Working in the "real world" before applying to dental school?

[NDPitch]

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Hi all-

I graduated from Umass Amherst in December of '09. I finished with a major in Biology, and had a science GPA of 3.6 and a cGPA of 3.68. During my undergrad career I was pretty set on applying to medical school, but bailed out due to a number of factors. I've since been working in a "real world" job at a medical software company for about a year and half now, and have been thinking a bit about getting back onto the professional degree track.

Dental school now seems more appealing than medical school (less red tape and lawyers, less lawsuits, better hours, still a doctor that helps people, etc). What are your thoughts on applying after having worked at a company for a couple years? To be honest, part of the reason my interest has been sparked again is due to my "real world job". In working for a medical software company, I'm implementing the software FOR the providers. Being on this side of the fence has kind of made me want to check out the other side, of actually BEING the provider.

I was thinking my post-college experiences could make for a pretty good essay as to why I'm now interested in getting back into the medical field. Thoughts? Or does it not matter? Would the grades and DAT still be the most important things? I'd also need to shadow, but I think my dentist might be able to help me out with that.

 

[bing12]

ur gpa is competitive, go shadow a dentist see how you like it, if you enjoy it, then take the DAT. Yes the DAT and grades are the most important factors to gaining admission to dental schools.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi all-

I graduated from Umass Amherst in December of '09. I finished with a major in Biology, and had a science GPA of 3.6 and a cGPA of 3.68. During my undergrad career I was pretty set on applying to medical school, but bailed out due to a number of factors. I've since been working in a "real world" job at a medical software company for about a year and half now, and have been thinking a bit about getting back onto the professional degree track.

Dental school now seems more appealing than medical school (less red tape and lawyers, less lawsuits, better hours, still a doctor that helps people, etc). What are your thoughts on applying after having worked at a company for a couple years? To be honest, part of the reason my interest has been sparked again is due to my "real world job". In working for a medical software company, I'm implementing the software FOR the providers. Being on this side of the fence has kind of made me want to check out the other side, of actually BEING the provider.

I was thinking my post-college experiences could make for a pretty good essay as to why I'm now interested in getting back into the medical field. Thoughts? Or does it not matter? Would the grades and DAT still be the most important things? I'd also need to shadow, but I think my dentist might be able to help me out with that.

having real world experience is nice.... but nothing can substitute for strong grades (GPA + DAT). Dental schools are very much like medical schools, those with good numbers will get in, the end.

I will encourage you to get some shadowing done. You'd be surprised how much interest you'll have left for this profession when a patient walks in, opens their mouth, and 2-3 minutes later the entire room smells like rotten meat and your having a hardtime suppressing your gag reflex.

Besides, dental schools are pretty big on shadowing. Its gonna be very hard for you to convince anyone (including yourself) that dentistry is your calling without seeing it first hand. Get some shadowing, take the DAT, and with that GPA of yours, you'll have no problem landing interviews

all the best

 

[Regmata]

You'd be surprised how much interest you'll have left for this profession when a patient walks in, opens their mouth, and 2-3 minutes later the entire room smells like rotten meat and your having a hardtime suppressing your gag reflex.

Not sure what kind of office you are shadowing in, but this certainly isn't the norm.

My track to dentistry was very similar. I was doing medical sales and one day decided I would rather be the guy getting called on than the guy calling. It gives you something to talk about in essays and at the interview. You still need the stats to be attractive to schools, although this shouldn't be news to you.

Schools like applicants who have real world experience, who have lived enough of life to truly understand the value of a professional degree and who are ready to sacrifice to achieve their goals. You have this going for you coming into the application process.

Good luck

 

[7 Iron]

Hi all-

I graduated from Umass Amherst in December of '09. I finished with a major in Biology, and had a science GPA of 3.6 and a cGPA of 3.68. During my undergrad career I was pretty set on applying to medical school, but bailed out due to a number of factors. I've since been working in a "real world" job at a medical software company for about a year and half now, and have been thinking a bit about getting back onto the professional degree track.

Dental school now seems more appealing than medical school (less red tape and lawyers, less lawsuits, better hours, still a doctor that helps people, etc). What are your thoughts on applying after having worked at a company for a couple years? To be honest, part of the reason my interest has been sparked again is due to my "real world job". In working for a medical software company, I'm implementing the software FOR the providers. Being on this side of the fence has kind of made me want to check out the other side, of actually BEING the provider.

I was thinking my post-college experiences could make for a pretty good essay as to why I'm now interested in getting back into the medical field. Thoughts? Or does it not matter? Would the grades and DAT still be the most important things? I'd also need to shadow, but I think my dentist might be able to help me out with that.

You have a good story which I think would make for a nice unique personal statement. My story is a little like yours... so I would say that, yes, GPA and DAT scores are the most important components, that dental schools value work experience after undergrad. Leverage it and use it to your advantage when applying.

 

[John Durian]

Not sure what kind of office you are shadowing in, but this certainly isn't the norm.

Agreed. I'm thinking some sort of free-clinic? I'm curious now..

 

[DentToBeCont]

I think real world experience loks good to Adcoms. Showss them you have explored other options, you "may be" more mature than a fresh grad, and you have had interactions with people outside of a school setting. Of course gradeas and DAT are more important, but I think you are in a good spot if you can nail a 20+ with some decent shadowing.

I hada "real world" job for 2.5 years before getting in this year.

 

[FutureDentalSt1]

Umass Amherst is a great school....all the umass's are sooo good...I took my science classes at Umass Boston!! Anyways, I think you should definitely write about your work in your personal statement....it makes for an interesting tale to be told!

As I was working this year, I did shadow and also volunteer at a dental office...I just felt like if I was asked during the interviews (which I was) about how I was still connected to the dental world...I needed to demonstrate to my interviewer that my commitment to going to dental school exceeded my interest in teaching...Your DAT and GPA is super important so make sure you keep that up!!

 

[dentalWorks]

Agreed. I'm thinking some sort of free-clinic? I'm curious now..

nope. sisters office located in downtown detroit.

I do agree with Regmata, its certainly not the norm, but occasionally, you'll a few.

 

[dantemac]

Find a way to fit in some shadowing and volunteering (after work or weekend tasks, maybe?), and you're good to go. You'll have plenty to talk about in an interview with where you're coming from.