REALLY want to become a dentist but not sure if my major is a disadvantage

[snowdance]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all, I'm new to this board and also a newbie in the path for pursuing a career in dentistry. But I've been reading this board for some time and really like the enviroment here.

Basically I got a BS in physics with a good GPA and then a MS in Electrical and computer engineering. Honestly I'm not geeky or wired in any way. It's a long story for why I end up doing the things that I don't really like and even went for a master's degree.... But I really want to start to live my life now instead of my dad's! The thing is that from my reading in this board, it seems to me that dental school would appreciate non-science majors (except biology, of course) more than some science or engineering majors like physics or computers. Would my majors before end up being a disadvantage😕? I know that med school would defintiely appreciate the background in physics but I'm not sure medicine is my cup of tea... What can I do to make myself a strong dental applicant? I wish I had majored in Arts in college... I'd loooooooove to hear some advice.... Thanks a lot...

 

[makushin]

I don't think it matters. If you want to be a dentist, take the prereqs, take the DAT, and apply.

 

[voager]

well you are in good position..if your UG stats are fine then go ahead take prereqs and apply...your major wil not be a hurdle unless you did really bad for UG GPA wise.

 

[dental0903]

I really don't think that having a BS in physics and an MS in electrical and computer engineering could hurt your application in any way. I think it actually may help. You are different than the 5,000 bio majors (I am one of those 😀). Also, since you have a masters, you should be very prepared to handle the level of difficulty tested on the DAT after you take the pre-reqs. Good luck!

 

[snowdance]

Thank you guys. It's nice to know that my undergrad major is fine. 😀 I'm taking chemistry classes now in the evening and trying to look for some experience in dental field. What kind of dental experience are dental schools looking for? Just 40 hours of shadowing would be enough or more? It's just so hard to find a volunteer position in dental clinics. I called several clinics and no one is in need of dental assistants. I'm just wondering what everyone else is doing in extracurricular activies ... 🙄 any suggestions?

 

[bigstix808]

Thank you guys. It's nice to know that my undergrad major is fine. 😀 I'm taking chemistry classes now in the evening and trying to look for some experience in dental field. What kind of dental experience are dental schools looking for? Just 40 hours of shadowing would be enough or more? It's just so hard to find a volunteer position in dental clinics. I called several clinics and no one is in need of dental assistants. I'm just wondering what everyone else is doing in extracurricular activies ... 🙄 any suggestions?

don't limit your self to 40 hrs of shadowing. if you can do more, do more. you might want to shadow different fields other than general dentistry to show that you're making sure that dentistry is what you REALLY wanna do...perio, ortho, etc.

i personally haven't done it, but if you have the time, take a sculpting class or something along the sorts...if anything, it will REALLY increase your manual dexterity.

anyway...good luck!

 

[sl2obel2ts]

ey, i am engineering major too. i remember someone saying that the engineering majors have the highest acceptance rate. and I think engineering is somewhat relevant to dentistry (in terms of research). For ex,

Optical Engineering (physics oriented): for digital radiography, imaging (near IR for better imaging technique), lasers, (Erb-Yag lasers, CO2 lasers for cosmetic dentistry)
Material Science Engineering: Enamel itself, composite
Chemical engineering: composite chemistry, MScE
Mechanical engineering: statics (shear stress, bending moments, torque and all crap)

I think engineering is a pretty good pre-dental major 😉

ooo
When I was looking for a job (fresh out of college), Invisalign (align tech) came to my college biotech/bioe fair. They were ONLY looking for specifically computer science and mechanical engineering majors. And I did some EE too, and lots of soldering and wiring. This is pure dexterity. I think taking sculpture class helps, but soldering and wiring require much more attention to detail and dexterity (IMO). When you were working on projects, I am pretty sure u used dramel and drills as well.

and I actually have a question for you. Why do you wanna be a dentist? I think EECS makes like average 78k right out of college (my friends who work at Cisco and Intel make 80k+). So it must not be $$. Something must have inspired you...

 

[rose786]

i remember someone saying that the engineering majors have the highest acceptance rate.

I've read this as well.


I think your major is an advantage. My husband is an engineer and he laughed at the PAT questions I showed him. "Kid's stuff" is what he called it. So if anything, you'll rock that section.

 

[nycdent]

i want to take BS in Medical Lab Science. is that ok for the dental school?

 

[PCrooks]

You can major in anything! Just get the core science classes done. It was a girl at my last interview who had a degree in art. Yes sir...and she earned herself a interview for a seat in the class of 2012. so I don't see why an degree in electrical engineering would be a problem.

 

[Cymbidium]

I have a degree in Art History and I got in.

 

[snowdance]

Wow, after reading your post I really feel more confident about my background, all the engineering wiring and soldering, working in the machine shop with drills 😀

I've always been "attracted" to health care careers but unfortunately I let my parents hold me back from doing what I want to do (both of my parents work in medical field, and they don't like it so they don't allow me to do it either🙁). I tried to like my job but I just feel something is missing in my life - passion. So I decide to make a change.

Now the thing is that I actually got my undergradate degree overseas and the grades are based on 0-100 scale. Will dental school look at me differently (in a bad way) than other applicants? I really prefer not to get a dental degree overseas and come back for 3 more years in an international student placement program. I'd be toooo old by that time 😀

ey, i am engineering major too. i remember someone saying that the engineering majors have the highest acceptance rate. and I think engineering is somewhat relevant to dentistry (in terms of research). For ex,

Optical Engineering (physics oriented): for digital radiography, imaging (near IR for better imaging technique), lasers, (Erb-Yag lasers, CO2 lasers for cosmetic dentistry)
Material Science Engineering: Enamel itself, composite
Chemical engineering: composite chemistry, MScE
Mechanical engineering: statics (shear stress, bending moments, torque and all crap)

I think engineering is a pretty good pre-dental major 😉

ooo
When I was looking for a job (fresh out of college), Invisalign (align tech) came to my college biotech/bioe fair. They were ONLY looking for specifically computer science and mechanical engineering majors. And I did some EE too, and lots of soldering and wiring. This is pure dexterity. I think taking sculpture class helps, but soldering and wiring require much more attention to detail and dexterity (IMO). When you were working on projects, I am pretty sure u used dramel and drills as well.

and I actually have a question for you. Why do you wanna be a dentist? I think EECS makes like average 78k right out of college (my friends who work at Cisco and Intel make 80k+). So it must not be $$. Something must have inspired you...

 

[sl2obel2ts]

haha, cool good thing I made you more confident.

Why do you wanna be a dentist? Before you get into the field, explore the field first.

I recently had a job interview for dental lab tech position at a prestigious university. I specified that I want to be a dentist in the future in my cover letter. The interviewer asked me why I wanted to be a dentist. I answered the question "stupidly but honestly". I want to be a dentist because I think of a tooth as a piece of architecture. My background in biology, material science and mechanical engineering help me understand me how a tooth is structured. I have been working on various projects that require soldering, wiring and drameling, and I found that I have talent in working with small things that require attention in detail. and of course, I love communicating with people (who doesnt?).

Guess what? I did get the job (because of networking mostly), but my answer wasn't good enough (I later found out). Then I realized that I need to be more clear and solid about becoming a dentist. I started reading some books and papers, shadowing dentists and interning at dental ceramic lab. Then, I realized that dentistry is what I really want.

Wow, after reading your post I really feel more confident about my background, all the engineering wiring and soldering, working in the machine shop with drills 😀

I've always been "attracted" to health care careers but unfortunately I let my parents hold me back from doing what I want to do (both of my parents work in medical field, and they don't like it so they don't allow me to do it either🙁). I tried to like my job but I just feel something is missing in my life - passion. So I decide to make a change.

Now the thing is that I actually got my undergradate degree overseas and the grades are based on 0-100 scale. Will dental school look at me differently (in a bad way) than other applicants? I really prefer not to get a dental degree overseas and come back for 3 more years in an international student placement program. I'd be toooo old by that time 😀

 

[ItsGavinC]

As you have read, and many of posted, the major isn't typically a concern for adcoms. They want good grades that show dedication, and want you to complete whatever pre-reqs they have for their school.

Science, non-science, it really doesn't matter much, I think.

 

[714guy]

i have a BS in computer science and my grade were crappy.. I still applied and its looking hopeful this second time around.. Just show them how much you want D School. Good luck.

 

[xtractime]

I've read this as well.


I think your major is an advantage. My husband is an engineer and he laughed at the PAT questions I showed him. "Kid's stuff" is what he called it. So if anything, you'll rock that section.

haha, i'm engineering also and i thought the PAT section and math sections were a joke. although it was much harder for us to study for the science sections.

also, BCP science courses i believe are harder for us to excel in simply because of the way we are trained to think. most of our engineering classes involve application type questions whereas a lot of science courses are memorization stuff. plus, most of my engineering classes allowed a cheat sheet for exams, so don't HAVE to memorize stuff, but have to know how to apply the formulas.

 

[grrrrrwolf]

You are in a great position. Anyone post-Masters may not even have to take the DAT. I know a navy pilot (mechanical engineer major) which was accepted without taking the DAT or having any bio prerequesits (bio I or II even.) He was actually responsible for my first full mouth rehab case during his AEGD residency; the Prosthodontist told me this was 'my case to lose' and to just do my best. OK, Maybe not a good example....

There is something to be said for the vetting process dental schools have. Anyone who has went through it is definitly a better person for the effort.

 

[PChemGrad]

I think you are fine. Your degrees are not a disadvantage at all. I have a MS in Physical Chemistry, other people in my class have degrees in Materials Engineering, Chem E, Art, Business, Psychology, Physics, Mechanical Engineering.
So I dont think it will hurt you. They want people other than biomajors.