Hi Maggie, can I ask what you are doing now? It’s kind of crazy but… I was in a similar situation. I got in and was never excited. And like lolabee, I spent my gap year in Spain (teaching english), and I am now back in the US and in my fourth week as a first year dental student.

I am strongly considering dropping out but, as we all know, it is so hard to make this decision!!!!!!! I feel like I know myself but it’s impossible to know if I will for sure hate being a dentist until I am one. So yeah, just wanted to know what you ended up doing and how are you are feeling about it!

Hi Maggie,
Sorry for the late reply! I understand how you feel– except you are a bit more aware than I was. I probably felt similarly about going to dental school but was in denial or didn’t realize it. I might have a good short term solution for you. When I was accepted to dental school, I decided that I wanted to move to Spain for a year. That specific plan may not be what you want to do, but deferral is a GREAT option. I sent a letter to the dental school and explained that I was a Spanish major and wanted to continue my studies in Spanish for 1 more year. I asked if I could defer my enrollment for 1 year while I pursued this (and then moved to Spain for a year.) It was great because they said yes, and I went abroad for a year, knowing that I would start dental school after my “year off.” Have you thought about doing that? Let me know what you think. At the very least, it will help you buy a little more time to make your decision.

I don’t suggest you end up like me. 😉 It’s all fine now, but I will tell you it was a very hard road, and I don’t regret it, but I also don’t wish it upon others. Find out what you really what to do if it’s not dentistry. It will be hard now, but it will be worth it!!

I found your blog after searching google for ” got into dental school and don’t want to go”. That is exactly the situation I am in — I am a senior in undergrad with a few months left until graduation. I got into multiple dental schools yet I still feel extremely hesitant about going into the field. As a first-generation college student I wanted to make sure I go into a field that will provide me with a respectable job and stable income so I can help take care of my family. Since I have been “pre-dental” for the past 4 years, having always had hesitations but continuing with the course regardless, I now find myself struggling to reconcile the fact that I have been accepted into dental school, a dream that many students have, yet am unhappy. From reading your posts, I can tell that you are now happy with your life, but honestly, I do not want to end up like you.

What I mean by that is: I don’t want to go through the struggle of dental school and invest so much time and money only to have to be courageous enough to leave the field for something else I have a passion for. I am scared to take a gap year because I don’t know what I will do or how my family will take it. I do not want to make a terrible decision that will disappoint my family and all the people who have helped me get to where I am.

I’m not sure where this post is going anymore but I just felt that I needed to write this comment to share my thoughts with you. You are very brave and I admire that you invest so much time into this blog so you can share your experiences with others- thank you for that.

Maggie

Hi Cait,
Sorry for the late reply… sometimes I lose track! This might sound like a weird answer, but applying to school and taking the DAT are the easiest part of the journey in dentistry! Are you wanting to go to dental school right out of D school, or are you going to practice hygiene first? My advice would be to see how much you like (or dislike hygiene.) That will give you a good sense of whether D school is worth it for you or not.

Yes, Lana! I forgot– I’m so sorry. Hope this helps in some way!

Thank you so much!

Hi Erica, Thanks for the heads up! I’m tracking it down for you now, and I’ll publish it here when I get it. I’ll keep you posted!