<p>I'm a sophomore at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Basically, I'm not sure if my grades are good enough for medical school, and if they aren't I'm highly considering dentistry school. Here are my stats:
Overall GPA: 6.64
Science: 3.47
Non-Science: 3.7</p>
<p>Gen chem: A-
Gen chem lab: A
Gen Bio: B
Orgo 1: B+
Orgo 1 lab: B+
Physics: A-
Physics Lab: A
I did a full year of research my freshmen year. Did some volunteering in the summer, and shadowed a dentist and doctor. Will start working the Michigan hospital this semester until I graduate. Am not really involved in clubs, but am starting to become an active member in one, potentially two. What do you guys think I should do: stay on the path to medical school or change courses to dental school (due to less emphasis on grades). I am interested in either field, feel free to be critical.</p>
<p>I think a great number of dental school applicants would take great exception to your feelings that you'll look towards dental school if you're not good enough for medical school. That's absolutely the wrong attitude to have. Getting into dental school is just as difficult as medical school and it's quite possible because dental schools don't do interviews as a standard of course that grades matter more. </p>
<p>Further, there are many people who are extremely intent on going to dental school over medical school for a variety of reasons. Gone are the days where many dental students are "failed" medical students. In fact, a great majority of dental students would be highly competitive applicants for medical school. </p>
<p>Additionally, last time I checked, the number of dental school applicants was increasing at a greater % rate then med school applicants, while spots in dental school were remaining stagnant while med school spots are increasing.</p>
<p>I honestly cannot understate how wrong it is for you to believe that applying to dental school = sub-par med school application. </p>
<p>My advice to you, pick one field, and throw all your effort into getting into that professional school, keeping in mind what I've told you above. No matter what; you need to be a strong applicant.</p>
<p>Well the facts are that Dental schools have less competetive GPA's than medical schools. If my GPA isn't on par with those trying to get into medical school, then I will be fighting a losing battle. The same could be the case with dental school. By the end of this semester I will choose one and pursue for good. I have shadowed in both fields, and both seem interesting in different ways, and I'm just not sure which to pursue right now.</p>
<p>Do you think my grades currently will hurt, help, or will keep me on par with some competitive applicants. I know getting into Michigan med. is a HUGE stretch, but what about Wayne State?</p>
<p>Btw, thanks for the comment above, I don't mean any disrespect to the dental field, it's just that this is a difficult choice to make.</p>
<p>That's a difference of getting a B instead of an A in 2-3 classes. </p>
<p>My point is that the difference in GPA's is not as large as you think. If you have a 3.5 and want to apply to med school, it's not going to be a huge liability. Likewise, if you want to apply to dental school with a 3.63, it's not going to be a huge advantage.</p>
<p>nothing wrong with hedging your bet, right brm? cleaning people's teeth is approximately equal to jingling their balls during a physical exam.</p>
<p>it's sad that Med or Dent has to worry about not getting into medical school. a 3.63 is a good gpa for most academic pursuits -- i guess you should have majored in business at ross and became an ibanker if it's the money you're after...</p>
<p>I'm not in to specifically for the money, but lets say hypothetically I don't get into Medical school then what? I'll be forced to jingle someone's balls outside in the cold rather than cleaning someone's teeth lol. </p>
<p>Hmm, I guess I got another question, how do you get a good leadership position? I've been having trouble finding such a position. </p>
<p>Haha instead of Med or Dent my name should be Jingling or Cleaning</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hmm, I guess I got another question, how do you get a good leadership position? I've been having trouble finding such a position.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Two ways I know of:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Start your own club and be its president.</p></li>
<li><p>Join a club and be really active there for some time. If your club activity is distinct from that of other members (excluding people in leadership positions, but only counting ordinary members), then you'll gradually go up the ladder and become a chair, or even a president, possibly in the long run.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hoff, there's a difference between hedging one's bets, and having a fundamental flaw in one's logic. Saying "if I don't get into medical school, I'll be a drug rep" is hedging one's bets. I have too many friends who are dental students, that I saw work just as hard as I did for their acceptances, to allow this sort of archaic thinking to continue. Yes, there was once a time when many dentists were unsuccessful med school applicants, but at this point, it's simply not the case, and there are certainly some very key things that must be done to be a competitive dental school applicant that are unique to dentistry (just like there are for medicine). Volunteering at a hospital won't work for dental school, just like working at a denture lab isn't very helpful for medical school.</p>