Pep Talk

[docious]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Long story short... last year, after a few years in the working world, I decided to apply to dental school. Applied really late in the cycle, and had to do it all over again this year (this time with positive results 🙂 ).

As it stands right now, I have about 5 months left before I can quit my job, do some traveling this summer and then start school. I am very eager to begin but am having some doubts creep in... I have had way too much time to contemplate if I am ultimately making a decision that will make me happy in the long run.

As I'm practicing to be a poor graduate student and can't afford to enlist the help of a licensed therapist, is there anyone out there in a similar situation where dental school represents a drastic career change for them? That or some words of encouragement to carry with me until school starts would be most appreciated.

 

[Toothinator]

As long as you are doing it for the right reasons you won't have any regrets. I am sure you are nervous and having second thoughts because you are losing your sense of job security right now, but if you're not happy at your current job then you are doing the right thing. Dentistry is a wonderful career to change to so don't worry in 10 years you will look back and be like wow that was the best decision I could have ever made. Good Luck!

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Long story short... last year, after a few years in the working world, I decided to apply to dental school. Applied really late in the cycle, and had to do it all over again this year (this time with positive results 🙂 ).

As it stands right now, I have about 5 months left before I can quit my job, do some traveling this summer and then start school. I am very eager to begin but am having some doubts creep in... I have had way too much time to contemplate if I am ultimately making a decision that will make me happy in the long run.

As I'm practicing to be a poor graduate student and can't afford to enlist the help of a licensed therapist, is there anyone out there in a similar situation where dental school represents a drastic career change for them? That or some words of encouragement to carry with me until school starts would be most appreciated.

Hello,

It would help if I can know the background of your current job. I truly believes that dentistry has a lot of income potential. I am contemplating leaving the VA and open my own practice to make more money. Four years of dental school will pass by very quickly and if you like dentistry, I think you should go for it. DP

 

[docious]

well at this point, I kind of feel that I have to go for it. Just looking for a little reassurance...

After graduating with a science degree, I decided to try a few 'creative' fields.
I wrote for a science magazine for a few years, and was published as a freelancer as well. I also worked in marketing, and now I'm in public relations (not a fan). Being in PR and working with the media has made me realize that writing for a career isn't always as glamorous as it would seem...

Besides the fact that dentistry would enable me to use my background, the stability, job prospects and income potential are a few of the things that drew me to the field. I just hope that it's a career I will find enjoyable... kind of tough to tell until you actually do it...

 

[Toothinator]

Have you done some shadowing? I got a really good idea of what it is like by shadwoing my dentist. I am pretty tight with him so I was there at his house eating breakfast, going to work shadowing all day, helping him with paper work etc. I did this for a few weeks and absolutely fell in love with every aspect of dentistry so that's why I am sure about my choice.

 

[docious]

Have you done some shadowing?

I did for one day. I wanted to a little more, but realistically, I couldn't have done it consistently while working.

 

[Toothinator]

Definitely try and do some more shadowing before quitting your job. I know a few people who were being pushed by relatives to pursue dentistry and after they did a few weeks of shadowing they realized that it was not for them. Whatever you decide to do just make sure it’s something that makes you happy in the long run because if you don’t enjoy your work you’ll be miserable.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I did for one day. I wanted to a little more, but realistically, I couldn't have done it consistently while working.

HI there,

it seems to me that you toy with the idea of dentistry but not so sure if working in the mouth all day is for you. I suggest you do research about the pros and cons about dentistry before you jump. Good luck! DP

 

[docious]

I suggest you do research about the pros and cons about dentistry before you jump. Good luck! DP

I've already researched dentistry/dental school pretty in-depth... it's just a little stressful not knowing if I like working in someone's mouth all day, until I'm actually doing it.

Of course on 'pro' is that no one can tell me how to do my job while my hands are in their mouth...

 

[Yellow Snow]

Whenever I say I am applying to dental school the premeds are always like, "ewww...stick your hands in people's mouths all day?". Dude, the mouth is not that bad of an orfice when compared to other options in medicine.

 

[polarnut]

if "getting your hands in people's mouth" bothers you enough for you to think that in your head, dentistry may not be for you.

 

[docious]

if "getting your hands in people's mouth" bothers you enough for you to think that in your head, dentistry may not be for you.

...I didn't mean that in a pejorative sense. Just as a rough summation of dentistry.

I wouldn't be so gauche if I was, say, talking with an OB/GYN...