Question for current dental students

[Cymbidium]

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I was lucky enough to get accepted last year to dental school. I deferred for a year and am working a full time job in commercial finance trying to stash away all of the money I can before school starts. My question is - what do you wish you had done more of before starting dental school to make the transition easier? Should I take a sculpture or jewelry class? Should I take some business classes? Should I try to shadow a few hrs. a week? I'm open to any suggestions (esp. from NYU students).

Thanks!

 

[Yellow Snow]

Hmm...most people right now wish they had some Anatomy experience under their belt. The pace is painful. It is pretty much the only real challenge so far.

 

[apaul]

i wish i had money

 

[2quik]

I wish i was atleast exposed to anatomy and histology!! They're tough classes. As far as carving goes...the skill can be learned. Maybe practice drawing teeth and paying attention to detail a couple times a week is good enough to prep you for that.

 

[Soflex]

TAKE A CLASS IN HISTOLOGY. It's a hard class but I cannot tell you how much that helped me in D school...I had a very tough professor in undergrad and the histo I did in D1 was a piece of cake compared to what I had done before.

Embryology doesn't hurt either. Anatomy, microbiology, immunology... anything you can do to deepen your bio background will help you tremendously. I know they are hard classes but they are a lot easier to understand when you are not trying to take 12 other classes at the same time.

 

[LuuManFoo29]

i wish i had money

i second that.

 

[atlanta478]

I was lucky enough to get accepted last year to dental school. I deferred for a year and am working a full time job in commercial finance trying to stash away all of the money I can before school starts. My question is - what do you wish you had done more of before starting dental school to make the transition easier? Should I take a sculpture or jewelry class? Should I take some business classes? Should I try to shadow a few hrs. a week? I'm open to any suggestions (esp. from NYU students).

Thanks!

If you never had before, take anatomy and histology classes - CC or University Extension programs.

 

[Cymbidium]

If you never had before, take anatomy and histology classes - CC or University Extension programs.

Thanks! I haven't had either class (I have a degree in Art History) so it sounds like I'll be looking up local CCs.

 

[Taxi Driver]

Save some money, go to the gym ,get fit(little time)....hmmm... consider buying a condo (or have your parents do it).

You really don't need to take any prep classes other than the pre-reqs.

If you want take anatomy/physiology, or micro at a Community college. That should be enough to get your feet wet...anything more than that is overkill.

With that said you should do just fine if you decide not to take any pre-classes. We were all eager to start and do our best, but its not quite like what you imagine it to be. Once you are in you will be like "oh, i wish i spent that time in anatomy class at the beach. it was sooo unnecessary "

 

[jackbauer!]

relax & travel. don't do anything related to school whatsoever.

jb!🙂

 

[Tooth Whisperer]

I asked this question a lot before I entered dental school. And I always hated the answers I got. "Do nothing, relax, enjoy yourself while you still can." But after going through it, there is no better advice. Enjoy your hobbies while you can, you won't be able to for a few years.

That said, anatomy and histology would be helpful. So if you're dying to get started you can do that. You'll realize I was right in a few years though.

 

[jackbauer!]

I asked this question a lot before I entered dental school. And I always hated the answers I got. "Do nothing, relax, enjoy yourself while you still can." But after going through it, there is no better advice. Enjoy your hobbies while you can, you won't be able to for a few years.

That said, anatomy and histology would be helpful. So if you're dying to get started you can do that. You'll realize I was right in a few years though.

👍

 

[reapply2007]

The testing cycle is fast and furious. If you are out of school for a year you may have problems getting back into aggressive studying. I agree with the Anatomy and also recommend keeping your reading ability sharp. Working is very different than academics.