Take a year off?

[firecracked]

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Well, I still have a couple years until I have to apply to dental schools, but I've been trying to plan out the next few years.

As a rising sophomore, I just recently decided to go into dentistry, so I have yet to do any of the pre-reqs or volunteering/shadowing work. I'm hoping, though, that I'll be able to get most of the pre-reqs and some volunteer work under my belt to put together a decent application by the end of junior year, even though I probably won't have many of the recommended courses. I am mostly concerned that I won't have time to get enough shadowing hours in, and I know that dental experience is important on the application. I am speaking with my advisor and trying to make things work.

However, if, for whatever reason, I don't get enough courses and/or extracurriculars done to apply my junior year, how would it look if I applied my senior year and took the following year off of school to work (as the application cycle goes on)? Would that put me at a disadvantage from getting accepted for taking the year off rather than attending a postbacc or MS program? Would it look bad if the adcoms see that I didn't even try the previous year? I would obviously try to work/volunteer/shadow/etc in the dental field to further improve my application. Or, instead of taking a year off, should I start an MS program in case I don't get into dental school my first go around?

Please, don't think I'm trying to get an easy year off. I'd rather go straight to school and not get out of the academic groove, but I just wanted to explore this option to see if it's anything I should really consider or not.

 

[jendent]

I took a year off and didn't have a problem at all. I actually found, when I interviewed, that there was a large percentage of people who did not go straight from undergrad to dental school. The adcom's like to see older applicants because they might be more mature, have more experience and are well rounded. Being out in the working world, or traveling, or taking time out of school helps you develop those things. Besides that, I think its a good time to relax, and not study for a while. You're gonna bust your butt in dental school, so take some time off from being a student. I've known a few people who went straight into it and hated it because they felt burnt out and I've known others that did really well. There are so many ways to get into dental school, you don't necessarily need to follow the traditional path. Just do what you think is right for you, not what people tell you is the correct way. Apply when you feel ready.