Year off before applying to Dent recommended?

[241814]

I've heard some pre-dents talk about taking a year off after graduating from undergrad and then applying to dental school. So far I heard most of them get work experience, make some moola and I'm assuming after they graduated they start Kaplan, studying, and applying in that same year.

The other option is to start applying at the end of Junior year, take the DATs in summer/ beginning senior year, and finish application in senior year (assuming I'll finish college in 4 years). That's what most ppl. do right?

I'm considering taking a year off after graduation, because things might get too busy during summer before senior year and during senior year (having to go to interviews, check out schools, and keep grades up).

I was wondering if anyone here did that before applying? I read a couple threads about people waiting up to 10 years, but anyone wait less? And what kinds of problems did you run into? The only thing I can think of so far is possible difficulty getting letters or recommendation.

Any feedback will help, just throw it at me. Thanks! 😍

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[supraman]

I'm currently in my year off and I hate it, I hate working a full time job for the time being while waiting. Go directly to school if you can, study for DATs in May/June, and submit around then.

 

[FutureDocBerg]

I took a year off cause I studied abroad senior year and didnt wanna study, but took the DAT the day i left for a 6 week Euro vaca... not a good idea.......


I didnt get in for the following year, but applied then and got in. So i took 2 years off after undergrad.

Whats the diff? Keep your head in the game..

As I work til I start D school in August I think about the cash I make every month towards my new Macbook and Loupes and accessories.

Live it up, sometimes you need a break between schools. It only makes you all the wiser...

-Z

 

[rewJW]

I took a year off because I had to (see: reapplicant). It's been the best opportunity of my life. I'm working full time and paying off the application fees, and getting some time to relax and enjoy myself and hang out with friends before I start d-school. I've made some excellent connections in the dental field and have learned so much and experienced all of the specialties (except endo and prosth, but I see uncomplicated cases done by the GPs) which I had not done while simply shadowing. As a result, I'll be going into dental school with an entirely different (better, more mature) mindset. Not saying that in your year off you HAVE to do anything dental related ... I chose to assist over a job as a lab technician in an ecological studies lab. If you're somebody who has never had to work a real day in their life and whose parents are paying for application fees, etc., then it might not benefit you to have a year off. But if you're going to be going into it financially alone like me, the year off will help you enter d-school without preexisting debts from the application process and deposits (unless you were able to save up $2-3k in advance).

 

[Flipper405]

If you're somebody who has never had to work a real day in their life and whose parents are paying for application fees, etc., then it might not benefit you to have a year off.

As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm one of these people 😏

However, I also think it was a good idea to take a year off - It really is beneficial to get a break so to speak. Also, your interviews etc. don't force you to miss any class. You don't have to have that on your mind while you're taking these trips.

On the other hand, I would not wait a year before APPLYING... that would give you a 2 year break before you get into dental school. (although I doubt that's what you are actually suggesting) I presume you will submit your application the summer after you graduate. Having done this, I recommend it.

 

[JamesOSU]

Reapplicant as well, and extremely glad I didn't accept Case's offer last year. This year off is just what I needed to charge my batteries, so burned out on school. By September I'll be ready and roaring to go, plus the money and NO HOMEWORK is amazing and I'm loving my year off. I applied right after I graduated, so I've been working since June and got accepted in December, so another 8 months to go. Saving up money to go to Vegas in July and Australia in September right before school.

A year off can be fantastic, everyone should experience a 'real job' to be a better boss later, plus the money is great to have for someone who's never had it (college student). Take some time off to just enjoy life

 

[Hawkeye7685]

I had to take time off after school because I changed to the biology major and was finishing up my final pre-req my senior year. I will flat out say it was the best decision I could have made. I got a job doing some cutting edge research which I really feel was a huge factor in my application because every interviewer brought it up and asked a bunch of questions about what I did. I am now more relaxed and truly appreciate what I am about to go through. Coming out of college I feel I would've just seen it as another set of classes but now I know that being in school working towards something you really want is a luxury that only those who work hard can afford. I also go out all the time and am getting the undergrad party bug out of me so I when I do get to school I can take it a step back and say I've done that, now its time to do work and go out less.

 

[cybermech]

I applied in my senior year. So basically I have a year off. The biggest advantage was that I didn't have to miss class in order to go to dental interviews. Also, because I didn't have classes, I was able to string my interviews together in huge blocks, (some lasted as long a 2 weeks). I view it as a long vacation that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to have.

Also, I have time to do things I want to do, like read books for pleasure and work on some research. I also can volunteer without worrying about classes and obligations. It's great.

 

[WOAHHI]

Reapplicant as well, and extremely glad I didn't accept Case's offer last year. This year off is just what I needed to charge my batteries, so burned out on school. By September I'll be ready and roaring to go, plus the money and NO HOMEWORK is amazing and I'm loving my year off. I applied right after I graduated, so I've been working since June and got accepted in December, so another 8 months to go. Saving up money to go to Vegas in July and Australia in September right before school.

A year off can be fantastic, everyone should experience a 'real job' to be a better boss later, plus the money is great to have for someone who's never had it (college student). Take some time off to just enjoy life

Is it a bad idea to turn down an acceptance and re-apply the following year? I heard it shows that you don't really want to go to dental school if say you only got accepted to one school and you turned it down in hopes of getting into other schools next cycle. That's also why they say only apply where you would be willing to go?

 

[JamesOSU]

Is it a bad idea to turn down an acceptance and re-apply the following year? I heard it shows that you don't really want to go to dental school if say you only got accepted to one school and you turned it down in hopes of getting into other schools next cycle. That's also why they say only apply where you would be willing to go?

I declined case for a couple reasons. 1) I had just accepted and started my new job, and was really enjoying it, 2) I had just signed a 12 month lease on my apartment, 3) Case accepted me off the waitlist in June, see first two, and 4) I really wanted to go to OSU, Case was twice as expensive!

I think the thought that I wasn't into dental school went out the window when I re-applied. Ohio State's adcom said that my re-applying actually showed how much I really wanted to go to dental school, and I was ahead of other applicants in that respect. In the interview they're trying to find out if you really want to go to their school, and that was already answered for me.

But the good shot of getting in the next year (I had retaken the DAT and done much better) and the possibility of saving almost $200,000 for it, not to mention making money this year, it was the best choice

 

[smoham03]

I've heard some pre-dents talk about taking a year off after graduating from undergrad and then applying to dental school. So far I heard most of them get work experience, make some moola and I'm assuming after they graduated they start Kaplan, studying, and applying in that same year.

The other option is to start applying at the end of Junior year, take the DATs in summer/ beginning senior year, and finish application in senior year (assuming I'll finish college in 4 years). That's what most ppl. do right?

I'm considering taking a year off after graduation, because things might get too busy during summer before senior year and during senior year (having to go to interviews, check out schools, and keep grades up).

I was wondering if anyone here did that before applying? I read a couple threads about people waiting up to 10 years, but anyone wait less? And what kinds of problems did you run into? The only thing I can think of so far is possible difficulty getting letters or recommendation.

Any feedback will help, just throw it at me. Thanks! 😍

Like people before said, it is totally doable. When I decided to become a dentist, I wanted to go to dental school right after undergrad. However, there were several things I needed to take care off that would require a significant amount of time. I though I could do take care of them the summer of my junior year so I decided to apply my junior year. The summer after my junior year, I got all my recommendations and everything else all set. I filled out the application and just as I was about to hit the submit button, I started to hesitate. I still had things I had to and wanted to do before I started dental school. I took a whole month to decided and let my aadsas application stay un-submitted!

Finally, I decided I wanted a year off and I canceled my application. I notified my pre-health advisor as well as my rec letter writers. I notified the admissions office of my top choice (Tufts) whom I had been talking to to about attending. I asked my pre-health adviser to hold all my stuff for the next cycle and informed her and I would be applying my senior year instead. After my senior year, all I had to do was notify my pre-health adviser to submit my application documents and fill out a new aadsas application. I had everything already from my previous attempt! I got in to my top choice in December and I am reaaaalllly glad I took the year off. I am glad I get to spend so much time with my family, taking care of things so I don't have to worry about them when I get into dental school, etc. It is also a bonus for me that I will have to worry less about construction at Tufts due to taking the year off😀

You can certainly do it and get into to dental school just fine. Just make sure you act and do what everyone else applying straight to dental school is doing. It wouldn't hurt to get your recommendations, etc. early either!

 

[mantraman1010]

count me in. i applied after junior year and did not get in. i was forced to take the year off and apply after graduating. i was not looking forward to it, but then i found an awesome job and work full time. it is giving me great experience on how to deal with people in a positive manner as well as working with people around you. it also gave me time to study for my DAT retake and i was so much more relaxed at my interviews this time. no need to worry about exams the next day or anything like that. but if you do get accepted after junior year, take the opportunity, not many people get the same opportunities twice.

 

[hl11]

i am taking a year off now. At first, I hated it b/c I had to take a job that I didn't like and the wait has been very uneasy. But there are always pros and cons by taking a year off before dental school. See following:

Pros: you get to make some money so you can pay off your application fee and stuff like that. After graduation, you can study for the DAT and get the application ready and it is just more relaxing doing so, i mean considering senior year in college is crazy b/c you have to finish all these last school/major requirements to graduate and they are demanding. I took two months to study for my DAT after college and then went back home to take a job (oh i went to a suny college). Plus you maybe also get to learn that your desire for becoming a dentist also grows stronger. For me, I took a job I didn't like and this makes me so clear about what i want once again.

cons: the economy is really bad now so if you are thinking to get a good job...um...i would say it is difficult. By then, you may apply for jobs that you have never considered before b/c you don't want to sit home everyday. For this reason, it may be a good idea to just go to dental school right after college. Sometimes I wonder if i made the right decision by taking a year off b/c i feel like i am wasting my time now.

 

[241814]

Wow, thanks for the all the input!

After reading everyone's posts I feel like there were more positives than negatives, and the negatives seemed like they could be worked out for the better.

Knowing that I can fit in family time, down time, and travel time into that "year off" makes me want to work ever harder now while I'm in undergrad.

If you have more to say, feel free to post it. And a huge congratulations to all of you who have made it in =)

 

[enfuego]

If you're somebody who has never had to work a real day in their life and whose parents are paying for application fees, etc., then it might not benefit you to have a year off. But if you're going to be going into it financially alone like me, the year off will help you enter d-school without preexisting debts from the application process and deposits (unless you were able to save up $2-3k in advance).

Why not? It's still a nice break from school. And it'd be a chance for people who never worked to get some work experience so that their first job isn't working as a dentist. Maybe they would like to like pay back their parents or save up spending money for when they're in school.