Studying vs. Not studying? Living a simple life? Would you do it again?

[toothmagic]

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Hi guys,

I am more than grateful for being accepted to Dental School this cycle, and more so because I am accepted to my home school, applied once, took DAT once. I am a non-degree seeking student, and I cannot believe how far I am getting. However, it's mentally draining, isn't it?

I've been in school 8 years without break (1st Bachelor 0 science related + worked for 6 months full time while doing a masters degree lol, work paid for it, thanks god, I would truly regret having that debt on top of all).

I am in my "final" semester of undergraduate. 2 classes, Biochemistry and Genetics. I have 0 desire to study, it's like I am mentally drained, and I have 2 exams next week. I love both subjects and I don't understand, why I don't feel motivate? Will I motivated during dental school? I am freaking out. What if this feeling continues through it?

I am studying every day though. I am not behind or anything, I don't know if I was so busy and now that I am not busy I think I am not doing enough, and it worries me.

What do you feel when your social media ppl are enjoying their lives and you have to study? I see facebook friends who either graduated long time ago, or did not attend college, or are married with kids, or are graduating dental school or med school, and I am still studying. I am like why I cannot be like them?

Well for once, they don't have school loans like me. School loans keep us going for sure, jeje.

Sorry for long post,

 

[free99]

Dental school is the epitome of delayed gratification ... you work hard for years, take on a ton of debt, and in the end hopefully are rewarded with a career that is gratifying in countless ways. I think you'll inevitably feel a little envious when you see your friends on facebook having a blast on the weekend while you commit minutia to memory, but on the other side of the coin, you're going to be making great new friends as you all labor through the process together. Motivation to continue studying hard in dental school for me came from a couple places:

1) i figured if I were spending so much money to be there, I may as well try as hard as I can,
2) I wasn't sure if I wanted to specialize and wanted to keep doors open, and
3) I felt like at the moment it was the right thing to do to be the best dentist i could.

Looking back on it now, the first 2 reasons were good, but the third was not. I don't think good grades in dental school are worth much other than opening doors to specialties/elite GPRs and personal pride. Many of my friends are bottom 1/4 and their work in the clinic and general knowledge about dentistry seems to be on par with mine. So all that said, I think you'll have to find what motivates you to study and whether it's a strong enough motivator to get you through the 4 year slog.

 

[Faux]

Well you don't want to study anymore because you got in lol. Once you have the DAT done and have an acceptance in your hand, everything else is just a unnecessary formality. Just how it is unfortunately. Just don't get anything lower than a C.

You'll get like that sometimes in dental school. I think I had like 6 months off before school, or maybe a year. So I had some gas in the tank going in. In 3 months I'll be a D4 and I'm getting to the point where I'm shrugging off studying and daily quizzes. Some of it is due to frustration, but mostly from the fact that I'm almost at the finish line. Just need to take the boards and find ways to be better in clinic and doing my trade. Giving me quizzes or homework assignments at this point, is just funny to me.

Regarding social media, its practically happy news 24/7. Why would anyone post anything sad, really? So don't get so distracted by that. We all have issues and we all have our low points. Most of my high school friends have kids but I'm happy I decided to do school first and spend more time on myself. A lot of them just have office jobs too. I wouldn't be happy like that.

Its a long journey, but it goes by in a blink. Still feels like yesterday that I just moved into my apartment. But do try and enjoy life during the journey. Not always about the finish line.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Regarding social media, its practically happy news 24/7. Why would anyone post anything sad, really? So don't get so distracted by that. We all have issues and we all have our low points.

And that’s why FB recently admitted it’s bad for your mental health.

Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you

Big Hoss

 

[toothmagic]

Well you don't want to study anymore because you got in lol. Once you have the DAT done and have an acceptance in your hand, everything else is just a unnecessary formality. Just how it is unfortunately. Just don't get anything lower than a C.

You'll get like that sometimes in dental school. I think I had like 6 months off before school, or maybe a year. So I had some gas in the tank going in. In 3 months I'll be a D4 and I'm getting to the point where I'm shrugging off studying and daily quizzes. Some of it is due to frustration, but mostly from the fact that I'm almost at the finish line. Just need to take the boards and find ways to be better in clinic and doing my trade. Giving me quizzes or homework assignments at this point, is just funny to me.

Regarding social media, its practically happy news 24/7. Why would anyone post anything sad, really? So don't get so distracted by that. We all have issues and we all have our low points. Most of my high school friends have kids but I'm happy I decided to do school first and spend more time on myself. A lot of them just have office jobs too. I wouldn't be happy like that.

Its a long journey, but it goes by in a blink. Still feels like yesterday that I just moved into my apartment. But do try and enjoy life during the journey. Not always about the finish line.

Thank you for the long response. I have two months off before school starts, I might travel somewhere and sleep a LOT. I am truly into Dental school, and like you said, it's just counting the months before actually starting. I love to do well in classes, and I am sure I will try my best this semester regardless of that accepance. 🙂 Good Luck with everything,

 

[toothmagic]

And that’s why FB recently admitted it’s bad for your mental health.



Big Hoss

Oh yes I know. I was out of social media for the last three years, and I was like let me see and went back in, big big mistake. It all seems so fake and honestly staged.

 

[toothmagic]

Well you don't want to study anymore because you got in lol. Once you have the DAT done and have an acceptance in your hand, everything else is just a unnecessary formality. Just how it is unfortunately. Just don't get anything lower than a C.

You'll get like that sometimes in dental school. I think I had like 6 months off before school, or maybe a year. So I had some gas in the tank going in. In 3 months I'll be a D4 and I'm getting to the point where I'm shrugging off studying and daily quizzes. Some of it is due to frustration, but mostly from the fact that I'm almost at the finish line. Just need to take the boards and find ways to be better in clinic and doing my trade. Giving me quizzes or homework assignments at this point, is just funny to me.

Regarding social media, its practically happy news 24/7. Why would anyone post anything sad, really? So don't get so distracted by that. We all have issues and we all have our low points. Most of my high school friends have kids but I'm happy I decided to do school first and spend more time on myself. A lot of them just have office jobs too. I wouldn't be happy like that.

Its a long journey, but it goes by in a blink. Still feels like yesterday that I just moved into my apartment. But do try and enjoy life during the journey. Not always about the finish line.

Dental school is the epitome of delayed gratification ... you work hard for years, take on a ton of debt, and in the end hopefully are rewarded with a career that is gratifying in countless ways. I think you'll inevitably feel a little envious when you see your friends on facebook having a blast on the weekend while you commit minutia to memory, but on the other side of the coin, you're going to be making great new friends as you all labor through the process together. Motivation to continue studying hard in dental school for me came from a couple places:

1) i figured if I were spending so much money to be there, I may as well try as hard as I can,
2) I wasn't sure if I wanted to specialize and wanted to keep doors open, and
3) I felt like at the moment it was the right thing to do to be the best dentist i could.

Looking back on it now, the first 2 reasons were good, but the third was not. I don't think good grades in dental school are worth much other than opening doors to specialties/elite GPRs and personal pride. Many of my friends are bottom 1/4 and their work in the clinic and general knowledge about dentistry seems to be on par with mine. So all that said, I think you'll have to find what motivates you to study and whether it's a strong enough motivator to get you through the 4 year slog.

I know, the worst delayed gratification ever. It will pass, I know it will 4 years will go in a blink of an eye. I am more concerned in my hand skills and confidence in what i can do with my hands than grades. Grades are important but working quick and knowing what you doing I think it's way more important.

 

[Incis0r]

Hi guys,

I am more than grateful for being accepted to Dental School this cycle, and more so because I am accepted to my home school, applied once, took DAT once. I am a non-degree seeking student, and I cannot believe how far I am getting. However, it's mentally draining, isn't it?

I've been in school 8 years without break (1st Bachelor 0 science related + worked for 6 months full time while doing a masters degree lol, work paid for it, thanks god, I would truly regret having that debt on top of all).

I am in my "final" semester of undergraduate. 2 classes, Biochemistry and Genetics. I have 0 desire to study, it's like I am mentally drained, and I have 2 exams next week. I love both subjects and I don't understand, why I don't feel motivate? Will I motivated during dental school? I am freaking out. What if this feeling continues through it?

I am studying every day though. I am not behind or anything, I don't know if I was so busy and now that I am not busy I think I am not doing enough, and it worries me.

What do you feel when your social media ppl are enjoying their lives and you have to study? I see facebook friends who either graduated long time ago, or did not attend college, or are married with kids, or are graduating dental school or med school, and I am still studying. I am like why I cannot be like them?

Well for once, they don't have school loans like me. School loans keep us going for sure, jeje.

Sorry for long post,

After getting accepted, I felt EXACTLY like you do right now. Don't worry - the drive/fire comes back once dental school starts. Just stay on top of your courses, finish them, treat yourself to a nice break, and you'll be fine.

Motivation comes and goes. It's self-discipline that carries you to your goals. And it sounds like you're doing just fine on that front since you're still studying everyday.

Re. social media - I am friends with very very few people (less than 20) on Facebook - only those that I've met traveling who I want to keep in touch with/can't reach me via text. I cut down my friends list severely since I was getting distracted on FB. My friends at school, etc. know they can always text me and it works out great this way.

 

[321931]

Hi guys,

I am more than grateful for being accepted to Dental School this cycle, and more so because I am accepted to my home school, applied once, took DAT once. I am a non-degree seeking student, and I cannot believe how far I am getting. However, it's mentally draining, isn't it?

I've been in school 8 years without break (1st Bachelor 0 science related + worked for 6 months full time while doing a masters degree lol, work paid for it, thanks god, I would truly regret having that debt on top of all).

I am in my "final" semester of undergraduate. 2 classes, Biochemistry and Genetics. I have 0 desire to study, it's like I am mentally drained, and I have 2 exams next week. I love both subjects and I don't understand, why I don't feel motivate? Will I motivated during dental school? I am freaking out. What if this feeling continues through it?

I am studying every day though. I am not behind or anything, I don't know if I was so busy and now that I am not busy I think I am not doing enough, and it worries me.

What do you feel when your social media ppl are enjoying their lives and you have to study? I see facebook friends who either graduated long time ago, or did not attend college, or are married with kids, or are graduating dental school or med school, and I am still studying. I am like why I cannot be like them?

Well for once, they don't have school loans like me. School loans keep us going for sure, jeje.

Sorry for long post,

What ironic is that after you graduate...its still a mental/physical marathon. You won't be comfortable with dentistry until 2-3 years out...and maybe once you have a practice. It's a LONG journey, but I've enjoyed it so far. It's not bad...it's just not easy. Alot of new graduates feel like the world owes them....sorta a millennial entitlement. I admit I was the same way.

I graduated from DENTAL school. I got a DOCTORATE. I am one of the top %.

But the reality is you BARELY just begun as a new DDS...and noone really cares. Noone owes you anything. It's a rough start working in some mill clinic seeing 40 patients a day and having some high school graduate Office Manager yell at you for not working faster. It's rough. Then loans slap you in the face with taxes. Welcome to the real world. But eventually it will all settle and be good.

You will understand in time. It's a wake up call that every new graduate goes through.

 

[setdoc7]

Don't live your life based on what other people are doing or have. There will always be someone who has more or does more. Find your own way and your own happiness.
Dental school is a four year grind with no pot of gold at the end....that's why they call it lifelong learning. The dentists I know who are happy actually like what they do, and over the years have mastered most of the procedures and techniques. Then there are those who hate being dentists, and you will run into plenty of them...at your local meetings and study clubs. They are disappointed with the way things turned out and have never found a balance between work, the profession, and their own lives. I suppose it is that balance which is at once in front of us and yet so elusive.

 

[Garett24]

I have been seriously down in my life and posted pics and stories of me looking happy. I have been in relationships where we post "cute" selfie together and constantly fight. DONT EVER take social media at face value. Its a huge lie. Work hard and study and take one or two nights off that week to completely not study and do what YOU think is fun.