Planning for Dental School.. PLEASE HELP!!

[DDS.230]

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Hey guys, I just graduated from UCI with a BA in economics in the Fall '09, with an overall gpa of 2.9. I am planning on applying for a career changer post-bacc program at cal state fullerton, and get the highest science gpa possible. I am in the process of applying for this post-bacc program, and also looking for possible EC's to do.

Do dental school's want volunteer hours from a dentist office AND hospitals? I'm currently looking for both and planning on taking what I can get.

Also, any suggestions of what I should do to make my application for dental schools as strong as possible?

And your honest opinion would help greatly, whether my gpa is too low, and what not. I haven't taken the DAT's yet, and I know it's a big part, but any idea when would be a good time to start studying and take them?

I'm really at a crossroad here, debating if I'm going to go for this dream of mine.. I know its very costly, and only have one shot at this, so I want to do everything I can to be admitted to dental schools in the future.

 

[Rommytowe]

Get that GPA up. That will help a lot. It should be easier because you should find some of the science interesting. Dentistry is a balance of science and art and if you don't like one of the two then it probably isn't for you. Also from what I know shadowing a dentist looks better than in a hospital. Don't get me wrong hospital work is great, but it isn't really dentistry related. Depending on what you took as an undergrad you should be able to get all the pre reqs done in 2 years (look at dental schools web sites for all the prereqs). MAKE sure they are done at a 4 year university. You should take the DAT when you are ready. It will be on the science from all the pre reqs and the perceptual ability test (spacial configuration).

Also if you are shadowing in a dental office, see if they might hire you part time (like just fridays) as an assistant. I know I was suctioning and spraying my first day shadowing. Also shadow more than one doctor's office. You can shadow multi doc offices, single doc offices, peri, endo, ortho, oral surgery, kid docs, ect.

Chase ur dreams or you are gonna say what if for the rest of ur life. and the money you invest into your future will pay itself off when you get that DDS

 

[SRS9]

👍

Get that GPA up. That will help a lot. It should be easier because you should find some of the science interesting. Dentistry is a balance of science and art and if you don't like one of the two then it probably isn't for you. Also from what I know shadowing a dentist looks better than in a hospital. Don't get me wrong hospital work is great, but it isn't really dentistry related. Depending on what you took as an undergrad you should be able to get all the pre reqs done in 2 years (look at dental schools web sites for all the prereqs). MAKE sure they are done at a 4 year university. You should take the DAT when you are ready. It will be on the science from all the pre reqs and the perceptual ability test (spacial configuration).

Also if you are shadowing in a dental office, see if they might hire you part time (like just fridays) as an assistant. I know I was suctioning and spraying my first day shadowing. Also shadow more than one doctor's office. You can shadow multi doc offices, single doc offices, peri, endo, ortho, oral surgery, kid docs, ect.

Chase ur dreams or you are gonna say what if for the rest of ur life. and the money you invest into your future will pay itself off when you get that DDS