So stressed out!!!

[caremkn]

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Hi you guys,

I'm expected to graduate this May and will plan to apply this June. That means I have one year "free". I'm so stressed out what I can do during this year. I'm Biology major and I have no idea if not continue with school, what can I do with a Biology degree, especially in a bad bad economy right now. I'm scared because if I don't find a good job then if i have an interview, people would wonder I just play around all year long . Any advice? I want to get a job related to dentistry but dental-assisting job requires some experience and some dental courses, I'm not sure. Please! Any advice would be appreciated

 

[dennisDDS]

stay in school or try to be busy volunteering..

I took 3 months off and I am absolutely hating it..
If you dont have things to take your mind off the application process it will drive you crazy as it has done to me! LoL

 

[left high n dry]

things to consider, volunteer, shadow, take another science class, or a class that demonstrate fine hand motor skills, or even sign up for a year of americorps, its a one year community service committment and you get a fairly decent stipend.

 

[JJBDDS]

I took a year off and I ran into the same problem with finding a job at a dental office. For a dental assisting job every place wanted a minimum of 2 years experience when I had 0. However, I did get a job at an office as a sterilization assistant. This was a great experience because I learned a lot about the business aspect of dentistry, was able to learn the instruments, and helped the hygienists do sealants, take xrays, etc. Not the best paying job but the learning experience was far more important! I also took a science class to keep up with my studies and volunteered some. Hope this helps and good luck to you.

 

[beastmode]

Why so stressed? You don't have to limit yourself to dentistry related jobs. Just get any full time job and enjoy it. You can always work in a research lab as a lab tech with your bio degree. Yeah the economy is bad, but universities will always be hiring. That is what I have done with my year off and I have been loving it. It has been like a year long paid vacation. It is amazing how nice it is to go to work from 9-5, and then leave work at work. With no homework or tests to worry about, 40 hours a week has been like a vacation before d school. Americorps or SCA sounds like a nice option as long as they are flexible enough to allow you to get to your interviews.

 

[DDSJA]

I'm in the final stages of my year off and I can't say that I regret taking it! I ended up working two jobs, a crappy part-time job in a retail store and a part-time job as a research assistant at my University. I was able to stay away from academics, but stay connected in a different way. It's also great to not have to study for once in my life.
I would suggest just enjoying your time off and realizing that after this year off, life begins. 4 years of dental school, debt and then the rest of your life working (with a great career of course haha, but work nonetheless). I worked, shadowed more at a dental office and just relaxed really. In your interviews, you can tell them "I took the year off to really mature in my decision to pursue dental school by taking more time to shadow and research more into the profession..."