When you found out you got in, how did you react?

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dentaldreams2021

dentaldreams2021

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When you found out you got in, how did you react? Immediate reaction? First person you told? First thing you did?

When I found out I was accepted to my dream school, I was driving. I stopped at a red light and had picked up my phone to check the time when I saw the acceptance email notification on my lock screen, and was in utter disbelief. I literally repeated "oh my gosh" five times to myself as I drove in tears of joy. First person I told was my mom, 5 minutes later. And just seeing the unparalleled happiness on her face made me feel so glad I stuck it through. And glad I kept telling myself the hard work would be worth it in the end. First thing I did was prayed...never felt so thankful before. Anddd then a family dinner to celebrate :soexcited::clap:

What are your stories?! 🙂 excited to hear!
 
DAT scores were a far more emotional moment for me. Pushed the exam back several times, from Aug to November, for math alone. It was that much of an issue for me and incredibly frustrating, being ready for everything else but still stumped for one section. Hard keeping that momentum, juggling the subjects with everything else I had going on. It was the first score I looked at as soon as the results popped and couldn't have been any happier with a 19. Was perfectly fine driving for 10 minutes, until I started sobbing randomly for a few seconds.

That whole thing was just so emotionally draining. I'd go as far to say even more so than dental school so far. Never felt such a moment of peace like that before. I knew I was going to get accepted somewhere, I just didn't know If I could over my difficulties with math. I didn't know if I could teach myself that after 6 years and I didn't know if I could finish Math Destroyer in one piece 😕😡
 
I felt like the man of the hour. Got some congrats from close friends family and girlfriend.
 
dentaldreams2021 said:
When you found out you got in, how did you react? Immediate reaction? First person you told? First thing you did?

When I found out I was accepted to my dream school, I was driving. I stopped at a red light and had picked up my phone to check the time when I saw the acceptance email notification on my lock screen, and was in utter disbelief. I literally repeated "oh my gosh" five times to myself as I drove in tears of joy. First person I told was my mom, 5 minutes later. And just seeing the unparalleled happiness on her face made me feel so glad I stuck it through. And glad I kept telling myself the hard work would be worth it in the end. First thing I did was prayed...never felt so thankful before. Anddd then a family dinner to celebrate :soexcited::clap:

What are your stories?! 🙂 excited to hear!
Click to expand...

It was decent.

I agree with @Faux though. DAT scores were far more emotional for me. I like how he put it.
 
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dentaldreams2021 said:
When you found out you got in, how did you react? Immediate reaction? First person you told? First thing you did?

When I found out I was accepted to my dream school, I was driving. I stopped at a red light and had picked up my phone to check the time when I saw the acceptance email notification on my lock screen, and was in utter disbelief. I literally repeated "oh my gosh" five times to myself as I drove in tears of joy. First person I told was my mom, 5 minutes later. And just seeing the unparalleled happiness on her face made me feel so glad I stuck it through. And glad I kept telling myself the hard work would be worth it in the end. First thing I did was prayed...never felt so thankful before. Anddd then a family dinner to celebrate :soexcited::clap:

What are your stories?! 🙂 excited to hear!
Click to expand...

It was decent.

I agree with @Faux though. DAT scores were far more emotional for me. I like how he put it.
 
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Hopefully this doesn't sound conceited but I already knew I was going to get into all of the schools I applied for (the Texas ones). Other than a cashier's job at Target in 10th grade (I'll never forget) I have literally never been turned down after an interview, so the minute I was invited I knew it was game over.

On Dec 1st. I got SA and I was happy but again I expected it, I had heard that Baylor sent them out around 1 though so I wasnt expecting that email when I got it 2 minutes later, so for that one I actually got a bit excited and I told my girlfriend I was coming back to Dallas for good and that was that. Houston almost lured me away but Dallas is the greatest city on the planet so oh well.

I kind of wish I had more of an emotional reaction though :/
 
Incis0r said:
Now when I got the HPSP...that was a totally different story. I was dancing on the streets for that one. My mom and I were out having lunch together when the recruiter called.

My gut dropped and I picked up the phone.

He asks me "How has your week been so far?"
Me *nervous*: "Ummm Ok."
Recruiter *starts laughing*: "YOU GOT IT!!!!!!!!"

Mom and I laughed and celebrated so hard people in the restaurant thought we were crazy.

In many ways, HPSP was a much harder-fought battle for me (1+ year spent applying) than dental admissions (3-4 months). So a victory there meant more to me.
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For some reason you don't seem like the HPSP type haha, which branch did you get accepted into?
 
I was in a middle of a meeting at work. Looked at the area code, figured it was a scammer or XYZ dental school. Fortunately it was the latter. Walked back in, my coworkers thought I landed a FWB or something 🙄

While I was on the phone, I was pretty much speechless, and the admin was like "it's okay, we get how you feel" lol
 
Incis0r said:
Must have slipped through the cracks haha. Shh, don't tell anyone 😉

I got offers from the Navy and Air Force.
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Sorry I meant as in you didn't seem like the type who would want to, congrats though!

Incis0r said:
What happened?
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I guess they did the stress test thing? They led me to a room and said we'll be back shortly and just left me there for like 20 minutes, I just chilled the whole time and they finally interviewed me and the woman seemed like it was her first time interviewing someone ever, it was pretty funny better she kept messing up, but it was whatever. There's a second interview and this dude immediately puts on this act like "why would we ever want you" and is very rude, but I had recieved an email asking me to interview at Nike which is where I really wanted to go, so I wasn't having the attitude and just gave the guy quick answers.

There supposed to be as third interview and he just said have as great day and led me out and that was that. I worked at Nike for 2 years though so I don't mind
 
Ugh these threads stress me out. lol
 
stoopidmonkeycatdog said:
Sorry I meant as in you didn't seem like the type who would want to, congrats though!



I guess they did the stress test thing? They led me to a room and said we'll be back shortly and just left me there for like 20 minutes, I just chilled the whole time and they finally interviewed me and the woman seemed like it was her first time interviewing someone ever, it was pretty funny better she kept messing up, but it was whatever. There's a second interview and this dude immediately puts on this act like "why would we ever want you" and is very rude, but I had recieved an email asking me to interview at Nike which is where I really wanted to go, so I wasn't having the attitude and just gave the guy quick answers.

There supposed to be as third interview and he just said have as great day and led me out and that was that. I worked at Nike for 2 years though so I don't mind
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Congrats on your success!
 
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Viva Terlingua said:
Relief. I was happy and excited too, but before that set in later in the day all I knew was relief that it was actually happening this time.
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Who was the first person you told that you're going to be a dentist?
 
Dr5paceman said:
that actual moment was pretty anticlimactic for me, but definitely entered some state of peace/relief in the weeks after because I'm finally on a path to something. right now, I'm probably the most chill that I'll ever be.
Click to expand...

Do you plan to specialize?
 
I was working as a DA the morning of Dec 1. I read that my top choice started making acceptance calls at 8AM. In between procedures I would check SDN to see which schools were calling for acceptances. My top choice had already started making calls. At 10:30AM I sat down at a computer and checked my email by habit, and was shocked to find an email from my top choice. I thought "damn, an email without a phone call" I was sure I was rejected. I didn't want to open it and confirm my fears but I knew I would have to accept the reality of rejection eventually, so I held my breath and clicked. Acceptance and congratulations were the first words I read. I checked my phone and saw that I had a missed call from the school 5 minutes earlier. I read the whole email slowly, and I sat there for a few seconds trying comprehend what just happened. I thought it could have been a mistake and part of me just really wanted to get the phone call acceptance experience so I called the office of admissions. They confirmed that I was accepted. One of the other DA's overheard my phone call and congratulated me. A few of the dentists and DAs overheard the commotion and came by to celebrate. The rotating D4s from the school that just accepted me came over and were like "Congratulations Doctor!". I got a few acceptance calls from other schools throughout the day but I knew where I wanted to go.

Honestly Dec 1 itself was less emotional than I thought it would be. Even now it still feels like dental school is so far away. I don't think it will hit me that I'm a dental student at my dream school until I'm sitting in orientation this June. What is more provoking is the days or weeks that follow the acceptance. The moments when I randomly have a flashback to being a pre-dent sitting in a library, daydreaming about being accepted to this dental school, believing it would never actually happen. Then I revert back to the present and remember what I've achieved so far, it is surreal knowing that everything came true.
 
Dr5paceman said:
nah, not at this time.
but who knows, i'm going to keep going wherever life takes me.

i've been out of school for a few years and have been all over the place the entire time, feels good to be able to see some kind of future.
Click to expand...

Then dental school will be more relaxed 🙂
 
I had an 8 am physiology exam on Dec 1 and I had only interviewed at one school so I didn't want to get my hopes up and I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to get a call. Was almost done with my exam and at 9:12 I heard my phone vibrate and glanced down and saw the area code and whispered, "oh my gosh" then I started crying. I'm sure everyone else in my exam thought I was crying about my exam or just thought I was crazy, hahaha! Luckily I was done with my exam and just reviewing my answers because as soon as I knew I was accepted I forgot everything I had studied!!
 
I couldn't sleep the few nights before Dec. 1 so I thought I would fall asleep quickly Nov. 30th and just wake up to see if I had an acceptance. I couldn't fall asleep that night either.

I gathered on SDN that this magic Dec. 1 date really was overhyped and I shouldn't get my hopes up.

As soon as 12:00am came, two people texted me they got accepted from the school we all were waiting on. My phone sends me email notifications so when I didn't get it, I figured "Yeah, I have zero luck." I decided to hit the email app regardless just in case my phone was teasing me and, somehow, alive knowing damn well it's toying with my emotions.

Then all of a sudden I see the "Welcome!" email. My jaw dropped. I stared at it for a solid one hour. Didn't say anything, didn't tell anyone. It took me a few days to tell anyone around me just because it was surreal. After multiple tries, it finally happened. God bless.

You appreciate things more when you work harder for them and it didn't come easy. Anyone reading this who hasn't been accepted yet, don't give up. Even if it takes you two, three, four times to get in. Don't listen to those discouraging you from this field if it is what you want.
 
My brother and I were out at a local brewery celebrating his med school acceptance. Late in the evening I get a buzz on my phone. I pulled out my phone and looked down to see the word, "Congratulations..." from the email alert. I was ecstatic and hugged the stranger next to me. We were both going to be doctors.
 
DMDDDSHopeful said:
I couldn't sleep the few nights before Dec. 1 so I thought I would fall asleep quickly Nov. 30th and just wake up to see if I had an acceptance. I couldn't fall asleep that night either.

I gathered on SDN that this magic Dec. 1 date really was overhyped and I shouldn't get my hopes up.

As soon as 12:00am came, two people texted me they got accepted from the school we all were waiting on. My phone sends me email notifications so when I didn't get it, I figured "Yeah, I have zero luck." I decided to hit the email app regardless just in case my phone was teasing me and, somehow, alive knowing damn well it's toying with my emotions.

Then all of a sudden I see the "Welcome!" email. My jaw dropped. I stared at it for a solid one hour. Didn't say anything, didn't tell anyone. It took me a few days to tell anyone around me just because it was surreal. After multiple tries, it finally happened. God bless.

You appreciate things more when you work harder for them and it didn't come easy. Anyone reading this who hasn't been accepted yet, don't give up. Even if it takes you two, three, four times to get in. Don't listen to those discouraging you from this field if it is what you want.
Click to expand...

This is beautiful.
 
Incis0r said:
This is beautiful.
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IMG_7524.GIF


Aww shucks @Incis0r <3

Lol
 
I love this thread and reading everyone's stories!

I feel like this whole cycle has been emotional and a long time coming. I have been RDH (hence the name) for almost 7 years. I had dreamed of being a dentist and had a desire to be an Air Force dentist since high school but my life took me down the RDH path. I love being an RDH but I always lived with the "what if" and finally decided to do something about it. Despite having a bachelor's and a lot of great experience, I was well aware that I would need to do more to be the best candidate I could be. I walked away from full time practice and back into academia. I'm lucky to have a husband who was cool with this but I mourned leaving that job and felt like I took a huge risk that maybe wouldn't pay off. December 1st... it paid off. I'll never forget that feeling.

I had a final Virology exam on December 1st that I knew I would have a pretty hard time studying for. The night of November 30th, I was studying with one of my best friends, who also applied this cycle. We grabbed dinner before studying and talked about how difficult it has been to focus but "tomorrow would be the day!" We even talked about how we would open our emails together the next day because we wanted to find out together. We were going through our study guide and I needed to look a slide for some guidance. At 10:00 p.m. MST and 12:00 EST, I opened my lap top to look at said slide and a notification for an email from one of my schools popped up with "CONGRATS" in the subject line. I opened that email and began to read it to him. We were screaming and jumping around when he got an acceptance email from another east cost school. We cried, hugged, and shared a good 20 minutes of freaking out with others studying with us. Then... got back to studying but still freaking out every 15 minutes. I got to go to bed knowing that regardless of what happened the next day, I would go to dental school. My husband and family were all sleeping, despite phone calls, I wasn't able to share that news with them until the next day.

I printed my acceptance email and put it by my husbands coffee mug he uses in the morning just incase I wasn't awake before he left. I barely slept, so I knew when he got up, I heard him go down stairs stop and say "WHAT?" I jumped out of bed and we had a good cry together because it's been a long time coming and an exhausting cycle for the both of us. I went back to school early to get some extra studying in when I received the email and subsequent phone call from my other school (the one I ultimately chose, see below... haha). I was in the tutoring center on campus I worked at for 2 years, so, everyone heard and again cue tears and jumping around. I went in, somehow did really well on that exam and spent the rest of the day celebrating with my friends and family.

I'm proof positive that its never too late to go after what you feel called to do. Don't leave "what ifs" in your life... even if it takes you years to get there. December 1st was awesome but the day I was notified in September that I was awarded the Air Force HPSP, definitely paralleled that excitement. I not only get to be a dentist but I get to do it serving alongside my husband in the Air Force in a capacity that I am passionate about. It still hasn't set in and I often have to say to myself that it is indeed happening. Congrats to everyone who gets to realize their dream this year!
 
mroerdh22 said:
I love this thread and reading everyone's stories!

I feel like this whole cycle has been emotional and a long time coming. I have been RDH (hence the name) for almost 7 years. I had dreamed of being a dentist and had a desire to be an Air Force dentist since high school but my life took me down the RDH path. I love being an RDH but I always lived with the "what if" and finally decided to do something about it. Despite having a bachelor's and a lot of great experience, I was well aware that I would need to do more to be the best candidate I could be. I walked away from full time practice and back into academia. I'm lucky to have a husband who was cool with this but I mourned leaving that job and felt like I took a huge risk that maybe wouldn't pay off. December 1st... it paid off. I'll never forget that feeling.

I had a final Virology exam on December 1st that I knew I would have a pretty hard time studying for. The night of November 30th, I was studying with one of my best friends, who also applied this cycle. We grabbed dinner before studying and talked about how difficult it has been to focus but "tomorrow would be the day!" We even talked about how we would open our emails together the next day because we wanted to find out together. We were going through our study guide and I needed to look a slide for some guidance. At 10:00 p.m. MST and 12:00 EST, I opened my lap top to look at said slide and a notification for an email from one of my schools popped up with "CONGRATS" in the subject line. I opened that email and began to read it to him. We were screaming and jumping around when he got an acceptance email from another east cost school. We cried, hugged, and shared a good 20 minutes of freaking out with others studying with us. Then... got back to studying but still freaking out every 15 minutes. I got to go to bed knowing that regardless of what happened the next day, I would go to dental school. My husband and family were all sleeping, despite phone calls, I wasn't able to share that news with them until the next day.

I printed my acceptance email and put it by my husbands coffee mug he uses in the morning just incase I wasn't awake before he left. I barely slept, so I knew when he got up, I heard him go down stairs stop and say "WHAT?" I jumped out of bed and we had a good cry together because it's been a long time coming and an exhausting cycle for the both of us. I went back to school early to get some extra studying in when I received the email and subsequent phone call from my other school (the one I ultimately chose, see below... haha). I was in the tutoring center on campus I worked at for 2 years, so, everyone heard and again cue tears and jumping around. I went in, somehow did really well on that exam and spent the rest of the day celebrating with my friends and family.

I'm proof positive that its never too late to go after what you feel called to do. Don't leave "what ifs" in your life... even if it takes you years to get there. December 1st was awesome but the day I was notified in September that I was awarded the Air Force HPSP, definitely paralleled that excitement. I not only get to be a dentist but I get to do it serving alongside my husband in the Air Force in a capacity that I am passionate about. It still hasn't set in and I often have to say to myself that it is indeed happening. Congrats to everyone who gets to realize their dream this year!
Click to expand...

Awwwww this is so sweet. I love that the news brought you/your family/friends so much happiness.
Well-deserved & a long time coming.

Congrats!!!!!!
 
It feels so good to go down memory lane here.

I barely slept at all the night of Dec 1st. When I got out of bed, the stress hit me to the max and I kept running the worst case scenarios through my head. The early morning was difficult for me to get through and I kept breaking into tears from all the stress and anxiety.

I noticed an email from Rutgers around 8:15 AM. After a few breaths, I muttered, "Here we go" and opened the email. When I realized it was an acceptance letter, my heart dropped and I started running to the other room where my mother and grandmother were sitting. I simply said, "I got in" and collapsed into my grandmothers arms, profusely crying.

My dental school admission is the profoundest achievement of my life and a culmination of 18 years of education. I was so glad to share that moment with the people who raised me to be the person I am.
 
Best thread ever! That day I was actually at the gym shooting around at the basketball court when I got my first acceptance call. When I heard the word "acceptance", tears were rolling down my eyes, and after the call, I walked around crying in disbelief. The other guy on court looked at me like I was insane or something lol. Then proceeded to have a huge dinner that night with my family, and went out on a late night drivearound with my best friend despite an 8:30am class the next morning (YOLO). Also went to a club that weekend. Best week of my life, hands down, knowing that so many years of education has somehow paid off, and I have realized my most profound dream ever! 🙂
 
TheBlueJay24 said:
Best thread ever! That day I was actually at the gym shooting around at the basketball court when I got my first acceptance call. When I heard the word "acceptance", tears were rolling down my eyes, and after the call, I walked around crying in disbelief. The other guy on court looked at me like I was insane or something lol. Then proceeded to have a huge dinner that night with my family, and went out on a late night drivearound with my best friend despite an 8:30am class the next morning (YOLO). Also went to a club that weekend. Best week of my life, hands down, knowing that so many years of education has somehow paid off, and I have realized my most profound dream ever! 🙂
Click to expand...

IMG_7565.JPG


Your story had me thinking this lol
 
DAT scores were a much bigger deal for me.. I thought I failed. I asked the test administer to hide my scores from me so I could wait until I was in the car to look at them. I asked my ex-boyfriend to look at them before me... then I grabbed the paper and started bawling my eyes out I was so happy. 22AA, 23 TS.

Then on Decmeber 1st, I got into 3/4 dental schools I interviewed at before 12am est, I was waiting for my acceptance from UCLA but they didn't call me until 5pm est, so I was freaking out until then. Having to wait was kind of a buzz kill because I thought they were rejecting me.
 
I remember frantically refreshing my email during work (and my co-workers don't know and still don't know I was accepted into dental school). Once I saw the header with "Congratulations" and skimmed through the body of the email, I was about to jump up and scream. I had to cover my mouth, stand up, went outside the office and called my mom.
I decided not to tell my girlfriend immediately, as her birthday was the following day. Best surprise birthday. She did the crying for me. I also think she was more ecstatic about the acceptance than I was the previous day.
 
The DAT was a much bigger deal for me, too. Last year was my 3rd time taking it, so I knew it was ideally my last shot. After I found out I made a 21AA, I sat in my car and screamed at the top of my lungs. Cried a little. Called my parents and boyfriend. When I got accepted a few weeks ago, I just felt total RELIEF! I'm so relaxed and less anxious these days 🙂 It feels good!
 
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