what is your daily life like as a D1?

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Hahahahahaha.

Life sucks.
 
in her drawer said:
Hahahahahaha.

Life sucks.
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Amen to that!

Honestly, I think how well the 1st year goes depends on a lot of factors.

Does your school take boards after 1st year? Mine does, so they have to cram everything needed for the boards into the first year=more stress.

How good are you at managing your time (this a big one!)? You will have an insane amount to material to cover and not nearly enough time to do it, so being able to budget your time is an important skill.

You will sit through many, many hours of boring lecture.

You will get to do dental related things, such as operative (which is cool!), but a lot of your time is spent on biomedical sciences (gross anatomy, immunology, pathology etc.) which at times doesn't seem very related to dentistry.

Overall, being almost 1/2 way through 1st year, I'd say its very different then I expected. Just an insane amount of material, and trying to keep on top of it is hard, but doable so far. It certainly makes undergrad look like a joke in terms of the workload IMO.
 
images


I believe D1's are somewhere near the bottom. Subsequent years occupy the rest of the lower rings.
 
drpduck said:
Amen to that!

Honestly, I think how well the 1st year goes depends on a lot of factors.

Does your school take boards after 1st year? Mine does, so they have to cram everything needed for the boards into the first year=more stress.

How good are you at managing your time (this a big one!)? You will have an insane amount to material to cover and not nearly enough time to do it, so being able to budget your time is an important skill.

You will sit through many, many hours of boring lecture.

You will get to do dental related things, such as operative (which is cool!), but a lot of your time is spent on biomedical sciences (gross anatomy, immunology, pathology etc.) which at times doesn't seem very related to dentistry.

Overall, being almost 1/2 way through 1st year, I'd say its very different then I expected. Just an insane amount of material, and trying to keep on top of it is hard, but doable so far. It certainly makes undergrad look like a joke in terms of the workload IMO.
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👍 dental school sucks. period.

i mean congrats to all those accepted.. you're going into a great profession (or so you will be told about 1 million times during your 1st year)... But dental school is no cake walk. You are constantly under stress to perform on every exam--some courses you can fail just by getting below a 70 on a single exam 😱

congrats!

jb!🙂
 
In an answer to the original question of what a day is like. However, I don't attend NYU.

Start by thinking about what you need to do to day, what you need to study. Alarm goes off, you realize you were actually asleep and hit snooze. Then you get up, take a shower and sit down for breakfast. The alarm goes off again, again you hit snooze. Get ready to go to school, walk out door as alarm goes off again. Get to school, show up in time for lecture, pull out the coursepack/powerpoint. One hour later go to bathroom then back to another coursepack/powerpoint lecture-repeat until lunch. After lunch maybe you go to lab for a few hours possibly the entire afternoon or, if not, repeat morning cycle until 5pm. At 5pm you either eat, go to gym, or start studying. Alternatively, combine any of the two with studying. Sometime between 10 and 12 set alarm and go to sleep-alternatively get drunk while thinking about how much work you are avoiding. During weeks with two or more tests it is much busier than this.
 
beginning of the day - "man, not another day"
middle of the day - "man, when will this day end?"
end of the day - "oh god, i have too much info to cover"
 
domonas said:
beginning of the day - "man, not another day"
middle of the day - "man, when will this day end?"
end of the day - "what the **** am I doing with my life?"
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Fixed. 😉
 
reapply2007 said:
In an answer to the original question of what a day is like. However, I don't attend NYU.

Start by thinking about what you need to do to day, what you need to study. Alarm goes off, you realize you were actually asleep and hit snooze. Then you get up, take a shower and sit down for breakfast. The alarm goes off again, again you hit snooze. Get ready to go to school, walk out door as alarm goes off again. Get to school, show up in time for lecture, pull out the coursepack/powerpoint. One hour later go to bathroom then back to another coursepack/powerpoint lecture-repeat until lunch. After lunch maybe you go to lab for a few hours possibly the entire afternoon or, if not, repeat morning cycle until 5pm. At 5pm you either eat, go to gym, or start studying. Alternatively, combine any of the two with studying. Sometime between 10 and 12 set alarm and go to sleep-alternatively get drunk while thinking about how much work you are avoiding. During weeks with two or more tests it is much busier than this.
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i have no idea what the heck you are talking about? why is an alarm going off every 15 minutes?? is this some sort of metaphor? (i've never been good at metaphors) If its not, and you actually setting 5-6 alarm clocks a day, then you may want to ease up a bit.
 
hmmm at USC i talked to a kid who said he has a lot of free time. Maybe i should go there. Must be PBL
 
Weekdays:
Wake up: 6-7 depending on if we have a test or project
Leave the house 30min later. Study or prep teeth till class starts
Class 8-1, 1hr lunch, then class 2-5 (lecture, cadaver lab, or sim lab)
Stay in sim lab till 7:30pm on average, working on preps.
Come home, eat, etc. Try to study for a couple hours and get to bed by 10:30. Usually works out that I study for a bit, and then end up staying up till 12-1 doing nothing. Then wake up again at 6 again.

Weekends:
Sat: Sim lab from about 10-2. We usually have our big tests on Mondays, so I study for 4ish hrs on Sat and then 6-10hrs on Sunday.
It's not so bad once you get used to it.
And by that I mean it SUCKED first quarter, but now it feels pretty normal
 
Being a D1 is fun. I can't speak for everyone, but I've had a good time.
 
it's a blast...so much fun. I love it
 
dddsmack said:
I am just waiting for the shiz to hit the fan and it hasn't happened yet.

As for a job, why bother?
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There have been isolated moments this semester where it was real challenging. Just waiting for it to happen, something/everyone tells me next semester is HELL >
 
What you might want to consider is that every D1 has a different background. Some people have Masters or PhDs in a healthscience field, some people have health sciences undergraduate work, some people have undergraduate degrees in the humanities. On top of this consider some of the other possibilities D1s will deal with such as English as a second language, family issues, substance abuse issues, the possibility of being new the area when starting dental school, and issues with the D1 health. Combine these issues into a single student and you'll find that some people live in the library and still struggle while other people won't even need to go to class but do well academically.
 
djeffreyt said:
Being a D1 is fun. I can't speak for everyone, but I've had a good time.
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That's cuz you don't go to class 🙄 j/k.

reapply2007 said:
What you might want to consider is that every D1 has a different background. Some people have Masters or PhDs in a healthscience field, some people have health sciences undergraduate work, some people have undergraduate degrees in the humanities.
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Yeah, I majored in anthropology and grad a while ago. If I was a recent science major grad, I don't think I would have to study as much.
 
pine88 said:
That's cuz you don't go to class 🙄 j/k.
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I go to class when it matters. 😉 Besides...there isn't any class to go to at 8:00 at night on a weekend. And why waste my time cutting teeth on saturdays to practice for a practical examination when the grading is usually so arbitrary anyways. Even if I did pass all the practicals...everyone tells us that just cause you pass practicals doesn't mean we'll be a good dentist. Then other people say that just cause you can talk your way through the entire venous drainage system doesn't mean you'll be a good dentist. And then others tell us that just cause you know how the clinic system at our school works, doens't mean you'll be a good dentist...so I just know a little of it all, learn the rest as I go, and study what I find interesting or pertinent and that gets me through the day. I couldn't care less about what grade I get, but I care a lot about my sanity. And once I start getting patients...well, that's when I'll actually start to do the research necessary to treat them fully cause right now it's all in one ear out the other cause we're not using it practically yet. But then, I think I've said all this before and been reamed on SDN for my lax attitude toward school. Whatever, no one is forcing anyone to be my patient.
 
armorshell said:
Hell, I'm a shining example that spending all your free time in the sim lab doesn't mean jack at DDS.
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Yeah, but wait until next year, I promise you it will all start to come together. I lived in the lab in my first year and I have no regrets. I questioned myself then because I never got stellar grades but believe me it pays off in the end. I actually LIKE working in the mirror now (can't believe I'm saying that).
 
djeffreyt said:
I go to class when it matters. 😉 Besides...there isn't any class to go to at 8:00 at night on a weekend. And why waste my time cutting teeth on saturdays to practice for a practical examination when the grading is usually so arbitrary anyways. Even if I did pass all the practicals...everyone tells us that just cause you pass practicals doesn't mean we'll be a good dentist. Then other people say that just cause you can talk your way through the entire venous drainage system doesn't mean you'll be a good dentist. And then others tell us that just cause you know how the clinic system at our school works, doens't mean you'll be a good dentist...so I just know a little of it all, learn the rest as I go, and study what I find interesting or pertinent and that gets me through the day. I couldn't care less about what grade I get, but I care a lot about my sanity. And once I start getting patients...well, that's when I'll actually start to do the research necessary to treat them fully cause right now it's all in one ear out the other cause we're not using it practically yet. But then, I think I've said all this before and been reamed on SDN for my lax attitude toward school. Whatever, no one is forcing anyone to be my patient.
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I agree, once I stopped practicing for practicals, I never had a problem again. Grading is basically a crap-shoot since the evaluation is 100% subjective given the fact their are multiple graders. I'm just glad I'm getting by with above average, decent grades, and decent lab work. I'll put a lot more effort in once I hit clinic and deal with real patients..
 
BuckeyMcGee said:
I agree, once I stopped practicing for practicals, I never had a problem again. Grading is basically a crap-shoot since the evaluation is 100% subjective given the fact their are multiple graders. I'm just glad I'm getting by with above average, decent grades, and decent lab work. I'll put a lot more effort in once I hit clinic and deal with real patients..
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Lucky. I stopped practicing for practicals and my grades went in the crapper.
 
BuckeyMcGee said:
I agree, once I stopped practicing for practicals, I never had a problem again. Grading is basically a crap-shoot since the evaluation is 100% subjective given the fact their are multiple graders. I'm just glad I'm getting by with above average, decent grades, and decent lab work. I'll put a lot more effort in once I hit clinic and deal with real patients..
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We use the same sheets for grading as the manikin exam for boards. There is some subjectivity when it comes to small details but its very fair. We have to grade ourself for are practicals and daily assignments and then faculty grade us. Useually I am right on the money as far as my score. I don't know how your supposed to learn to use indirrect vision(ect.) without f---ing some teeth up on the weekends. I guess thats just me.
 
AceDentist said:
what is your daily life like as a D1 🙂
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OH HOLLLY Crap! IT'S HARD AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK 😱. This is my first post since dental school started :laugh:. Think your experience depends on where you go.
 
Dental school is a blast. 15 finals in 2 weeks is so much fun🙂.
 
Have you seen Animal House? Specifically the scene depicting Omega's initiation? You know, the one where all the pledges have to strip down and assume the position, then are then spanked with a giant wooden paddle by @$$holes who take a sadistic pleasure in seeing others humiliated? It's a little like that...
 
Done for the semester! Finished biochem this morning... unfortunately we have 1 month of gross left after Christmas.
 
pine88 said:
Good lord, that's twice as many as we had!
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well sort of. We had 5 finals in 3 days this quarter and next quarter we have 9 is 3 days...if you take that and spread it out to 2 weeks, that wouldn't be as horrific...but would still suck to be in study mode for 2 weeks straight.
 
djeffreyt said:
well sort of. We had 5 finals in 3 days this quarter and next quarter we have 9 is 3 days...if you take that and spread it out to 2 weeks, that wouldn't be as horrific...but would still suck to be in study mode for 2 weeks straight.
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I think you're mistaken. We had 1/0 finals in sqrt (-2) days this quarter, meaning that without a doubt we win the finals arms race/d*ck measuring contest.
 
armorshell said:
I think you're mistaken. We had 1/0 finals in sqrt (-2) days this quarter, meaning that without a doubt we win the finals arms race/d*ck measuring contest.
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This explains how you have some 3000 posts...
 
Yahtzee said:
This explains how you have some 3000 posts...
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Hahaha, there wasn't anything wrong with that post. If you wanna see post padding, you should take a look at some of mine.
 
roll out of bed around 6AM,jet off to the gym and to class making multiple sbux stops along the way. sit in class for 4-8 hours,quick dinner trip+stop back at the apt to pick up books, and off to find a cozy corner of the library to hang out in till about 3AM

i heart dschool
 
fancymylotus said:
roll out of bed around 6AM,jet off to the gym and to class making multiple sbux stops along the way. sit in class for 4-8 hours,quick dinner trip+stop back at the apt to pick up books, and off to find a cozy corner of the library to hang out in till about 3AM

i heart dschool
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you only sleep for 3 hours!! 😱
 
uvaGirL07 said:
you only sleep for 3 hours!! 😱
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Either he is grossly exagerating, not that smart, or he/she is a gunner.
Normal students who don't want to specialize and just want to get an education (not just memorize every last detail to get a 98 instead of an 85), get plenty of sleep, enjoy social lives albeit more limited then undergrad.
 
pmantz said:
Normal students who don't want to specialize and just want to get an education (not just memorize every last detail to get a 98 instead of an 85), get plenty of sleep, enjoy social lives albeit more limited then undergrad.
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Very true, but as Big Daddy Kane says, "Gunnin' ain't easy."
 
pmantz said:
Normal students who don't want to specialize and just want to get an education (not just memorize every last detail to get a 98 instead of an 85), get plenty of sleep, enjoy social lives albeit more limited then undergrad.
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If by plenty of sleep you mean averaging 6-7 hrs than I agree. Personally, I like the 8hr schedule a lot better.
 
pine88 said:
If by plenty of sleep you mean averaging 6-7 hrs than I agree. Personally, I like the 8hr schedule a lot better.
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i average around 4-5, but I have kids my wife works full time and don't manage my time as well as I could. If I didn't have kids I probably be pretty well rested guy. And I agree I prefer 8hr. Even though my semester is over I still can seem to get in more then 6hrs, I guess I miss watching TV without feeling guilty about not studying.
 
histology with slide memorization
embryology
neuroanatomy
oral anatomy
restorative
practice manangement
clinical dent (lecture and clinic)
Biochemistry

1st quarter at OSU............most with corresponding lab and clinic practicals
 
pmantz said:
Either he is grossly exagerating, not that smart, or he/she is a gunner.
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BINGO! (luv ya lotus 🙂)

NYU's really not bad. There's a lot of material but it's professional school. It's to be expected.

I try to treat school like a full-time job. Up at 7am and study/class until 8pm or so. If I have a lot of extra work to do I'll spend a little more time doing work, but I make a point of getting a good night's sleep -- I'm too old to pull all-nighters anymore.

But my impression is that if you look back at college and feel you did your best, worked your hardest, and still just barely squeaked into d-school, you're going to really struggle to stay afloat. D-school is harder than undergrad, but it's nowhere near as bad as a lot of people will make you believe. If you have specific questions about NYU, just PM me.

Mack
 
Mackchops said:
BINGO! (luv ya lotus 🙂)

NYU's really not bad. There's a lot of material but it's professional school. It's to be expected.

I try to treat school like a full-time job. Up at 7am and study/class until 8pm or so. If I have a lot of extra work to do I'll spend a little more time doing work, but I make a point of getting a good night's sleep -- I'm too old to pull all-nighters anymore.

But my impression is that if you look back at college and feel you did your best, worked your hardest, and still just barely squeaked into d-school, you're going to really struggle to stay afloat. D-school is harder than undergrad, but it's nowhere near as bad as a lot of people will make you believe. If you have specific questions about NYU, just PM me.

Mack
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I miss you baa-baa 🙁

And to the genius that suggested I was a dummy: its called being a night person. Its just how I operate.
 
This is definetly one of the best threads that I have seen so far in SDN!!!
I Will be starting my undergraduate study january 7th. I am so excited! These thread about "how your day like in Dental School?" and "hows your day like being a dentist?" makes me feel so proud that I made the right choice of what I wanna do... even tho its a lot of work... in the end it pays off.
If you guys have anymore tips (especially for people like me whos just starting undergraduate) SAY IT!!!! 😛
 
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