Wonderful post - need advice

[wimmcs]

Hi to everyone. I just signed up on this website today and I've been reading some of the comments and feedback provided by a lot of you. First I must say that everyone seems very nice, very professional and willing to help each other out. This also seems to be the perfect site where one can get help and advice if one wishes to pursue dentistry as a career. So here are some questions for the group:

(I will provide some personal information about myself so that you have an idea of my situation)

I'm a 31 yr. old Hispanic female. I grew up in Mexico (until the age of 15) where my brother-in-law is an Endodontist. All of our friends are dentists or dental specialists (it's like a family, they all help each other out and "barter" services), so I grew up wanting to become a dentist. I live in Arizona and when I looked into the possibility of attending dental school, it meant that I would have to move out-of-state. For many years my mother was ill, so I decided NOT to pursue dentistry because I did not want to be away from my mother for any length of time. Instead I graduated from an AZ university with 2 degrees, one in Business Administration and one in Spanish. My mother passed away three years ago, and now I decided that I want to continue pursuing my dream. I left a very successful career in Human Resources making good money to pursue dentistry.
So here is where I stand:
-My CUM GPA is around a 3.63
- I started taking Chem 1 and Bio 1 last sememster in trying to complete my science pre-requisites, however, I completed them in a community college. I have heard negative feedback in terms of completing science pre-requisites from a community college, however there's not much I can do about the semester that just passed. I'm also planning on taking Gen Chem 2 this summer from a cc. However, I'm planning on taking the rest of the pre-requisites from a 4 yr. institution. (ASU).

HERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
I wanted to apply this year, however if I apply in July, I will only have 3 of the 8 required science courses. Matt (who turned me in to this forum) told me that I should apply early anyway and request to be interviewed at the beginning of the year (2004), since I will have completed O Chem1, Bio2 and Phy1, so I'll have 6 of the 8 required courses and will give a pretty good assessment of my science GPA. What kind of feedback can you provide on my situation? I'm thinking of 3 options:
-Applying in July with only 3 classes... and requesting an interview in 2004... they may not even want to look at me with only 3 science classes though.
- Applying in December (some schools only accept apps through Dec or even before)
-Applying next year (which I really DON'T want to do, but may have to)

- In doing some research there are schools that have "required" coursework and "preferred" coursework. Did most of you who got accepted into dental school complete all required and some of the "preferred" as well? (like Microbiology, BioChem, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology)

I was also considering taking the Kaplan class this summer... but I won't even have touched O Chem since I'm taking the first semester in the fall. Is it not a good idea to try studying for the DAT without having taken OChem yet? I have purchased some books in DAT preparation like: Kaplan DAT, Kaplan MCAT, Barron's DAT preparation (for PAT), I will purchase TopScore as approaching taking the DAT since I heard the CD expires after 6 months. I really want to do great on the DAT, so even though I'm barely starting on the science pre-reqs, I have started studying those books I just mentioned. And, I'm considering taking the Kaplan class in hopes it may give me an "edge". Being that English is my second language, I do find myself sort of a "slow" reader and I noticed a lot of you indicated you were very fast readers, I would appreciate some tips on becoming a fast reader.

I'm doing volunteer work as well as shadowing a dentist.

I'm considering applying in AZ (ironically they just opened it up this year), San AntonioTX, BaylorTX, Oregon, Iowa, Creighton, maybe UCLA, UofP. Any tips?

Any tips or advice anyone can provide I would greatly appreciate. I'm sorry I wrote so much info, and again would appreciate any feedback or advice in steps I should follow.
P.S. I would really like to hear from ItsGavinC.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Supernumerary]

Wimmcs, It sounds like you're in great shape. I don't think a few community college courses will hurt, especially if that's your only choice. As long as you do as well in your science classes as you did in your previous schoolwork, I think you'll be a shoe-in at most of the dental schools you're interested in.

A degree in business administration and speaking fluent Spanish is an awesome foundation for dentistry. Schools are gonna be begging for you to come.

I think you should apply as early as possible during the application cycle. You can always forward new grades, DAT scores later. But you don't want to get your app in after most of the seats have already been filled. Apply early!

I think for now, I would focus first on the pre-reqs, then if you have to apply again next cycle, take some of the preferred courses.

BTW, you can tweak the TopScore by resetting the date on your computer. I don't think this is wrong if you're just extending the CD's life for your own personal use. Mostly TopScore just wants to keep the same CDs from being passed on to new applicants each year and cutting into profits.

Good Luck!

 

[ddstothecor]

wimmcs--I would apply this year. I'm 32 now, and I was in your shoes--except my G.P.A. was nowhere near what yours is--with not having completed my pre-requisite courses prior to applying. Anyways, I ended-up applying twice, and got in on my second try.

For you--APPLY! Why not? You only have one more year of your life to lose by not applying.

Secondly, there is a great deal of OChem on the DAT. I would apply early, but take the DAT in Oct. or Nov. to get at least some OChem under your belt. (Some people may differ in opinions, but that's mine.) In your spare time to excel on the DAT, you will have to try to assimilate some of the OChem on your own. The Kaplan Course is a good refresher, and may even help you learn on the 1st try. It will behoove you to know your functional groups (ketones, alcohols, alkenes, etc...).

Thirdly, take all of your prereqs this year, and if you have the gumption, you can take the preferred science classes next year if you have to. Still, if you aren't taking a full-load with the prereqs, it's not a bad idea at all to take the *preferred* classes. All those classes do is provide background for material that you will study once again when you matriculate into a program. They would be good classes to prove your desire, and some of those (like Biochem) will be required at some point for most programs.

What you may come up against is the people who have already completed their requisite courses. I think some of the schools, unfortunately, like to look at an applicatnt who has shown the ability to succeed by completing the prescribed courseload. So, it may take 2 tries (but no more than that because you have a good G.P.A. going for you).

Finally, Good luck to you! If you don't get in this year (for 2008), you definately will next year.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Isabel,

You need to apply this year--there really isn't any reason to hold onto your application for another year.

Don't worry about taking the "preferred" dental school courses. Many admissions committees will look at your life circumstances and easily recognize that the experiences you have already had will outweigh any preferred courses. I, for one, took a minimal number of preferred or "extra" courses and got plenty of acceptances.

Also, apply to Arizona. I'm sure that they would strongly consider you for an interview. Your fluency in Spanish is another factor which works to your advantage.

Also don't worry about taking community college courses; just be sure to do extremely well in them.

Good luck to you! Hopefully I'll see you when you interview at Arizona!

 

[quantumhead]

Apply, and do it early. Write an good honest letter about your past and your passion for Dentistry. Take the DAT early and leave time to take it again. Even if you have to wait a year if this is what you want then do it. Ultimatly PEOPLE let you in to school. Scores and numbers open the door but people make the decision (Money can also open the door so if ya got a few 100K to donate I am sure you can get in somewhere!!).

Anyway, when you talk to the schools try and find out if they have a "delayed entry" program. At VCU some students are accepted as D0.5 students. They take alot of our first year classes and if they pass they enter with the next freshmen class. It helps to ease the workload and allows some to get instate tuition.

Good luck.

 

[PENN Diddy]

wimmcs,

Finish all your prerequisites at a c.c. Screw a 4yr. institution. I got into UOP, PENN, Temple, USC,UCLA & took all my pre-req's at a C.C. You're working with lots of marketable material already so I definitely apply this year but apply no later than December. Postpone the DAT until you complete your 1st semester of O-chem so you have a fighting chance & whatever you do.. dont blow 1G on the Kaplan course. Instead, get your hands on old Princeton Review practice DATs, Kaplan DAT book, Barron's DAT (for PAT), & the TopScore CD (to get a feel for time management & test conditions). Try to postpone taking your DAT until middle January so you can secure interviews in case you get a low DAT. You will definitely need a good personal statement which explains why everything you've been through since high school was completely necessary for you to become the exceptional human being you are today. You've already got your plate full with the "necessary courses" so pay no attention to the "preferred". Dental admissions would greatly prefer you do great on the "necessary". Also, join a health professonals club at the C.C. & volunteer more to show you really are sincere about helping people. I congratulate you on not giving up on your dreams. Keep ya head up! Email me if you have any questions.

PENN Diddy
PENN Dental Medicine

 

[DesiDentist]

Hey Isabel:

Good to see you posting on SDN!! It's a great resource. Well, you worry too much. Just take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. Just like my homie PENN Diddy said go to a CC and focus on getting the best grades possible. A 4.0 at a C.C. will look much better than a 3.0 at a University, trust me. When you do AADSAS you will see that all your gpa points will come on to one page so schools won't have that much time to scrutinize what schools you took what.

I hope you got a chance to read my personal statement, gimme a holler.

Take care,

DesiDentist

 

[jacksonheel]

wimmcs,

I was in a similar position as you last summer. I am 30, and when I decided to apply to dental school last March, I had not taken any o chem nor a second biology course (not to mention the fact I had not taken a science class since 1995). I quit my job, and went to summer school. I doubled up my first summer session, and got both org. I and biology out of the way, then took org. II the second session. I studied for the DAT all summer, and took it early August.

I don't think that you want to try and take the DAT without any organic chem under your belt. If possible, I would fully utilize the summer (whether at cc or 4 yr) and try and take four courses. You could get biology II and chem II out of the way, and get at least one semester of org. If your school would let you, I would even take chem II and org. I at the same time, as they really don't build on each other. That way you could take org. II the second summer session, and be ready to take the DAT early next fall. I don't know if you have access to a school that offers two summer sessions or all of these courses, but I think this schedule is doable.

As to other classes, Physics is not tested on the DAT, so I would wait until next year to take that. Other "recommended" courses are not necessary, especially considering your background. I didn't have anything but the bare minimum, and got into my first choice.

I think that this can definitely be done, and if you don't get in this year, there is always next year.

Good Luck,

Jacksonheel

 

[wimmcs]

I really want to thank all those who read and responded to my topic. I really appreciate each and every one of you!!!!