For those of you who do not know, December 1st is the first day dental schools can tell candidates that they have been accepted in to their program. Although I am not sure of the exact numbers, probably 50% or more of the upcoming class are filled in the month of December.
There is a catch, however. Even if you interview months before December 1st, there is no guarantee that you will hear whether or not you have been accepted into a program. And so, you could realistically interview in September, even August, and not hear from a school until May. That is what makes this process so incredibly long and frustrating.
I interviewed at ASDOH and UIC in late October and early November, but did not hear anything from either school. That does not mean much other than I am still being considered. Although I would have preferred an acceptance call, this is the next best alternative.
Luckily, my fate is no longer only in the hands of these admission's committees. I received a letter inviting me for an interview at Boston University on Feb. 20th. I was ecstatic not only because I got the interview, but also because I now have a reason to spend a weekend in Boston. The only problem is that it may be the only place colder than Chicago in winter!
In the meantime, I am enjoying my new found freedom. I recently finished my biochemistry class and with the holidays coming up, I will have a few days off of work, including a trip to Arizona for New Year's. Maybe I can help myself by not thinking about dental school for these dental school for the next few weeks.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Wait...
December 1st is just around the corner, and I cannot wait. I do not care that my favorite holiday is around the corner or that I will have two days off of work. I just want that day to come.
I did receive some good news recently that "[I] am still being considered for ASDOH's class of 2009." That is good, but it really does not mean all that much.
And so I wait...
I did receive some good news recently that "[I] am still being considered for ASDOH's class of 2009." That is good, but it really does not mean all that much.
And so I wait...
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Interviews Complete
After a long week with 2 interviews and biochemistry midterm, I can finally relax.
Both interviews, ASDOH and UIC, went well. Being my first interview, I learned a lot at the ASDOH that helped me at UIC. Not to say the ASDOH interview did not go well; it is just that the UIC interview went a lot better.
ASDOH is a really great school, but its greatest selling point is its Community Health Model for DDS students. The model has students doing a series of externships at community health centers all over the country - from Hawaii to Maine - during the late 3rd and 4th years. Its attractive for many reasons: one, you get the opportunity to travel, two, you get major clinical health experience, and three, you get the opportunity to run your own mini-practice.
Being a public school, UIC has a different approach. The majority of a DDS's clinical experience occurs in the confines of the dental school. As part of the Illinois Medical District, there are plenty of people and cases available to students on campus. Although I do find the idea of traveling to different health clinics attractive, UIC's strong reputation in dental research more than makes up for its clinical "shortcomings." There is little else that excites me more than being involved in a research project; it has been that way since college.
As for the biochemistry test, it went fine. The thing that most surprised me was how helpful I found the material when I was speaking with the PhD faculty at UIC. Terms like thrombosis, apatite, angiogenesis came up frequently, but I felt confident enough to ask the faculty questions.
For now, though, it is time to relax and kick back. Hopefully I will have one or two more interviews before this process were over. But if I do not, I would be happy getting an acceptance at either one of these schools.
Both interviews, ASDOH and UIC, went well. Being my first interview, I learned a lot at the ASDOH that helped me at UIC. Not to say the ASDOH interview did not go well; it is just that the UIC interview went a lot better.
ASDOH is a really great school, but its greatest selling point is its Community Health Model for DDS students. The model has students doing a series of externships at community health centers all over the country - from Hawaii to Maine - during the late 3rd and 4th years. Its attractive for many reasons: one, you get the opportunity to travel, two, you get major clinical health experience, and three, you get the opportunity to run your own mini-practice.
Being a public school, UIC has a different approach. The majority of a DDS's clinical experience occurs in the confines of the dental school. As part of the Illinois Medical District, there are plenty of people and cases available to students on campus. Although I do find the idea of traveling to different health clinics attractive, UIC's strong reputation in dental research more than makes up for its clinical "shortcomings." There is little else that excites me more than being involved in a research project; it has been that way since college.
As for the biochemistry test, it went fine. The thing that most surprised me was how helpful I found the material when I was speaking with the PhD faculty at UIC. Terms like thrombosis, apatite, angiogenesis came up frequently, but I felt confident enough to ask the faculty questions.
For now, though, it is time to relax and kick back. Hopefully I will have one or two more interviews before this process were over. But if I do not, I would be happy getting an acceptance at either one of these schools.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
2 and Counting...
After nearly 4 months I received my second interview request. This time from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and I could not have been more delighted. You see, I love Chicago and the thought of staying here for dental school gets me excited.
What was interesting about this interview request was an advertisement for UIC's DDS/PhD. I say advertisement because it was couched in that way - a short blurb asking a rhetorical question, followed by a "to learn more contact..." I found it strange, but I had to check it out.
For a long time I have wrestled with the thought of doing PhD work. After college, I spent the better part of a year kicking around applying for graduate or dental school. Eventually, dental school won out, and I swept my PhD aspirations under the rug. That is, until now.
The DDS/PhD program is attractive for numerous reasons. One is the flexibility it offers students in terms of what they will devote their research work, too. Sure, I cannot go off and study anything related to the oral cavity, but from what I understand, faculty are open to new ideas and areas of study. Another reason I find the program attractive is that it is not only concerned with conducting research, but also applying research. Thus, all the great findings in the lab will find its way into the general public in at least some capacity. And finally, I can complete the program in 6-7 years, which I find unbelievable. The thought of two great dual degrees that address my passion for helping others would truly be an honor.
Even though I only have 2 interviews to date, the fact that I have 2 at schools that I really want to be at is very satisfying. Now, all I have to do is nail that interview and hit it off with the UIC faculty. It cannot be that hard, right?
What was interesting about this interview request was an advertisement for UIC's DDS/PhD. I say advertisement because it was couched in that way - a short blurb asking a rhetorical question, followed by a "to learn more contact..." I found it strange, but I had to check it out.
For a long time I have wrestled with the thought of doing PhD work. After college, I spent the better part of a year kicking around applying for graduate or dental school. Eventually, dental school won out, and I swept my PhD aspirations under the rug. That is, until now.
The DDS/PhD program is attractive for numerous reasons. One is the flexibility it offers students in terms of what they will devote their research work, too. Sure, I cannot go off and study anything related to the oral cavity, but from what I understand, faculty are open to new ideas and areas of study. Another reason I find the program attractive is that it is not only concerned with conducting research, but also applying research. Thus, all the great findings in the lab will find its way into the general public in at least some capacity. And finally, I can complete the program in 6-7 years, which I find unbelievable. The thought of two great dual degrees that address my passion for helping others would truly be an honor.
Even though I only have 2 interviews to date, the fact that I have 2 at schools that I really want to be at is very satisfying. Now, all I have to do is nail that interview and hit it off with the UIC faculty. It cannot be that hard, right?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
I Hate Doing a Post Like This, But...
The fact is that I sent my application June 14th, which is considered early by most standards, and have only received one interview request. I do not expect every school to request an interview, but one out of nine is an abysmally low percentage. It is October 3rd for chrissake!
I have no idea what goes on behind the hallowed wall of dental school admissions, so I should not judge, but my frustration is growing by the day. In all honesty, I do expect to get interviews at half the schools I applied to because of my state residency. I know that my scores and grades are definitely worthy for interviews at those schools, too.
As for the others, I knew applying there would be a crapshoot. There is really know way of knowing what the admissions counselor is looking for. Even worse, there is no way to know who is getting interviews. The Student Doctor Network, SDN, is the closest thing dental shool applicants have to show which schools they applied to and what stage, such waitlisted and accepted, they are in a particular school's application process. The problem with SDN is that it has a heavy selection bias of great applicants. For example, the average DAT score of interviewers at Temple University is a 21, which is way higher than their dental school's average over the past few years. Even though I am aware of this bias, it still affects me.
Ok, now that I have that off my chest, I feel a little better. I still have one interview and, until I get others, that should be my principal focus over the next few weeks along with my biochemistry class, volunteering, and weekend exploits. Who knows, maybe the next time I write I will have many more interviews. Let us hope...
I have no idea what goes on behind the hallowed wall of dental school admissions, so I should not judge, but my frustration is growing by the day. In all honesty, I do expect to get interviews at half the schools I applied to because of my state residency. I know that my scores and grades are definitely worthy for interviews at those schools, too.
As for the others, I knew applying there would be a crapshoot. There is really know way of knowing what the admissions counselor is looking for. Even worse, there is no way to know who is getting interviews. The Student Doctor Network, SDN, is the closest thing dental shool applicants have to show which schools they applied to and what stage, such waitlisted and accepted, they are in a particular school's application process. The problem with SDN is that it has a heavy selection bias of great applicants. For example, the average DAT score of interviewers at Temple University is a 21, which is way higher than their dental school's average over the past few years. Even though I am aware of this bias, it still affects me.
Ok, now that I have that off my chest, I feel a little better. I still have one interview and, until I get others, that should be my principal focus over the next few weeks along with my biochemistry class, volunteering, and weekend exploits. Who knows, maybe the next time I write I will have many more interviews. Let us hope...
Monday, September 22, 2008
1st Interview!
I made it a point at the start of this blog that I would not simply blog for the sake of blogging, which explains why it has been over a month since my last entry. Thing is, nothing really happened until this past week.
I got my first interview with ASDOH a week ago. I basically arrived to work as I always do, turned on my computer and logged into Gchat and there it was, an email asking me to set up an interview date. Truth be told, I was somewhat disappointed; I was expecting a personal email, maybe a phone call, but I should not complain. It is not like they can call 400 people individually anyways.
And so, the interview preparation begins. I am getting started early in the hopes for being ready for interviews over the next few months, assuming I get more interviews.
This week also marks the start of my biochemistry class. Admittedly, I am pretty excited at the prospect of getting back into the classroom. The work day is so damn dull sometimes I find myself staring out a window that does not exist, talking to someone who is not there, and peeing on an empty tank. Anything not related to the research world is a welcomed change indeed.
That is all for now, but hopefully I will have more to talk about as the interviews role in and the actual interview days get nearer.
I got my first interview with ASDOH a week ago. I basically arrived to work as I always do, turned on my computer and logged into Gchat and there it was, an email asking me to set up an interview date. Truth be told, I was somewhat disappointed; I was expecting a personal email, maybe a phone call, but I should not complain. It is not like they can call 400 people individually anyways.
And so, the interview preparation begins. I am getting started early in the hopes for being ready for interviews over the next few months, assuming I get more interviews.
This week also marks the start of my biochemistry class. Admittedly, I am pretty excited at the prospect of getting back into the classroom. The work day is so damn dull sometimes I find myself staring out a window that does not exist, talking to someone who is not there, and peeing on an empty tank. Anything not related to the research world is a welcomed change indeed.
That is all for now, but hopefully I will have more to talk about as the interviews role in and the actual interview days get nearer.
Monday, August 11, 2008
On Taking Trips to See Schools
Initially, I thought it a good idea to see schools before I interviewed at them. Being summer, I thought that it would be a good idea. Now, not so much.
You see, visiting a school does little more than give you a taste of what you will get once enrolled. And by taste, I mean taste. From my experience, dental school visits, much like at the undergraduate level, lasts little more than an hour. Even if you have questions, your tour guide is likely studying for the boards or scheduled to be in the lab and does not have the time to spare.
It is not that I blame them because I can see myself doing the same thing. Also, they are not paid as far as I know, so there is little incentive for them to stay after the hour.
Do not get me wrong, some tour guides take full advantage of their audiences undivided attention, feigned or sincere, and they happily answer questions beyond their scheduled hour.
Coming back to what I mentioned at the start of the entry, I have decided to take trips to dental school cities with the express reason to visit those cities, not to just visit the dental school. I believe that if you are going to visit the city, actually visit the city. A first-person account of your thoughts on where you will be spending the next four years must be just as important as your background research on a dental program during an interview. If nothing else, it will add a whole other dimension to your interview or, in so many words, give you something else to talk about.
At least, that is what I think.
You see, visiting a school does little more than give you a taste of what you will get once enrolled. And by taste, I mean taste. From my experience, dental school visits, much like at the undergraduate level, lasts little more than an hour. Even if you have questions, your tour guide is likely studying for the boards or scheduled to be in the lab and does not have the time to spare.
It is not that I blame them because I can see myself doing the same thing. Also, they are not paid as far as I know, so there is little incentive for them to stay after the hour.
Do not get me wrong, some tour guides take full advantage of their audiences undivided attention, feigned or sincere, and they happily answer questions beyond their scheduled hour.
Coming back to what I mentioned at the start of the entry, I have decided to take trips to dental school cities with the express reason to visit those cities, not to just visit the dental school. I believe that if you are going to visit the city, actually visit the city. A first-person account of your thoughts on where you will be spending the next four years must be just as important as your background research on a dental program during an interview. If nothing else, it will add a whole other dimension to your interview or, in so many words, give you something else to talk about.
At least, that is what I think.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Importance of Getting the Application in Early
I know what you are thinking: "No, shit. It is obvious that getting an application in early helps your chances of getting an interview and an offer." But, that is not what I am actually saying here.
What I am saying is that by getting the application in early, I have a lot more time to prepare for my interviews and take care of other business, as opposed to sitting at my desk and writing secondary application after secondary application with the knowledge that others are already interviewing. Talk about a bunch of unnecessary stress.
There is little else worse than spending a summer punching away at applications and draining your bank account, especially when you are holding down an 8 to 5. Inevitably, all that application stuff just sits and stews in your brain making it impossible for you to concentrate during work, let alone during a staff meeting. Of course, there is always more coffee, but then you have the unenviable task of making, in my case, 2 or more bathroom trips during an hour and half meeting. People always ask questions, like "are you feeling well today?" or "is everything all right? I have noticed you have not been yourself." Trust me, the last thing you want to do is lie to a co-worker who is not "in the know" by making up some fake illness.
But, would you really not want a reason to get out of a staff meeting anyways? That is a whole other discussion that really does not belong on this blog.
What I am saying is that by getting the application in early, I have a lot more time to prepare for my interviews and take care of other business, as opposed to sitting at my desk and writing secondary application after secondary application with the knowledge that others are already interviewing. Talk about a bunch of unnecessary stress.
There is little else worse than spending a summer punching away at applications and draining your bank account, especially when you are holding down an 8 to 5. Inevitably, all that application stuff just sits and stews in your brain making it impossible for you to concentrate during work, let alone during a staff meeting. Of course, there is always more coffee, but then you have the unenviable task of making, in my case, 2 or more bathroom trips during an hour and half meeting. People always ask questions, like "are you feeling well today?" or "is everything all right? I have noticed you have not been yourself." Trust me, the last thing you want to do is lie to a co-worker who is not "in the know" by making up some fake illness.
But, would you really not want a reason to get out of a staff meeting anyways? That is a whole other discussion that really does not belong on this blog.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Making the Frist Round of Cuts...
It has already begun: I am cutting schools from my application list.
I know, it probably does not make any sense, considering at this point I have not visited most of the schools. I guess I just know which schools I would like to go to and would be happy with.
Other than that, not much else. I still have a few secondaries to finish up - one of which is really long. I also got the unwanted news that I would need 2 additional letters from science professors. Apparently, some schools do not count a recommendation from a science professor unless they had you in the classroom. Honestly, that really pissed me off, but what can you do?
I know, it probably does not make any sense, considering at this point I have not visited most of the schools. I guess I just know which schools I would like to go to and would be happy with.
Other than that, not much else. I still have a few secondaries to finish up - one of which is really long. I also got the unwanted news that I would need 2 additional letters from science professors. Apparently, some schools do not count a recommendation from a science professor unless they had you in the classroom. Honestly, that really pissed me off, but what can you do?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Let the Review Process Begin!
This past week I received letters notifying me that the schools are reviewing my application.
What does this actually mean?
It means that I will not hear anything from these schools until early September, and if I am curious about the status of my application between now and then, I will receive a "we are reviewing the application" response.
In the meantime, I have enrolled in an advanced science course for the Fall semester to keep my science knowledge sharp. My hope is that taking this class will not only benefit me in dental school, but also during interviews.
For now, I am enjoying my freedom.
What does this actually mean?
It means that I will not hear anything from these schools until early September, and if I am curious about the status of my application between now and then, I will receive a "we are reviewing the application" response.
In the meantime, I have enrolled in an advanced science course for the Fall semester to keep my science knowledge sharp. My hope is that taking this class will not only benefit me in dental school, but also during interviews.
For now, I am enjoying my freedom.
Monday, July 14, 2008
School shmool
Looking through the ADEA's 45th Ed. of dental schools, I am not surprised to see a lot of institutions require advanced science courses in order to gain admission.
Let me go on the record by saying this is entirely fair.
All dental school students should have taken some courses, at least at the introductory level, in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc. But, what this means for me is that I have to take these classes, and I have to take them soon.
So the plan? Enroll in a night class at a nearby university. I will most likely start off with biochemistry and then take physiology in the Fall. Even if I do not get into the schools that require these courses, the material will provide me with a great background when I (hopefully) start dental school in the Fall of 2009.
It is easier said than done to take biochemistry with work and other commitments: we'll see how fair I think this requirement is in a few months.
Let me go on the record by saying this is entirely fair.
All dental school students should have taken some courses, at least at the introductory level, in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc. But, what this means for me is that I have to take these classes, and I have to take them soon.
So the plan? Enroll in a night class at a nearby university. I will most likely start off with biochemistry and then take physiology in the Fall. Even if I do not get into the schools that require these courses, the material will provide me with a great background when I (hopefully) start dental school in the Fall of 2009.
It is easier said than done to take biochemistry with work and other commitments: we'll see how fair I think this requirement is in a few months.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Secondary Applications
Just so you know, applying for dental school is never really over. When you think you have done everything you can, something is bound to come up.
The one thing I was not prepared for was the fact that some schools require secondary applications BEFORE they even look at your application. There are not many, but unfortunately I chose to apply to 3 schools that have this requirement. Other schools ask for secondary applications after reviewing your AADSAS application, guaranteeing you that will have an interview if and when you fill it out.
And, what type of information do these secondary applications require? On the whole, not much, but one in particular asked me to recount my volunteering and shadowing experiences.
I literally blew my top when I saw this. The AADSAS application requires this type of information, and this school was going to make me write about it again? Not only that, but require that I give the contact information of the people who supervised me?
My response: Sorry, but could you kindly please go fuck yourself? I am not going to waste my time with an additional requirement with no interview guarantee, butthole.
As for the others, they took all of about 15 minutes to finish. Still stupid, but a lot less painful.
The one thing I was not prepared for was the fact that some schools require secondary applications BEFORE they even look at your application. There are not many, but unfortunately I chose to apply to 3 schools that have this requirement. Other schools ask for secondary applications after reviewing your AADSAS application, guaranteeing you that will have an interview if and when you fill it out.
And, what type of information do these secondary applications require? On the whole, not much, but one in particular asked me to recount my volunteering and shadowing experiences.
I literally blew my top when I saw this. The AADSAS application requires this type of information, and this school was going to make me write about it again? Not only that, but require that I give the contact information of the people who supervised me?
My response: Sorry, but could you kindly please go fuck yourself? I am not going to waste my time with an additional requirement with no interview guarantee, butthole.
As for the others, they took all of about 15 minutes to finish. Still stupid, but a lot less painful.
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Time in Between
It has been a few weeks since my last post, but nothing much to report. I have taken the opportunity to visit a dental in Arizona last weekend and was thoroughly impressed with the program. The summer heat is a major detractor, but it is something I could definitely stand for a few years.
The time between applying and waiting to hear from dental schools is really great time because I do not and cannot worry about anything regarding my application. Eventually, I will want to hear from the schools, but for the time being, I could not care less.
Of course, just because I do not have to worry about my application, does not mean I will be doing nothing to get the jump on the process. I plan to do some volunteering, visit some more schools, and look into continuing education courses in the sciences for the fall and winter semesters. Unfortunately, I do not have an extensive science background, so I need to take additional classes in preparation for dental school. Of course, taking classes would look good in the eyes of the dental schools, too.
It still beats the hell out of studying for the DAT.
The time between applying and waiting to hear from dental schools is really great time because I do not and cannot worry about anything regarding my application. Eventually, I will want to hear from the schools, but for the time being, I could not care less.
Of course, just because I do not have to worry about my application, does not mean I will be doing nothing to get the jump on the process. I plan to do some volunteering, visit some more schools, and look into continuing education courses in the sciences for the fall and winter semesters. Unfortunately, I do not have an extensive science background, so I need to take additional classes in preparation for dental school. Of course, taking classes would look good in the eyes of the dental schools, too.
It still beats the hell out of studying for the DAT.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Application Submitted
That is it, folks. I applied to dental school this evening, and I am absolutely ecstatic that I can take a break for awhile. Of course I cannot completely relax because I will need to visit the dental schools I applied to, and I need to fill out some supplementary materials. But, the hard part is over, and I could not be happier.
Now it is time to catch up with all the people I have neglected for the last month. It will be great to get back in touch and start to once again be me.
Now it is time to catch up with all the people I have neglected for the last month. It will be great to get back in touch and start to once again be me.
Monday, June 9, 2008
DAT Done!
Wow, I cannot believe it has been almost a month since my last post. Truth be told, I have done little else than study and living in general. It paid off today: I scored a 20 on my DAT.
Now, it is is not the most incredible score, but it gives me a great shot of getting into a lot of the schools that I would be interested in attending. Sure, Harvard. UCLA, and Columbia are out of the question, but I could not care less. As someone once told me, "Greg, all you need to do is get in to dental school."
I still have a lot to do on my application, mainly my personal statement. Hopefully, I can get a rough draft written soon and then have a few people look over it. Ideally, I would like to get it out by June 16th, leaving me a good chance of getting interviews in December.
For now, though, I will take it easy. I am exhausted.
Now, it is is not the most incredible score, but it gives me a great shot of getting into a lot of the schools that I would be interested in attending. Sure, Harvard. UCLA, and Columbia are out of the question, but I could not care less. As someone once told me, "Greg, all you need to do is get in to dental school."
I still have a lot to do on my application, mainly my personal statement. Hopefully, I can get a rough draft written soon and then have a few people look over it. Ideally, I would like to get it out by June 16th, leaving me a good chance of getting interviews in December.
For now, though, I will take it easy. I am exhausted.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Recap on the Week
As part of the DAT prep course, we had no class this week. I guess the idea is that a week off allows us to catch up with all of the material. This may very well be true, but a part of me believes it might be because the prep course company can market the course as a 7-week program as opposed to a 6-week program. For whatever reason they did it, I think it was a great idea.
I took as much advantage of this week as possible to go over all the material I have gone through these past 6 weeks: holy shit there is a lot. It is almost unfathomable to think that I have crammed only half of the material in my head and that another half is in the queue. And it can be frustrating, too. Many times, I find myself forgetting or confusing important details. Remedying these instances can be incredibly time consuming processes, and time is simply a luxury I do not have.
In any event, I am happy to announce I am more than half way through the material, which means I am right on schedule. Sure, it meant I was sleeping about 5 and a half hours a night, but I sleep better knowing I can work on something new the next day.
This week will be really important as I now have less than 4 weeks before the exam. If I am able to get through all the material by the end of this week, I figure the 3 remaining weeks will be ample review time. I hope I am able to do it.
I took as much advantage of this week as possible to go over all the material I have gone through these past 6 weeks: holy shit there is a lot. It is almost unfathomable to think that I have crammed only half of the material in my head and that another half is in the queue. And it can be frustrating, too. Many times, I find myself forgetting or confusing important details. Remedying these instances can be incredibly time consuming processes, and time is simply a luxury I do not have.
In any event, I am happy to announce I am more than half way through the material, which means I am right on schedule. Sure, it meant I was sleeping about 5 and a half hours a night, but I sleep better knowing I can work on something new the next day.
This week will be really important as I now have less than 4 weeks before the exam. If I am able to get through all the material by the end of this week, I figure the 3 remaining weeks will be ample review time. I hope I am able to do it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Things just ain't like they used to be...
It is week 6 of my DAT class and, as expected, I am pretty behind in the material. Of course, I am not the only one. Being in a room full of college age kids, they are bound to be behind too with classes wrapping up for the semsester. It is inevitable when you have to plow through 250 pages a week. And, not just 250 pages of reading, but densely packed, boring as fuck organic and general chemistry.
But, my complaints on the amount of studying is not what I want to talk about. What I do want to talk about is how much the whole preparation thing for entrance exams has changed. I was talking to one of the dentists I shadowed this past Saturday. During the course of the conversation, he asked how I am preparing for the DAT. I told him I was taking a class that met a few times a week and had homework. Of course, I had to ask him how he prepared for it. His response was, "I do not really remember, but I think I bought a book, went through that, then took the test. I did not have much time between work and school, but I had to take it."
Admittedly, his comment did not surprise me. I know these classroom prep courses are a relatively new phenomenon. And, in my opinion, a really good one especially for someone who has not taken any sciences courses for over a year. Still, I really do wonder how I would fair if I did not have the option to take a prep course. Would I have a chance of getting in? One thing is for certain, I could not study for the exam and be ready to take it in the same amount of time I am doing this one. I would need an additional month or so to get to where I am now. Even then, though, I wonder if I would feel as confident walking into the center on testing day. I guess I will never know.
But, my complaints on the amount of studying is not what I want to talk about. What I do want to talk about is how much the whole preparation thing for entrance exams has changed. I was talking to one of the dentists I shadowed this past Saturday. During the course of the conversation, he asked how I am preparing for the DAT. I told him I was taking a class that met a few times a week and had homework. Of course, I had to ask him how he prepared for it. His response was, "I do not really remember, but I think I bought a book, went through that, then took the test. I did not have much time between work and school, but I had to take it."
Admittedly, his comment did not surprise me. I know these classroom prep courses are a relatively new phenomenon. And, in my opinion, a really good one especially for someone who has not taken any sciences courses for over a year. Still, I really do wonder how I would fair if I did not have the option to take a prep course. Would I have a chance of getting in? One thing is for certain, I could not study for the exam and be ready to take it in the same amount of time I am doing this one. I would need an additional month or so to get to where I am now. Even then, though, I wonder if I would feel as confident walking into the center on testing day. I guess I will never know.
Friday, May 2, 2008
A Few Thoughts on this Week
DAT Studying
I am not surprised I have had a difficult time putting together a solid study routine. After I come home from work during the week, the last thing I really want to do is study the Nitrogen cycle and the 10,000,000 different hormones the DAT can possibly test you on. I usually find my eyes drifting from the computer on to the television screen or opting to take numerous study breaks. Before I know it, it is already time for me to think about getting to sleep.
Dental Schools
Newsflash: dental school is expensive. Actually, really expensive. I cannot even fathom paying for dental school and my living expenses for a year. I can barely do it now, and I do am not even in school. I guess I better start learning to live within my means more than I do now. The cost also makes me reconsider some of my dental school choices for the sole reason that I would never want to be in that much debt.
Dental Shadowing
The more I do it, the more I like it. Sure, it is unpaid, but there really is not a better way to understand the profession than to see the day to day operations of an office and talk to dentists in their own practices. Although some people complain about it, it is probably one of the better qualifications to get into dental school - at least more important than physics.
I am not surprised I have had a difficult time putting together a solid study routine. After I come home from work during the week, the last thing I really want to do is study the Nitrogen cycle and the 10,000,000 different hormones the DAT can possibly test you on. I usually find my eyes drifting from the computer on to the television screen or opting to take numerous study breaks. Before I know it, it is already time for me to think about getting to sleep.
Dental Schools
Newsflash: dental school is expensive. Actually, really expensive. I cannot even fathom paying for dental school and my living expenses for a year. I can barely do it now, and I do am not even in school. I guess I better start learning to live within my means more than I do now. The cost also makes me reconsider some of my dental school choices for the sole reason that I would never want to be in that much debt.
Dental Shadowing
The more I do it, the more I like it. Sure, it is unpaid, but there really is not a better way to understand the profession than to see the day to day operations of an office and talk to dentists in their own practices. Although some people complain about it, it is probably one of the better qualifications to get into dental school - at least more important than physics.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The 1st Practice DAT
Let me be the first to tell you that there is nothing better than putting in a full workday only to come home and put another 4 and a half hours in for a practice DAT. I mean, what better things do I have to do with my time honestly? Needless to say, it was tough to keep up with the clock, and I ended up doing worse than I originally had hoped. Although there were a few surprises (20's on RC and PAT), I really need to hit the science, particularly the General Chemistry, really hard for the next 5 weeks.
That being said, it is good to know that there have been steady improvements over the past 4 weeks. There would be a major cause for concern if it were otherwise. My hope is that I can continue the steady climb and be consistently hitting the 20's in all categories before test day - June 9.
Besides the DAT, I have been moving along with the other portions of the application. I have made some strides in the personal statement and already have my four letters of recommendation lined up. It is a huge relief to know that those letters will be done, especially since I have enough on my plate already. My shadowing hours are piling up nicely as well; I will have 17 hours by the end of Saturday. Ideally, I would be done with them before mid-May, but I will have to pare that expectation back for the time being.
That being said, it is good to know that there have been steady improvements over the past 4 weeks. There would be a major cause for concern if it were otherwise. My hope is that I can continue the steady climb and be consistently hitting the 20's in all categories before test day - June 9.
Besides the DAT, I have been moving along with the other portions of the application. I have made some strides in the personal statement and already have my four letters of recommendation lined up. It is a huge relief to know that those letters will be done, especially since I have enough on my plate already. My shadowing hours are piling up nicely as well; I will have 17 hours by the end of Saturday. Ideally, I would be done with them before mid-May, but I will have to pare that expectation back for the time being.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
First Dental Shadowing of the Year
With less than 50 days until I take my DAT and about 60 days until I get my application materials in, I finally got my first shadowing experience of the year with a general practioner. Admittedly, I was a little anxious on my ride over to his office. The "what if's" abounded: what if I don't find the work interesting, what if I don't have any questions, what if I trip and fall into a patient while he is getting his dentures realigned? I have shadowed in the past, but now that I am in the application process, it means a lot more to me.
But, my greatest concern was that I would be reduced to yawning and struggling to keep my eyes open during the five and half hours I would shadow. Even though I am mentally prepared to become a dentist, there is a huge difference to believing you want to be a dentist and seeing it firsthand. I have heard of people who, once going to shadow, have decided that the profession just is not for them. Sure it happens, but I think I have gone through the "I-need-time-to-think-about-my-life" phase enough.
You can imagine my relief when I finally looked at the clock and realized that the time literally flew by. During my time, I found the work fascinating, had hundreds of questions to ask, and did not embarrass myself by falling into a patient. All in all, it was a great experience. And, I am even more certain that I want to be a dentist. I guess I will not be as anxious the next time I am driving to shadow.
But, my greatest concern was that I would be reduced to yawning and struggling to keep my eyes open during the five and half hours I would shadow. Even though I am mentally prepared to become a dentist, there is a huge difference to believing you want to be a dentist and seeing it firsthand. I have heard of people who, once going to shadow, have decided that the profession just is not for them. Sure it happens, but I think I have gone through the "I-need-time-to-think-about-my-life" phase enough.
You can imagine my relief when I finally looked at the clock and realized that the time literally flew by. During my time, I found the work fascinating, had hundreds of questions to ask, and did not embarrass myself by falling into a patient. All in all, it was a great experience. And, I am even more certain that I want to be a dentist. I guess I will not be as anxious the next time I am driving to shadow.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Choosing Schools
I am not the first one or last one to really be stumped about where I should apply for dental school. The smart money says I should apply to schools in the Midwest because I know what I am getting into out here. Besides, I have my support network of friends, family, and people in the field. They are all within an hour drive of me. Needless to say, it makes sense to stay in the Midwest.
But, I am not totally convinced it is. Call it dreaming, call it Midwestern cabin fever, I really feel a need to expand my horizons. And what better time to do that then at dental school. Sure, I will have more than one sleepless night a week, have little money, and barely time to cook for myself, but the experience will be well worth it. Why not take advantage of living in a totally new city and meeting totally new, non-Midwestern people?
I would be lying if I said the only reason I want to look at schools outside the Midwest is for the experience, however. Truth is, I have a significant other who is looking at schools outside the Midwest, and we do not want to be apart for school if we can avoid it. Long distance can kill an otherwise great relationship, and we do not want that.
Like anything else, any decision I make is not without consequence. Let us hope I make the right one.
But, I am not totally convinced it is. Call it dreaming, call it Midwestern cabin fever, I really feel a need to expand my horizons. And what better time to do that then at dental school. Sure, I will have more than one sleepless night a week, have little money, and barely time to cook for myself, but the experience will be well worth it. Why not take advantage of living in a totally new city and meeting totally new, non-Midwestern people?
I would be lying if I said the only reason I want to look at schools outside the Midwest is for the experience, however. Truth is, I have a significant other who is looking at schools outside the Midwest, and we do not want to be apart for school if we can avoid it. Long distance can kill an otherwise great relationship, and we do not want that.
Like anything else, any decision I make is not without consequence. Let us hope I make the right one.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Fire Drill!
I found out during my DAT class this past Thursday that I am really behind in my application process. Needless to say, I had a very slight myocardial infarction, which ended in me walking out of the room for a glass of water. Now, I am an easily excitable person. Although I make an effort to keep myself in check, I do have moments that I cannot control myself. This was one of those moments, and I will tell you why.
The application for dental school begins May 15 - 1 month and 8 days from today. That means nearly 50% of all dental school applicants - my competition - will be sending their application to the dental application service - AADSAS. What that means is these applicants will be getting interviews around September and October, with their acceptance or rejection letters by December 1st of this year.
Had I known this, I would not have been stressing in class, but the fact is I did not know. I am far from having my application materials ready. Even if I were to devote loads of time to the application, I could not realistically have it done before June 15. And that is a concern because by the time I get my application in, nearly 75% of all the dental seats will be filled by the vigilant majority that had their applications prepared by May 15. I hope you can understand the alarm.
At this point, I must do a balls-out fire drill to get my application submitted to AADSAS by June 15th: 4 letters of recommendation, personal statement and profile, DAT, and around 40 hours of shadowing to keep up with the Jones's. Then again, would it be dental school if it weren't just a little stressful?
The application for dental school begins May 15 - 1 month and 8 days from today. That means nearly 50% of all dental school applicants - my competition - will be sending their application to the dental application service - AADSAS. What that means is these applicants will be getting interviews around September and October, with their acceptance or rejection letters by December 1st of this year.
Had I known this, I would not have been stressing in class, but the fact is I did not know. I am far from having my application materials ready. Even if I were to devote loads of time to the application, I could not realistically have it done before June 15. And that is a concern because by the time I get my application in, nearly 75% of all the dental seats will be filled by the vigilant majority that had their applications prepared by May 15. I hope you can understand the alarm.
At this point, I must do a balls-out fire drill to get my application submitted to AADSAS by June 15th: 4 letters of recommendation, personal statement and profile, DAT, and around 40 hours of shadowing to keep up with the Jones's. Then again, would it be dental school if it weren't just a little stressful?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
DAT Diagnostic and Initial Thoughts...
I took my first DAT Diagnostic yesterday. It is not that I expected to do well on it, but I wish I could have done better. And by better, I mean better in the Natural Sciences portion. The other three sections (reading comprehension, perceptual ability, and math) went all right.
If every section were an organ, the Natural Sciences portion is the heart of the DAT. There is an immense amount of information expected of the test taker, and rightfully so. I mean, you cannot expect someone to do well in the school part if they cannot perform on what is considered basic knowledge of the biological world.
Still, I question how the other DAT test components, specifically the reading comprehension, provide a measure of future performance. I guess I am still at a loss for how a timed reading test tells how "good" of a reader you are. As someone who reads particularly slow reader, I find the timed reading comprehension nerve-racking; I constantly check the time and judging whether or not I have enough time to answer the questions.
A possible and plausible response to my issues regarding reading comprehension would be: "well, if you cannot read distill the necessary information quickly from a passage, then that is going to hurt you in Dental School because we read..." And they are right. But, maybe a more effective way to test reading skills would be to read a passage and then evaluate its validity by writing about it. This is similar to how the GRE conducts its writing portion.
If nothing else, shouldn't dentists be able to communicate their thoughts in a well organized and concise manner both orally and in writing?
If every section were an organ, the Natural Sciences portion is the heart of the DAT. There is an immense amount of information expected of the test taker, and rightfully so. I mean, you cannot expect someone to do well in the school part if they cannot perform on what is considered basic knowledge of the biological world.
Still, I question how the other DAT test components, specifically the reading comprehension, provide a measure of future performance. I guess I am still at a loss for how a timed reading test tells how "good" of a reader you are. As someone who reads particularly slow reader, I find the timed reading comprehension nerve-racking; I constantly check the time and judging whether or not I have enough time to answer the questions.
A possible and plausible response to my issues regarding reading comprehension would be: "well, if you cannot read distill the necessary information quickly from a passage, then that is going to hurt you in Dental School because we read..." And they are right. But, maybe a more effective way to test reading skills would be to read a passage and then evaluate its validity by writing about it. This is similar to how the GRE conducts its writing portion.
If nothing else, shouldn't dentists be able to communicate their thoughts in a well organized and concise manner both orally and in writing?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Academic Dentistry vs. Business Dentistry
I have taken a greater interest in other people's blogs since I had started my own. I mostly look for dental blogs, although not exclusively. There is plenty of information in those sites about running a more efficient practice/business, discussions on new tools and products, and events such as continuing education programs. In addition to these dental blogs, I have also been reading a number of articles from the oral health divisions of the WHO and CDC. These particular organizations mostly discuss research findings and their implications on both national and international scales.
What I noticed early on is that information from research organizations such as the CDC and dental blogs rarely intersect: the business side walled off from the academic side. Furthermore, there are no links from these dental blogs to academic sites or vice versa. To date, the only exception I have found is the ADA, who does make an attempt to include academic and business dentistry for the general public and dental professionals.
Yet, the ADA is definitely an outlier when looking at the universe of dental-orientated websites out there. Most dental sites aim at business dentistry as opposed to academic dentistry. And this is not surprising. Keeping up to date with the newest research does not necessarily make you money at the end of the day, but the newest teeth whitening agent may. In a battle between the two, a dentist will inevitably read the latter.
Although I do not propose a change to the current status quo, I do suggest an improvement on current dental studies: make the findings less academic and more accessible. I am not suggesting that full-fledged research reports be done away with; however, I do believe that it is better to stress the implications of a study's findings as it relates to the general public and the dental professional. If a dentist can see how a particular trend will effect their own practice, may be then they will actually sit down and read that academic article after teeth whitening.
What I noticed early on is that information from research organizations such as the CDC and dental blogs rarely intersect: the business side walled off from the academic side. Furthermore, there are no links from these dental blogs to academic sites or vice versa. To date, the only exception I have found is the ADA, who does make an attempt to include academic and business dentistry for the general public and dental professionals.
Yet, the ADA is definitely an outlier when looking at the universe of dental-orientated websites out there. Most dental sites aim at business dentistry as opposed to academic dentistry. And this is not surprising. Keeping up to date with the newest research does not necessarily make you money at the end of the day, but the newest teeth whitening agent may. In a battle between the two, a dentist will inevitably read the latter.
Although I do not propose a change to the current status quo, I do suggest an improvement on current dental studies: make the findings less academic and more accessible. I am not suggesting that full-fledged research reports be done away with; however, I do believe that it is better to stress the implications of a study's findings as it relates to the general public and the dental professional. If a dentist can see how a particular trend will effect their own practice, may be then they will actually sit down and read that academic article after teeth whitening.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Studying on the L
Since last week, I have been taking advantage of the 20 or so minutes of my train ride to work to study for the DAT. I have a few quick review sheets and a bunch of notecards for my upcoming DAT course, so I have plenty to review.
It sounds a lot easier than it is. The train is packed, elbow to asshole, in the mornings, and there is always someone who smells or has there Ipod blasting too loud (I hope you DO go deaf). For someone who has trouble concentrating even when the heat turns on and off, this is a major problem.
But, necessity is truly the mother of innovation, and I have finally figured out how to circumvent all these issues: go to the back/front of an "operator" trains. A lot of times, an operator train will be in the middle or even back of an oncoming train - all you have to do is look for a distinct type of window.
The operator train has an end portion that holds the operating equipment and accompanying adjacent portion that doubles as seating when there is no operator. If yourlucky enough, you can find a seat in that area. And, this is where I have been studying. I avoid all the big crowds, the music, and the smelly people. Above all, I can focus on the material with the little time I have. I guess even in a very "social" place, you can find your own private corner.
It sounds a lot easier than it is. The train is packed, elbow to asshole, in the mornings, and there is always someone who smells or has there Ipod blasting too loud (I hope you DO go deaf). For someone who has trouble concentrating even when the heat turns on and off, this is a major problem.
But, necessity is truly the mother of innovation, and I have finally figured out how to circumvent all these issues: go to the back/front of an "operator" trains. A lot of times, an operator train will be in the middle or even back of an oncoming train - all you have to do is look for a distinct type of window.
The operator train has an end portion that holds the operating equipment and accompanying adjacent portion that doubles as seating when there is no operator. If yourlucky enough, you can find a seat in that area. And, this is where I have been studying. I avoid all the big crowds, the music, and the smelly people. Above all, I can focus on the material with the little time I have. I guess even in a very "social" place, you can find your own private corner.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
DAT Cancellation
I am really tired, but this is a post I need to make. Never mind the fact that I am at that point where I am hallucinating. Seriously, even my teddybear (don't ask, don't tell) appears to be moving.
Last week, I received some irritating news from the instructor initially assigned to teaching my DAT course. Apparently, there were not enough students to keep the class (I think I was the only one who has signed up), and it was subsequently moved to one of the universities. Straight up, this really sucks. The class I had signed up for was literally 3 blocks from my house and was on Monday and Wednesdays, which works well for my daily schedule. But, I am not about to complain because the fact is I need help on the test.
To be honest, the news did not really surprise me. For years, I have heard people talk about the dwindling numbers in the dental field. Over the last 20 or so years, numerous dental schools have closed or reduced their annual enrollment rates. Apparently, not enough people are interested in the field; I suspect the vast majority of those who want to become a doctor choose medicine instead. I mean, sticking your hands in someone's mouth for a living is not exactly everyone's cup o' tea, so I can understand this choice.
Undoubtedly, this trend effects everything related to the field, including those overzealous students who take DAT courses. I am actually surprised that 8 students are enrolled in the course, but considering the class is near the dental school, it kind of makes sense. Kind of...
The only thing I do not understand is why dental admission have to be so competitive if no one wants to apply in the first place.
Last week, I received some irritating news from the instructor initially assigned to teaching my DAT course. Apparently, there were not enough students to keep the class (I think I was the only one who has signed up), and it was subsequently moved to one of the universities. Straight up, this really sucks. The class I had signed up for was literally 3 blocks from my house and was on Monday and Wednesdays, which works well for my daily schedule. But, I am not about to complain because the fact is I need help on the test.
To be honest, the news did not really surprise me. For years, I have heard people talk about the dwindling numbers in the dental field. Over the last 20 or so years, numerous dental schools have closed or reduced their annual enrollment rates. Apparently, not enough people are interested in the field; I suspect the vast majority of those who want to become a doctor choose medicine instead. I mean, sticking your hands in someone's mouth for a living is not exactly everyone's cup o' tea, so I can understand this choice.
Undoubtedly, this trend effects everything related to the field, including those overzealous students who take DAT courses. I am actually surprised that 8 students are enrolled in the course, but considering the class is near the dental school, it kind of makes sense. Kind of...
The only thing I do not understand is why dental admission have to be so competitive if no one wants to apply in the first place.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
A Novel Taste
Ever since beginning the dental admissions process, I have been having trouble reading for fun; everything I read has to expand my knowledge of a particular topic, whether it be the social sciences, history, or pop culture.
Take for example Howard Miller's St. Leibowitz and the Wild Horsewoman. Howard Miller is one of the first great science fiction writers. His seminal and only major work, A Canticle for Leibowit,z is considered the paradigm for all science fiction that followed. I recently began his second novel, St. Leibowitz and the Wild Horsewoman, and found myself having trouble consistently reading it. I did not realize the what my problem was until my girlfriend brought up that her reading tastes have recently shifted from fiction to non-fiction. I, too, have realized this trend with my own tastes.
At least for the foreseeable future, it appears this will be an ongoing trend for me. And I do not mind it one bit.
Take for example Howard Miller's St. Leibowitz and the Wild Horsewoman. Howard Miller is one of the first great science fiction writers. His seminal and only major work, A Canticle for Leibowit,z is considered the paradigm for all science fiction that followed. I recently began his second novel, St. Leibowitz and the Wild Horsewoman, and found myself having trouble consistently reading it. I did not realize the what my problem was until my girlfriend brought up that her reading tastes have recently shifted from fiction to non-fiction. I, too, have realized this trend with my own tastes.
At least for the foreseeable future, it appears this will be an ongoing trend for me. And I do not mind it one bit.
Friday, March 21, 2008
NMR Spectroscopy
I have never had much use for it. Plain and simple. So, when I was going over some review lessons yesterday, I was not surprised that I did not know an easy NMR question. But, it is really not my fault and I will tell you why.
In college, we had an assistant professor - a distinction that I clearly made when discussing him with anyone, including professors, classmates, even my mom. He was in charge of the Organic Chemistry Lab also known as Hell, and I think he still might be.
The times I was in O-Chem lab were arguably the worst times I ever had in college. The labs were poorly written, the TA's sucked, and the material was god awful, not to mention they would last anywhere from 4 to 5 hours. But, what made it worse was that every Thursday, the university decided they would give the chemistry professors a day off and have the Lab Director of Hell discuss topics that we supposedly covered in lab.
Now, I always had lab on Fridays mainly because I liked the positive pain I felt knowing that when I got out of lab, it would be the weekend. Unfortunately, that meant I had no idea what the Lab Director was talking about on Thursdays, since I always prepared for lab on the prior evening. Subsequently, when it came to the quizzes about the lab material, I was SOL. I never really thought about studying on Wednesday night, and why should I? Lab was always on Friday, and I was bound to forget the material if I had studied it two days beforehand.
Looking back on it, a lot of the quizzes and end of the year exams (pointless) involved NMR Spectroscopy, and I do not remember knowing 100% if the answer I chose was the correct answer. Needless to say, I failed the lab quizzes and exams. Like, well below average. But, I was always lucky enough to be with a great lab partner who helped me do well on the labs, much to their chagrin.
I guess I should learn from my mistakes and finally learn NMR Spectroscopy, but alas, I am not 100% I want to do that either.
In college, we had an assistant professor - a distinction that I clearly made when discussing him with anyone, including professors, classmates, even my mom. He was in charge of the Organic Chemistry Lab also known as Hell, and I think he still might be.
The times I was in O-Chem lab were arguably the worst times I ever had in college. The labs were poorly written, the TA's sucked, and the material was god awful, not to mention they would last anywhere from 4 to 5 hours. But, what made it worse was that every Thursday, the university decided they would give the chemistry professors a day off and have the Lab Director of Hell discuss topics that we supposedly covered in lab.
Now, I always had lab on Fridays mainly because I liked the positive pain I felt knowing that when I got out of lab, it would be the weekend. Unfortunately, that meant I had no idea what the Lab Director was talking about on Thursdays, since I always prepared for lab on the prior evening. Subsequently, when it came to the quizzes about the lab material, I was SOL. I never really thought about studying on Wednesday night, and why should I? Lab was always on Friday, and I was bound to forget the material if I had studied it two days beforehand.
Looking back on it, a lot of the quizzes and end of the year exams (pointless) involved NMR Spectroscopy, and I do not remember knowing 100% if the answer I chose was the correct answer. Needless to say, I failed the lab quizzes and exams. Like, well below average. But, I was always lucky enough to be with a great lab partner who helped me do well on the labs, much to their chagrin.
I guess I should learn from my mistakes and finally learn NMR Spectroscopy, but alas, I am not 100% I want to do that either.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Dental Forums
So, under the advice of one of my friends who applied, but never got into medical school, I checked out one of the dental forums frequented by predentals and denstists alike. Its got great threads with a ton of information about the DAT, dental schools, and practicing. I spent quite a bit of time purusing the threads trying to find more direction for DAT studying.
There were some insightful points from some of the users. I even found a great excel chart detailing the organisms and their biological characteristics categorized by phylum. Now, I think this chart is great, but remember, I have never actually taking the DAT so I do not really have any prior knowledge to draw my opinion from. At least it was greatly organized?
In any event there was some great stuff, but one aspect really started to gnaw on me after a while: kids asking whether or not they will get into dental school. Since I do not want to be that guy and put a link to those, I will let it be. But, holy shit there were some boohoo sob stories. I really wanted to go and end their lives right there. I mean, they will not be getting into dental school, so what do they have to live for? Or, get this, one kid saying he has studied DAT Destroyer, I quote, 5! times and still has no success. Sorry kid, may be you need to consider something else.
On the way to a friends house, I called one of my med school friends and told him about what I read. He said that in addition to obsessively talking about all the ins and outs of getting into professional school, you here a "shitload" of complaining in those forums. I know all too well...
There were some insightful points from some of the users. I even found a great excel chart detailing the organisms and their biological characteristics categorized by phylum. Now, I think this chart is great, but remember, I have never actually taking the DAT so I do not really have any prior knowledge to draw my opinion from. At least it was greatly organized?
In any event there was some great stuff, but one aspect really started to gnaw on me after a while: kids asking whether or not they will get into dental school. Since I do not want to be that guy and put a link to those, I will let it be. But, holy shit there were some boohoo sob stories. I really wanted to go and end their lives right there. I mean, they will not be getting into dental school, so what do they have to live for? Or, get this, one kid saying he has studied DAT Destroyer, I quote, 5! times and still has no success. Sorry kid, may be you need to consider something else.
On the way to a friends house, I called one of my med school friends and told him about what I read. He said that in addition to obsessively talking about all the ins and outs of getting into professional school, you here a "shitload" of complaining in those forums. I know all too well...
Things Really Haven't Changed All That Much
My first entry will pay tribute to the last Blog Entry I made a few years back at www.teethguy.blogspot.com. Since there were 0 comments and only 10 page views, I imagine this is the first time anyone has seen it. You'll notice little has changed since then. Enjoy...
I mean, come on, isn''t your fault that your teeth suck?
And, no, using Scope three times a day does not replace the need for a brush; you might as well be using your fingers.
Anyways, I embarked on college with the thought of one day going to dental school. I didn't necessarily and still don't believe that teeth are the answer I need in my life, but as of now I can't turn myself away from it. In my eyes, I should give it a chance. After all, I would like to instill fear in even the toughest guys, since I don't have a chance to do it otherwise.
Being a dentist was put on the backburner for the next two years as I looked to somehow complete a worthless coursload in the physical sciences. Believe it or not, dentists are expected to go through everything that your run-of-the-mill physician goes through for a bachelors except the MCAT. Dentists take the DAT, the Dental Admissions Test, which is basically a huge crossword puzzle. I mean, this thing is way bigger than the NY times could ever dream up. So, I've been practicing everything from Soduku to those half price Barnes and Noble "Which pattern comes next," to the point where I am really thinking I have a beautiful mind.
But, becoming a dentist is a ways away. Like physics, dentistry pervades our very existence, especially my own, and I look forward to bringing these issues to light.
Monday, March 27, 2006
To be honest, I really can't remember the transition from brushing to a career. But, one thing that I can always recall is the fear: fear of the dentist, fear of "The Drill," fear of the cavity. I never quite understood how a 300 pound paint guy at the local Home Depot could be transformed into a helpless infant at the site of dental pick. But, the most incredible thing about it is that no one can recall a single time they considered suing a dentist for being too painful or the food scraps from the last Thanksgiving that they had neglected to remove before their last dental visit.I mean, come on, isn''t your fault that your teeth suck?
And, no, using Scope three times a day does not replace the need for a brush; you might as well be using your fingers.
Anyways, I embarked on college with the thought of one day going to dental school. I didn't necessarily and still don't believe that teeth are the answer I need in my life, but as of now I can't turn myself away from it. In my eyes, I should give it a chance. After all, I would like to instill fear in even the toughest guys, since I don't have a chance to do it otherwise.
Being a dentist was put on the backburner for the next two years as I looked to somehow complete a worthless coursload in the physical sciences. Believe it or not, dentists are expected to go through everything that your run-of-the-mill physician goes through for a bachelors except the MCAT. Dentists take the DAT, the Dental Admissions Test, which is basically a huge crossword puzzle. I mean, this thing is way bigger than the NY times could ever dream up. So, I've been practicing everything from Soduku to those half price Barnes and Noble "Which pattern comes next," to the point where I am really thinking I have a beautiful mind.
But, becoming a dentist is a ways away. Like physics, dentistry pervades our very existence, especially my own, and I look forward to bringing these issues to light.
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