Very Confused, Anyone Please Help!

[DentPursuer88]

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I've been thinking hard lately, and I know I'm rushing things but I just want a plan so I can get my head straight. If anyone has advice, please help. This is the scenario:

I am 19 years old right now living in Glendale, AZ. I used to to live in NJ but had to move here to help my family about 2.5 years ago. I finished one year of college at a community college, however currently I am going to a dental assisting school in AZ which I am only a month into. I volunteer at a dentist office almost everyday after school and then I go to work around 6 at night. So far everything is going well but the thing that puzzles me is my situation.

Should I: Go back to NJ and attend FDU( Fair. Dicken. Univ.) as an undergrad and finish my pre-reqs, then apply to UMDNJ, since i could be a resident over there. ( I was thinking of doing the BS/DMD degree program at UMDNJ and i'd be done in another 7 years, but be in serious debt.)

Or

Should I: Stay in AZ and finish some of my pre-reqs at a C.C. then transfer into ASU west (CLOSE TO MY HOUSE) and try to apply to either Midwestern or A.T. STILL. I really wanted to go to UoP but that's not happening because i'm not a resident there, and the chances are slim if I apply.

GPA=4.0 DAT=Not yet Experience= Currently volunteering and learning in dental field.

Please give me some advice, thank you all.

 

[lollipop999]

if u have a 4.0 GPA and u can keep your scores up at a good university then you should be ok in any decision you make...

 

[DentPursuer88]

k....but im trying to get into a dental school as quick as possible, you see...should i go do the 7 year program or just finished the prereqs and apply.

Im afraid that if i dont get my BS, i wont make it.

 

[DividedByZero]

UoP is a private school... they don't care whether you're a resident or not.

 

[yorkiepoo]

i think most schools don't accept or don't look kindly upon applicants that take all or any their pre-reqs at community college. UoP, I believe, is a private dental school so it doesn't matter if your a resident or not. I'd try to go to a non-c.c. do well then apply to dental school. why don't u apply to the 7 year NJ program and try to transfer to a non-c.c. as back up.

 

[DentPursuer88]

so do you think I can get accepted after i finish my prereqs at a C.C. and hopefully score high on the DAT

 

[DentPursuer88]

YORKIPOO: that's what i am planning on doing but I'm afraid that I will be spending or being in debt too much if I go to a non.c.c. My family isn't wealthy, and I don't have anything to support me. That's why I'm looking for in-state tuition.

 

[yorkiepoo]

YORKIPOO: that's what i am planning on doing but I'm afraid that I will be spending or being in debt too much if I go to a non.c.c. My family isn't wealthy, and I don't have anything to support me. That's why I'm looking for in-state tuition.

well you could go to a state school for undergrad or a private school and apply for scholarships. plenty of people get grants from their schools. plus you take out some loans. that's pretty standard. especially for dental school, I think most people take out loans to pay for the majority of their graduate education. paying for things is not fun 🙁, but it's a part of the process

 

[DentPursuer88]

what do you mean by a state school (state dental school, like UMDNJ or just a regular university?)

 

[DMDreaming]

so do you think I can get accepted after i finish my prereqs at a C.C. and hopefully score high on the DAT

Most dental schools like their applicants to have AT LEAST 30 semester hours of upper level science courses to show they can handle the courseload in dental school. You can't get upper division classes at a CC. Although some dental schools frown at CC coursework, there are some individuals who have gotten into dental school with a CC background AFTER they tranferred to a 4 year school for their upper division classes. I know for sure you should avoid taking O-chem at a CC.
Preparing for dental school isn't something you can rush though and be very successful at given the current competition for positions. IMO, you should decide which school(s) you are interested in attending and talk to their admissions personnel then determine the best course of action for you to be successful. Good luck!

 

[DentPursuer88]

thank you, DMDreaming, I think that was the best piece of advice anyone has given me yet. I just have to see my options.