to wait or not to wait?! help :)

[kellybobelly]

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hi everyone,

i'm currently finishing up my junior year at uc berkeley and was planning to apply to dental schools this june. i planned on graduating a semester early, this december versus next year so that i could have that extra semester to travel and what not. however, i've been talking to people and some have been saying that it might be a good idea to take a year off (in addition to the semester) to live life + experience new things before i go back into school, and that it'll only help me. i definitely think it would be fun and a great experience since i'm still young but it definitely has got me thinking since i already had plans to apply this cycle! basically, i'm confused 😕 and so i'd love to hear what people have to say 🙂 thanks in advance!!!

 

[amdrocks]

I did the exact same thing as you did.
For the first four months after I graduated, I did a couple of interviews, fulfilled most requirements for matriculation at Temple, traveled to different U.S. cities, hanging out with friends & families a lot, did some home improvement projects at my parents' house, and I'm heading to Asia for a nice long vacation this afternoon.

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy your life outside of school for a while.
To me, a year long vacation is simply too long. A semester plus a summer is about right.

 

[dentalWorks]

hi everyone,

i'm currently finishing up my junior year at uc berkeley and was planning to apply to dental schools this june. i planned on graduating a semester early, this december versus next year so that i could have that extra semester to travel and what not. however, i've been talking to people and some have been saying that it might be a good idea to take a year off (in addition to the semester) to live life + experience new things before i go back into school, and that it'll only help me. i definitely think it would be fun and a great experience since i'm still young but it definitely has got me thinking since i already had plans to apply this cycle! basically, i'm confused 😕 and so i'd love to hear what people have to say 🙂 thanks in advance!!!

I dunno... If I had an option to start DS this year vs next year.... I'd do it this year so I can go on with my real life after 4 years.

Putting off the inevitable by 1 year means.... just that. Throwing away 1 year.

You do realize you can still have fun after dental school... Probably even more so cause at least as a dentist, you'll have more money to spend than before.

 

[yappy]

+1

We gen Y are so lazy. We go to undergrad and have a fun time while taking ~15 credits a term (on average) which is pretty relaxing compaired to real work or fighting in a war... then we need a year off before more schooling?

I dunno... If I had an option to start DS this year vs next year.... I'd do it this year so I can go on with my real life after 4 years.

Putting off the inevitable by 1 year means.... just that. Throwing away 1 year.

You do realize you can still have fun after dental school... Probably even more so cause at least as a dentist, you'll have more money to spend than before.

 

[321931]

hi everyone,

i'm currently finishing up my junior year at uc berkeley and was planning to apply to dental schools this june. i planned on graduating a semester early, this december versus next year so that i could have that extra semester to travel and what not. however, i've been talking to people and some have been saying that it might be a good idea to take a year off (in addition to the semester) to live life + experience new things before i go back into school, and that it'll only help me. i definitely think it would be fun and a great experience since i'm still young but it definitely has got me thinking since i already had plans to apply this cycle! basically, i'm confused 😕 and so i'd love to hear what people have to say 🙂 thanks in advance!!!

Apply this June, and take a semester off. I'm on my gap year, and it really starts to drag after 6 months. Yes, you can take an entire year off and live life+experience new things, but...

A) You have to have money to travel and have fun (where are you going to get that as a "broke" student)
B) Job economy sucks. So good luck getting anything decent, and even if you do get something decent, school>work. Work isn't as fun as compared to school "work."
c) Break starts to drag. It's fun for a while, but afterwards, you just want to get it over with and go to school. Why? Ironically, school is fun. Social interaction, working towards a higher goal, and the stress keeps you on your toes.

If I could redo everything, I would do one semester off. I would come off a 6 month stint refreshed and ready. Now, I'm coming off a 12 month break with uncertainty as my studying habits have slacked and I'm much noticeably lazier. 😴

Brb sleeping in to 12 again

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

+1

We gen Y are so lazy. We go to undergrad and have a fun time while taking ~15 credits a term (on average) which is pretty relaxing compaired to real work or fighting in a war... then we need a year off before more schooling?

Don't assume everyone is the same.

 

[doc toothache]

Sounds like you are not ready to start ds not to mention that you appear to be confident that admission is a slam dunk.

 

[321931]

Sounds like you are not ready to start ds not to mention that you appear to be confident that admission is a slam dunk.

Ooo...good point.

I would apply this year. No questions asked.

Scenarios for applying this year:

A) Get in and have one semester off.
B) Don't get in, and have 1 1/2 years off.

Scenarios for applying next year:

A) Get in and have 1 1/2 years off.
B) Don't get in, and have 2 1/2 years off.

2 1/2 years is a long time. Admissions is a crapshoot, and thousands of people don't get in anywhere on their first try. Do you really want to risk having...2 1/2 years off...? At the worst case scenario for applying this year, you will have your 1 1/2 years off. At the worst case scenario for applying next year, you will have 2 1/2 years.

Go apply this year.

 

[DentToBeCont]

I loved my year off!! I went out to Colorado and worked at a Ski resort... Best Winter of my LIFE!

 

[bing12]

It is what you value more.

The year off:

Pros: the year off, do whatever you want

Cons: the year off in the adcom's eyes, They will question what you did, and they typically dont like seeing students take time off due to losing diligence. Also your loss in the income, but then again you may value time more than money as this point in your life, so it goes back to what you value.

Its simple Economics. Weigh your options, there is no right or wrong answer. You understand the risks associated with it and the rewards. Maybe call up a few schools and ask about taking a year off and if it will hurt your chance of admission.

Good luck

 

[kellybobelly]

thanks everyone for their input! after hearing what you've all had to say, i'm going to apply this cycle + cross my fingers that i'll get in somewhere. i am by no means confident that admissions is going to be a piece of cake. but 6+ months is more than enough time to relax!! i just realized i don't even know what i would do with 1.5 years...

 

[dentalWorks]

thanks everyone for their input! after hearing what you've all had to say, i'm going to apply this cycle + cross my fingers that i'll get in somewhere. i am by no means confident that admissions is going to be a piece of cake. but 6+ months is more than enough time to relax!! i just realized i don't even know what i would do with 1.5 years...

Burger king is always hiring 😛

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I'm a strong advocate of taking a year or two off. Travel, work, spend money, have fun. Enjoy being able to not have to worry about studying. Recharge those batteries.

 

[kellybobelly]

Burger king is always hiring 😛

hahaha thanks for the heads up. 🙂

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

It is what you value more.

The year off:

Pros: the year off, do whatever you want

Cons: the year off in the adcom's eyes, They will question what you did, and they typically dont like seeing students take time off due to losing diligence. Also your loss in the income, but then again you may value time more than money as this point in your life, so it goes back to what you value.

Its simple Economics. Weigh your options, there is no right or wrong answer. You understand the risks associated with it and the rewards. Maybe call up a few schools and ask about taking a year off and if it will hurt your chance of admission.

Good luck

Highly doubtful that ADCOMs care a whole lot about a person who takes a year or two off. As long as they're not just goofing off it's not an issue whatsoever. Get a job as a research assistant, a dental assistant or something related and there will be no issue. Taking a year off and working at McDonald's or literally doing nothing but playing Xbox... now that's a different story.

Also, the loss in income argument is greatly overstated. It implies that we only have a finite years to work and/or our financial ability to retire or live a good life will be predicated upon that lost year of income, which is simply not true.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Highly doubtful that ADCOMs care a whole lot about a person who takes a year or two off. As long as they're not just goofing off it's not an issue whatsoever. Go a job as a research assistant, a dental assistant or something related and there will be no issue.

I'm pretty sure when most people refer to a year off, they mean a year off to relax and travel. Not just a year off from going to school.

 

[321931]

Burger king is always hiring 😛

Speaking of fast food, Mcdonalds going on a recent hiring spree. 50000 jobs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/04/mcdonalds-to-fill-50000-jobs_n_844356.html

😀

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I'm pretty sure when most people refer to a year off, they mean a year off to relax and travel. Not just a year off from going to school.

I'm pretty sure when most people refer to a year off, they mean a year off to relax and travel and work to financially support such measures as well as keep from being bored to death in the 80% or so of the year not traveling.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Get a job as a research assistant, a dental assistant or something related and there will be no issue.

I'm pretty sure when most people refer to a year off, they mean a year off to relax and travel and work to financially support such measures as well as keep from being bored to death in the 80% or so of the year not traveling.

Why would anyone want to take a year off from school and spend 80% of the time drudging away as a dental assistant before they even got into dental school? Unless you really need the cash, that defeats the entire purpose of taking a year off.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

Why would anyone want to take a year off from school and spend 80% of the time drudging away as a dental assistant before they even got into dental school? Unless you really need the cash, that defeats the entire purpose of taking a year off.

This is quite myopic. How about simply having a year where you don't have to worry about tests, quizzes, or studying at all? How about finishing your day at 5 pm and saying "wow, look at all this free time I have"? How about having disposable income for a year and being able to spend it in manners that many college kids couldn't afford to do. How about having the freedom to do literally whatever you want with your time?

In other words, there are many reasons that one would want to take a year off between the previous 16 or so years of schooling and the next 4.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

This is quite myopic. How about simply having a year where you don't have to worry about tests, quizzes, or studying at all? How about finishing your day at 5 pm and saying "wow, look at all this free time I have"? How about having disposable income for a year and being able to spend it in manners that many college kids couldn't afford to do. How about having the freedom to do literally whatever you want with your time?

In other words, there are many reasons that one would want to take a year off between the previous 16 or so years of schooling and the next 4.

I actually found more freedom when I was in college then when I worked as a dental assistant. Sure ending the day at 5 was great, but you also have to come in at 8 every morning and sometimes work Saturdays too. Also If you're working simply as a dental assistant/research assistant, you arent exactly going to be rolling in money even if you work full time.

To each their own. There's pro/cons to taking a year off. You make some great points but it's just not something I would ever do or recommend anyone doing.

 

[yappy]

I agree with awesome. Working full time in a "real" job is much more stressful and time consuming than getting good grades in college. In college there will be times when you're working very hard prior to midterms/finals but alot of your time is not structured. Many times you dont even have to go to lecture or get up early lol.

When you're at work you're on someone elses time. Therefore you must show up everyday on time and be "on". Their feedback of your preformance will also be much more critical and often than when you were in college.

I also think the further you get away from academics the harder it is to return.

 

[bing12]

I agree with awesome. Working full time in a "real" job is much more stressful and time consuming than getting good grades in college. In college there will be times when you're working very hard prior to midterms/finals but alot of your time is not structured. Many times you dont even have to go to lecture or get up early lol.

When you're at work you're on someone elses time. Therefore you must show up everyday on time and be "on". Their feedback of your preformance will also be much more critical and often than when you were in college.

I also think the further you get away from academics the harder it is to return.

+1. I believe the adcoms think this also.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I agree with awesome. Working full time in a "real" job is much more stressful and time consuming than getting good grades in college. In college there will be times when you're working very hard prior to midterms/finals but alot of your time is not structured. Many times you dont even have to go to lecture or get up early lol.

When you're at work you're on someone elses time. Therefore you must show up everyday on time and be "on". Their feedback of your preformance will also be much more critical and often than when you were in college.

I also think the further you get away from academics the harder it is to return.

I respectfully disagree. Of course this all depends on each individual experience.

 

[Mr PS09]

My cousin was in your situation. He took just the semester off. He went to India two days after his last interviews and tutored children in some of India's poorest villages. He said it was greatest experience in his life. I would not to work but enjoy life and help people and do a little traveling if you can . Just my 2 cents.

 

[yappy]

I'll meet you halfway. It depends on the job vs the major. I agree.

I respectfully disagree. Of course this all depends on each individual experience.