Doctor or Dentist

<p>I got accepted to a BS/DO program in Florida at Nova and then a BS/DDS program in California with Univ of Pacific.</p>

<p>They both are 7 year accelerated programs. Please answer the following:</p>

<p>1) Where should I go? (Where would you go if you were in my place?)</p>

<p>2) Medicine or Dentistry?</p>

<p>3) Nova or Pacific?</p>

<p>Don't be biased and just say medicine since you all applied to BS/MD like crazy lol....</p>

<p>I simply don't find dentistry all that appealing as a career. Woohoo let's look at teeth.</p>

<p>Why are you asking random people on an internet message board to decide your future career? I would guess that a decision as paramount as this should be one that is made personally.</p>

<p>lol good point, but I think my decision is already made, I'm just seeing what other people have to say to see gain a diff perspective I may have missed...</p>

<p>do not take UOP 7 year. its not worth it. didnt u get in the other ones?</p>

<p>wat are ur stats?</p>

<p>i got 5-6-or 7 year option..</p>

<p>Dentistry has no residency (unless you want one) and rare emergencies. You don't need a hospital affiliation. You don't have to deal with managed care unless you want to. </p>

<p>On the other hand, in a few years no one will have any cavities, so a dentist's bread and butter will be all gone.</p>

<p>
[quote]
in a few years no one will have any cavities

[/quote]
Oh ?</p>

<p>yeah wth? wut do u mean there will be no cavities? did they discover a cure to cavaties? some sort of vaccaination that will wipe out the gruesome epidemic? </p>

<p>sorry I couldn't help myself, but still cavities will always exist because children love sugar = cavities, if you get rid of sugar filled candy then maybe cavities will disappear, are you talking about the health care advances and technology or sugar free stuff?</p>

<p>If I got the 5 or 6 year UOP program then I would have chosen it, but Nova is offering me 7 years, so I think I will choose that....maybe we will see </p>

<p>aa650-what did you get on ACT/SAT? and GPA?</p>

<p>I got 30 ACT and 3.97/4.0 GPA plus tons of medical experience and leadership roles in EC's....</p>

<p>if you arent even sure if you like medicine or dentistry more, how can u be sure if being a doctor at all is the right career path? those are two very different fields that you are basing the rest of your life on...</p>

<p>If you have to ask this question, you don't belong in a combined program.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If I got the 5 or 6 year UOP program then I would have chosen it

[/quote]

And... you'd be willing to choose your occupation based on one year? Seriously? That's... unspeakably ridiculous.</p>

<p>cecesunshine is spot on. You shouldn't lock yourself in for a career in medicine now if you don't even know you want to do it...</p>

<p>ok these people are all about analyzing someone's quote and having a bashing session since you people are being real jackasses</p>

<p>I know I want to be a doctor, the dentist thing was just a back up plan and I don't think I would have done it even if I got into the 5 year deal</p>

<p>and It's just a freakin question, if you dont like it, then dont give wise-ass jealous remarks, u probably are just mad you didn't apply to direct programs and had to work harder in college, which isnt a bad thing, but I feel like some people on these forums give wise ass answers and they should say nothing if they want to give insulting posts</p>

<p>sorry but thats how I feel, people are over-analyzing statements and not answering the question asked...</p>

<p>norcalguy- U are a jerk, what college do u go to and are U in a BS/MD program or are u in high school?</p>

<p>NCG has graduated from college and been admitted to medical school, so I think any jealousy from him at this point is pretty low.</p>

<p>yo futureDr08, keep up the hilarious posts...it provides for great entertainment</p>

<p>on the serious side of things...i think u pose a legit question as long as its for the right reasons--if u get the gist of that</p>

<p>its pretty common for interviewers to ask what else would u do if u couldnt be a doctor</p>

<p>but the thing is...y lock urself into something that u obviously have doubts about. if bein a doc is wat you wanna do, then y not go to a decent undergrad and try again then? contrary to MD schools, DDS and DO programs aren't uber competitive to get into from undergrad, so you can always make a decision then. u'll get better opportunities at a better undergrad and if u fail to get into med school then, u'll be more competitive at the better DO and DDS progs</p>

<p>This is a very valid question.</p>

<p>Both dental and medicine are very well reputed, respected and paying professions. Analyze the plus points of both the options:
Dental: Minimum stress, good lifestyle, direct program
Medicine: Save lives, respected, directed program. </p>

<p>Now, the question is what do you want in life-- do you want to work to make money ( dental) or do you want to work to make an impact(med). I am not saying that you cant make an impact with dental, its just you can make more of an impact with med. Also, get more information about the programs.
What is the DO program? How does that compare with general medicine- do they have the same structer curriculum, how do the work loads compare? Salaries? </p>

<p>Information is wealth. Learn as much as you can about both the programs. The more you learn, the more informend decision you can make. I recommend spending the night at the college and get a feal for the environment.
Lastly, it will be unwise for anyone to push you into a career that you do not like or unsure about. There direct programs are were limited for a reason- not many highschoolers are confident enough to choose a career path that defines for their entire life.
Good luck!</p>

<p>This is a very valid question.</p>

<p>Both dental and medicine are very well reputed, respected and paying professions. Analyze the plus points of both the options:
Dental: Minimum stress, good lifestyle, direct program
Medicine: Save lives, respected, directed program. </p>

<p>Now, the question is what do you want in life-- do you want to work to make money ( dental) or do you want to work to make an impact(med). I am not saying that you cant make an impact with dental, its just you can make more of an impact with med. </p>

<p>Information is wealth. Learn as much as you can about both the programs. The more you learn, the more informend decision you can make.
What is the DO program? How does that compare with general medicine- do they have the same curriculum? how do the work loads compare? Salaries? </p>

<p>How do you like the college lifestyle. I recommend spending the night at the college and get a feal for the environment. </p>

<p>Lastly, it will be unwise for anyone to push you into a career that you do not like or unsure about. The direct programs are were limited for a reason- not many highschoolers can career path. A career define your entire life. Remeber the enormity of the situaiton but at the same time have the confidence in yourself to make the right choice.<br>
Good luck!</p>

<p>I think Norcalguy's post was not meant as an insult.</p>

<p>Essentially, these combined programs are for students who are 110% sure that they want to become a doctor. In applying to both DO and DDS programs, you are telling us that you aren't entirely sure if you wish to become a doctor or a dentist. Students with that mindset aren't meant for combined/accelerated programs. These students are meant to go to a regular undergrad, and then use their time there to decide.</p>

<p>ok well no one may not be jealous, but it's just a simple question I posted and was wondering about the pros/cons about either careers, people seem to go crazy and have a riot when it's not that big of a deal</p>

<p>they are like "oh you shouldnt ask that, its forbidden because you HAVE to know what you want to do right now and you cant have back up plans"</p>

<p>well I dont really care, this is kind of stupid to argue or talk about, lol seriously</p>

<p>and I have heard a lot or enough u can say about the oh a combined program takes away all you can do in college because it doesnt do that and we all know that well some programs maybe but other programs enhance college by providing mentoring relationships, clinical experience, and great programs...</p>

<p>well have a good week people!</p>

<p>thank u Me2008 for answering my question!!! :)</p>