Waiting extra year to apply, need Your advice.

[JMart22]

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I am currently a junior and originally wanted to apply this coming summer (2010), and take the DAT late spring. However, I'm still not positive whether I want to go the medical or dental route...I've been leaning towards dentistry a lot and have shadowed, but still not 100% convinced. I talked to my advisor and he said there is NO disadvantage of waiting an extra cycle to apply (so I would apply the summer after I graduate, and then have a year off), as long as you're productive during that extra year.

Question: Do you think if I spend an extra year after graduation, probably shadowing a lot and ideally teaching/living in Europe, it will significantly hurt my chances, as compared to the traditional student who will be interviewing his/her senior year in college? I honestly want to use that year to do things that I won't get to do later in my life (like living in Europe or a different city), but do not want it to negatively impact me as a prospective dental student. Any feedback addressing this issue is much appreciated.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Well, obviously if you can get relevant experiences in that year off of course you'll have a more attractive application.

But as to it being worthwhile? That depends on what your stats are like now.

If you have good stats/extras right now to get in, why waste a year? (Unless you want to).

That said, you might as well list your general stats so we can get an idea where you stand; It might be that you should reach for higher scores/grades before any additional experiences even come into play.

Oh, and I'm being captain obvious here, but the first thing to do is decide whether you want to go dental or medical. Do it somehow 🙂 Then, you can see if another year is necessary or not.

 

[JMart22]

I have a 3.78 and 3.7 sGPA, have limited shadowing and lots of volunteering, research, and few extra things. I have not taken my DAT yet, but will hopefully get a 20+

I'm just wondering if it's common to wait an extra year...

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

One year is not a big deal, esp with your GPA.

Just make sure you will be able to explain why/what you did during that year during an interview.

Also, make sure you put in the time to study for the MCAT or DAT because you will be out of the "school setting" for quite some time.

 

[melanie20700]

I took a year and a half off and got to do some awesome things- traveled for a while, got a full time job and some practical life experience, now traveling again before I start dental school this fall. In that time i really became positive that dentistry is the right path for me. I had 6 interviews and what I did in the time off never really came up- though i had a good speech prepared as to how I am now a better applicant because of it. I also feel refreshed and excited to go back to school again after having a little break.

I would recommend taking a year off.

 

[subdoc]

Best of luck finding a shadow experience overseas. Something tells me it could be difficult to do.

Also, looking at a straight monetary point...assume you apply to schools and are given multiple interview offers...mighty pricey to fly across the pond every time.

Def figure out if you would like to go Med/Dent as early as possible.

If you end up shadowing overseas it WILL give you a nice idea of socialized medicine. My experiences overseas with a medical emergency was overwhelmingly positive...especially after the Russian doctor sobered up enough to treat my ankle!

 

[JPDMD]

Take the year off! It will not hurt you one bit.

The last thing that you would want to do is to start medical or dental school and realize that you wanted to pursue the other career. Not only will you have wasted a significant amount of time and energy applying, you will have hefty student loans to pay back on education that in most cases won't be transferable. Plus you will be taking a spot from another student.

Secondly, there is much more to life than dentistry or medicine. See the world; learn and experience other cultures and art. You will not be sorry. I have several people in my class that did this, and not one of us is sorry we had those experiences.

Don't just take the year off though. If you are just going to sit around a play video games for a year, there are better ways to spend your time. Look for ways to improve yourself as well as finalize your decision. Not only will you be confident in your choice when you do apply, you will also be a more rounded, fulfilled individual.

The chief concern in doing this has nothing to do with the application process, but the fact you will be losing a year when you could be earning a much larger salary, and tuition will probably increase in that year you take off. Still with this is mind, if you aren't sure that you want to be a dentist or a physician I would definitely take the year to better myself and make my decision. Hope this helps.

 

[punkito]

As long as you stay active in the dental/medical field by shadowing/volunteering/interning- I think taking a year off could improve your chances. I applied the summer before my senior year with a high GPA and average DAT score, though with little experience (75 hrs) and didnt even get an interview. I applied a year later with the same GPA and similar DAT, after completing a dental internship & volunteering every week at a dental clinic & a hospital, and was offered 7 interviews and was accepted this year. If you do take the extra year off, I suggest trying to get as much experience as you can in both medicine and dentistry.

 

[cutecheese]

it doesnt hurt to take a year off. with free time not being used for school, use it as an opportunity to improve ur life and dental experiences! i am taking two years off to improve my resume and get a job to raise funds for dental apps. while i first felt the panic of needing to apply right away, i realize now that i made the best decision for me. best of luck to u!