- Joined
- Jul 25, 2017
- Messages
- 18
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Hey y'all! I'm currently going through a difficult time deciding what I want to be when I grow up.
I am a fourth year Biology student at FSU and will be graduating during the Fall 2018 semester. I am seriously unsure of what route to take with my future degree at this point. For the longest time I considered myself a Pre-Dental student, then switched to being Pre-PA because the thought of 4 more years of college and even more student debt terrified me. The main problem is, however, I never accumulated any clinical hours during the last three years, so my chances of getting into a PA program would be slim, even if I were to accumulate the minimum amount of hours required this year. So, after a lot of thought, I am going to apply to the local community college's Dental Hygienist program and hopefully get my A.S. for that within two years.
After working a couple of years as a dental hygienist, depending how much I like working in the dental field, I may apply to either a Physician's Assistant program (will have accumulated enough clinical hours by then) or a DDS/DMD program. My main question is, would working as a dental hygienist for a couple of years increase my chances of getting into a DDS/DMD program?
I would like to think I'd already be a competitive candidate for a dental program. I have a 3.91 overall GPA and believe I will graduate with at least that or a 3.8. I would like to think I could score well on the DAT with lots of hard work, and as a hygienist, will more than get my shadowing hours in. I'm just worried about the four to five year gap that will be between me graduating from FSU and applying to a dental program. That, and almost every Fall semester (due to Marching Chiefs), I took around 12 credit hours of classes and wasn't full time either semester for the prior school year (due to mental health). I intend on taking a more competitive course load this school year, though. Would they really look at that a couple years down the line?
Also, are there any bridge type programs that take dental hygienists and make it easier for them to get their DDS/DMD?
I'd really appreciate any kind of input or advice; anything, really! My graduation date is just getting closer and I need to decide on which classes would be most beneficial to take.
Thank you!
I am a fourth year Biology student at FSU and will be graduating during the Fall 2018 semester. I am seriously unsure of what route to take with my future degree at this point. For the longest time I considered myself a Pre-Dental student, then switched to being Pre-PA because the thought of 4 more years of college and even more student debt terrified me. The main problem is, however, I never accumulated any clinical hours during the last three years, so my chances of getting into a PA program would be slim, even if I were to accumulate the minimum amount of hours required this year. So, after a lot of thought, I am going to apply to the local community college's Dental Hygienist program and hopefully get my A.S. for that within two years.
After working a couple of years as a dental hygienist, depending how much I like working in the dental field, I may apply to either a Physician's Assistant program (will have accumulated enough clinical hours by then) or a DDS/DMD program. My main question is, would working as a dental hygienist for a couple of years increase my chances of getting into a DDS/DMD program?
I would like to think I'd already be a competitive candidate for a dental program. I have a 3.91 overall GPA and believe I will graduate with at least that or a 3.8. I would like to think I could score well on the DAT with lots of hard work, and as a hygienist, will more than get my shadowing hours in. I'm just worried about the four to five year gap that will be between me graduating from FSU and applying to a dental program. That, and almost every Fall semester (due to Marching Chiefs), I took around 12 credit hours of classes and wasn't full time either semester for the prior school year (due to mental health). I intend on taking a more competitive course load this school year, though. Would they really look at that a couple years down the line?
Also, are there any bridge type programs that take dental hygienists and make it easier for them to get their DDS/DMD?
I'd really appreciate any kind of input or advice; anything, really! My graduation date is just getting closer and I need to decide on which classes would be most beneficial to take.
Thank you!