Questions From A Newly Aspiring Dentist

[skopelos]

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Hey everyone,

I'm a fresman at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. I've pretty much decided on becoming a dentist, and I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.

1) After dental school, how many years will I spend in residency?

2) I live in Illinois and I was wondering about the program at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. Their web site says its possible to be admitted after two years of college study provided one completes the requirements. Does school prestige matter? For example, could I take an SIU dentistry degree to Hawaii and start a practice?

3) What is the Dental Admission Test? What does it cover, and what is the test format? What score range would be necessary for competitive applicants?

4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?

5) Would I need to shadow a dentist or pursue some sort of internship in a health-care profession to be competitive for dental school? In the way of extracurriculars, I have just one - I'm a full time staff writer for the Michigan Daily, and I expect to make news editor next year. Are more activities important?

4) What percentage of dental school applicants are accepted by at least one school?

5) Assuming I own a solo practice, what kind of hours would I be working and what kind of salary could I expect?

6) Are dentists generally respected in the same way doctors are?

Thank you very much for your help
- Skopelos

 

[quakinator]

Sounds like you need to do a little more researching on your own to decide whether you really want to become a dentist. If you haven't answered many of these questions on your own, why are you so set on becoming a dentist? The ADEA's yearly guide to US dental schools would be a good place to start if you want to know some basics.

 

[Tzips]

One question I am curious about, though - to date I haven't seen any stats about what percentage of dental school applicants get into at least one school, or, conversely, what percentage get into none; though I'm guessing that the percentage will be higher this year than usual, due to the ridiculous number of applicants. what is it about our year, anyway? 😕

 

[busupshot83]

1) After dental school, how many years will I spend in residency?
Zero, unless you specialize.

2) I live in Illinois and I was wondering about the program at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. Their web site says its possible to be admitted after two years of college study provided one completes the requirements. Does school prestige matter? For example, could I take an SIU dentistry degree to Hawaii and start a practice?
No prestige does not matter, but you have to pass that state's boards in order to practice.

3) What is the Dental Admission Test? What does it cover, and what is the test format? What score range would be necessary for competitive applicants?
It is our "MCAT" (admissions test). It covers Biology, Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. It also has a Perceptual Ability section.

4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?
Biology I & II with lab
Chemistry I & II with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Physics I & II with lab
A year of English
A year of Mathematics

3.3+ GPA is considered competitive, but each cycle gets more competitive.

5) Would I need to shadow a dentist or pursue some sort of internship in a health-care profession to be competitive for dental school? In the way of extracurriculars, I have just one - I'm a full time staff writer for the Michigan Daily, and I expect to make news editor next year. Are more activities important?
You need to get a letter of recommendation from a dentist. The more you show that you are interested in dentistry, the better.

4) What percentage of dental school applicants are accepted by at least one school?
If you apply to all the schools, then you have a 40% chance I believe, but this number changes with each cycle.

5) Assuming I own a solo practice, what kind of hours would I be working and what kind of salary could I expect?
The average dentist works around 37 hours a week, and makes $170,000 a year. Again, this is just a national average.

6) Are dentists generally respected in the same way doctors are?
The public always has viewed physicians as more presitgious, and probably always will. However, that doesn't bother me one bit.

Thank you very much for your help
You are very welcome.

 

[skopelos]

Hey diddy thanks a lot man - you're the best, and obviously very informed. You're answers are very encouraging, and I'm going to have to get off my ass and start working harder if I want to get that D.M.D degree. I thought it was interesting that 60% of all dental applicants don't make it into any school at all, which seems high. It seems like dental schools are rapidly approaching the point in time where they will be as competitive as medical schools. I read somewhere that 70% of all medical applicants don't get into a single school.

Thanks again
- Skopelos

 

[DrTacoElf]

Hey diddy thanks a lot man - you're the best, and obviously very informed. You're answers are very encouraging, and I'm going to have to get off my ass and start working harder if I want to get that D.M.D degree.

- Skopelos

Don't forget about the DDS 😀

 

[busupshot83]

Hey diddy thanks a lot man - you're the best, and obviously very informed. You're answers are very encouraging, and I'm going to have to get off my ass and start working harder if I want to get that D.M.D degree. I thought it was interesting that 60% of all dental applicants don't make it into any school at all, which seems high. It seems like dental schools are rapidly approaching the point in time where they will be as competitive as medical schools. I read somewhere that 70% of all medical applicants don't get into a single school.

Thanks again
- Skopelos

No problem man. Try and finish up your prereqs and apply as soon as you can, because each cycle is getting more congested.

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

1)
4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?
Biology I & II with lab
Chemistry I & II with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Physics I & II with lab
A year of English
A year of Mathematics

3.3+ GPA is considered competitive, but each cycle gets more competitive.



Don't forget 1 semester of Biochemistry. Some schools require this as a pre-requisite. (and I think 3.4+ is considered competitive for this year).

 

[busupshot83]

1)
4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?
Biology I & II with lab
Chemistry I & II with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Physics I & II with lab
A year of English
A year of Mathematics

3.3+ GPA is considered competitive, but each cycle gets more competitive.



Don't forget 1 semester of Biochemistry. Some schools require this as a pre-requisite. (and I think 3.4+ is considered competitive for this year).

Personally, those are the schools I'm not applying to . As for the 3.4 GPA being competitive: I was close enough 👍 .

 

[abina81]

http://www.umich.edu/~predent/

Pre Dent website at U of M - AA

 

[quakinator]

[
4) What percentage of dental school applicants are accepted by at least one school?
If you apply to all the schools, then you have a 40% chance I believe, but this number changes with each cycle.

I would say that this statement is highly inaccurate. Of course there are only ~4300 seats in dental school and 8-9000+ applicants but that doesn't mean that each student has a 40% chance of getting in. If you do well in your undergrad and DAT your change of getting accepted increases exponentially. I have decent scores and am not worried about getting accepted at all. At this point it's a matter of where I want to go after I get in. Not to sound high and mighty but it's all what you make out of it. You can make yourself a 40% chance applicant or a 100% applicant depending on you committment to dentistry and your desire to do everything it takes to make sure you have 100% chance of getting accepted.

 

[mg777]

Hey everyone,
6) Are dentists generally respected in the same way doctors are?

This is a subjective question however the are significant differences b/w an MD and DDS. Medicine is in quite a mess with HMO's and personal insurance, and there is stark contrast b/w dentistry and medicine in regards to the control of the practitioner. Doctor's in most cases are following protocol's of their patient's insurance. In addition, medicaid and medicare have virtually made doctors government employees which are again not capable of making decisions that are best for their patient. Dentistry on the other hand is one of the few remaining healthcare professions where the provider is making decisions regarding patient care. The dentist does not have to be on an HMO or deal with personal insurance in the same way doctor's are forced to. In this way, the dentist is centered on the patient and treatment planning, and not on turning out a certain number of patients per day.

 

[busupshot83]

I would say that this statement is highly inaccurate.

That's fine, but I wouldn't.

Of course there are only ~4300 seats in dental school and 8-9000+ applicants but that doesn't mean that each student has a 40% chance of getting in.

I don't remember saying that *every* student has a 40% chance of acceptance: "If you apply to all the schools, then you have a 40% chance." How many applicants apply to all 55 dental schools? Don't put words in my mouth.

You can make yourself a 40% chance applicant or a 100% applicant depending on you committment to dentistry and your desire to do everything it takes to make sure you have 100% chance of getting accepted.

Don't get it twisted: nothing in this world is 100% for sure.

 

[Biogirl361]

bus, i just wanted to add a couple points to some of your answers... hope you don't mind 🙂

3) What is the Dental Admission Test? What does it cover, and what is the test format? What score range would be necessary for competitive applicants?
It is our "MCAT" (admissions test). It covers Biology, Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. It also has a Perceptual Ability section.

<it also has a math and a reading section. national average is a 17 out of 30. to be competitive at most schools you want to shoot for around a 19. also, if your gpa is low, you will need a higher (20+) dat, where if your gpa is really good, you are under less pressure to strut your stuff on the dat and can probably get by with around an 18. you get the idea.>

4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?
Biology I & II with lab
Chemistry I & II with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Physics I & II with lab
A year of English
A year of Mathematics

3.3+ GPA is considered competitive, but each cycle gets more competitive.

<check each school's website that you are interested in for the exact requirements. although similar, the exact requirements of many schools vary. for example some require 1 semester of psychology, and some require 2 semesters of calculus, etc. competitive gpa also varies pretty widely from school to school, so although 3.3 to 3.4 is a good estimate, again it's wise to look at exact school's websites before applying.>

5) Would I need to shadow a dentist or pursue some sort of internship in a health-care profession to be competitive for dental school? In the way of extracurriculars, I have just one - I'm a full time staff writer for the Michigan Daily, and I expect to make news editor next year. Are more activities important?
You need to get a letter of recommendation from a dentist. The more you show that you are interested in dentistry, the better.

<the more extracurriculars/leadership positions/volunteering you have the better, to show that you are a well-rounded person. this is probably even more important if you are going to have below-ave stats. i'd also encourage several shadowing experiences, because the #1 question at interviews is "why dentistry?" and you are going to have a hard time talking your way through that one if you have only shadowed once.>

skopelos, i'm a michigan resident myself... senior at msu right now... might be attending UM for dental school next year 🙂 good luck with your further research into the profession!

 

[busupshot83]

bus, i just wanted to add a couple points to some of your answers... hope you don't mind 🙂

3) What is the Dental Admission Test? What does it cover, and what is the test format? What score range would be necessary for competitive applicants?
It is our "MCAT" (admissions test). It covers Biology, Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. It also has a Perceptual Ability section.

<it also has a math and a reading section. national average is a 17 out of 30. to be competitive at most schools you want to shoot for around a 19. also, if your gpa is low, you will need a higher (20+) dat, where if your gpa is really good, you are under less pressure to strut your stuff on the dat and can probably get by with around an 18. you get the idea.>

4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?
Biology I & II with lab
Chemistry I & II with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Physics I & II with lab
A year of English
A year of Mathematics

3.3+ GPA is considered competitive, but each cycle gets more competitive.

<check each school's website that you are interested in for the exact requirements. although similar, the exact requirements of many schools vary. for example some require 1 semester of psychology, and some require 2 semesters of calculus, etc. competitive gpa also varies pretty widely from school to school, so although 3.3 to 3.4 is a good estimate, again it's wise to look at exact school's websites before applying.>

5) Would I need to shadow a dentist or pursue some sort of internship in a health-care profession to be competitive for dental school? In the way of extracurriculars, I have just one - I'm a full time staff writer for the Michigan Daily, and I expect to make news editor next year. Are more activities important?
You need to get a letter of recommendation from a dentist. The more you show that you are interested in dentistry, the better.

<the more extracurriculars/leadership positions/volunteering you have the better, to show that you are a well-rounded person. this is probably even more important if you are going to have below-ave stats. i'd also encourage several shadowing experiences, because the #1 question at interviews is "why dentistry?" and you are going to have a hard time talking your way through that one if you have only shadowed once.>

skopelos, i'm a michigan resident myself... senior at msu right now... might be attending UM for dental school next year 🙂 good luck with your further research into the profession!

BioGirl keeps it real. 😎

 

[xxdakinexx]

Dentistry is a great profession. If you really decide on it, good luck. Do lots of research, studying, and volunteer work. If you put your heart into it you will succeed. Good luck.

 

[skopelos]

Thanks everyone for all the advice - very helpful! My biggest problem right now is to fight laziness and get a good GPA.

 

[msf41]

Hey everyone,

I'm a fresman at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. I've pretty much decided on becoming a dentist, and I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.

1) After dental school, how many years will I spend in residency?

2) I live in Illinois and I was wondering about the program at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. Their web site says its possible to be admitted after two years of college study provided one completes the requirements. Does school prestige matter? For example, could I take an SIU dentistry degree to Hawaii and start a practice?

3) What is the Dental Admission Test? What does it cover, and what is the test format? What score range would be necessary for competitive applicants?

4) What, exactly are the undergraduate pre-requisites for dental school? What GPA range is considered competitive?

5) Would I need to shadow a dentist or pursue some sort of internship in a health-care profession to be competitive for dental school? In the way of extracurriculars, I have just one - I'm a full time staff writer for the Michigan Daily, and I expect to make news editor next year. Are more activities important?

4) What percentage of dental school applicants are accepted by at least one school?

5) Assuming I own a solo practice, what kind of hours would I be working and what kind of salary could I expect?

6) Are dentists generally respected in the same way doctors are?

Thank you very much for your help
- Skopelos

Hey Skopelos

Everyone needs to answer that big question "what do I want to do for the rest of my life for a living?" Dentistry is a great career, but just a list of pros and cons won't determine if it is right for you. Real career investigation cannot happen here in the SND forum. You also need to EXPERIENCE different careers to find what really appeals to you.

For me I explored different occupations by the different jobs I've had throughout my life (firefighter, home construction, car salesman, EMT, nurses aid, etc). I don't think a person can really make an informed decision until you have explored other careers, as well as dentistry.

 

[dWiz]

Hey Skopelos

Everyone needs to answer that big question "what do I want to do for the rest of my life for a living?" Dentistry is a great career, but just a list of pros and cons won't determine if it is right for you. Real career investigation cannot happen here in the SND forum. You also need to EXPERIENCE different careers to find what really appeals to you.

For me I explored different occupations by the different jobs I've had throughout my life (firefighter, home construction, car salesman, EMT, nurses aid, etc). I don't think a person can really make an informed decision until you have explored other careers, as well as dentistry.

Damn bro...do u really have to do 5 kazillion things before ur ready to make that informed decision

 

[skopelos]

I do understand that a decision to pursue a career should not be taken lightly, but I don't know how practical it would be to throw together a laundry list of careers, get lots of work experience, and then decide.

I feel like I would be spread too thin If I did that; my strategy is to gather all the data I can and make an informed decision based on the advice of others who have that experience.

From my point of view, work is what keeps you alive - it's not something you live for. If a job is enjoyable that's a bonus - but a job is a job - it exists so you can eat. This may sound stupid but a man in ancient sumer would have starved had he woken up some day and said to himself, "farming really doesn't make me happy."

On the contrary, you live for the things you trade your work for: namely, a house, a car, a family, books, leisure time, music, art, et cetera.

In any case I'm fascinated by biology and the hard sciences and I have an aesthetic appreciation for good oral health care. As far as I'm concerned, dentistry will allow me to work reasonable hours, make a solid living, assist the community in which I live, earn status and respect in society, and strike a solid balance between work and family life.

The truth is that in this life there isn't time to draw a tree-diagram of all possible scenarios and probabilities and calculate the best path based on advanced graph theory. You have to work with incomplete information all the time. I'd rather take my chances and focus on dentistry now than return to square one during my mid-twenties.

We have a lot of Jimmy John's sandwich shops here, and basically I'm re-iterating one of the signs they have on their walls. They read: "Do you what you need to do when you need to do it so later you can do what you want to do when you want to do it."

- Skopelos

 

[msf41]

Damn bro...do u really have to do 5 kazillion things before ur ready to make that informed decision

Hmm....lemmie think...I'm going to spend ~40 hours a week for the next ~30 years in this career...YUP I'd take the time to explore your options, but hey to each their own. Just my opinion.

 

[ToothMonkey]

I do understand that a decision to pursue a career should not be taken lightly, but I don't know how practical it would be to throw together a laundry list of careers, get lots of work experience, and then decide.

I feel like I would be spread too thin If I did that; my strategy is to gather all the data I can and make an informed decision based on the advice of others who have that experience.

From my point of view, work is what keeps you alive - it's not something you live for. If a job is enjoyable that's a bonus - but a job is a job - it exists so you can eat. This may sound stupid but a man in ancient sumer would have starved had he woken up some day and said to himself, "farming really doesn't make me happy."

On the contrary, you live for the things you trade your work for: namely, a house, a car, a family, books, leisure time, music, art, et cetera.

In any case I'm fascinated by biology and the hard sciences and I have an aesthetic appreciation for good oral health care. As far as I'm concerned, dentistry will allow me to work reasonable hours, make a solid living, assist the community in which I live, earn status and respect in society, and strike a solid balance between work and family life.

The truth is that in this life there isn't time to draw a tree-diagram of all possible scenarios and probabilities and calculate the best path based on advanced graph theory. You have to work with incomplete information all the time. I'd rather take my chances and focus on dentistry now than return to square one during my mid-twenties.

We have a lot of Jimmy John's sandwich shops here, and basically I'm re-iterating one of the signs they have on their walls. They read: "Do you what you need to do when you need to do it so later you can do what you want to do when you want to do it."

- Skopelos

Clearly it's not necessary to try a bunch of different jobs over many years to know what you want and enjoy, but it *is* vitally important that you have plenty of first-hand exposure to the field you are interested in before investing 4 years and $100-250k+ in a dental education. IOW, do not base your decision only on "the advice of others who have that experience." Careers can be misleading on paper, so you really need to create your own experiences.

Visit many different dental offices, observe the nature of the work, and find out how various dentists feel about the profession (be sure to ask what they *don't* like). Even better, try to get work experience as a dental assistant, or volunteer at a community dental clinic. You will gain confidence in your career choice and strengthen your appliction in the process.

It sounds like you are on the right track. Your thought process reminds me of my own, though I didn't start thinking that clearly until senior year (blame it on beer). Good luck.