should i tell interviewers i quit being predental for a while?

[Kneecoal]

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i struggled a lot grades-wise in the first half of undergrad and got really discouraged about ever being able to get in to d-school, and so quit for about a year and focused on becoming a biology teacher instead. since the stress was technically off, i was able to do much better, and that's when my gpa started to really come up. so then my focus on dental school didn't start up again until the spring semester of my senior year (last january), and by then i'd learned not to let the stress take over and had learned better studying methods, etc.

so because my transcript has such an upward trend, i'm guessing they might ask me about what i did to bring about the change. but i'm worried whether they'd question my dedication to dentistry if i tell them i gave up on it for a year or so, even though i've wanted it since i was a child. what thinks you all? any opinions are appreciated.

 

[Kneecoal]

come on guys, over 100 people have looked at this and no one has any thoughts about it? what would you do if this was your case?

 

[Extirpator]

Do you truly think that dropping dental is what helped you bring your grades up? If you really think about it, I'd guess that it had little, if anything to do with it... nevertheless...

I don't think it would matter much if you did tell them... it's not that you lost interest, but rather that you were being realistic and didn't think that dentistry would be an option any longer. However, you were able to correct the situation and now... here you are, going on interviews.. fufilling a dream that, a mere 2 years ago, you thought was lost forever.

think about it... it's pretty much like you came back from the grave.
you're actually a huge badass and you didn't even know it 😎

 

[Ryltar]

Was it the motivation to become a good biology teacher that helped you succeed in your classes? If that is the case, then the motivation to become a great dentist should have the same effect on your future dental school coursework.

It sounds to me like at that point in time you were unmotivated to do your coursework, but once your coursework became a responsibility you did a lot better.

I wouldn't tell them that you lost all hope in dentistry, but rather you were considering other options and ultimately came back leaning more strongly towards dentistry.

 

[doc3232]

IMO, your goal on becoming a dentist should strengthen your grades. You have some motivation.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

I would not tell them exactly how you feel as to what the reason was for rebounding in school, in your case. You're now looking to get into dental school, which will beeven more demanding and stressful than your first two years as an undergraduate just preparing for dental school.

This may likely give a strong impression that life in dental school, might cause yet another episode of you screwing up, if they admit you. Therefore, I would think of another reason. If at all possible I'd avoid the topic as you put it altogether.

 

[anschutz1913]

I would bet anything that you cant go wrong with telling the truth. Plain ole honesty! In fact, I bet they would think more of you as an applicant how you overcame some hurdles to get to where you are now.

ANZ

 

[sketo43]

I think honesty is best, and if it were me, I would tell the truth. But I would also be careful about how I phrase it. I wouldn't use the word "quit" - instead I'd say that I started considering other options because my grades were bad. You never lost the desire to become a dentist, you just thought your grades weren't good enough.

One concern that adcoms might have is how you will be able to deal with stress in dental school. How do you currently deal with stress? Meditation? Exercise? Something else? If you can clearly explain what you do differently in regards to (1) studying and (2) stress compared to your freshman year, I think you're golden.