New Member - Want to introduce myself

[customx]

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Thanks everyone

 

[doc toothache]

Squeezing in the pre requisites in time for 2011 is going to be quite a challenge. Your story has the making of choosing dentistry for the wrong reasons.

 

[customx]

Squeezing in the pre requisites in time for 2011 is going to be quite a challenge. Your story has the making of choosing dentistry for the wrong reasons.

I'm just researching

 

[doc3232]

Squeezing in the pre requisites in time for 2011 is going to be quite a challenge. Your story has the making of choosing dentistry for the wrong reasons.

👍 This sums it up.

 

[AnInconvntTooth]

Before you start taking classes and blindly making a career change, you should first shadow dentists and volunteer at dental clinics to see if dentistry really interests you. There are tons of other careers that allow you to help people, and there are much easier ways to make money. The whole dental education experience is a long one, and you want to be sure you've made the right choice before you start that journey. Seattle has many dental volunteer opportunities. PM me if you need some ideas.

Because you've already graduated, it'll be difficult for you to reapply to UW to take your science prereqs, as they give top priority to those without degrees and they've been lowering their number of undergrad admissions; however, you can check their non-matriculated option, which allows you to enroll in a course if there's still room available. You can also research post-bacc programs for pre-health students that consist of the prereqs you'd need to take. Seattle University has a program like this.

 

[customx]

Before you start taking classes and blindly making a career change, you should first shadow dentists and volunteer at dental clinics to see if dentistry really interests you. There are tons of other careers that allow you to help people, and there are much easier ways to make money. The whole dental education experience is a long one, and you want to be sure you've made the right choice before you start that journey. Seattle has many dental volunteer opportunities. PM me if you need some ideas.

Because you've already graduated, it'll be difficult for you to reapply to UW to take your science prereqs, as they give top priority to those without degrees and they've been lowering their number of undergrad admissions; however, you can check their non-matriculated option, which allows you to enroll in a course if there's still room available. You can also research post-bacc programs for pre-health students that consist of the prereqs you'd need to take. Seattle University has a program like this.

.

 

[KitKat09]

Thanks for the information. I mentioned shadowing to my dentist and he may be open to the idea, but wants time to think about it. If I'm able to spend some time with him and find dentistry uninteresting, I'm not about to kid myself and try to be a dentist.

hmm, does not sound like that dentist is interested in helping you... maybe you could check with your friends and families, someone is bound to have a good relationship with dentist who would be happy to let you shadow...

 

[bennijai]

Yea if your dentist is hesitating and needs "time" to think about it, I suggest you start calling around and asking others who are more enthusiastic with the idea.

 

[drdicty]

Thanks for the information. I mentioned shadowing to my dentist and he may be open to the idea, but wants time to think about it. If I'm able to spend some time with him and find dentistry uninteresting, I'm not about to kid myself and try to be a dentist.

I agree with those above me who have commented on this. Most dentists are not averse to the idea of someone interested in shadowing them because (a) they don't have to pay this person, and (b) it gives them a chance to really bring out the notable (advantageous and disadvantageous) points of dentistry in the context of their practice. It doesn't seem like this dentist is welcome to that idea. If you live in the Seattle area, there will be a myriad of dentists who would be glad to help you.

 

[doc toothache]

Sounds like your dentist pegged you right; you would rather be flapping your wings than shadow him.

 

[Ambient]

Sounds like your dentist pegged you right; you would rather be flapping your wings than shadow him.

Or he could really need time to think it over. Having someone with no experience whatsoever working beside you is most certainly a liability. Maybe he wanted to assess the risks because in this day and age, malpractice suits are a dime a dozen.

 

[FutureDent020]

Or he could really need time to think it over. Having someone with no experience whatsoever working beside you is most certainly a liability. Maybe he wanted to assess the risks because in this day and age, malpractice suits are a dime a dozen.

I don't think a dentist will even put a shadowee in a position to screw up. I shadowed a bunch of dentist and the most I ever did was assist for several months. And my responsibilities included suctioning, curing, water spraying, handing over instruments, and preparing molds. You would really have to try to hurt someone.

 

[Ambient]

I don't think a dentist will even put a shadowee in a position to screw up. I shadowed a bunch of dentist and the most I ever did was assist for several months. And my responsibilities included suctioning, curing, water spraying, handing over instruments, and preparing molds. You would really have to try to hurt someone.

It doesn't make a difference. Do you realize how frivolous some of these suits are? Patients are looking for ANY reason to sue health care providers. Sometimes, it's best to err on the safe side.

Although, I'm really just playing devil's advocate here. I pretty much agree with you.

 

[doc toothache]

Or he could really need time to think it over. Having someone with no experience whatsoever working beside you is most certainly a liability. Maybe he wanted to assess the risks because in this day and age, malpractice suits are a dime a dozen.

You are confusing shadowing with working.

 

[customx]

I'm

 

[wwdaffodils]

-

 

[wwdaffodils]

And welcome! I don't think anyone's said that yet.

 

[oreoson]

As the korean proverb goes, you can catch two birds with one stone by joining the air force and getting them to pay for your tuition, so you can become a dentist while pursuing your dream of becoming a pilot.

 

[Svart Aske]

As the korean proverb goes, you can catch two birds with one stone by joining the air force and getting them to pay for your tuition, so you can become a dentist while pursuing your dream of becoming a pilot.

Using dentistry as a stopgap is not realistic at all.

 

[FutureDent020]

Doc toothache - Why do you sound so negative about me even exploring the possibility of dentistry? Did I grow up wanting to be a dentist? No. Does that mean that I can't look into the field and see what it's like? What about other career changers that I've read about on this forum? Do you believe they suddenly woke up one day and thought, "I want to be a dentist!" What if, after graduating from college, I worked as pilot for 5 years and decided it wasn't for me? Would you be judging me any differently?

It's nothing personal... It's a truthful rebuttal. He's done it to me and everyone else. He has never been unreasonable or rude, just posts the truth that can be hard to hear.

If you ask for advice, it may not be the advice you want to hear.

If you want to be a dentist, work hard and see what happens

 

[Svart Aske]

Hi. I just found these forums earlier this week and am really glad I did. There is a ton of information on here and I've been spending every break at work and my time at home reading as much as I can.

I'm 28, graduated from the University of Washington in 2004 with a BA in business, and have been working in South Korea for nearly 5 years teaching English. I couldn't see myself in the corporate world and wanted to try something new and challenge myself, so I came to Korea. I love my job and I really enjoy working with kids and teenagers. My job is never boring, and every day presents new challenges. However, my lifelong dream has been to be a pilot, so I've been saving up money to go to pilot school and earn all my ratings to become a flight instructor. With the economy in the toilet though and pilots being laid off left and right with no job security, I've started to rethink my future. While I would love to fly for a living, the instability and seniority system in regards to pay has me really worried.

Thus, I've started to think about a career as a dentist. There are a lot of things about the field that sound appealing, but I have yet to take any pre-req science courses for DS. I'm thinking about returning to Seattle and getting started on all those fun classes so maybe I could apply for entry in 2011.

I have a lot of questions, but I'm doing my best to look through the archives to see if my questions have already been posted. Thanks everyone

If you're serious about pursuing dentistry, you should come back to the States and find a dentist to shadow. I live near Seattle and I contacted the Snohomish County Dental Society and asked if they know any dentists willing to have people shadowing them. It worked out well.

It seems unlikely that you will have completed all your prerequisites (enroll in a post-bac program at a 4-year university) in time to apply for 2011 entry. Added to that, preparing for the DAT, getting shadowing hours and letters of recommendation pretty much make it impossible to expect to apply next year. You should take your time to make sure that you have a solid application before proceeding. You also need to seriously consider your career goals before giving up flying for dentistry, as the admissions committees will want to understand your reasons and level of motivation for entering this field.

 

[AnInconvntTooth]

I volunteered for a local public clinic that absolutely loved having someone pull charts and run the autoclaves for free. The dentist was very open to letting me observe any procedures that interested me. You can check with the Union Gospel Mission and Sea-Mar for volunteer opportunities, too.