who recommended a back up plan "just in case". Now I am not against that completely, but I feel that rule would only apply to those who don't want dental school for the right reasons, or as badly as the people who should be dentists. A plan on how to survive paying school loans and bettering my App until I do get into dental school is what I would consider.

You don't owe us any explanation as to why you want dentistry... your reasons are your own. We are here to give you advice on how to be a successful pre-dental applicant, not judge ur motivations.

However I need to make the most of this summer if I am going to apply to dental school next June. So far my involvement includes: an HR internship at lifesteps last summer and this summer, Delta Chi fraternity Secretary and fundraising chair, and 15 hours of shadowing a dentist. This summer I want to reach at least 100 hours of shadowing and 100 hours of volunteer work to throw in there. Is that a good goal? It's going to be tough with my part-time internship and online class (Organic chem) in June but I can definitely do it. What else should I be doing though? I was thinking of maybe taking the kaplan DAT course in July since I will have all of the pre-req's by then. Is that too early for the DAT? Should I focus more on shadowing or volunteer work? Does two summers of an HR internship look good for dental school app's?

Well, whether you do Kaplan DAT course or self-study thats up to you. They both have their own advantages / disadvantages, read up in the DAT forums for best route.

IMO, you should spend this summer and take the DAT before fall term starts. Since your last pre-req will be complete by July, get this test out of the way. So that next year, you devote all your time into applying.

Getting 100 hours of shadowing and 100 in volunteering is good, and I believe you'll have time to do this AND study for the DAT.

I am transferring to Penn State University Park this coming fall for the rest of my predental schooling. What should I be getting involved in there? I know they have a predental club so that's a must. And I could shadow/volunteer a few hours a week.

No it is NOT a must. Far from it. I went to a few pre-med / pre-dent clubs, because they had free pizza from time to time (well, it was little caesars, whatever, pepto bismol solved the problem). Thats about all the benefit I got from that. I didn't even mention on my application I was part of such clubs.

So basically I need to know what I should focus on this summer, and my last 2 semesters (Junior Year) before applying to dental school and when my DAT class should fit in.
Just so you know my standing:
cGPA 3.31, Last semester : 3.6, next two semesters I am aiming for a 3.6 at least. Obviously Im lacking a little bit in that side of things bc of my "undecided" year, but I can raise it.

Lets get something straight, shadowing is important (100 hours is more than enough), volunteering is important (I dunno whats considered a good amount) but there is NOTHING that substitutes for poor accademic performance.

Your goal should be to focus 90%+ of your energy into your grades and DAT, the rest you can put it on the ECs (shadowing, volunteering, whatever else).

If this was my summer, I would get my shadowing & volunteering done, and take the DAT out before Fall term.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

hate to be a douche, but when you say you are not doing it for the money is complete bs. You went from being a business major to a predent student. Both make good amounts of money, while there is less risk with dentistry. So please when you go into a d school interview, tell them your boring story because no one will believe you.

Also, try your best not to take online classes, some schools will not accept them or they are looked down upon. good luck

I don't think it was necessary to say that me not being in it for the money is "complete bs" because that is not true, but I appreciate the tip on avoiding saying that in an interview so thanks. The online class wasn't really avoidable, its part of my catching up process and getting everything in so I can take the DAT early.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

If I don't take this online o. Chem class I will be further behind ...does it really look bad having one online class in my entire undergrad?

Thanks for the responses everyone I appreciate the advice!

 

[dentalWorks]

If I don't take this online o. Chem class I will be further behind ...does it really look bad having one online class in my entire undergrad?

Thanks for the responses everyone I appreciate the advice!

doubt it