Please Evaluate Me

jaypea65 · Oct 10, 2006

Here it goes:

I am 41 years old(wow, when did that happen?) and I am finishing up my B.S. in science. I have a 3.71 cum and 3.75 science GPA. I attend a small 4 yr. Catholic college in Cresson, Pennsylvania. I have a family, and I have worked as a Medical Technologist (fancy name for a lab tech) in a hospital lab for 17 yrs. I am knowledgeable about medicine. I have a best friend that is a dentist that has offered me partnership if I go to dental school. I am becoming knowledgeable about the dental profession also. I want this soooo bad. First, am I crazy? Have I temporarily entered some mid-life crisis that is keeping me from thinking clearly? Dentistry is what I have been looking for in a career all along. DO I EVEN HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING INTO DENTAL SCHOOL OR SHOULD I JUST GIVE IT UP AND SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP? The Psycology forum is right down the hall...........😱

stosh · Oct 10, 2006

Never give up!!!! if going to dental school is something you want to do... go for it.. your GPA looks great, so all you have left if the DAT... good luck

oldboy · Oct 10, 2006

most schools have at least a couple of students who are in their 40's or older. it is possible and has been done many times before

BirkChick · Oct 10, 2006

You have a great GPA, a unique background and the drive to get in. Have you evaluated the financial committment? If the numbers work out (i.e. you won't have to wait until 90 to retire) you should definitely go for it! Think about it, you're going to be 50 in 9 years -- would you be happier as a 50-year-old lab tech or a 50-year-old dentist?

Will you be finishing up your degree in the spring? If so, I would plan on taking the DAT in April/May 2007 (be sure to study your butt off!) and getting that application in by June 1st for the 2008 cycle. If you do well on the DAT, you should be golden!

hellY06 · Oct 10, 2006

dont give up,,,there is no reason why you shouldnt be great candidate especially with you drive for it...👍

StudentDentist · Oct 10, 2006

jp, schools like seeing applications from older students. It's more interesting than the rest of the undergrad apps. In this unique case, the adcoms typically are willing to relax the admissions standards a bit, esp in test scores. They understand that older students, while they CAN do DAT, they acknowledge that it takes older students more time than the rest. Thus, many older students don't necessarily finish the test. Now, while that certainly is true, I suggest that you still try to outscore your undergrad counterparts.

In addition, the adcoms'll want to know your reason for switching careers. But most importantly, they want to know that you still have the capacity to learn, since some students over the age of 30 lose that capability (from not having been in school in a while). This doesn't sound like a problem to you if you're finishing up your BS. Other than that, you're in the same shoes as everyone else.

ddsoon · Oct 12, 2006

We have a guy in our class who is 43, dont sweat it. You will get into more one school with your GPA and life experience. What do you have to loose besides a few hundred bucks???

persiancat · Dec 22, 2006

I've been lurking on this thread, and I feel encouraged. Jaypea65, you are same age as me, and I'm just starting in my BS degree!(Just finished 2nd semester) I am a nurse and am in the midst of a career change. I'm married and have 2 teenagers. My GPA so far is 4.0, which I really worked my tail off for. What makes me even unique is that I'm female, 1st generation asian( so, my English is not my native language). Reading your story really uplifted my spirit and I feel I may also have a chance. I was sort of worried about my age, but I guess I'll still be 10 years older regardless of being a detist or not as someone had said. Please keep posting encouraging stories of older applicants. I just need to learn when I need to take my DAT, apply to D-schools, and start shadowing/volunteering. 🙂

pmantz · Dec 22, 2006

I thought this was going to be one of those lame I am a senior in high school and want to be a dentist threads. Good luck to all..... Cool Thread, it takes a lot of courage to make a change. I look forward to meeting students like you next year at dental school...

syn_apse · Dec 22, 2006

go for it! you'll always wonder what if...

Lidopaine82 · Dec 22, 2006

We have a 53 y/o guy in our class

koochooloo · Dec 22, 2006

that is so sweet

lgwdnbdgr · Dec 22, 2006

Is there really any reason to believe those two are mutually exclusive? 😛

I'm 32 with a lower GPA than you. At my interviews, the faculty were almost exclusively interested (in a positive manner) with my experiences since college. Frequent comments about how they were impressed by how much I've done.

Based purely on my experience, if you focus your essays on how your non-trad path prepared you for a career in dentistry, your age will be an asset, not a liability.

SugarNaCl · Dec 22, 2006

I met a guy in grad school that started dental school at 42 or 44 I think (class of 2008 or 2009.) He is doing well last I heard...so contrary to your thoughts, I don't think you would be crazy to go to dental school, I think you would be crazy to not go to dental school 😉

Empty pockets · Dec 23, 2006

YOU HAVE A FRIEND THAT OFFERED YOU A PARTNERSHIP IF YOU GO TO DENTAL SCHOOL ????

:laugh:

WHAT A LOON!

Dude, get a grip, get a life, being a dentist is more than just going to school, you have to have the mind, the ABILITY, the skills, etc.....

If someone told me that and if they were not my father or mother I would laugh my aZZ off because thats the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard in MY LIFE! :laugh:

Cymbidium · Dec 23, 2006

You're not crazy at all! Good for you for going after what you want. You'll get in somewhere for sure.

And, if you think it's a midlife crisis, that's OK too. My dad, a dentist, went to law school in his 40's just because he was always interested in it. So now he's a JD DMD (or has been for about 20 yrs), but he doesn't practice law- he says dentistry is WAY better.

good luck!

RozhonDDS · Dec 23, 2006

in the words of larry david "pretttttty pretttty pretttttttttttttttttttty prettty good"

JamieMac · Dec 23, 2006

Great thread everyone! There are a few of us non-trads lingering out here just wondering how competitive we'll be compared to those coming fresh out of undergrad. Due to having various job responsibilities, a mortgage, and a couple of classes per term, I haven't been able to put much time in shadowing. This is probably the weak link on my "dental resume". Although I do plan to put in some time shadowing this winter, I know I will not be able to put in hundreds of hours like many here have listed. Any comments from those who may know a little something about this would be appreciated.

UtahDad · Dec 23, 2006

I am right with you!! It will be nice to not be the only "old guy" in school...I have had plenty "old guy" time in every class so far at the University of Utah.

hsama · Dec 24, 2006

I'll be 41 in a few weeks. My AADSAS GPA isn't as good as yours--although I've had all A's since returning to college in 2004. I was just accepted into dental school Dec. 1st. You can do it too. Birkchick summed it up well. As for haters and no-sayers, there will be one or two of them but you'll notice they have nothing constructive or informative to say.

"As with anything, you have to believe that you can do it...you're better that you think you are...you can do more than you think you can."--Dean Karnazes, ultrarunner

1992Corolla · Dec 24, 2006

Why not when you're 40? Where does it say that you have to be between 20 and 28 to enter into dental school? What would happen if I was a dentist between 25 and 38 and then decided I wanted to open up an electronics store or sell life insurance? So what? What is the difference between doing dentistry first as a career or second or third or fourth?

If it is really something you want to do and you want to invest your time and money into it then do it.

In the monetary aspect (and i say this not knowing your current salary) you may make more in your first ten years out of dentistry than you would have your whole life in your other health care job. This aspect also makes dentistry rewarding for your personal retirement, your kids benefit (college, etc.), investment pursuits, and the wife/husband.

Good luck to you and others in your position.

kappa505 · Dec 24, 2006

Why do you care what these kids think? Do what you want, you dont need their approval or permission or what ever it is you are looking for with this post. Most of these students have no idea what real responsibility is. You will see.

lgwdnbdgr · Dec 24, 2006

I'm in a similar situation -- I managed to get 60 hours of shadowing and I felt that was my "weak link," too. After my first interview, I'm not at all concerned about that. It was clear that you don't really get "points" for each hour of shadowing -- they just want to make sure that you are actually interested in dentistry. Make sure you have something about which to talk -- an interesting anecdote or something cool you learned -- to show that you are genuinely interested in dentistry and not just interested in being called "Doctor."

Baylor83 · Dec 25, 2006

Consider applying to IUPUI. I have a Korean friend in his 40's doing his third year there now.

dat_student · Dec 26, 2006

👍

DMdraws · Dec 26, 2006

I know a dentist who started D-school as a 40 yr. old single mom and I know a physician that started med school as a 40 yr. old wife and mother. If you want it, go for it. As someone mentioned, 10-15 years from now you'll still be working for a living. Might as well be a career you love.

I start D-school this summer as a 34 yr. old nontraditional student. My age was most definitely an asset. Your grades are good. It looks very impressive to an admissions committee to have pulled off a high GPA and DAT score all the while balancing a current career and family. Study hard for that DAT and I think your chances of acceptance are excellent.

Best of Luck!

QuackDentist · Dec 26, 2006

Don't be mean! You can constructively criticize a person but to post something for the sake of being cruel is completely unnecessary. 🙁 Jaypea is obviously torn and confused about his new career move. Honestly, no one is asking you to be supportive. If you think the idea is crazy, go ahead and say so... just say it in a way that doesn't degrade others.

ou_jay · Dec 27, 2006

I have a classmate who is late 30's or maybe early 40's with children who was a medtech for ~15 yrs. He got into dental school and is doing just fine. He has a family with children and all, and he seems to be balancing his life fine. So that is proof that it can be done.

As for you, your GPA is good. If your are committed, go for it. Most schools will take some older students. Apply to several just in case. Just keep in mind that this will take a _lot_ of time and money for the next four years.

fightingspirit · Dec 27, 2006

i don't think that your age is an issue, truely. however, once you marry and have children, the decision to have a career/lifestyle change becomes the family's decision, not just yours. are you and your family ready for 4 years of no income from one parent (you)? will your wife find a job that pays enough to support the family in whatever place you end up having to move to to attend school? the age itself is no biggie

LIer2010 · Dec 27, 2006

I think this your question would be better answered by those in the Dental forum, by older people who are able to see your situation more realistically.

By the time you graduate from dental school, you'll be in your late 40's. If you plan on retiring around 65-70, you have about 20 years to practice dentistry. That means you have about 20 years to build your practice (although if your friend really offers you partnership it can help a bit, but is the partnership free? usually in order to gain partnership you have to pay a lot), pay off your dental school loans (at least 150k unless someone is paying for your education), save up for retirement, all of this while trying to provide for your family. Plus, you won't be working for at least 4 years in dental school, so that'll put heavy financial strain on your family. You also have to understand that most dentists don't really make all that much money in the first few years after getting out of dental school, especially if you factor in paying off school loans and tax. If you really want to be a dentist, you definitely can do it. But it's probably also prudent to measure the financial cost soberly before going all in.

fenndon · Dec 28, 2006

I read this "older student" thread with great interest. This is "on topic" with many of my concerns, so I am posting within this thread[:[/I] EDIT: MOVED TO MAIN SECTION

I am engaged to a women who is currently 40 years old, and is now considering dental school. She recently disclosed that this has been her secret ambition, even though I never heard much about it before. Meanwhile, she is the mother of two boys, and we are engaged to get married within the next year.

My fiance already has a Masters in Economics from UCLA, but she has not been in school for the past 17 years. She also lacks the prerequisite science classes for dental school, so she is now enrolled in science classes at a public university. She will probably need about 18 months of undergrad science catch-up before she can take the next step towards dental school. This means it is likely that she will be applying to Dental School at the age of 42-43 years old.

Meanwhile, we are also dealing with the issues of getting married and blending our family. We are also reckoning with the costs and economic burdens of taking on this new course of study. To be frank, this is creating much angst. I think that getting married and combining households at mid life is a bit of a challenge, and I fear that these circumstances could make things even more challenging.

I know that many married people live through dental school , but planning a second marriage at "mid life" with mother who is just now returning to school ---and planning a six year course of study, is a bit daunting to me.

I should also add that she will only consider going to a couple of prestigious dental schools which are in our local area. I think that this makes the challenge of admission more limited than they would be with a wider range of schools. I would also hate to think that with only two major dental schools in her list of future possibilities this may prove to be a futile effort.

I would love to hear the frank comments and thoughts of others about this situation.

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