I'm a high school senior looking to become a general dentist. I'm really interested in the programs at University of the Pacific that shorten the overall process. So essentially, depending on SAT scores and GPA, you could complete a 5,6, or 7 year program and receive your DDS and Bachelor's all in one go. What are the pros and cons of completing this faster than the normal four years of undergrad and four years of dental school and getting out into the field quicker? Right now I'm shooting for any of those programs at UOP, but I'm wondering if it's the right- or best route to get where I want to go? Any opinions or comments are welcome!
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Opinions on UOP Programs?
Started by bpp1991
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My good friend saxyducky and I have decided that if you want to do general dentistry, then the accelerated UoP programs are without a doubt the best thing you can do for yourself, especially the 5 year programs.
Why the rush? Enjoy the process. College could be some of the best times in your life, and taking a wide range of classes promote a rounded education. It's shown to be influential in a person's judgment and overall maturity. Spending the full 4 years may just be better than doing the quick 2 years if you play your cards right. Challenge yourself. Take some science courses... and literature, drama, sociology, art, visual culture, religion, ethics, psychology, and the slew of courses your college has to offer. The education matters as much as the degree.
The whole being a dentist at age 23 thing does seem like a pretty good gig.
Won't being younger give people the impression that I'm less experienced?
Think your 70 year old patient is going to care if you're 23 vs. 25? Grow a beard, it's been working for me
To get accepted to the 5 or 6 year program at UOP you have to be a genius. Everyone of these students in my class were incredibly intelligent and graduated in the top 15 in the class at the age of 20/21. Unless you are extremely mature it would be hard to be a dentist at 20. It is hard to be a dentist at 24---you get a lot of resistance from patients. I would enjoy college, party hard and study for 4 years. You won't ever be 18-22 again and you should enjoy those years. Being really young and having a million dollars in debt is stressful and makes you old very quickly.
