Taking a year off...suggestions??

[gatorsNY2010]

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Here is some background info...
I was going to apply the usual time, junior year summer, when I caught myself questioning whether Dental was the right path for me....now that I have graduated this past May, I've realized that I really want to apply to dental school.

I would like to take a year off before applying again just to make sure I can get my experience levels up there. I never got into the shadowing and research that we all know was recommended during our years. For me, my father is a dentist and grew up around it, so I never felt the rush when I knew I was not applying.

Now I ask, what do you recommend doing in my time off. I'm still going to live around campus for a year. I know that I can shadow and those sort of things. However, I need to find a way of income since I'm not taking classes anymore. I don't know if anyone has came across different lines of paid work that can benefit my application and be dental related.

any advice would be great

 

[Avery07]

So you will be taking two years off then?

I would make sure that you do something along the lines of science/dentistry. Either working in a lab or a dental office for income. In addition to that, spend lots of your free time working on EC's and studying for the DAT. If your undergrad didn't go so hot, you might consider taking a few upper level science courses as well.

 

[gatorsNY2010]

Yes...sadly it will be two years....I would rather take another year off to make sure my application is as good as possible than trying to rush it in now

i should point out though that it was never an issue of not doing well enough in school or what not...i have a lot of ec's and leadership positions...it's just that i never got to the actual applying part lol

i just need to do some shadowing and other dental related activities out there

does anyone know of good interesting research they have had before??
or a paid job at a dentist office that may give me ideas to look into??

 

[mmu4487]

Im not sure about research positions and such, but contact old professors at your schools for leads. Since your dad is a dentist, see if he has any connections that could help you find "dental" related research.

On a side note, since you have been out of school for two years you need to brush up on some science courses. The first to years of d-school are core sciences and the adcoms want to make sure your studying skills are up to par. I took a year break from school then applied and one of my state schools didn't give me an interview b/c I stayed out of school too long among other things.

Call up the schools you are interested in. Tell them your situation and ask for their advice. You would be surprised at how helpful they can be!

Good Luck

 

[anschutz1913]

Yes...sadly it will be two years....I would rather take another year off to make sure my application is as good as possible than trying to rush it in now

i should point out though that it was never an issue of not doing well enough in school or what not...i have a lot of ec's and leadership positions...it's just that i never got to the actual applying part lol

i just need to do some shadowing and other dental related activities out there

does anyone know of good interesting research they have had before??
or a paid job at a dentist office that may give me ideas to look into??

IMHO, you are in a great position to apply right now....sign up for the DAT end of July. In the meantime, study hardcore while shadowing several dentists. Get your letters of E. started right now. And for a job after the DAT, get your dad to make some phone calls to the lab he sends stuff to, or assist at one of his colleagues' practices. Or just be a researcher at your school.

Unless you really really want to do nothing now, and have to wait a year for it later.....

 

[SeattleRDH]

If you've never had a job in customer service do that. Try to get a job where you interact with people of all walks of life on a daily basis. It sounds like you have some dental experience and since you're the child of a dentist there is no doubt that you know what you're getting into.
If I were you I would get a job as a tour guide somewhere that you've never been before. Alaska? Put yourself out there. The more unique experiences you have the better your interview will be.