Too much pressure

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I just want to hear your personal experience...

I skim through the Pre-Dental section whenever I have a chance. I always see new threads on "advice needed because of low GPA" or "what to do to improve your stats." I'm beginning to feel a lot of pressure. I'm about to finish my sophomore year and I'm no where comparable to SDN users. I know I have to step up my game, but I do feel discourage at times. I'm lacking motivation as classes get harder and my GPA is not up to par. Sigh. So my question to you, SDN users, is how do you guys do it? Dentistry is a long path. How did you guys manage to make it through your undergrad years?

 

[alexamasan]

I hear you, I'm finishing my junior year and applying this cycle. We all feel frustrated when we do bad in an important class or on an exam we studied very hard for. I just keep looking forward and focus on what I have to do now instead of being sad about what has happened. When I feel stressed, I take comfort in the fact that I can begin doing well starting now.

But it's not enough to just look forward. See what you did wrong before, did you focus too much on the textbook and not enough on the lecture notes? Did you only know the overall concepts and not the specific details? What have you did wrong in that one class you did not so good in? Learn from these mistakes, most people just try to brush of hardships and move on, but you have to look back and see what you did wrong in order to do better next time. So look at your old tests, find out if you studied the wrong way or from the wrong source. Having (studious) friends in your classes and going to the professor's office hours helps a lot as they can point you in the right direction.

Lastly, don't worry about your current stats. Right now, you have to focus on making them better. By losing determination, you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole. Focus on the matters at hand and remember to find out what you did wrong before and learn from your mistakes. Most people don't and they continually never improve as they never found out how to do things the best way. Have confidence that you can succeed and find ways for you to do it.

 

[sarora11]

I hear you, I'm finishing my junior year and applying this cycle. We all feel frustrated when we do bad in an important class or on an exam we studied very hard for. I just keep looking forward and focus on what I have to do now instead of being sad about what has happened. When I feel stressed, I take comfort in the fact that I can begin doing well starting now.

But it's not enough to just look forward. See what you did wrong before, did you focus too much on the textbook and not enough on the lecture notes? Did you only know the overall concepts and not the specific details? What have you did wrong in that one class you did not so good in? Learn from these mistakes, most people just try to brush of hardships and move on, but you have to look back and see what you did wrong in order to do better next time. So look at your old tests, find out if you studied the wrong way or from the wrong source. Having (studious) friends in your classes and going to the professor's office hours helps a lot as they can point you in the right direction.

Lastly, don't worry about your current stats. Right now, you have to focus on making them better. By losing determination, you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole. Focus on the matters at hand and remember to find out what you did wrong before and learn from your mistakes. Most people don't and they continually never improve as they never found out how to do things the best way. Have confidence that you can succeed and find ways for you to do it.

^ Nailed it. Mostly people have been in your shoes. Its the people that get over the mental hump that make it. When your a dentist you'll look back on this day and be like, hey it wasn't so bad. For example, I think the hardest part about taking the DAT was the mental battles I had. Follow successful people, get involved, stay focused. Have fun, but remember why your in college, to learn and become a dentist one day. If you really want it, your dream will come true. I'm also a Jr. and a day doesn't go by where I don't feel pressure about this upcoming application cycle and what not but I know this is what I want to do and i'm sure one day a dental school will see that in me. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

 

[63B2B]

The question is how bad do you want it? You put out or get out- that's the mentality to have.

 

[12345a]

I came from a premed background so my expectations about starting my career have gone from 12 years to 5 (and my stress and care about my GPA has decreased by the same ratio).

With that said.....come on, being predent is easy. Kids with low GPAs & DAT are accepted every year. The courses we need to take to get in arn't exactly difficult and the bar isn't very high. Even the career on the whole isn't really that complex. Granted, dental school is going to be tough, no need to underestimate that, but it's a pretty straightforward process compared to other professional schools (medical school, law school, ect). I get that you might feel "pressure "from time to time, but man up and deal with it, it's not as "long of a path" as you might think.


If you didn't find this post helpful (which is very likely), alexa's post is spot on.

 

[FutureDent020]

With that said.....come on, being predent is easy. Kids with low GPAs & DAT are accepted every year. The courses we need to take to get in arn't exactly difficult and the bar isn't very high. Even the career on the whole isn't really that complex. Granted, dental school is going to be tough, no need to underestimate that, but it's a pretty straightforward process compared to other professional schools (medical school, law school, ect). I get that you might feel "pressure "from time to time, but man up and deal with it, it's not as "long of a path" as you might think.

This is a ridiculous post.
1) Being a predent is easy? Relative to what? If I recall, it was my most important aspect of college and I didn't take it lightly or believe it was a walk in the park.
2) The courses we need to take aren't difficult? What professional school or job requires courses that are more difficult?
3) How can you speak about dentistry as a career when you are not a dentist? You know nothing about running a dental practice besides what you have seen and heard.
4) You talk about a straightforward process... Just because you get a DMD or DDS doesn't mean 'poof' you are a successful dentist. It's a license to learn and you will have a long road ahead of you.
5) It's much harder to get into Dental School than Law School. And just like dental students, law students are not guaranteed success after obtaining their degree. It takes hard work from there on out.

Sure dentistry is a long path, and it only begins with getting your degree.

 

[spud daddy]

I came from a premed background so my expectations about starting my career have gone from 12 years to 5 (and my stress and care about my GPA has decreased by the same ratio).

With that said.....come on, being predent is easy. Kids with low GPAs & DAT are accepted every year. The courses we need to take to get in arn't exactly difficult and the bar isn't very high. Even the career on the whole isn't really that complex. Granted, dental school is going to be tough, no need to underestimate that, but it's a pretty straightforward process compared to other professional schools (medical school, law school, ect). I get that you might feel "pressure "from time to time, but man up and deal with it, it's not as "long of a path" as you might think.


If you didn't find this post helpful (which is very likely), alexa's post is spot on.

People getting accepted with a low gpa and DAT score are the exceptions, not the rule. I don't know about you, but I took the exact same classes as a pre-med student and I definitely didn't think they were easy, of course, I wasn't a psychology major either. About the whole straightforward process, I don't think you know what the hell you are talking about. Then again, it is a subjective statement so I can't take that away from you. To the OP. everyone has felt the stress and pressure. I think this is when many people decide that they want to do something else as a career. If you really want it, keep plugging along and do what you need to do to get in.

 

[spud daddy]

Amen FutureDent, you beat me to it.

 

[FutureDent020]

Amen FutureDent, you beat me to it.

Haha, yea I just saw that. 👍

 

[UKdreams]

Another thing to consider is that most people on here inflate themselves to make them seem better than other people. I know I get discouraged about looking on here sometimes because I do not have a 25 on my DAT and a 3.99. Take everything you see on here with a grain of salt. A majority of people will bs you. The only words you need are from the admissions office at the dental schools you want to go to. I met with one, and they straight up said my score was solid and that I did not need to retake it. Not to mention, it is actually one point lower than their average last year... So like I said, meet with the admissions office and find out.

As far as motivation goes, it can be hard to find. Sometimes you can get stressed out. But, at the end of the day if you get a c, you get a c. If you have to withdraw from a class, do it. Learn from it and not let it happen again. You can do it if it's really what you want

 

[peanutb123]

I just want to hear your personal experience...

I skim through the Pre-Dental section whenever I have a chance. I always see new threads on "advice needed because of low GPA" or "what to do to improve your stats." I'm beginning to feel a lot of pressure. I'm about to finish my sophomore year and I'm no where comparable to SDN users. I know I have to step up my game, but I do feel discourage at times. I'm lacking motivation as classes get harder and my GPA is not up to par. Sigh. So my question to you, SDN users, is how do you guys do it? Dentistry is a long path. How did you guys manage to make it through your undergrad years?

instead of looking at everyone else. you should look at your self and take step by step. you should not jump to the finish line otherwise you might fall before you even reach it. take step by step and concentrate on one thing and when you have free time go for extra cirr. that way even though you do one thing you will do it right hope this helps.

 

[[email protected]]

Thank you for replying, guys!

Yeah, I was just having my moment. I tend to worry too much. Instead of wasting time comparing myself to you guys, I should just focus on my grades, DAT, and ECs. I think dental school is getting more competitive and I'm not helping myself by having second thoughts.

Good luck to you guys as well!

 

[12345a]

I came from a premed background so my expectations about starting my career have gone from 12 years to 5 (and my stress and care about my GPA has decreased by the same ratio).

With that said.....come on, being predent is easy. Kids with low GPAs & DAT are accepted every year. The courses we need to take to get in arn't exactly difficult and the bar isn't very high. Even the career on the whole isn't really that complex. Granted, dental school is going to be tough, no need to underestimate that, but it's a pretty straightforward process compared to other professional schools (medical school, law school, ect). I get that you might feel "pressure "from time to time, but man up and deal with it, it's not as "long of a path" as you might think.


If you didn't find this post helpful (which is very likely), alexa's post is spot on.

lol.....i didn't write this 😕

 

[anschutz1913]

The question is how bad do you want it? You put out or get out- that's the mentality to have.

LOL this should be a sign to hang on the apartment wall

 

[Simiam]

Another thing to consider is that most people on here inflate themselves to make them seem better than other people. I know I get discouraged about looking on here sometimes because I do not have a 25 on my DAT and a 3.99. Take everything you see on here with a grain of salt. A majority of people will bs you. The only words you need are from the admissions office at the dental schools you want to go to. I met with one, and they straight up said my score was solid and that I did not need to retake it. Not to mention, it is actually one point lower than their average last year... So like I said, meet with the admissions office and find out.

As far as motivation goes, it can be hard to find. Sometimes you can get stressed out. But, at the end of the day if you get a c, you get a c. If you have to withdraw from a class, do it. Learn from it and not let it happen again. You can do it if it's really what you want

Never compare yourself to other people.

SDN is filled with people that will inflate themselves to discourage you. I would say, in general, the average scores for acceptance are around 3.5 GPA and 20 DAT. Don't pay attention to the people with 3.8+ and 24+, because they are definitely the exception.

If you screw up in one class, just be prepared to work hard to make up for it. Don't stress yourself out. You'll do great. Just make sure you come prepared to every exam and do your best.