Switching from pre-dental to med

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

SCDP

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
285
Reaction score
61
I'm thinking of making the switch but I feel like I just wasted all of freshman year wanting to be a dentist. Sure I did good and kept myself in a great position getting a 3.85(science and cumulative) freshman year but I have nothing related to volunteer/medicine interest on my resume. Like I wasted all freshman year getting friendly with my pre-dent club and obtaining a leadership position in my pre-dental club when I could have been doing all of that for pre-med. Luckily for me my mom is a doctor so getting tons of shadowing hours should be easy. I also will start next week volunteering at my local boys and girls club. But what else should I do extra-curricular related? I really have no interest in research and am not going to do that.

Do you guys think the following should be enough to get into an MD somewhere(more specifically somewhere in the Midwest like Wisconsin-Madison or Minnesota):
3.8+ cGPA/sGPA
100-200 hoursHomeless volunteering(thinking about doing this)
100-200 hours Boys & Girls Club volunteering
100-200 hours A good range of shadowing
100-200 hours Volunteering at a hospital
2 years Pre-Med
Do you guys think the preceding should be enough to get in as long as I do solid on the MCAT? I know there are no guarantees but just wondering because I know nothing about the MD application but know tons about the DDS/DMD application and chances and such.
 
Keep going. Take your grades a tad bit more serious although it appears you have been already. Med is a little more competitive. Congrats on the GPA.
 
My two cents... If you're looking at some of the top tier med schools my understanding is that "no interest in research" is definitely going to hurt you.
 
I honestly think you're in a great position. Just focus a little more on ECs and the possibilities are limitless.
 
Just switched over to premed this January after getting into dental school. I've shadowed a pediatrician ~60 hours and have been volunteering at my local hospital (will have 150 hours by July when I submit my application).

I've also had plenty of non clinical volunteering from years before and have been doing some research assisting these last few months. My GPa is average but with a really strong upwards trend. Mcat pending, taking it may 31. If I can get in this cycle, there should be absolutely no reason for you to think you can't. Check with me in later months to see if I had success if you want.
 
I hope you aren't shadowing your mother... ADCOM do not like getting LOR from family.

It's not wasted as the pre reqs are similar
 
One of the favorite interview questions is "if not medicine, then what". You 'll be in a good position to honestly say, "I considered dentistry but decided that I preferred medicine because... but if medicine were not an option, I like dentistry because if would give me the chance to .... [do the things that attracted you to medicine]."

Same story if you are asked if you considered other careers before deciding on medicine.
 
Top