So You Want to be a Dentist?

For many young men and women as they enter their high school years, they start day-dreaming about their future careers, lifestyles, and paychecks. Some people graduate from high school and follow dreams that lead them in wild directions. Art, music, drama, travel, and love can be romanticized and wildly adventurous paths that wind dramatically and leave the individual further in love or deeper lost.

Still other young men and women have their feet firmly planted on the ground and choose to attend post-secondary institutions directly after high school. Whether by pressure from friends or family, or their own initiative, these industrious individuals don’t take any time off from school and carry straight through. These types of go-getters often choose highly academic and intimidating careers such as medicine, law, and dentistry. There are a few things to keep in mind if you are interested in becoming a dentist. 

First, before setting off on the path of any particular career that involves a lot of time and money, it is important to spend some time with individuals that are already working in that area to determine if you actually like it. Find a dentist in your area that will let you interview them or even spend a day or two shadowing them in order to see what the day-to-day routine is like and if it is something you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life. During this opportunity, you will be able to see the types of procedures a dentist performs and ask any questions you may have. 

Next, it is important to keep in mind that certain subjects in high school and university will help you excel in dental school more than others. While a broad subject base is important, take the time to especially emphasize math and science courses such as algebra, chemistry, and biology. It is not necessary to major in a math or science degree in university or college, but there is a specific set of prerequisites to get into dental school. Keep this in mind as you are planning your course load. 

During college or university, you will want to study hard and develop a work ethic with study skills that will help you on the road to becoming a dentist. Dental and medical schools are rigorous times designed to break even the hardest working individual. Your undergraduate degree should be considered training ground for the intense time ahead. 

Take the time to research particular dental schools that you are interested in. There may be one in your state or you may wish to travel across the country. Find out what their prerequisites are and what types of requirements they have for admissions. Is it particularly competitive to get in? What can give a student an advantage? It is often helpful to meet with an advisor to determine your best path to becoming a dentist.