Need help building Application (starting from scratch)

[jjj2]

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I graduated college last may, after 6 years with a BA in Biology;
3.4 gpa overall, 3.2 science. Close to 4.0 for the last 3 years.

I was planning on finding a job in a related field but that has went nowhere.
Consequently, Im considering Dental school. (Physics is my weak point and I have a strong sense of spatial orientation and thus I feel I would do better on the DAT. I am also good with my hand( ie working with small electronics, etc)

I have not taken the DAT yet nor do I have the ECs or LORs.
I have several professors who I have a good friendship with that can write me LORs.

I know I have a long uphill battle ahead of me, but I figure If I shadow 2 or 3 dentists/ specialists for 80+ hours and volunteer at a hospital for 100+ hours
it would give me a decent application,

I plan to apply to my home state school (UMDNJ)

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[doc toothache]

Another case of choosing dentistry for the wrong reasons.

 

[Timmi]

Doc Toothache if you wouldn't mind explaining that would be appreciated.

 

[Predoctalk]

Doc Toothache if you wouldn't mind explaining that would be appreciated.

Yea, seriously. I mean dentistry is a very appealing career for many reasons, but how are you qualified to decide which are the right ones? I can definitely see myself as a dentist, but I am not obsessed with teeth.. So why is it not good for a student who has an educational background related to the field to be interested in dentistry as a career?

 

[Phlogicyde]

I agree with doc toothache on how this appears. The OP was asking if he would be able to get into medical school just a few months ago. After not being able to "find a job in a related field", he "consequently" wants to go to dental school. It looks like he wants to go to dental school because he thinks it's easier to get into than medical school. That wouldn't be a good reason to do it.

 

[Predoctalk]

I agree with doc toothache on how this appears. The OP was asking if he would be able to get into medical school just a few months ago. After not being able to "find a job in a related field", he "consequently" wants to go to dental school. It looks like he wants to go to dental school because he thinks it's easier to get into than medical school. That wouldn't be a good reason to do it.

Well if this is the case, the op will find that he is sadly mistaken. However, he/she weighed his/her strong points and believes his/her characteristics suit him for a career in dentistry and there is nothing wrong with that. And, the reality is that an BA or BS is biology is not going to be as "useful" on its own as would be if it were used as a stepping stone for a professional school.

 

[Predoctalk]

ps..sorry about the mistakes in my post. didn't read over it.

 

[Phlogicyde]

Well if this is the case, the op will find that he is sadly mistaken. However, he/she weighed his/her strong points and believes his/her characteristics suit him for a career in dentistry and there is nothing wrong with that. And, the reality is that an BA or BS is biology is not going to be as "useful" on its own as would be if it were used as a stepping stone for a professional school.

This sounds fine with me. I know how hard it is to find a job when all you have is a BA or BS in biological sciences. I also don't have any issue with pre-meds who change their minds and decide that dentistry is better suited for them. I was once a pre-med myself. If the op is truly interested in a career in dentistry, I hope nothing but the best for him. However, the impression that I (and I take it doc toothache) got from the op is that he's mainly looking for the path of least resistance. I would encourage the op to spend time shadowing and talking with dentists to make sure this is really what he wants, before potentially making himself miserable.

 

[nitrolegs]

rather than criticizing the op for what seems to appear to others as choosing dentistry for the wrong reasons, i'm just going to say, at this point, to go forward with the shadowing and to see if dentistry is right for you. you might hate the idea of working with teeth for the rest of your career, or, you might end up like the rest of us, who don't mind it at all. that is the first and most important requirement to being a dentist. if you are still seriously bothered by teeth after shadowing, you may be putting yourself on a long path of misery if you choose dentistry, just like phlog said.

 

[jjj2]

To those that have advice specific to my situation, it would be very helpful. Howver to those who are criticizing my motivations, refriain from posting.

Those of who who claim that in order to go into medicine you must be born with the insatiable desire to help people, you are full of ****. To those who this applies to, you disguise your true motives of money and prestige ( which is a reasonable part of it) with the falicy that you are only in it " for the love of the human anatomy and the selfless, unwaivering desire to help the community."

If that were the case then why dosent anyone consider Chiropractic; a field that greatly improves the health and quality of life for many. Because it is not as lucrative or respected. THe Student Doctor network is so biased against it that they have forums for Veternarians, which is not even human healthcare.

If these people were so set on a health care field then why do many of them have their plan set as Doctor, dentist, or if that fails Lawyer. Being a lawyer has absolutely nothing to do with health care, other than earning good money and being fairly respected.

Shadowing Doctors/dentists will give me useful insight about the career i will choose but ultimatley ones GPA/scores will determine the where their career will go. Otherwise there would be virtually no DOs and nearly everyone would be a dermatologist/plastic surgeon.