Please help!

[CloudandSky]

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Greetings and Salutations!

Introduction:
I am currently 17 years old and a high school graduate. During this fall of 2012-2013, I will attend a community college for two years and transfer to a 4-year institution.

Background:
I want to become a dentist in order to fulfill a dream. When my mom came to United States, my grandfather passed away one month later from a motorcycle accident. My grandmother was filled with depression and thoughts of committing suicide which left her unable to work. My mom took up three jobs at the age of 16 in order to put food on the table for my family. She didn't have the chance to attend a college to become a pharmacist or dentist like she planned.
I grew up without any insurance and a very bad case of an impacted K9 stuck within my gums.
Today, I live with braces for about 2 years and I'll have it for about another 3 years until the K9 actually comes down to its proper place.

I live with these problems and they've become my reason to be a dentist in the future.
However, I am not here to look for pity or sympathy. I am here to find out how to fulfill a dream that my mom and I have dreamt about.

Questions:
1) While attending a community college, what major should I partake in?
I did some research and found out that on the long run Microbiology is better than Biology major.

2) After two years at a community college, what 4-year institution should I transfer to?
I was considering UC Davis and graduate after 2 years of studying there then applying for a Dental school, preferably UCLA School of Dentistry.

3) How can I make my application for Dental school look good and are there any ways to make increase my chances of getting in?

4) What average GPA should I aim for to get into UC/Dental school?

5) How should I "shadow" a dentist and do I just go to a Dental Office to ask if I can?

6) Are there any steps that I'm missing?

7) What tests should I look out for in the future pertaining to Dental Schools besides the DAT.

Note: I apologize if I'm asking "stupid" questions but please understand that I am the first in my family to attend college/university. I have minimal understanding of how to get into the Dental world. If you have any suggestion for me, by all means do so. I will ask further questions within this thread when something comes across my mind.

 

[tothepark]

Greetings and Salutations!

Introduction:
I am currently 17 years old and a high school graduate. During this fall of 2012-2013, I will attend a community college for two years and transfer to a 4-year institution.

Background:
I want to become a dentist in order to fulfill a dream. When my mom came to United States, my grandfather passed away one month later from a motorcycle accident. My grandmother was filled with depression and thoughts of committing suicide which left her unable to work. My mom took up three jobs at the age of 16 in order to put food on the table for my family. She didn't have the chance to attend a college to become a pharmacist or dentist like she planned.
I grew up without any insurance and a very bad case of an impacted K9 stuck within my gums.
Today, I live with braces for about 2 years and I'll have it for about another 3 years until the K9 actually comes down to its proper place.

lol, first its your "canine" or cuspids not your "K9"... read up on some dental terms, they will help you in your goal to go to dental school

I live with these problems and they've become my reason to be a dentist in the future.
However, I am not here to look for pity or sympathy. I am here to find out how to fulfill a dream that my mom and I have dreamt about.

Questions:
1) While attending a community college, what major should I partake in?
I did some research and found out that on the long run Microbiology is better than Biology major.
choose a major that you will enjoy and not hurt your GPA. As long as you complete your prerequisites and maybe some additional science classes, you are able to enter dental school. The dental school will look at your GPA before your major. Your GPA "caries" (means the samething as cavities) more weight than your major.

2) After two years at a community college, what 4-year institution should I transfer to?
I was considering UC Davis and graduate after 2 years of studying there then applying for a Dental school, preferably UCLA School of Dentistry.
There is a lot of debate on whether an undergraduate institution's "prestige" matters or not. Simply, do not worry about it. Go to the undergrad thas is most convenient to you (major, life, cost, etc). I want to warn you though, that some dental schools will not take prereqs taken at a community college or will require additional "advanced" science classes at a university.

3) How can I make my application for Dental school look good and are there any ways to make increase my chances of getting in?
Apply early, shadow dentists, volunteer, perform community service, get leadership positions. Most importantly prove that you love dentistry and its right for you. Oh, and having a hobby that shows that youre dextrous will help as well.

4) What average GPA should I aim for to get into UC/Dental school?
You should aim for a 4.0 (why would you aim for anything less). You are starting college aim for perfection and you will fall "above average". Typically UC dental schools take "higher" GPAs 3.5+, but there are many factors that take into place.

5) How should I "shadow" a dentist and do I just go to a Dental Office to ask if I can?
You could do that, or email dentists. This is tricky, and it all depends on the dentist. Colleges also have pre-dental programs over the summer for some experience building.

6) Are there any steps that I'm missing?
Warm up to your professors.. you will need letters of recommendations. There are many steps, and you are probably missing many at this point, as you just entered college.

7) What tests should I look out for in the future pertaining to Dental Schools besides the DAT.
You will only need to worry about the DATs for dental school admission. More imporantly worry about the exams in your classes. A high GPA will be very beneficial. Once in dental school, you will take more exams, which include the board exams.

http://www.adea.org/GoDental/Pages/default.aspx
this website is essential for you... they are the ones that run the applications for dental school admissions.

Note: I apologize if I'm asking "stupid" questions but please understand that I am the first in my family to attend college/university. I have minimal understanding of how to get into the Dental world. If you have any suggestion for me, by all means do so. I will ask further questions within this thread when something comes across my mind.

Advice are in blue above!

 

[CloudandSky]

Advice are in blue above!

Thank you for the advice!

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

Questions:
1) While attending a community college, what major should I partake in?
I did some research and found out that on the long run Microbiology is better than Biology major.

You can major in anything you like as long as you have the prereqs for the desired school.

2) After two years at a community college, what 4-year institution should I transfer to?
I was considering UC Davis and graduate after 2 years of studying there then applying for a Dental school, preferably UCLA School of Dentistry.

You can transfer into any 4-year university. Just keep your GPA up.

3) How can I make my application for Dental school look good and are there any ways to make increase my chances of getting in?

The main recipe for dental school admissions are high GPAs and DATs. You can supplement with these with leadership and volunteering activities.

4) What average GPA should I aim for to get into UC/Dental school?

UC dental schools are extremely competitive. For UCLA, the average GPA is usually around 3.70 GPA and a 22 (96th percentile) DAT. For UCSF, the GPA is around 3.50, and the DAT is around 20 (85th percentile). Although, UCSF looks for more well-rounded applicants, who have tons of volunteering.

5) How should I "shadow" a dentist and do I just go to a Dental Office to ask if I can?

You can submit a cover letter with your resume to dentists in your area, and hopefully one of them will let you shadow. The easiest way to get shadowing experience is probably to ask your family dentist.

6) Are there any steps that I'm missing?

Take it one step at a time. Go to predents. com to look at the different types of applicants who get into the school. Also, visit the UCLA and UCSF dentistry website to find which prereqs you're required to take. Also, you need letters of references from 3 profs and a dentist, so get to know your profs and a dentist.

7) What tests should I look out for in the future pertaining to Dental Schools besides the DAT.

The DAT is already a monster in itself. Do well in it and it'll open many doors for you.

Good luck!