I was originally pre-dental, but I don't really think I have a true passion for it. I don't know if it is something I can do all day long, day after day. I like dentistry, but I don't know if it is something I can do every day and could get burned out. I am currently considering pharmacy or D.O. school, but I'm wondering what kind of chances I could have at D.O. school.
I was in a similar yet very different situation. When I started off my undergrad career I was actually pre-veterinary. I didn't make the decision to switch until three years into my undergrad and when I decided, I also transferred schools and ended up with a 5th year of undergrad. I suggest making a list of what qualities you look for in an ideal career for yourself; weekly schedules, ideal pay, etc, and any other factors that are important for a career to make you happy. Then make a separate list for each of your three options with pros and cons of each. Every choice will have cons but which cons are the ones you can live with and which pros will make you the happiest? Also consider what is it about dentistry that makes it something you don't think you can do every day? Is this a problem that you may also have an issue with even as a DO or pharmacist?
What did it for me was working in multiple clinics as a vet tech. I experienced a lot of euthanasia which normally didn't bother me since most of the time it was a necessary choice, however there were MANY cases where pet owners would bring in a pet in with a very emergent condition and were forced to choose euthanasia because they simply couldn't afford the alternative. We had to euthanize a puppy because it got hit by a car and broke its leg but the owners couldn't afford surgery to repair the leg or treat at all. They also had poor credit so were unable to get an approved payment plan. But if a child gets hit by a car and breaks their leg, you better believe that the doctors in the ER are going to treat first and worry about payment later. I have a deep love for people and animals alike along with a thriving love for medicine and science. I also liked the greater variety of job opportunities in human medicine and the many more ways to be involved in advancing medicine as a whole. For me, going into human medicine just made more sense and opened far more doors for my future and it wasn't a huge shift for me to pick people over animals. There are still other factors that I don't feel like I need to delve into right now but my point is, you need to figure out why you are being attracted to these other options so much that you're doubting dentistry. Trust your gut. If you think becoming a DO will make you happier and give you more of what you want in life then make that choice, there's nothing wrong with changing your mind but just be sure it's what you want.
As a side note, DO schools very much want to know why you want to become a DO not just a doctor. Not only do you have to have very solid reasons for wanting to become a doctor, but you should also explain why you are attracted to becoming a DO instead of an MD. Especially with a gpa like that and if you get a great MCAT score. As long as you can justify and explain your decision without putting down another profession, you should definitely go for it.
There are still so many different career options that I find interesting or that I'd love to take a class on someday just to learn more about it but when i actually get down to the nitty gritty of those lifestyles and consider myself living those lives, it doesn't feel right. Human medicine has been the only option where, when I imagine it, I feel my blood pumping and I get excited to go through hell and back to live that life. Which career makes you feel that way?
