[M3ForLife]

I wasn't sure if there was a thread on this before but any dentistry majors here?

[mintfresh]

You mean pre-dent?
I was one.
I am still thinking about becoming a dentist but the environment that they work in (or at least for the dentist that I shadowed) was a big turn off for me. So I just took a step back and trying to find other options.

[Jay Chou]

i'm planning to.
i think it's a good route if you don't want to study medicine and want to become a healthcare professional at the same time.
should also consider going into optometry or pharmacy, but out of all dentists make the most.
but actually pharmacy might be boring for some ppl....i can't be sure.

[k1D3Ck]

I wanted to marry a dentist...you know for a wife one day...or an itnerier designer. lol

[SilenceAngel]

Keep up your grades and be active in your community and school. Graduate schools are very competitive to get in. Try to take your MDAT test during your junior year and you can take it again during your senior if you needed to.

[Rose]

You mean pre-dent?
I was one.
I am still thinking about becoming a dentist but the environment that they work in (or at least for the dentist that I shadowed) was a big turn off for me. So I just took a step back and trying to find other options.

I'm planning on doing predental, i'm a freshman, still trying to figure out EXACTLY what i want to do, what was it bout their environment that turned off? O.o

[babyxlibra]

how weird is it that today was the first day of even considering dentistry... cus i decided to look at the college students forum and dentistry was the first topic!

[itzyoungmin]

Pre-dent right here.

[lynd]

can the pre-dent majors elaborate more on the details (hours total, was it hard, etc)?

i'm a freshman majoring in bio. i'm debating between physical therapy or pre-dent. Currently, i'm leaning towards physical therapy, but i would like to hear more about pre-dent, if that's possible.

[jin_hwan]

i'm considering dentristry for grad school

is there a specific major that i need to major in to apply?

[UBStudent09]

i'm considering dentristry for grad school

is there a specific major that i need to major in to apply?

Usually science-related majors like Bio, chemistry physics etc... but i heard you can major in practically anything...even in Spanish and still do dentistry

[kevoxd]

i'm a pre-dental majoring at Biomedical engineering.

Only requirements are 2 semesters of math (i think calculus 1 and 2), 2 semesters of writing, 2 semesters of general chemistry w/ labs, 2 semesters of biology w/ labs, 2 semesters of physics w/ labs, 2 semesters of organic chemistry w/ labs. A recommended class is biochemistry. But it's true, you can practically major in anything and you can still be a pre-dental as along as you take those sciences courses + i think the math and writing classes.

[chinkboye22]

yea i think im going into dentistry too O_O

[mintfresh]

OK, here is the deal.
You can major in anything to get into dental schools. In fact, you can even major in arts for all you care.
However, you have to fulfill their requirements such as 1 year of organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc etc. So people usually major in science related area because if they have to take those classes anyways, why not get a major in those areas? There would be less extra classes you need to take to get a degree.

The major factor that decides whether you get in (to a dental schoo) or not is your GPA, especially your science GPA. Your overall GPA is important, too, but dental school usually set a higher science GPA compared to the overall GPA. Of course, your DAT scores as well. They also want you to do some shadowing before you even apply to their school because during your interviews, they WILL ask you questions regarding what dentists actually do and such (answers that only you can find out IF you shadow a dentist).

Just keep in mind that once you get into their dental program, you won't have any vacation such as summer vacation that you get right now as an undergrad. You will be in school or doing internship for four years, straight. If you are not in classes, you do intership (usually during summer and the last two years of your dental school career).

=======

To answer someone's question on why I thought the working environment was a big turn off, well, I am sensitive to sounds. I can take up to 5 hours of drilling sounds or whatever but I just couldn't hear that noise all day, everyday. I didn't find out about this until I shadowed a dentist. Second, this can vary depend on dentists but the one that I shadowed worked in a very tiny space. I really can't work in an environment where it's a tiny room with a tiny window. But I am not giving up on dentistry, I just am looking for something else that might interest me more than dentisty. If not, I will get back on dentistry.

[jin_hwan]

each school has their own requirements right?

for ex. if i were to apply to nyu and ucsd or some thing for dental school, they would they have the same requirements or different?

[Jay Chou]

OK, here is the deal.
You can major in anything to get into dental schools. In fact, you can even major in arts for all you care.
However, you have to fulfill their requirements such as 1 year of organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc etc. So people usually major in science related area because if they have to take those classes anyways, why not get a major in those areas? There would be less extra classes you need to take to get a degree.

i was wondering if there is a benefit if you picked another major besides biology major?
coz most ppl seem to pick biology major when going into med/dental/pharm schools.
my guess is they would rather pick a wider variety of applicants coming from different major backgrounds rather than all biology major backgrounds? i dunno...