Pre-Dental

[Aspiring Dentista]

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Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread. I need some advice. I went back to school when I was 30 years old. I will be turning 40 this year. I'm graduating next year with a BS in Kinesiology. I'm married with two kids (5 and 6 yrs old). I want to be a Dentist, but I'm scare about pursuing this path because of my age. I'm hispanic with a 3.0 overall gpa, and still need to take one year of gBio and one year of oChem. I also work 25 hrs a week with a full time(12u) course load. However, I got an F in Physics 1 and a D in Chem 1. But retook them and passed them with a C on both classes. I know that I don't have a chance to get accepted to DS, but I want to hear your sincere advice about my situation. I'm open to any advice!! Any chance for future Dental School? Thank you for your time.

 

[dentalWorks]

You need to start pulling some serious grades in the sciences. F, D, and C's won't cut it. Considering your age and maturity level, this point forward, no grade less than a B+ should be obtained if you want to pursue this further. All the best

 

[sgv]

It seems like a stretch...you are pretty old and you've had a rough start...someone with F's, D's, and C's (even after retakes) would probably need to do a postbacc or Master's program while maintaining a near 4.0 to make up for a poor science GPA...it's going to be an upward battle and if you can't handle college, you cannot handle dental school...

if i were in your position, I would find it very difficult to care for two children, work, and study. Any of those three responsibilities could be a full time job by itself.

i know of some +35 year olds with families in dental school...keep in mind that people who got into dental school generally had 3.6 GPA with 20 DAT...is this career financially worth it if you end up at a private school having to pay back $400,000 in loans...is it even worth it at your age with less than 20 years of a career left by the time you graduate?

 

[Glimmer1991]

If I were in your position, I would not choose to go down this path. That is just my honest opinion.

 

[sjv]

I agree with the above, I don't think it will be worth it.

 

[Aspiring Dentista]

Thanks all of you for the advice. However, if I manage to get A's in gBio and oChem, and above 20 in the DAT, do you think I still have a chance of getting into DS? Also, one of the Dentist at my work told me the there is a big demand to increase minority in the dental field. Is this true? Does that mean that I have a greater chance of getting accepted to DS?

 

[saintguitar]

Thanks all of you for the advice. However, if I manage to get A's in gBio and oChem, and above 20 in the DAT, do you think I still have a chance of getting into DS? Also, one of the Dentist at my work told me the there is a big demand to increase minority in the dental field. Is this true? Does that mean that I have a greater chance of getting accepted to DS?

In my opinion, it is not your age that is not hindering your chance of getting into DS, but your GPA at this point.

Even if you get all As in those classes you mentioned, how much can you pull your GPA up?

I know it is really difficult to manage a full time job and study while raising children (had to do it myself), but unless you make some bold and dramatic changes to your approach to DS, you will only repeat the steps that led you to F, D, and C as your previous science courses.

With that said, I think that if dentistry is your real passion, why not? It is better to try and find out if you succeed or fail, rather than do nothing and regret later.

Age is only a number my friend.

 

[Dentalguy8621]

Thanks all of you for the advice. However, if I manage to get A's in gBio and oChem, and above 20 in the DAT, do you think I still have a chance of getting into DS? Also, one of the Dentist at my work told me the there is a big demand to increase minority in the dental field. Is this true? Does that mean that I have a greater chance of getting accepted to DS?

Yeah there is a need for URM in the Dental field but many of us don't have Fs and Ds in undergrad prereqs..Not being mean but just honest. If you want to be a Dentist consider Post Bac or Masters.

 

[wearerokerst]

good,Not being mean but just honest. If you want to be a Dentist consider Post Bac or Masters.thanks