Social Aspect of Dental School and Drinking

[Mugsy1888]

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So this is actually my first post here and I am kind of excited because I got my first acceptance to dental school today! Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited, I'm just a little nervous about the social aspects of dental school. I'm a 25 year old male and was never a heavy drinker as an undergrad. It's not for any reason except that I just don't enjoy it. I literally can count on two hands how many beers I've had in my life. Having said that, I am looking forward to making friends for life in dental school and am nervous that me not taking part in parties and that kind of thing will make me kind of an outcast. Thoughts on this?

Also, I promise I'm not a weird guy! I just don't find drinking until I pass out something that excites me! Thank you everyone!

 

[Amberena]

So this is actually my first post here and I am kind of excited because I got my first acceptance to dental school today! Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited, I'm just a little nervous about the social aspects of dental school. I'm a 25 year old male and was never a heavy drinker as an undergrad. It's not for any reason except that I just don't enjoy it. I literally can count on two hands how many beers I've had in my life. Having said that, I am looking forward to making friends for life in dental school and am nervous that me not taking part in parties and that kind of thing will make me kind of an outcast. Thoughts on this?

Also, I promise I'm not a weird guy! I just don't find drinking until I pass out something that excites me! Thank you everyone!

You'll only be an outcast if you make yourself one. If your fellow dental students go out for drinks, go with them! You don't have to get wasted to hang out with people. Plus, I'm sure there will be many other students who don't want to spend their spare time getting inebriated. The only way people will judge you for being "a weird guy" is if you make it awkward by constantly telling them that you don't drink.

 

[Member902507]

I actually don't drink, at all. Never did in undergrad or before, and don't plan to now. I don't like the taste of it and I don't "need" it. As Amberena wrote above though, still go out with your buddies! Most of the times I go out, I call myself the DD and get free sodas from the bartender.

Generally, I'm okay as long as drinking isn't the main attraction point of the night...then I get bored. However, it is fun to see how some people become so stupid when they're drunk...

Don't let this bring you down though, you'll find a group of people you can definitely get along with! Whether they drink or don't drink.

 

[znny19]

I'm surprised people think that "going out" = getting piss drunk. You are going to be in dental school with people who were smart enough to get in. Most will be responsible enough to control their drinking as to not look like an idiot in front of their peers.

Also do you really think that people will not talk to you just because you didn't go out and party with them...?

 

[OsteotomyOMFS17]

Yeah! By all means go out with them. I don't really like drinking either, so I always offer to DD (like the posters above), and everyone's fine with that.

 

[free99]

Most will be responsible enough to control their drinking as to not look like an idiot in front of their peers.

Totally agree - I think by the time people are in dental school, those who drink to excess will be the minority and they themselves will become more of an outcast (or laughing stock) than the dude who doesn't drink at all.

 

[dmdluffy]

Totally agree - I think by the time people are in dental school, those who drink to excess will be the minority and they themselves will become more of an outcast (or laughing stock) than the dude who doesn't drink at all.

Dental students have a pretty good rep for partying. That said, you can still party hard and have a great time even if you don't drink. The most important thing is that you're are still out with them and participating.

 

[dentalWorks]

So this is actually my first post here and I am kind of excited because I got my first acceptance to dental school today! Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited, I'm just a little nervous about the social aspects of dental school. I'm a 25 year old male and was never a heavy drinker as an undergrad. It's not for any reason except that I just don't enjoy it. I literally can count on two hands how many beers I've had in my life. Having said that, I am looking forward to making friends for life in dental school and am nervous that me not taking part in parties and that kind of thing will make me kind of an outcast. Thoughts on this?

Also, I promise I'm not a weird guy! I just don't find drinking until I pass out something that excites me! Thank you everyone!

I am not a drinker either (actually... Im allergic to alcohol so....)

DS is very similar to undergrad, you will be in a click of people that u will always hang out with. When there is a party (and often times, there are many), people go and hang out. Not everyone drinks (need designated drivers). The only time you'll be "weird" is when you don't have a click, which is VERY disadvantageous, cause the click usually helps each other out (old quizzes, exams, study material from previous years etc).

 

[Mugsy1888]

Here's where I'm coming from: I would rather hang out at home on a Friday night and watch a movie than go to a bar for a couple of drinks and stay out late. Call me weird if you want but that's just the straight up truth. Having said that, I'm a little but nervous about all the responses here because I really do want to make some connections but am nervous I am just too much of an old soul to really fit in.

 

[free99]

Dental students have a pretty good rep for partying. That said, you can still party hard and have a great time even if you don't drink. The most important thing is that you're are still out with them and participating.

For sure - I just assume the frequency with which people drink to total excess where they're booting or incoherent would be way less in a professional school than undergrad.

Here's where I'm coming from: I would rather hang out at home on a Friday night and watch a movie than go to a bar for a couple of drinks and stay out late. Call me weird if you want but that's just the straight up truth. Having said that, I'm a little but nervous about all the responses here because I really do want to make some connections but am nervous I am just too much of an old soul to really fit in.

Out of a class of 50, 100, 150, whatever, you're bound to find other people with the same interests as you. There will always be people who want to go out, just as there will always be people who want to stay in with a close group of friends and watch movies, play cards, play music, whatever it is you like to do. If you're a personable guy, I'm sure you'll find your clique. You may find a post from UltimateHombre in this thread reassuring:

Listen OP... if you are uncomfortable with all 100 of your future classmates, it is time for some serious self reflection.

First off, you are educated enough by now to know that absolutes have almost no statistical validity. The odds of you not liking, or not having people like you, in your class are slim to none. That is part of the interview process to hand select people from many different backgrounds, cultures, and interest groups to make a diverse class. Odds are that the larger your class size is, the greater chances of finding people who have similar interests as you.

Second, cliques will form at any school that is cohort in nature. You will have the partiers, the sports people, the married folk, the going out to dinner people, the outdoor types, the various race groups, etc. However, you are over looking the fact that you will automatically have several things in common with everyone... you all have interests in dentistry and higher education. Use that as a ground work to relate to people.

Lastly, you need to really branch out and hang out with all types of people. Sure you will have your "clique" that you associate most with, but it is in your best interest to associate with everyone. Maybe you don't like to party, but should that stop you from going to a party your classmate is throwing... no, go and socialize, make new friends. Currently i am young and married, so most of my friends are young married people. But we also will go to the occasional "party" that my or her coworkers throw, we go country and swing dancing with certain people, we often host BBQ's for football games with other friends, then we hike and snowboard with others, i have my poker buddies, and sometimes we combine these groups for a big game night. It is good to have a diverse group of friends... not only will this make you happier, but i guarantee you will have lots of fun. It is also healthy for you to do this, because it will make your more relate-able to your future patients.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

it's not a big deal. you're thinking too much into it.

 

[pinpoint212]

everyone had to go through an interview to get there.. no one should be socially awk

 

[UCSFx2017]

everyone had to go through an interview to get there.. no one should be socially awk

Yup. Most schools try to make a fitting student body. Can you imagine what a student body made up of SDN'ers would be like?

 

[aqz]

OP, I hope you find my response encouraging.

My main issue is not really the drinking or partying, but rather the people who participate in those activities are, for the most part, not people I can see myself hanging with. That's not a problem until I tell you that I would want to be somewhat close friends with everyone in my dental class. I don't think it will be a problem in the actual school setting to be personable with everyone but outside of school, I find it rather grim when I imagine putting up personas like I did in high school in order to "fit in" and can't understand why the largest commotions people partake in involve alcohol consumption. It's even worse when I think about the possibility of forcing myself to learn how to enjoy alcohol consumption in order to not feel like my night is a total blowout while I just sit at a bar doing nothing except being the eventual DD.

That being said, I've pretty much given up hope for being friends with everyone, so it doesn't seem as big of an issue. I also met a LOT of D3 students doing rotation at the hospital I shadow at and generally brought up this question with them. It seems like for the most part, the things that constitute "going out" in dental school starkly contrast with the things that one would imagine in undergrad. Sure you're going to have some dental students who still think they're partying at Arizona State, but I think for the most part, the maturity level is on a different playing field. People will become more personable and mature (as they rightly should, being future healthcare providers), and it will be easier to make real, meaningful friendships that last a lifetime instead of the people you drank with on Friday nights or people you hooked up with after every exam.

But even if that is untrue and the dental class I matriculate with just happens to land a spot in the drinking record books, I've found that there is much to be glorified in standing for the things that you believe in, especially when you're faced with opposition and ostracism. That's the bottom line OP, and if you're okay with that, then you should have a grand time in dental school. All the best.

 

[Bobby Fischer]

Here's where I'm coming from: I would rather hang out at home on a Friday night and watch a movie than go to a bar for a couple of drinks and stay out late. Call me weird if you want but that's just the straight up truth. Having said that, I'm a little but nervous about all the responses here because I really do want to make some connections but am nervous I am just too much of an old soul to really fit in.

^^ a fellow 'old soul' here . I don't drink at all.

 

[Toasted]

Mugsy1888, I'll be your friend. We don't need other people. Us against the world!!!

 

[jmh018]

^^ a fellow 'old soul' here . I don't drink at all.

Ditto

 

[NDPitch]

Drinking is not the center of social interaction. I myself like a few beers here and there with my buddies, but we don't think that the people who don't drink are weird. To be honest, I think people will notice someone being reclusive over someone that doesn't drink. I encourage you to go out with people and have a good time. You don't need to have a drink in your hand to make friends and have a few good laughs.

 

[pointynose]

this thread is really happening?

 

[Glimmer1991]

I'm not a dental student, but something tells me you'll be fine. There are a lot of us out there like you, I think. I turned 21 a few months ago and can genuinely say that I despise drinking. I don't enjoy it. I'm not morally against it, though, and have absolutely no problems with my friends drinking if they feel like it! Just don't be weird about it and act condescending, and I think no problems will befall you. If this is the biggest of your worries about DS, you'll be in for a fine time! Haha!

 

[dmdluffy]

everyone had to go through an interview to get there.. no one should be socially awk

You'd be surprised ha!

Yeah overall I'd agree that people don't get trashed as much in dental school as professional school. It's more of social drinking.

 

[DentalSmithing]

Also, I promise I'm not a weird guy! I just don't find drinking until I pass out something that excites me! Thank you everyone!

Not an issue. But I would tag along to happy hours after finals or whatever. If need be, just get a soda +bitters. Its look like a cocktail, but its basically soda water.

Dont worry, dental school is basically the same as undergraduate w/out frats or sorrorities.

 

[ttpharm]

Don't be 'that guy.'