The non-traditional applicant
Maybe many of you were like me-a hopeful starry eyed pre-dent in undergrad determined as heck to matriculate straight onto dental school upon graduation. Maybe many of you achieved that goal, but maybe some of you fell a little short, got a little discouraged, got a little lost, and don’t know where to go or what to do.
Well, if you are the latter, you are me.
I hated the term “non-traditional” anything because for me, I never wanted to associate with that. I was always a good student, very type A, always on top of my game, always knew what I was doing...or so I thought. The thing is, you are a product of your own environment, and the environment I grew up in, especially in my undergrad was if you can’t matriculate straight through to dental school after 4 years of college, you were pretty much a loser. People whispered about you, people doubted you, and people just don’t give you other options as to how to get to dental school. But what I have learned this year especially, one whole year out of undergrad is that it’s OKAY to not be traditional.
I need to make a point and I need all of you to keep this in mind while reading anything I post: THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET TO DENTAL SCHOOL. CHOOSE THE ROUTE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO YOU. CHOOSE THE ROUTE THAT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
And for me, it was doing a Master’s program in Oral Health Sciences to strengthen myself as an applicant. It wasn’t being unrealistic and applying just to do so because everyone else did. Absolutely not. So let me tell you a little more about myself.
I was an “a little better than average” student. I did slightly above average on the DAT. I had amazing dental experiences, extracurricular activities, enrichment programs and a passion for this field that drove me to my wits... but my grades were ehhh. I got a combination of A’s, B’s, and a handful of C’s during undergrad. My first two years were pretty rough, but my last two years turned right around for the better, making Dean’s List and never having a GPA below a 3.3. But college was hard for me. I went to a very hard school. I struggled. I struggled mainly because the first two years I had no idea what I was doing, and then the last two years I didn’t build a solid foundation so I had to work twice as hard to do just as well. So for me, it didn’t make sense to want to apply to dental school right away. I mean, it took a lot for me to admit that. I took my DAT’s the summer going into my Senior year of college, with every intent of applying. I even started my application, sent out letters of recommendation requests, got those letters and committee letters put together, but in the pit of my heart, I knew I just wasn’t ready...
I knew if I applied with my stats, I’d get wait listed and I didn’t want that. So I admitted to my parents, friends, advisors, etc. that I wasn’t applying. And they all gave me the same pitiful reaction that made me feel like crap about my decision. A lot of them didn’t understand why. A lot of them gave me backhanded compliments, and a lot of them secretly doubted me for the sole reason that I wasn’t applying right away.
But let me tell all of you this-it doesn’t matter. Even though everyone around me made me feel like crap, I always knew that I knew what was best for myself, so despite it all, I did what felt right to me. So how did I get accepted into a Master’s program?
I had ZERO idea that a Master’s program like this existed and could be so beneficial. Mostly because my undergrad doesn’t like to push their students on that route. They really only cater to the 3.5+ GPA applicants with a 21+ on their DATs. But I found out about this program after talking to actual dental school admission board members and got recommended right away. Actually, I applied the day after graduating undergrad and got accepted a month later. Pure luck I tell you and I count my lucky stars every day.
So yes, I became the student that had no idea what she was doing after graduation until quite literally, after graduation. Because I did a master’s program between undergrad and dental school, I now became an un-traditional student even though I technically did not take any time off from schooling. And that use to bother me SO MUCH that I was labeled as one, but now I don’t care. I am so proud of my own journey and my own growth. My future a year ago looked so uncertain and it scared me every single day. But everything turned out because if you want something bad enough, you will make it happen. What is meant to be will always be. And if what you’re doing doesn’t scare the living hell out of you, you need to aim bigger. So please stay positive my little pre-dents. We will all be Dentists one day and it won’t matter how many years it takes us. Keep pushing, keep positive, and most importantly, keep flossin’ haha. My next post will be more details about my master’s program for all those interested :)
