taking a year off before dental school

[dentdude]

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I really wanna take off a year before i start dental school. I don't know if it was smart of me or not, but i already applied for this coming year and have already had a couple interviews. Would it have been better to have not applied at all this year? Should i just continue with the application process and hope that i can get a defferal, or would it be better to just withdraw my application? If i don't get any defferals, what are my chances of getting into a dental school if they accept me and i turn them down to take a year off?
My DAT scores and GPA are both very good. If anyone has any advice or knows anything about this please let me know. I could really use some advice. Thanks.

 

[WakeForest10]

I took a year off and I am now regretting it. The job market is terrible... and I thought I would enjoy taking a year off and traveling but I really miss school (weird...). If I were you I would really really think strongly about it before turning down any dental schools.

 

[FutureDent020]

Withdrawing your applications at this stage would be pointless. Let it play out and if you get accepted you could request a differal and if they give it to you, then take it. If you get into school this December, finish undergrad on cruise control and relax all summer. You'll be ready for school in August.

 

[ridhi465]

If you already applied and now have changed your mind, thats going to be a huge waste of money to withdraw. You are evaluated each year over again and an interview this time does not guarantee an interview next cycle.

I think you should stick with it and don't take a year off.. Admissions committee members have emphasized the importance of never taking a break in your education by choice.

 

[timwatley]

I took a year off and it's been absolutley amazing. There's so much more to life than school. It was tough finding a job but it built character and I learned some valuable lessons and now have a much different perception of the real world than I did in undergrad. I made a ton of new friends, got my partying out, met an awesome girl, and I'll be taking a 3 month trip around the world this April. During my time off I also shadowed more and lived on my state schools campus for a little bit which allowed me to meet the dental students and volunteer in the clinic. I wouldn't change anything about my decision, you're only young once and it really doesn't make a difference if you wait another year or two before entering school. Overall, despite several setbacks such as finding a job, this last year has been one of the better years of my life. If you get in somewhere this year you'd be able to get in easily the next time you applied I'm sure.

 

[Medwell]

I took a year off and I am now regretting it. The job market is terrible... and I thought I would enjoy taking a year off and traveling but I really miss school (weird...)

You, my friend, are the exception. The job market isn't terrible (the recession has officially been over since June 2009 - maybe it's you🙂 - http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/business/la-fi-recession-over-20100921). Traveling is amazing. That year off is the time to get everything done you've dreamed of before starting dental school.

Admissions committee members have emphasized the importance of never taking a break in your education by choice.

Really? They have? It's not like education is a race... what's wrong with taking time off to refresh your mind and experience something new?

I took a year off and it's been absolutley amazing. There's so much more to life than school. It was tough finding a job but it built character and I learned some valuable lessons and now have a much different perception of the real world than I did in undergrad. I made a ton of new friends, got my partying out, met an awesome girl, and I'll be taking a 3 month trip around the world this April. During my time off I also shadowed more and lived on my state schools campus for a little bit which allowed me to meet the dental students and volunteer in the clinic. I wouldn't change anything about my decision, you're only young once and it really doesn't make a difference if you wait another year or two before entering school. Overall, despite several setbacks such as finding a job, this last year has been one of the better years of my life. If you get in somewhere this year you'd be able to get in easily the next time you applied I'm sure.

This guy's got the right idea. 👍 Go for it OP, you'll have fun.

 

[dentdude]

I took a year off and I am now regretting it. The job market is terrible... and I thought I would enjoy taking a year off and traveling but I really miss school (weird...). If I were you I would really really think strongly about it before turning down any dental schools.

I really appreciate all the feedback but i wasn't even thinking about the job market. all i'm worried about is getting into a dental school the following year if i can't get a deferral this year. nobody thinks that'll be an issue?

 

[ridhi465]

Really? They have? It's not like education is a race... what's wrong with taking time off to refresh your mind and experience something new?

I didn't say it was a race. I was just letting the OP know what I've been told about taking a year off.

 

[Dent001]

.

 

[Just Peachy]

I really appreciate all the feedback but i wasn't even thinking about the job market. all i'm worried about is getting into a dental school the following year if i can't get a deferral this year. nobody thinks that'll be an issue?

Yes, I think that it would be an issue. If a school accepts you and you turn them down, why would they accept you again? You had your chance and there are a lot of other people who want that spot. If you get in to dental school this cycle, go. If you don't, take it as a sign that you were meant to take a year off and enjoy it.

 

[wifi08]

I think you must analyze why you are taking off the year. Is there a really good reason? do you have enough of the year planned out to make that decision? Will taking off a year perhaps make you question if dentistry is for you-perhaps this is only cold feet, and your afraid of jumping in; or maybe you will find that having fun for a year will make you reconsider dentistry? These are strong considerations you must think about, and possibly talk about with your mentors.
Regarding defferal, if your scores are as good as you imply, i am sure you will have an easy time deffering; and in the event that you will not, surely you could reapply to the schools which will inevitably reject you this cycle. However, i would be wary of having to explain why you took off the year. Last time i checked, the admissions ppl love surfers, but they don't want their students wasting so much of their life surfing.
Finally, i think its most important to mention:
Patient asksDentist: "How much to get my teeth straightened?" "Twenty thousand bucks" Patient heads for the door. Dentist to patient: "Where are you going?" "To a plastic surgeon to get my mouth bent."

 

[dentdude]

well i know exactly what i'd be doing for the year off. so i guess i'll just hope that i can get a deferral and that it all works out. thnks for the advice, guys!

 

[iwantdental]

I really appreciate all the feedback but i wasn't even thinking about the job market. all i'm worried about is getting into a dental school the following year if i can't get a deferral this year. nobody thinks that'll be an issue?

my pre-health advisor told me that turning down an acceptance can be the kiss of death and that if other dental schools were to ever find out that you turned down an opportunity they won't accept you...

now that may just be my advisor talking, but rather be on the safe side.

on the other hand, i am currently taking a year off and working does suck and i miss school a lot. but i do feel like everything i learned these past few months will make me better prepared for my future. its a double edged sword i guess

 

[dentdude]

on the other hand, i am currently taking a year off and working does suck and i miss school a lot. but i do feel like everything i learned these past few months will make me better prepared for my future. its a double edged sword i guess

so i'm guessing you did the smart thing and didn't apply at all thiss time around?

 

[redchesus]

Deferrals are extremely rare, I believe, and only for extenuating circumstances.

That said, I've taken TWO years off and have had a blast. I don't think you'll regret it if you do end up taking a year off. Personally, having experience as a young adult outside of academics was important to me. I worked 9-5, traveled quite a bit and saw some cool things. It was really important to me not to go straight from being a student from kindergarten through college to become a student for another 4 years. If that's important to you, then I think you should go for it.

Pragmatically speaking, I think you should finish out this application cycle and go to whatever school you get accepted to. But... life isn't all about pragmatics sometimes. Depending on your stats, reapplying next year may not be such a big deal. But you probably won't get the opportunity after D-school. You have a lot of thinking to do, I think.

 

[cheesecake88]

It depends for what reason.

Are you just burnt out from academics?

Maybe you can just take a long summer break. No more shadowing, volunteering, and research.

That is my plan, I'm not taking a year off, but once I find out I am in. I am going to have 3 months of me + fun+ traveling= memories to get me through 4 more years of science...

 

[dentdude]

Deferrals are extremely rare, I believe, and only for extenuating circumstances.


Depending on your stats, reapplying next year may not be such a big deal.

my scores are good so i hope you're right.

 

[Jason P]

If you are doing "things" to make your application stronger, then it is a good idea otherwise dont' take a year off....

 

[kayakdude]

job market in the US..... I'd go ahead and get into dental if you're accepted..... however, if you want to take off a year and go overseas... I would recommend it

 

[dentdude]

job market in the US..... I'd go ahead and get into dental if you're accepted..... however, if you want to take off a year and go overseas... I would recommend it

yeah that would be my plan

 

[7 Iron]

If you're going to do a year off, make sure you do something you enjoy! When I begin dental school in the Fall 2011 (hopefully) I will have been out of school three years. Of course I found dentistry as an option after I graduated, so I didn't plan on taking three years off, but it just kind of happened that way. I do feel like it's done some great things for me... I've learned a lot about myself and about life, and I've matured also. However if I had to do it over again, I would limit it to one year off. I've been pretty unhappy these past couple years because I've worked in two jobs that make me miserable every day. Don't get locked into something you aren't enjoying!

 

[murraim]

I agree with Timwatley- I am currently taking my year off, and it has been one of the BEST years of my life. I also agree with others, that I am excited to get back to school next year, but I am enjoying life to its fullest- I don't know about where you would be living, but I am currently in New York, and if you get in contact with a Temp Agency they hook you up with a job in a matter of weeks. There is MUCH more to life than burying yourself in books, we're SO YOUNG!! I highly recommend taking that year, and talk to your advisors about the deferral process, they know more about that than we do. LIVE!!!

 

[WhichRoom]

I am currently in a year off, so waiting for 12/1 is extra nerve-racking. That being said I am honestly enjoying my position. I have a full time lab job (with pay), and I'm enjoying the catch of breathe. Despite what some may stigmatize, reading up on anatomy and phys does in fact happen. It's excited to take a lead and a quick review of the basics while still recharging the battery. I wouldn't worry about getting back into that interviewers seat, think for a few good days, and call it 😎