Community College for first 2 years before Undergrad, can I still get into Dental School?

[loganhanson102]

Hello, I am currently going into my sophomore year at Waubonsee Community College. I have a 4.0 GPA and have completed Biology 120, Chemistry 121 and 122 as well as all general English classes and math including calculus. I am planning on applying to UIC for Dental school for the fall of 2024 after completing my major in biological sciences at Northern Illinois University and will be taking my Dat next summer (2022). I am wondering if my attendance at a community college, or even NIU at that, will hinder my chances at being a valued candidate for dental school. On top of my GPA I am also employed as a dental lab technician (as of Dec. 2020) under 2 Dentists, one of which is a general dentist and the other is an implant specialist.

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[PerioDont]

CC is fine! keep doing well.

I believe some schools desire to have some pre-reqs completed in a 4 year university though so just be aware of that.

 

[Lemillion]

I had a friend that did this same route and it turned out fine! 2 years CC then transferred to a 4-year undergrad for the last two. Took the DAT, applied and got accepted on the first go.

 

[Soleus715]

If I could do it all over again, I would have done just as you are doing now.
You'll be saving a lot of money as long as you heed PerioDont's advice and check with prospective schools on what pre-reqs must be taken at 4-yr Universities.

Since you are in IL, I'd really recommend considering SIU. It is a great school with an amazing price tag of $221,663 (tuition, fees, living expenses combined). Compare this to UIC's COA at $368,607 and that's $146,994 that you'll save (not even counting the large interest that could accrue on this difference over the repayment of your loans).

If you can get into SIU, all the threads you see here about dentists like me discouraging pre-dents from pursuing dentistry won't apply to you.

Source:

https://dentistry.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/741/2021/02/DMD-2020-2021-ResidentTuition.pdf

Estimated Expenses - Doctor of Dental Medicine | SIU School of Dental Medicine

SIU School of Dental Medicine - Estimated Expenses

www.siue.edu

 

[PerioDont]

If I could do it all over again, I would have done just as you are doing now.
You'll be saving a lot of money as long as you heed PerioDont's advice and check with prospective schools on what pre-reqs must be taken at 4-yr Universities.

Since you are in IL, I'd really recommend considering SIU. It is a great school with an amazing price tag of $221,663 (tuition, fees, living expenses combined). Compare this to UIC's COA at $368,607 and that's $146,994 that you'll save (not even counting the large interest that could accrue on this difference over the repayment of your loans).

If you can get into SIU, all the threads you see here about dentists like me discouraging pre-dents from pursuing dentistry won't apply to you.

Source:

https://dentistry.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/741/2021/02/DMD-2020-2021-ResidentTuition.pdf

Estimated Expenses - Doctor of Dental Medicine | SIU School of Dental Medicine

SIU School of Dental Medicine - Estimated Expenses

www.siue.edu

I also did CC for 2 yr. saved me a bunch of money. Additionally the smaller class size made it easier to do well, and I was able to get two very good LOR from profs at CC that remembered me vs the hundreds of students in the lecture halls at my 4yr university.

 

[Likkriue]

Yup of course. Also CC graduate here.

 

[Neb1720]

I did dual enrollment in high school and started undergrad with around 60 credits from CC. I did fairly average in these classes, thinking it wouldn't impact me, but when it came time to apply for schools, I found out it was incorporated in the overall GPA, which deflated my 3.7 from undergrad to around a 3.3 overall. Even with an average DAT and that GPA, I was able to get multiple interviews and acceptances this past cycle! Community college is a great option, and if you keep up the great work, you should have no problem getting into schools. The one thing I would check is that some schools only want you to have a certain amount of CC credits, so I would make sure the schools you want to apply to will be accepting of that.

 

[mrdeez]

I'm a high school dropout, recovered drug addict, changed my major 9 times and took 10 years to get a bachelors. I'm a D3 at my top choice, super competitive in state program. You'll be fine. Transfer to a University as soon as you can though because the more prereqs you take at a community college, the smaller your options become when it comes to schools you can apply to. Certain programs don't accept prereq credits that were not taken at a University. May not matter depending on what schools you want to apply to but just throwing it out there. Good luck.

P.S. Being a lab tech is a BALLER move for dental school and dentistry as a whole. Much respect to you and any lab techs out there.

 

[als33]

I was also seriously worried about this. I applied this cycle, and I did get 5 interview invites (hoping to get more later). I took most of my pre-reqs at CC (except biochem). Just get good DAT score, maintain good GPA, then you are good.

 

[loganhanson102]

If I could do it all over again, I would have done just as you are doing now.
You'll be saving a lot of money as long as you heed PerioDont's advice and check with prospective schools on what pre-reqs must be taken at 4-yr Universities.

Since you are in IL, I'd really recommend considering SIU. It is a great school with an amazing price tag of $221,663 (tuition, fees, living expenses combined). Compare this to UIC's COA at $368,607 and that's $146,994 that you'll save (not even counting the large interest that could accrue on this difference over the repayment of your loans).

If you can get into SIU, all the threads you see here about dentists like me discouraging pre-dents from pursuing dentistry won't apply to you.

Source:

https://dentistry.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/741/2021/02/DMD-2020-2021-ResidentTuition.pdf

Estimated Expenses - Doctor of Dental Medicine | SIU School of Dental Medicine

SIU School of Dental Medicine - Estimated Expenses

www.siue.edu

Thank you very much for this advice, SIU was my second choice and I am now considering SIU much more than UIC with that price tag. I have checked with my counselor and will be in contact with both schools admissions office to see if all my classes transfer, I appreciate your response!

 

[loganhanson102]

I did dual enrollment in high school and started undergrad with around 60 credits from CC. I did fairly average in these classes, thinking it wouldn't impact me, but when it came time to apply for schools, I found out it was incorporated in the overall GPA, which deflated my 3.7 from undergrad to around a 3.3 overall. Even with an average DAT and that GPA, I was able to get multiple interviews and acceptances this past cycle! Community college is a great option, and if you keep up the great work, you should have no problem getting into schools. The one thing I would check is that some schools only want you to have a certain amount of CC credits, so I would make sure the schools you want to apply to will be accepting of that.

Thank you for your response, will do!

 

[loganhanson102]

I also did CC for 2 yr. saved me a bunch of money. Additionally the smaller class size made it easier to do well, and I was able to get two very good LOR from profs at CC that remembered me vs the hundreds of students in the lecture halls at my 4yr university.

That's a great point, I have made great relationships with my science professors thus far and have stayed in contact throughout covid; I agree, they know me on a personal level that I don't think I would get at a larger 4 year.

 

[545w]

Hello, I am currently going into my sophomore year at Waubonsee Community College. I have a 4.0 GPA and have completed Biology 120, Chemistry 121 and 122 as well as all general English classes and math including calculus. I am planning on applying to UIC for Dental school for the fall of 2024 after completing my major in biological sciences at Northern Illinois University and will be taking my Dat next summer (2022). I am wondering if my attendance at a community college, or even NIU at that, will hinder my chances at being a valued candidate for dental school. On top of my GPA I am also employed as a dental lab technician (as of Dec. 2020) under 2 Dentists, one of which is a general dentist and the other is an implant specialist.

The no CC thing I believe is more for people who go straight to a four year. Admissions know that people will take harder courses at a CC for the better grade. But, if you are there because it is the school you go to, it should be fine.
I started at a CC and I have two interviews so far.

 

[sharkdent]

Hello, I am currently going into my sophomore year at Waubonsee Community College. I have a 4.0 GPA and have completed Biology 120, Chemistry 121 and 122 as well as all general English classes and math including calculus. I am planning on applying to UIC for Dental school for the fall of 2024 after completing my major in biological sciences at Northern Illinois University and will be taking my Dat next summer (2022). I am wondering if my attendance at a community college, or even NIU at that, will hinder my chances at being a valued candidate for dental school. On top of my GPA I am also employed as a dental lab technician (as of Dec. 2020) under 2 Dentists, one of which is a general dentist and the other is an implant specialist.

I got my AA from a community college before transferring to a 4 year college. I got into every dental school that I applied for. So it should not be a hindrance. But I would think twice before applying. Dental school is too expensive. It is financial suicide. Dential wages are on a decline for the past 20 years. I would go to a different profession.

 

[rishi3]

CC all the way baby. Got me an interview at UCLA so I dont think we should look down on it

 

[JSPreDent]

I'm a high school dropout, recovered drug addict, changed my major 9 times and took 10 years to get a bachelors. I'm a D3 at my top choice, super competitive in state program. You'll be fine. Transfer to a University as soon as you can though because the more prereqs you take at a community college, the smaller your options become when it comes to schools you can apply to. Certain programs don't accept prereq credits that were not taken at a University. May not matter depending on what schools you want to apply to but just throwing it out there. Good luck.

P.S. Being a lab tech is a BALLER move for dental school and dentistry as a whole. Much respect to you and any lab techs out there.

This is an awesome comeback story

Did the amount of time you spent earning a degree come up in interviews?

Did you give explanations in your application or personal statement ?

 

[JohnWickDentist]

Do not take all of your science pre-reqs at CC, everything else is fair game