I'm a high school junior and I would like to talk to a Dentist about what it's like to be a dentist and the education etc?

the_unknown_scary@yahoo.com

Here's an answer that I have developed over a period of time that will answer a lot of questions about what it is like to go to dental school and to be a dentist.

I'm answering based on my knowledge of US dental school admissions. If you are in another country, you will need someone else's answer.

Perhaps your guidance counsellor could provide some resources. Their library might not extend beyond college admissions, though. You can visit any dental school web site and learn about admission requirements. Check out my old school http://www.dental.upenn.edu/ - click on "Admissons" - and see if this is helpful at this stage of the game.

Start by going to a good college so you will have a better chance of admission to a dental school. Dental schools are becoming harder and harder to get into, so a good college helps. It is not a simple transfer, but a whole new application procedure.

It helps to look into the requirements for admission to a dental school and work backwards. This will help you choose your college major and it might even help you choose your college. Typically, it is easier to match up the requirements for dental school admission with the requirements of a science major and biology seems to be the closest match. You could be a history major if you wanted to be, but then all of your electives would probably be used up trying to take courses required for dental school admission.