Hey, I am from the Pre-dental forum. I have a year off and I plan on using it to study ahead for dental school. Does anyone here have any study material suggestions? Thanks!
stuyding ahead for dental school
- Thread starter wo5678
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Yeah, don't be dumb and waste your time.
That is what everyone has been telling me. But I am a bit of a nerd and love to studying. It feels strange to have no intellectual stimulation for a whole year. I don't have the money or a companion to travel with. I am just going to get bored at home. I am actually a reapplicant. I applied in 2010 and took a year off and is applying again this cycle. Even though I did some traveling, I felt pretty useless during the time I took off. I would much rather be studying. So any suggestions would be appreciated!
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you should strengthen your ap either with a higher DAT score a better GPA...you can study that way.
This has been beaten to death in the premed forum and almost everyone says that it is pointless to prestudy. Some advise to read books on how to study in med school or in this case dental school but no one really suggests reading ahead of time is very beneficial. Relax for now but hit the ground running when school starts. Start studying the first day of dental school.
Do basic science research. Very stimulating and it will definitely occupy your time and mind. You'll get positive reinforcement once you get published.
If you want to own a private practice in the future, you could read some books on running a business, or money management. They aren't necessarily the most intellectually stimulating topics but they are very important nonetheless, and you won't get very much exposure to these topics in dental school.
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IMHO you would be better served finding a job in a dental lab and learn as many skills (pouring,trimming,mounting models, custom trays, base plates, setting denture teeth,waxing crowns etc) as you can. Many dental students find becoming proficient in these skills just as daunting as the academic course load.
lol I know people who did...they regretted it big time. There's too much info to go over. How do you even know you're studying the right things? You'll be in the groove once things kick off--trust me.
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I absolutely agree. If you want to gain some information or skills in the dental field, working in a lab would be the best thing you can do. If you can eliminate that learning curve and gain some lab skill, your life in dental school will be much, much better.
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Wow.
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Hey, I personally got a 60 hour internship at a local dental studio through a recommendation from my dentist/mentor. If you have a strong relationship with one of the dentists you shadowed, you could kindly ask if they would be able to pull some strings for you.
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I say the best way you can study ahead for dental school is to take a job as a dental technician. I work and worked as an ophthalmic technician and that helped me immensely in my school, plus I got to learn how to run a practice and shadow the doctor while getting paid.
I think studying for the boards early is a great idea. I am eventually going to have to take it and the material is comprehensive.
I am more worry about having too much material to study for in the first two years. I don't want to pull any all nighters. I am not so worried about working getting used to working with my hands.
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thats the mentality I had before going into dental school, but then things changed....and you learn that those who had experience being a lab tech, efda ,etc were SIGNIFICANTLY better off. The less time you have to practice lab work, the more time you have to study for your other classes ( efficiency at its max).
i think you should definitely familiarize yourself with basic small business management. Time value of money, real estate, standard investment vehicles, people management, how to read a balance sheet. Basic accounting principles etc. If you have an entire year off, enroll in a one year MBA program at your local university.
If that doesnt tickle your fancy, enroll in your local brazilian jiu jitsu or boxing gym. Learn a skill that will last a lifetime in the next year. Bitches love tough guys. yeah.
Learn an instrument.
killacam is messing with you.
We understand youre gungho right now. Most of us were. But we can tell you without a doubt that prestudying dental school is not in your best interests.
If that doesnt tickle your fancy, enroll in your local brazilian jiu jitsu or boxing gym. Learn a skill that will last a lifetime in the next year. Bitches love tough guys. yeah.
Learn an instrument.
killacam is messing with you.
We understand youre gungho right now. Most of us were. But we can tell you without a doubt that prestudying dental school is not in your best interests.
I see the students who do the early summer enrichment program and am like... " why in hell are you doing this? You could be doing so many better things right now.." and by better things.. I mean even scrubbing toilets at a busy truckstop.
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We're finishing up Gross Anatomy in 10 weeks. We have three days to study for the cumulative final after the last test. Reviewing the information from the first few weeks, I hardly remember any of it off the top of my head.
Why on earth would you waste your last summer before dental school to just learn material that is either a) too complex b) superfluous c) you simply won't remember.
Be normal and go on a road trip or something.
Why on earth would you waste your last summer before dental school to just learn material that is either a) too complex b) superfluous c) you simply won't remember.
Be normal and go on a road trip or something.
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You're not going to remember enough to justify studying ahead. When I studied for NBDE part 1, I had to learn almost all of it again. Yes I could recall it after I read it because I learned it once, but no matter how much you study, you're going to have to study all over again like everyone else. Please do yourself a favor and take advantage of your year off. You will not fail dental school just because you didn't study ahead. I had 6 months off before dental school and I worked as a chemistry tutor, went running almost every day, went to the beach for spring break... I don't regret it for a second. I would be kicking myself right now if I had blown those last few months of freedom.
Yes, I understand that I won't remember much. However, i think one of the biggest learning curve is UNDERSTANDING how things relate to each other and pictures the body as a whole. That is how I've always learned. There are concepts from orgo, physics and calculus that I will remember for the rest of my life, but I don't remember all the specific reagents or formulas. I don't think it is useful for me to memorize all the little facts we will need to know. But I think it is useful for me to get a general idea, grand pictures of all the topics. I think a better way to put it is that I am want to learn physiology, not anatomy. If that makes sense.
Also, I used a book call medical terminology (I heard about it from a nursing student), when I was studying biology. It is basically medical etymology. It makes memorizing names, and even guessing what things mean much easier. I wonder if there is a similiar thing for dental. I looked on amazon and all the books name "dental terminology" seems to concern themselves with pronunciations rather then understanding the word roots.
Thanks!
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It sounds like you want to study for an extra year. At this point just do it because based on your posts, you're not going to be able to enjoy yourself because you're going to worry about how you're not studying early. It sounds like studying is where your enjoyment comes so go for it.
YES! I love school and learning. I've been out of school for two years and I can't wait attend dental school. I especially love studying with a study partner. My ideal would be to find someone who is attend dental school this year and let me sit in class with him/her and we can study for exams together. I live really close to NYU dental school if anyone goes there. But I don't know anyone. lol.
Until then, I just need some direction on what materials are good for me.
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Dude, if you want to be a nerd go ahead. You don't need our permission.
if youre truly not going to listen to the advice of the 25 posters here who are a few years ahead of you on the same path, of equal intellect, and all saying the same thing.....then contact a D1 from the school you are going to attend and get the semesters slides. Its that easy.
Again, youre going to look back on this thread in a year or two and be very embarrassed. It will be that moment when youre 26 and you have the dreaded thought ".....dad was right. On like, everything."
Again, youre going to look back on this thread in a year or two and be very embarrassed. It will be that moment when youre 26 and you have the dreaded thought ".....dad was right. On like, everything."
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Do whatever you want, but do you think you'll ever have the regret at the end of your life that you wished you had studied more before dental school? Or maybe perhaps that you didn't do something more fun?
i was gung-ho going into dental school, i was excited to learn and WANTED to learn.. Reality sunk in.. and boy does it suck! You want soo bad to get into dental school, then once you're here, you just want out.
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This makes me want to cry a little.
I like pancakes too. But that doesn't mean I'll enjoy gorging 40 pancakes in one sitting. If you're not gorging, you won't remember enough or do well come test day.
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I like your attitude, just don't burn yourself out before dental school starts hehe.
Anatomy is the subject that consumes the most time, so if you want to read ahead, go buy Gray's anatomy for students, 2nd edition.
It's a thick book so it should keep you busy for a while.
http://www.amazon.com/Grays-Anatomy-Students-STUDENT-CONSULT/dp/0443069522
Anatomy is the subject that consumes the most time, so if you want to read ahead, go buy Gray's anatomy for students, 2nd edition.
It's a thick book so it should keep you busy for a while.
http://www.amazon.com/Grays-Anatomy-Students-STUDENT-CONSULT/dp/0443069522
Those in my class that didn't study ahead for an entire year were at a huge disadvantage. Anyone who wants to do Ortho, or even Pedo these days, really needs to get a year long head start. I would recommend memorizing Sturdevant's Art and Science of Operative Dentistry and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology to get started.
Thanks! I will definitely look into it.
Thank you for being so supportive!
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Dude give it a rest. Are you a crazy or something? You're missing the fun part of your life... but if you look in the bright side, it is one of the thing of dental student do. Not only students but also post graduates or dentist ohhhhh yeah never ending reading..
Anyway if you really want some advance reading.... try to read general anatomy of the human body, it would be fun and focus more in the head and neck area and of course Oral anatomy.
Anyway if you really want some advance reading.... try to read general anatomy of the human body, it would be fun and focus more in the head and neck area and of course Oral anatomy.
What are you referring to?
Oh, you were referring to my post in the pre-dent forum. I wasn't saying that 24 is a mediocre score, I meant that my PAT is BETWEEN my TS and RC score.
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FYI this is a joke (I doubt even periodontitis can memorize Carranza). It's not true at all. Like everyone else has told you, studying ahead is poor use of your time. An important key to doing well in LIFE (not just dental school) is being well balanced.
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i lol.
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Awesome idea.
Also a great idea... many dental students have no freakin idea how dentures are manufactured after teeth are set.
I would not take his advice. I am not smart. I could have used an extra semester on anatomy before dental school. I feel many tell others not to prepare for their own gain... so follow you gut.
If you want, read this book and any basic head/neck anatomy book. It will put you far ahead when you get to school.
But one caveat. Once you get into dental school you are stuck. And I say that because you are set to work once you get out... loans are on your head... or in my case the Navy. If you have the time: travel, go do some graffiti art in LA or become a local drunk... you only live once.
Hey, I was looking at this book on amazon. But reviews said that there are alot of mistakes in it. Are there better books out there? I heard the dental decks and kaplan are good.
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So far I've only found one resource that actually describes dentistry and dental procedures, etc that might help paint the big picture... It's called The Complete Pre-Dental Guide to Modern Dentistry and I got it on Amazon. It's a quick read, doesn't cover everything but did actually help...
The one thing I am looking over (same type of situation) is netters head and neck anatomy. Is that a solid book?
I am also playing a good bit of golf! 🙂
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Play more golf and study less. Study much less. Studying=not fun. Golfing=fun. Have fun before you start dental school. You will have plenty of time to not have fun in dental school.
