Non-trad, concerning history, need advice

[nontraDent]

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Hi all, I need advice whether you think my history is too concerning for dental school adcoms to consider seriously.

Relevant background:
-age 30+
-undergrad 3.6 overall, 3.9 science from a top 20 university
-MPH from a top school
-several years clinical research, currently working in a well-regarded job doing healthcare analytics
-MCAT 97th percentile 5 years ago
-Got into US medical school more than 3 years ago, matriculated for 1 week, withdrew for personal reasons, which I wouldn't want to go into too much depth about with an adcom
-Don't want to go back to medical school (for several reasons, especially training duration required to do more technical hand skills work), and probably 0 chance of me going back given that I left

Dentistry has always appealed to me, even before I considered medical school, but I did choose the medical school route which obviously I didn't follow-through on. I've been contemplating if I should seriously reconsider dental school. Currently, I'm at a crossroads career-wise of more fully committing to the career path I'm on or slowing up a bit for a year and beginning to study for DAT, shadow a bunch, take 1 or 2 or more bio classes.

My concern is--after applying to and matriculating briefly at a US medical school, what the heck do I say to an adcom that would convince them I'm "safe" to consider and accept? Would my application be effectively dead on arrival? Should I try to talk to an adcom member about my situation?

As far as leaving medical school so soon, to be frank, there were lifestyle concerns for my partner and me about training and time commitment career-wise to get to a specialty I enjoyed, however, I also had some mental health issues that I was dealing with at that unfortunate time. Neither of these are things I'd like to talk about with an adcom.

Summary: Matriculated briefly to medical school, considering dentistry, am I being realistic?

 

[queenki]

I have no experience regarding this but my guess is, pretty obvious, you can't avoid talking to adcom about why you left, and how you are different now. Without that, why would they consider who already had left school so soon?
I think you already know you are safe with stats and everything else.

I would think you need to come up with very honest disclosure of what happened, why, and how your situation and mind set is different.

That's just my thought though.

 

[Jlm50]

I think you can answer their question about what happened without giving the same information as if you were talking to a friend.

I dont know your situation but you could say something about it was unfortunate timing and you had to make the decision between family or med school and you chose family as hard as that may have been. And after X amount of time you realized that it would have been the wrong career choice and dentistry is the way to go.

 

[nontraDent]

I think you can answer their question about what happened without giving the same information as if you were talking to a friend.

I dont know your situation but you could say something about it was unfortunate timing and you had to make the decision between family or med school and you chose family as hard as that may have been. And after X amount of time you realized that it would have been the wrong career choice and dentistry is the way to go.

Thanks--this is along the lines of what I've been thinking of how to frame it. I struggle with whether it's "truthful enough"--to be honest, if it weren't for the mental health aspect I probably would still be in medicine (and miserable). The mental health stuff coming up gives me some hesitation to even put myself out there. It's certainly discouraged to discuss in medical school apps etc, and I assume the same for dentistry.

 

[Nulqil]

Of course you have a shot. However, I question the reason of your withdrawal from medical school. IF mental health was the reason, and you are still affected, the two disciplines are very similar in ways, even in the classroom during your D1 and D2 years. If you believe you’re ready for the training, then you just need to have a statement for adcoms that shows a drastic change of attitude and/or mind that is a testament to your ability to succeed this time.

 

[gyngyn]

The odds are good that any school considering you would call your Student Affairs Dean.
Would they be supportive?

 

[Jlm50]

I wouldn't mention the mental health issues just because they may worry that the stress of dental school will negatively impact you. If you don't lie, you're being honest enough. They dont need to know EVERYTHING about you, just who you are as a person in general.

 

[nontraDent]

The odds are good that any school considering you would call your Student Affairs Dean.
Would they be supportive?

Likely no as they viewed my withdrawal and circumstances for withdrawing very differently. I did not disclose the mental health aspect, and they essentially said the decision closed my opportunity on medicine. The story is much more complex than this, but suffice to say the angle they would tell is decidedly unfavorable. If a dental adcom did call the med school dean of SA, I imagine this would be a breach of student confidentiality, but I assume it happens, especially if they're in the same city, as would be the case. The worst thing for me would be to be kicked out of dental school for lying about why I withdrew from med school, and frankly, the med school didn't even know half of it.

 

[gyngyn]

Likely no as they viewed my withdrawal and circumstances for withdrawing very differently. I did not disclose the mental health aspect, and they essentially said the decision closed my opportunity on medicine. The story is much more complex than this, but suffice to say the angle they would tell is decidedly unfavorable. If a dental adcom did call the med school dean of SA, I imagine this would be a breach of student confidentiality, but I assume it happens, especially if they're in the same city, as would be the case. The worst thing for me would be to be kicked out of dental school for lying about why I withdrew from med school, and frankly, the med school didn't even know half of it.

Any school where you have matriculated may legitimately be contacted.

 

[nontraDent]

Of course you have a shot. However, I question the reason of your withdrawal from medical school. IF mental health was the reason, and you are still affected, the two disciplines are very similar in ways, even in the classroom during your D1 and D2 years. If you believe you’re ready for the training, then you just need to have a statement for adcoms that shows a drastic change of attitude and/or mind that is a testament to your ability to succeed this time.

I have managed through and have done well academically and professionally in the >3 years since this happened. I personally feel as though I'd be okay, as do my medical peers. Edit: by peers I mean groups of friends who are medical professionals, including md's, nurses, pa's, and dentists.

 

[nontraDent]

Any school where you have matriculated may legitimately be contacted.

What may they disclose outside of the student file? I have nothing in my file about discipline or anything (I looked when applying to masters programs) except that I matriculated and withdrew.) I don't even have a transcript as it was so short. I did have conversations with the deans and email communications.

I'm asking both legally (if you're familiar with the law, generally, though state laws vary) and "real world" what happens.

 

[gyngyn]

What may they disclose outside of the student file? I have nothing in my file about discipline or anything (I looked when applying to masters programs) except that I matriculated and withdrew.) I don't even have a transcript as it was so short. I did have conversations with the deans and email communications.

I'm asking both legally (if you're familiar with the law, generally, though state laws vary) and "real world" what happens.

When a rare event occurs (like this one), calling the school is considered due diligence.
We would ask for your permission to contact the school.
The alternative is not to consider the candidate at all (as the differential dx is pretty serious).
For all of the less serious reasons, a Leave of Absence would have been taken.