Need Some Direction...

[sundevil12]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello all i'm new to the forum and beginning the journey to becoming a Dentist...
And I had a few questions...

I've just recently graduated with my bachelor's and suddenly have had a change of heart with the career i want to pursue. Now wanting to be a dentist i've realized i have none of the required pre-requisites except for Bio 100 which i got a A in because i've always had a love for science but chose to major in Film and Media to follow a passion/hobby...

Am i totally screwed here?
So will have to take all the required courses in addition to my degree? How should i go about this.. take class after class until ive finished them all then take the DAT before i apply?

Just questions that i needed some help before i start studying the DAT and even think about applying to schools.

 

[toyotasupra]

Yeah, you are going to have to take all the required science courses to be eligible to apply to dental school. Also I don't think the BIO100 course is going to count.... I could be wrong, but I took the year long 200 series.

You are also going to need year long general chemistry, organic chemistry, and some schools require human anatomy with lab.

 

[predent12]

You're going to have to do some sort of post-bacc. You don't have to do a formal program, (I didn't,) but some students choose to.

You'll have to start with the required classes, (Bio, Orgo, Chem and Physics,) and some schools require more.

Make sure that you think long and hard about where to do your post-bacc. I don't recommend a community college because many schools don't accept credits from one. I personally did mine through Harvard Extension and I would recommend it in a heartbeat. It was less expensive than most (by a lot,) and I completed all of my pre-reqs in a year. (Gen Chem over the summer, and Bio, Orgo & Phys during the year.) It was hard but well worth it!

Make sure to think about finances too. You're going to have a lot to pay for dental school, so you want to be as frugal as possible during your post-bacc, unless your family is willing to help you out.

 

[dans105]

I was in the same boat as you 3 years ago, and there are many more like us. It is definitely possible. There are different routes you can take, like a post-bacc at a University, or a Community College (what I did), but it is definitely doable. I went the CC route because I was working full time and could only take classes at night, but online or extension classes sound good too as long as you don't need a lab. Anyway I ended up taking all my prerequisites at Community Colleges, did shadowing and volunteering, took the DAT just before applying, and this past December I got accepted to two dental schools, including my state school. I did this all while working full time and with a wife and 1, then 2 kids at home. It won't be easy, but it's definitely doable if you have the drive. Check the pre-requisites for the schools you want, and check whether or not they accept Community College credits. Then make a plan and go for it if you still want it.

 

[goffdent]

Need direction? No.... just one direction...

 

[KittySquared]

Need direction? No.... just one direction...

LMAO well played.