Non-Traditional Advice

[TwentyTwelve]

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So I've been following this board for a while now and have gotten some great ideas/advice from just trolling. However, there comes a point when you gotta crack down and get moving...So here goes, and ill try and keep this as short as possible...

I graduated in 2008 from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture with a 3.63 GPA, but essentially no science classes because they were not required for my major and I did not know that Dentistry was in my future. About my third year in school (in a five year program) I realized that this was not the field for me for many reasons, and after working in the profession for almost two years, I KNOW this is not the career path I would like to take for the rest of my life (I'm 24).

After some soul searching, research, shadowing, volunteering, etc in the health care field, Dentistry is an amazing fit for my goals, values, aspirations, technical and social skills. Basically I did my homework to find the field that fit me, my dreams and skills so that my life would parallel the profession I would be immersed. That being said, I am moving forward with my pre-dental track with the hope of entering Dental School in 2012 (hence my name).

I am planning on starting my pre-requisite classes this summer starting with Chem 1/2 followed by the fall/spring semesters of Bio 1/2, Physics 1/2, and Organic 1/2 all with labs of course. Take the DAT in the summer 2011, presumably score >20 average and apply late summer 2011. (i currently live in NC---so UNC would be my first choice, followed by ECU which will have a school open in 2011).

I have begun extra curriculars full force...I have over 200 hours volunteering in a hospital ER, shadowing is rolling along nicely, and I am going to pick up other activities I am passionate about. At VT I was president of the Golf Club for two years, and president of the Landscape Architecture Society-Virginia Chapter, and won an undergraduate merit award, National Scholastic Art Award etc....

I have spoken with the pre-health adviser at UNCC where I will be taking my pre-reqs and we have somewhat nailed down the plan listed above. My questions begin here (so much for being short)...

1. For those who have been there done that (props btw) and gotten accepted or are further along than me, does my planned course load seem feasible (summer session, fall, spring, DAT, admission in that short order)? I am worried that a rushed schedule will limit my extra curriculars or because I will not have upper level science classes completed before applying this may hurt me even though I have a degree and have proved I can handle upper level classes albeit not science.

2. Currently I am working full time in Landscape Architecture completing a two year contract which I signed in July of 2008. If I left early to start school this summer which I plan to do, I will be subject to penalty, i.e. paying back my signing bonus. There are other school options such as starting in the fall of 2010 instead of summer sessions, but this would push back my Dental School start date to 2013. In your opinion, is it better to bite the bullet of maybe paying back a sizable signing bonus to start earlier? Or would the kept signing bonus added with the extra few months more work (approx. 10000) put me in a better financial position to start Dental School, but a year later?

3. Any other advice out there I might be missing? All is welcome!!!

Sorry if this makes no sense, but I don't think any non-traditional applicants pathway does....

Thanks guys (and girls), I appreciate the help!! I'll try and stay up to date on the post...I'm in the office right now peeking back and forth at this and work material.

 

[subdoc]

1. Put Physics off to later. Physics is not covered on the DAT. Take after you apply as classes need to be completed before you MATRICULATE, not before you apply.
2. When it comes to finances, it is all about how bite of a bite you are willing to take. Would your company be willing to prorate the bonus for time already committed to them? Have you investigated NIGHT Chem courses over the summer? Many CCs offer them. IMO you need a good background in Chem before tackling OChem. At many locations (even CCs) OChem separates the wheat from the chaff and you don't want to be handicapped prior to taking the course as it will be an uphill battle.
3. You could always push OChem to after you apply as well although this would mean teaching yourself OChem for the DAT. Not recommended, but if you are set on applying for 2010 you could do it. People are capable of amazing things if they have a passion and put their mind to it!
4. I am a non-standard applicant myself, so I feel your pain.
5. Keep up a positive life outside school and round yourself out in activities you are interested in. Look at positive community service opportunities as many dental schools are more interested in community outreach than shadowing, as eveidenced by their curriculums. Shadow as much as you feel like it, but definitely enough to establish a relationship with a dentist who could advise/mentor/write a good LOR for you. Look for teamwork opportunities to include paying it forward to others in similar situations.
6. Finally, stay positive and keep your eyes on the prize. When you get down (and there will plenty of times this will happen) realize why you are doing this. Be happy you have defined goals in place, which places you light years ahead of the pack!

Best of luck on your apps/prereqs! Keep chipping away and all you will have left is everyone else in your dust!

 

[alanan84]

I think your planned coursework seems very doable. I think you already touched on the only potential problem with your plan which is the lack of upper level sciences. Remember that those of us doing bio/chem degrees have a lot of these classes and you'll have none. That matters to some schools, to others it doesn't matter at all. Make sure you ask the schools that question.

As far as your signing bonus, would it be possible for you to work and take genchem 1 and 2 in the evening over the summer? I guess that's pretty hard to find... I don't really know what to tell you on that one.

 

[sketo43]

1. I'm also a career changer, and I did the exact same schedule that you proposed: summer chem, then bio, physics, and ochem during the academic year. It was a lot of work - someone mentioned working while taking summer chem - at least for my class, that was not an option. Chemistry ruled my summer, and there was no time to work. Anyway, I'm happy with my schedule, but taking 3 lab classes at once was tough. Now that I'm in my glide year, I'm glad I don't have to worry about physics, but if you want to do physics during the glide year that's fine too.

I think you already have a lot of good ECs. If you're looking for more, I would recommend community service - maybe your hospital volunteering would fall under this category, but I was thinking something more along the lines of volunteering at a soup kitchen, working with a big brother/big sister organization, etc. Also, start a hobby that involves manual dexterity: building model cars, jewelery making, etc. My suggestions won't be a big time commitment, and I think you can do them while taking bio, ochem, and physics at the same time.

There are a few dental schools that want to see research experience, so depending which schools you're interested in, and depending if you like research, this could be another EC to pursue.

2. That's a tough call. In terms of total lifetime earnings, I think you're better off giving up the signing bonus, and having an extra year's income as a dentist. On the other hand, I'm sure the signing bonus will be useful as you're going back to school to finish your classes. Tough call.

3. In my experience, as long as you have good grades (which you already do - keep it up!), and as long as you do well on the DAT, then having upper level bio classes isn't necessary when you apply. I didn't have any before I took the DAT or submitted my application (although I did take biochem and A&P1 this past fall). Same thing with a good friend in my program. We both got in to some great dental schools. My advice is to take a couple upper level bio classes during your glide year, and don't let it hold up your application.

4. There are some post-bac programs that offer joint admission to the dental school. I know that Tufts offers a program like this, and I think Creighton might. Anyway, it would save a year - no glide year! I decided not to do this because at the time, I didn't know which dental school I wanted to attend. But if you know you want to go to UNC, check out if they have anything like this

Good luck!

 

[TwentyTwelve]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!!

-I had not thought about taking physics later on after applying...interesting

-I would hope that my company would be compassionate since I would not be screwing them over or anything and the basis of the signing bonus would be to not peace out after two weeks on the job cash in hand...pro-rating it would pay out at $400...very doable to start school a year earlier...

-Im thinking it would be best for the majority of my questions to approach the individual school im interested in to figure specifics out...

Thanks again and keep it coming!!

 

[Osurgeon]

very inspirational post 🙂

1. Put Physics off to later. Physics is not covered on the DAT. Take after you apply as classes need to be completed before you MATRICULATE, not before you apply.
2. When it comes to finances, it is all about how bite of a bite you are willing to take. Would your company be willing to prorate the bonus for time already committed to them? Have you investigated NIGHT Chem courses over the summer? Many CCs offer them. IMO you need a good background in Chem before tackling OChem. At many locations (even CCs) OChem separates the wheat from the chaff and you don't want to be handicapped prior to taking the course as it will be an uphill battle.
3. You could always push OChem to after you apply as well although this would mean teaching yourself OChem for the DAT. Not recommended, but if you are set on applying for 2010 you could do it. People are capable of amazing things if they have a passion and put their mind to it!
4. I am a non-standard applicant myself, so I feel your pain.
5. Keep up a positive life outside school and round yourself out in activities you are interested in. Look at positive community service opportunities as many dental schools are more interested in community outreach than shadowing, as eveidenced by their curriculums. Shadow as much as you feel like it, but definitely enough to establish a relationship with a dentist who could advise/mentor/write a good LOR for you. Look for teamwork opportunities to include paying it forward to others in similar situations.
6. Finally, stay positive and keep your eyes on the prize. When you get down (and there will plenty of times this will happen) realize why you are doing this. Be happy you have defined goals in place, which places you light years ahead of the pack!

Best of luck on your apps/prereqs! Keep chipping away and all you will have left is everyone else in your dust!