I am only a junior in high school and it might be early to think of this already but I want to go to Dental school and my parents don't support it, they want me to go to med school. My mom is a doctor, a bunch of my aunts and uncles are doctors, and it seems like all my cousins are in either med school or pre-med, but I don't want to be a doctor. They keep saying the money is in medicine but I don't want that extra money if it isn't something I would enjoy and if I would have to work a lot of hours for it. I like the dental field, either general dentist or orthodontist because I can probably make over 150,000 easily, the hours are great more time with family and for myself, and the work environment is something that fits me. How can I convince my parents that the dental field is just as good? To them money is everything, while important to me as I want a nice lifestyle I can afford to lose a few luxuries if it means more time to myself and my family, no nights and good hours, and a good environment.
Parents not supporting my decision...
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Some dentists make more than doctors 😀
Tell your parents to shove it. Don't feel like you have to go into medicine because of your parents "expectations." But in my opinion, being accepted to dental school is just as rewarding/impressive as being accepted into med school. Plus, having a dentist in the family they could get some free dental work done 😀 But hey, don't sweat it too much. You are still in high school and have plenty of time to decide.
Tell your parents to shove it. Don't feel like you have to go into medicine because of your parents "expectations." But in my opinion, being accepted to dental school is just as rewarding/impressive as being accepted into med school. Plus, having a dentist in the family they could get some free dental work done 😀 But hey, don't sweat it too much. You are still in high school and have plenty of time to decide.
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Maybe get some labor statistics and show them how much general dentists (or specialists like ortho) can make compared to various medical specialties. In my opinion, it's roughly the same (excluding crazy specialties like neuro). Another point that they may not have thought about is that, as a physician, you lose at least 3 years of earning potential as a resident.
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Ahh. I was in exactly the same shoes as you. Unfortunately, my dad ended up winning. I was so depressed after taking my MCAT this September that I couldn't study for biochem this semester and ended up dropping it. With this being my final year, and biochem being a requirement at virtually every D-school, the dream is dead. Medicine it is... I pray you have better luck that I did.
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Biochem is a common recommended course, not required. The dream lives on!
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I'm sorry that your parents don't support you 🙁. Thankfully you've at least got some time to convince them that dentistry is right for you. If money is so important to them, you could always bring up the huge medicare pay cuts that are set to go in effect for physicians next year (I think it's ~30%) 😱.
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You're a junior in high school - you will be doing exactly the same thing for the next, maybe, 4 to 6 or more years regardless of which you choose. Study hard, work hard and be ready for the DAT and MCAT. LOTS of time to convince mom or to acquire the maturity and means to follow your own path.
Not true.
VCU + MICH require Biochem. VCU doesn't even teach Biochem in the first year. You have to learn it by yourself for the Board 😍
It depends on where you want to apply.
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I'm sure there are schools that do require it. To clarify, I believe the majority of schools do not (i.e. the schools that only require the basic sciences).
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+1. Just keep working hard and moving toward your goal. You'll be fine. Besides (and you'll see this more clearly once you've gone to college and been on your own for a while), you don't always have to make mom and dad happy. This is YOUR life. Do what YOU want with it, not what mom and dad think you should do. Your parents are probably not going to pay for your dental education, so why do you need their approval? Besides, once they see that you're serious about this field, they might come around. It's too early to stress about your parents not supporting your career choice. I know it's upsetting to not get the support that you were hoping for, but for now just relax and enjoy being in high school! Things will work out just fine.
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Dont worry about it at all my man. Same pre requisites and everything, the only thing that would differ is shadowing. work hard, get some good extra currics, and when it comes near time to apply start doing some shadowing. this is 3-4 years away, and you'll see how much more freedom you will find once in college. Once you are a junior you can knock out dental shadowing in a few months and this will be the first definitive moment where you are "choosing" dental over medical. just keep them happy, and tell them youre CONSIDERING dentistry along with medicine. I'm sure everyone here who is advising you tell your parents "Stick it" has never been in such a situation. plenty'otime my friend, good luck 🙂
You can get into OMFS (Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery) where you can get a dual DDS or DMD and MD, which will def satisfy both you and your parents. 😀
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dude just keep ur goal... and work hard through out college
and when you're four years older than you are now... they'll listen to what u say and respect what decisions you make
and when you're four years older than you are now... they'll listen to what u say and respect what decisions you make
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Hi! I come from that kind of parents too except mine are both in the dental field - anyways - b/c I did what I want I am now 24 and finally realizing that I want to do dentistry for me not for them. I went into the science field - unsure about my path, but ultimately, I start to really shine in school, scores, when i decided what I wanted to do. If I were you, I understand putting up a fight is such a hassle, but your only a junior in hs 🙂 got a long way to go! When you get to college pre-med/pre-dental track is the same, so go for it either way and stick to what you want - in the end it is your decision. And dentistry suchhh an easier life in terms of post-school life...and yes orthodontists can make aLOT of money. OMFS is the cross over between the two worlds...you could also consider this though its a lot of work to get to and to be in (my dads and omfs)
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First of all.... Its irrelevant what your parents think. Do what YOU want to do.
Although, I HIGHLY doubt, theyr gonna disapprove of you that much by picking dentistry over medicine. Sure one is more "interesting" than the other, and the other is more "prestigious", but at the end, they are both top-of-the-line professions.
And like you said, its WAYYYYYYYY too early to be talking pre-med vs pre-dent... you haven't even started college yet. And the first 2-3 years of college, the difference between pre-dent vs pre-med is almost non-existent.
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Strange, so many docs/residents I know tell me they'd prefer their kids go into dentistry or pharmacy rather than medicine. I have trouble believing that docs on average make that much more than dentists; perhaps your parents believe you're destined for ortho or CT surgery or radiology? 😉
Maybe you should do some basic research, make a poster board presentation or a powerpoint, and show them you know what you're going into (compare and contrast medicine/dentistry on a general scale, provide the differences with the most objective data obtainable, etc). I think you're on the right track. Keep at it!
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Sounds like you enjoy butting heads with your parents. By the time you will be ready to apply to any professional school you may have changed your mind at least a dozen times.
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🤣
Best advice. Except you keep the artist shenanigan going for a year or 2 during undergrad for a better effect. Hahaha
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Greetings,
If your parents think dentistry is bad enough then let them read this link. I will be more than happy to answer any questions they may have. DP
http://www.studentdoctor.net/2007/0...inh-phan-dds-ms-maxillofacial-prosthodontics/
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hahaha. this is hilarious.
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I would stop butting heads with them so they assume you are leaning towards medicine. You will take the exact same classes so you won't have to reveal you choice for about five years. Shadow a few dentists when you start college to make sure dentistry is your true love. The time for making your stand will come but its about five years away.
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ive never heard of any parents not wanting their kids to be a dentist...you know technically they're doctors too, but my mom didnt want me to do PA (physicians assistant) so i decided to at least try dental, then try PA if i dont get in
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You won't be making the money in medicine or dentistry. You'll be comfortable, but the big bucks are in other fields. If I could input the same amount of effort into something that could be marketable, I would be a rich entrepreneur. Instead, I'm getting a DDS with 300k debt, while making a solid paycheck.
Same thing with medicine, although you'll be MD with 6 figure debt at the age of early 30's before you even see one penny. Healthcare is a solid field, but money is elsewhere. Do something you enjoy, and the money will come to you.
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Not making the money but being comfortable? How much money would you consider to be more than comfortable? Multi millions? Maybe it's just me, but netting anywhere in the 6 digits is a lot of money lol 😀. If dentists/doctors are only living comfortably, the dental assistants/nurses that work under them must barely be scraping by 😱
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depends on what kinda 6-figures your talking about.
100k is good for starting salary, but it should not be the norm when you have 5+ years of experience. By then, the absolute minimum in my book should be 150k (those 300-500k loans aren't gonna pay themselves)
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Just an FYI, if you get paid 100k starting salary, you will be in in hole for more debt. For a 300k-500k loan.
Dont forget taxes of your salary, If you are single, uncle sam will want more of your seed.
Biochem is not required in all schools. Most schools will let you substitute biochem with Orgo 2. Do what you want to do! Your parents will understand in the future 👍
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