PRE-DENTAL at 32 years of age!! Help!!!

[JohnniesK9]

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So here is my situation. I have decided to pursue a career in dentistry at the ripe old age of 32. I took most of my dental prerequisites in my undergraduate years before I changed course and decided to go into business. I went to Pomona College (pretty decent liberal arts school) and have my part-time MBA from UCLA. I am finishing up my last basic prerequisite for dental school right now and I was thinking about applying this year just to see what happens. I would like to stay on the west coast.

Any advice for me? It seems pretty unlikely I will get accepted to a California school this year or any school for that matter unless schools like my untraditional background. Does it make sense to wait and apply in the next cycle or go ahead and give it a try this year?

By the way, I am currently enrolled in a DAT course but it has been 10 years since I took some of those courses. Should I retake some of the classes or is it possible to just study hard and utilize the DAT class. I got mostly B's in my science courses in undergrad and unfortunately a C in an accelerated physics course over the summer my freshman year at a cal state school. My overall GPA was about 3.38 undergrad and 3.2 for my MBA. That being said, should I retake some of my prerequisite courses? Do I need to take upper division courses to be competitive in my dental application.

I also live around the Diamond Bar, CA area so does anyone have any recommendations on where to take classes?? Thanks!

 

[Quattro DMD]

Hey bro, congrats on making the decision to pursue dentistry. I think you may want to talk to some admissions advisors at some dental schools and see what they think about your pre-requisites. I've heard that if its been a really long time, over 10 years in your case, that they may want you to retake them. I would recommend that you take them at a university since most dental schools frown upon taking pre-reqs at a community college. However in your case you've already taken them at a university so I'm not entirely sure. Hopefully someone else can shed some light on the topic. Good luck!

 

[doc3232]

I skimmed through your post, you are not as old as you think you are.
There are older predents first of all.
IMO, you shouldn't retake any classes.
just study a clean 2 months.
I don't know if you will be able to apply this year if you forgot everything.
If you give it full time, maybe 1 month will work and if you remember some things, you might be able to take it earlier.

 

[trixie2126]

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[GoFrogs]

I think it is awesome you are applying for dentistry. You still have plenty of years left to practice in the field so do not let your age discourage you. Futhermore, I think your MBA is going to look really good on an application and help you stick out amongst the other applicants. Many dental schools today are looking for applicants with business experience, because in addition to being a dentist you are also a business owner. As far as classes, I am not quite sure. The only time sensitive requirement I am aware of is your DAT test date.

 

[ryanaj]

This is just my opinion, but it seems if you were to get a good score on the DAT that would say that it isn't necessary to retake the classes. If you bomb it, then I would consider retaking the courses.

 

[PTbecomingDDS]

and my in-laws went back into dentistry in their late 40's/early 50's (one had a pharmacy degree and the other an engineering degree)...

I was in your same situation 10 years removed from my prereqs and basic sciences so i decided to retake all of them except the bio's to help in studying for the DAT's, so don't feel bad about going back to school at 32...

at least you are not deciding on medicine so you would be done with your residency at the ripe age of 41 or older...

 

[skippyjonjones]

Sort of same boat here - but I'm 35 and retaking prereqs starting this fall. D school here pretty much states that any pr's older than 5 or 6 years (I forget which) won't count but I could call to see how I could possibly gain credit. Well it's been way over 10 years since any of my sciences and about 3 since I received my MBA... so I'm just going to bite the bullet and retake my sciences... but that's just me. I have done my "1 1/2" year plan and can get all of these knocked out in that time. A dentist friend of mine suggested that I retake them anyway.

 

[jaypea65]

I am 43 years old, and I am not re-taking some prereqs like bio and GChem although I did take Ochem I and II. I will be taking the DAT in Aug., and I feel confident I can pull average to above average scores. Study hard and you can do it. Older students do bring different life experiences to a classroom, and I think that is a plus for us old men. I only hope that Adcoms see it the same way. Good Luck!

 

[reapply2007]

There is a guy in my class who started D-school at 45 years old. I would say anywhere in the thirties is the higher end for age but not the top end.

 

[bjhath]

Not much to add, but a vote of support from a fellow "late bloomer." I am 33 with a MS in mechanical engineering and am reapplying to D-school. I applied last year, but applied late and with low DAT scores (I hadn't taken ochem or bio at the time).

Some advice:

-Apply early (submit AADSAS at the beginning of June, according to some)
-Score high on the DAT (>20s should get you in).
-Being an older student should be an advantage - you will add to a school's diversity 😉.
-Some schools have limits on prereqs (usually a 5 year limit). Schools vary - look at the schools' websites and/or call admissions offices.
-volunteer, shadow several dentists (60+ hours), etc.
-participate in any dental events you can - undergraduate conferences, school tours, predental simulation courses, predental club...
-apply to a post-bac program if you don't get in this year.


Go through the motions and fill out the application like you are going to apply this year. Write your personal statement. Contact old professors for letters of recommendation. Get everything together now. That way if you decide not to apply this year, you will have everything in order, which will make the process easier for next year.

If you want it, you'll get it. Good luck.

Enjoy, Brian

 

[Pelotari]

Congrats on deciding to go into dentistry. Don't worry about your age. I'm 44 and just finished my first year of Dental School. I had to take ALL the pre-reqs, took the DAT and got accepted. Here are some thoughts / ideas for you:

- First and foremost, don't let age dictate whether you can or cannot do something. If you have the drive to do it, then go for it.

- Make an appointment to talk to someone in the admissions committee of the dental school you want to attend. Ask pointed questions, e.g. with my GPA as is, with the classes I've taken so far, what can I do to maximize my chances to be admitted here, etc. If you are worried about the "C", ask about re-taking a class and how the admissions committee views this (favorably or not), etc. That way you know exactly what you need to work on, and you'll get an idea of what are your chances of being accepted into a dental program.

- Make a WORKABLE game-plan with a REASONABLE deadline. Then work your game-plan...based on the feedback you received from the admissions person (above bullet).

- Have a plan "B". Not because you will flunk out or anything. I'm just saying that life happens and things might change which may be beyond academics that might make you re-evaluate your original plan.

Best of luck! 👍

 

[JohnniesK9]

Thanks everybody for your advice and encouragement. These last few months have been a whirlwind of emotion trying to figure out all this stuff and leaving my MBA behind. A lot of great advice and I will take it to heart.