What I wish I Knew Before Going to Dental School

Me pictured above practicing and
perfecting my preps in the simulation lab
(2nd year of dental school)

This is one of the most common questions I get asked by pre-dental and dental students ( followed by, If you had to, would you do dental school all over again? - that is for a different post).
First of all, let me start by saying that getting accepted into dental school was one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Becoming a dentist was the career choice I made at a pretty early age and worked tirelessly towards that goal. I remember saying "If I could just get into dental school, the rest would be history!" and so it was, but little did I know...

Fast forward a couple years later and these are a few of the things I wish I had known before going to dental school:

1. The Best Decision of my Life
Dental school was great! I can say that now that it is over for me, but you will not necessarily feel this way going through the process. When I think about the totality of experiences I had, the life long friends and colleagues I made and the lifestyle that it affords, I cannot honestly think of a profession that I would have preferred. I love what I do! and it is very rewarding.

2. That it would test you not only mentally but spiritually, emotionally, financially and otherwise.
There will be many exams throughout your four years of dental school. You will spend countless hours studying and may even at times have to pull an all-nighter or two (I do not recommend this). When there aren't regular semester exams there are board exams and they can be stressful. Besides those tests, there are situations that will test almost every facet of your being. You have to have the mental fortitude for the myriad of things that get thrown at you. There will be requirements and deadlines and things that are totally out of your control that you will somehow be responsible for. I have had friends who at one point completely broke down under the pressure and likewise there were the ones who thrived under the pressure; who used that pressure as fuel and rose to the occasion. Regardless of which category you end up falling under, it will build character and you will end up being thankful for those experiences.

3. Note taking skills
It is very important that you have good and accurate notes and outlines. You will have to pay keen attention to this for at least your first 2 years of dental school.  You will have to figure out quite quickly the best way for you to take notes. You may prefer the good ol' traditional pen and paper, or you may prefer to use a note taking app on your computer if you're a fast typer. Personally I made notes on or at the bottom of the power point presentations that were released for each class and I sometimes just took quick notes in a physical notebook as I can write faster than I can type. There were colleagues of mine however who preferred such tools as Microsoft One Note or another note taking app with cool features.

4. That all my textbooks would be electronic and that I would rarely read them (shameless)
I don't know about you but I am traditional when it comes to my books. I like to open a book and smell the fresh scent of paper, I want to feel the pages under my fingers and I want the opportunity to use my physical highlighter and sticky-notes. So needless to say, I found it cumbersome to use my electronic textbooks the way that they were intended to be used. I mainly used the powerpoints issued, took really good notes and used the books as references - or use almighty Google and YouTube (thank God for them).

5. Study Habits
Figure this out quickly! As in, before your first major exam quickly. You will be doing a lot of it and you will be tested constantly so it would be wise to figure it out before those grades start to go in and become part of your permanent record (yikes). Do you study better with a partner? Do you study on your own and then meet up with a group for discussion? Do you prefer group study all together or are you the type that do best on your own? Take a little time to figure out what works best for you - just not too much time.

6. Dental School is FUN! and there is TIME
I know all the above sounds daunting but contrary to popular belief, there were lots of fun times in dental school. You will make very good life long friends and attend each others weddings, baby showers and birthday parties. There is TIME to do what ever you want to do. You don't have to give up your hobbies and the things you like to do for fun. There will be time for vacation and spending time with family and loved ones. Many people were surprised that I was able to keep this blog up and running all throughout dental school! It all boils down to how well you manage your time.

If you are about to start dental school, be excited! but also be prepared. You are in for a treat.

Feel free to contact me with questions or leave comments below.

Consultations for Pre-Dental Students

Having gone through the entire pre-dental and dental school process and having advised and mentored many pre-dental students, I know the pre-dental school process well and I know how very confusing and overwhelming it can be. I have decided to offer Consultations for Pre-Dental Students that will make the entire process a lot easier and smoother.

These consultations will include but not limited to application building, personal statement editing, DAT study tips and gems (and possibly access to materials and resources), interview coaching, etc.

More information on this to come very soon so stay tuned. In the meantime, feel free to inbox me with any questions you many have or to simply send me a note of interest in this new service: Patrice@stu-dentdiaries.com

Crack the Dental Admissions Test! (DAT)

There are a myriad of materials/resources out there geared towards you doing really well on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), and as we all know getting into your desired dental school sometimes hinges on the kind of scores you receive on this test (among other things). Needless to say, it is imperative that you not only do well on the DATs but that you ACE it!
Having gone through the entire dental school process (from application to graduation...and beyond) and have advised and mentored many pre-dental and dental students, I am familiar with a lot of the materials/resources that seem to always come through. One such product is CrackDAT.

I used a combination of different resources when I studied for my DAT back in the day and I distinctly remember CrackDAT being tremendously helpful, especially for the PAT section. Now fast forward a couple years later and their products and services have drastically improved and is even better than before.
I got the opportunity to use the newest version of CrackDAT software recently, specifically the bundle package and was amazed at how very similar it was to the actual DAT. The software is seamless and closely resembles the real test. In addition, they have tons of practice tests and an updated database of questions that cover all the pertinent questions that are often times asked on the DAT - and they constantly free updates!

CrackDAT provides the largest arsenal of practice tests for the DAT. They provide video tutorials covering tips, tricks and strategies, soap carving tutorials for Canadian students, video explanations for many of the questions, and a new feature called "Compare your Scores" which enables you to see how you performed and scored against other pre-dentals across the country.

Unlike other preparation tools which have expiration periods, CrackDAT does not expire. Therefore, you get unlimited access to all the material, thus you can get a head start as early as freshman year!
Further, there are free updates so you're never left with an outdated version.

You can also rest assured that all you questions will be answered and your problems (if any) troubleshooted as they have an outstanding support that responds right away.

Lastly (drumroll) they provide an annual SCHOLARSHIP!!  This year they will be awarding $2000 to deserving pre-dental students. You must atleast be a junior in college with an interest in pursuing a career in dentistry. See here for more of their requirements

To learn more about CrackDAT visit their website, and also feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about any part(s) of the dental school application process. I will be happy to answer or direct your questions accordingly.

Digital Radiographs

In addition to running my own blog, I often can be found at other sites and blogs around web like The American Student Dental Association's (ASDA) Mouthing Off blog or at THE NEXTDDS blog site.
Recently I wrote a piece about Digital Radiography and laid out some tips for taking them.

You can see an excerpt below:

Find the rest of the article on THE NEXTDDS blog here.

Pre-Dental and Dental School Materials Update

Having gone through the entire dental school journey/process, I have updated the Pre-Dental Materials tab with helpful DAT study materials and the Dental School Materials tab with those materials I found helpful esp. for the National Board Dental Examination Parts I and II.

Take a moment to browse the materials and get a head start on studying. It's never too early!

Just take a look above, where it says DAT Study Materials, or click here.

and for Dental Students, hit the Dental School Materials tab, or click here.

On Goal Setting and Stick-to-itiveness

Another semester has ended as well as another year. And as we await and welcome the new year, it is only natural that we reflect on the past year and begin to set goals for the future.
Over the years I have developed several strategies to plan, set goals and stick to them. The most efficient and basic of all has been to simply write it down!

Goal setting essentials:

• Journal/Notepad
• Planner

Begin by ask yourself a couple questions: What are my short-term and long-term goals? What goals have I accomplished that I had set for myself this year? What goals did I set that I did not fully accomplish this year? What new goals do I have for the upcoming year and what strategies am I going to put in place to ensure that I achieve them?
Reflect on those questions and their answers. Get a journal/notepad and write it down. Also write down ways in which you have grown in different aspects of your life. Write down ways in which you wish to improve yourself.  Make a timeline for your goals.
Now get your planner, and after filling in the important dates, deadlines, and goals for school and/or work, start filling in dates for accomplishing your intended personal goals. The planner is very helpful as it is a strategy to help keep you on task and serves as a reminder to stick to your goal.

This year, be a goal-digger!

I do wish for you all a safe, happy, enriching, productive and prosperous New Year!! 

ADEA GoDental Workshop/ Recruitment Fair

This is for the Predents!

Are you thinking about applying to dental school and want to learn more about the application process? Do you want to speak directly with dental school admissions officers directly?

The event, being held in conjunction with the 2014 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX.

The event provides prospective dental students with the opportunity to hear from admissions officers, current dental students, financial aid advisors and dental educators prior to applying to a dental school. More than 300 prospective dental students from across the United States are expected to attend.

“The ADEA GoDental Workshop and Recruitment Fair is a unique forum where dental school admissions officers, financial aid advisors, dental educators, and prospective and current students from throughout the country come together under one roof,” says Richard W. Valachovic D.M.D., M.P.H., ADEA President and CEO. “We encourage students who are considering a future in oral health care to attend to learn more about opportunities in research, academia, private practice and the many specialties in dentistry.”

Registration is now OPEN! Go here to register.

After Earning a Four Year Undergrad Degree...

A Guest Post:
After earning a four year undergrad degree, most recent graduates move onto the real world with their biggest concern to be finding a job. You on the other hand, have more years of studying, research and all-nighters ahead for dental school. Before even applying to dental school, there are many action items that you can cross off your list to ensure you end up at the right school that will help you succeed the most.


Narrow Your Choices
Interviewing and applying for dental school starts way before graduation. Because you are still in school and have to commit to your studies as well, it is important to focus your time on one or two dental schools. Applying to multiple dental schools will not only be very time consuming with applications and interviews, but also gets expensive as well.

Make Connections
We've all heard the saying "It takes someone to know someone", and that saying isn't too far from the truth. As you apply to schools, start networking and reaching out to other potential dental students and professors. This not only will help you feel more comfortable with staff and students when you start school, but may also help you get your foot in the door to other opportunities as a dental student. Networking also shows that you are dedicated to this industry and are eager to start your career.

Show Me The Money
Dental school is one pretty penny, especially if you have undergrad to pay for as well. When researching prospective dental schools, look for scholarships(http://www.campusleader.com/scholarships) or schools that will fit within your budget.  If you plan on moving away for dental school, remember where to save on other expenses. For example, reach out to other students and find a roommate to cut down on the expense of living.

Smile
After all, you are going to school to help improve someone's dental health and smile. So show off those pearly whites! Above all, find a dental school that genuinely makes you happy. Finding a school that best fits your comfort and learning style is most important. Although you have a few tough years ahead, it will all be worth it in the end when you can add DDS or DMD to your name.

Kristen Bradley is a writer for CampusLeader.com (www.campusleader.com), a leading online resource and community for all college students.

The Journey Has Begun: Tip To Pre-Dents

My first major exam is today, Biochemistry, and it marks the official start to my journey through Dental School. Now that I've begun dental school  you may have noticed that the frequency of my blog posts waned a bit. However, in the essence of continuity, I do want to share a few tips to potential dental students. Dental School is not a cake walk. It requires discipline, tenacity and tremendous amounts of stamina to get through it. Since day 1 it has been non-stop studying and my days have extended to 20 awake hours and just about 3-4 sleep hours. This may sound tough but one of the beautiful things about the human body is it's ability to adapt and I have quickly adapted to this schedule (albeit how grueling and boot-camp like the first week was).

Curriculum vary from school to school but in most cases two of the first courses you encounter in Dental School are Anatomy and Biochemistry. I would highly recommend that all potential dental students take a course in biochemistry at the end of their  undergraduate careers.  Furthermore, I strongly recommend that you pay strict attention in your undergraduate anatomy classes. While the intensity and volume of work in your undergraduate anatomy class pales in comparison to what you will encounter in dental school, it is worth a million coming into dental school with some general knowledge of  both biochemistry and anatomy.  Moreover, as potential dental students, be prepared to spend the vast majority of your awaken time immersed in your studies. Dental school is not for the faint hearted. If you are not prepared to work hard and spend long hours studying, my best advise to you is to seek another career.

With that said, I'm off to sit this exam. Wish me luck!

Battle of the Night Owl and the Early Bird

In life we all have our own rhythm, circadian rhythm that is.

As a child I was always forced to get up early. That, at the time, had a lot to do with tradition - as it is felt that the female should be early risers to take care of the household. I was never an early riser (an early bird). Mornings are the worse part of my day. Morning for me, begins at 10:00am.
Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that I can not go to bed before 12:00am. I am a night owl. Because of the traditions I've been brought up in and because of the norms of society, I can't help but sometimes feel inadequate, lazy, or that I'm missing out on part of the day by getting up at that time. But not any more! After reading a fellow blog about the "night owl" versus "early bird" I am now convinced that getting up early is just not in my DNA - (Yes, there's a gene for it!). While I get up early when I HAVE TO, it is not a natural part of me. It's not my normal rhythm, circadian rhythm that is. This blog post is backed by facts and several researches done by prominent researchers and published in prominent journals. It even goes as far as to demerit Benjamin Franklin's " Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" and John Ray's very popular "The early bird catcheth the first worm."

Read on here with my new friend Aaron, and tell me - Are you a Night Owl or an Early Bird?

So I've been thinking

The start of Dental school is only 2+ months away - approximately 89 days and I've been thinking, actually I've been worrying (sshhh)
First of all I can't get over the fact that time is going by so quickly-lightning speed! Did I not just get my acceptance letter...yesterday? It's Mid-May and there is still so much to get done in preparation for school. While I'm at it have you:
~ Filed FAFSA?
~ Found an Apartment?
~Found a roommate?
~Secured Scholarships?
~Secured loans?
~Shopped for furniture for your apartment?
~Shopped for school supplies?  This is only to name a few, Phew!

 Moving to a new city is exciting, liberating and... terrifying all at the  same time. You never really know what to expect or how you'll cope.  It's that time when you leave the roost and go out on your own - you become an adult - with responsibilities O_O (O.M.G).
The next thing I wonder is what my classmates will be like. I'm really looking forward to a fulfilling, fun-filled, gratifying and rewarding 4  years. I intend on creating some fond memories, make some wonderful friends and learn some very valuable lessons. However, what if  my expectations are too high? I'm a team player and I beleieve in the saying "Each one reach one" but, what if my classmates turn out to be selfish, cut-throat opportunists? *Sigh...

I'm worrying about all these things but in actuality whatever happens, whatever hand I'm dealt it will be all part of the overall experience. Four years from now I'll be whoever I become because of all these that i now fear. My experiences; good, bad or in-between will make me the great Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) I intend to be.

How about you? What are you thinking?

Almighty H2O

Flavored waters like Propel Fit Water, SoBe Life Water nd Vitamin Water may do more than just quench your thirst:
Sipping on these trendy drinks over the course of a day can soften protective tooth enamel and increase sensitivity, say scientists involved in a trial at NYU College of Dentistry. The drinks' acid levels are to blame (not the sugar, as you might think). Brushing the teeth after drinking won't counter the effects, in fact, because softened enamel is more vulnerable to damage, it may weaken teeth even more.
So here's the trick: Wait at least 30 minutes to brush after drinking one of these drinks - that's about how long it takes the enamel to re-harden.
Another smart strategy: Quit the drinks! Make plain water your go-to drink.
(From Good Housekeeping Magazine)

Scholarship Opportunities

We don't have many scholarships to take advantage of. The very few that may be available are in very minimal amounts and are highly competitive! There are some scholarships however, that often go unexplored. Here are a few:

  
1. National Health Service Corps Scholarship (NHSC)
This scholarship, from the Department of Health and Human Services provides their scholars with full tuition, fees, books, clinical supplies, instruments and other education costs. It also awards the recipient a monthly stipend of $1,326.00. This scholar is required to serve an underprivileged area for the amount of years of support of this scholarship (2 yrs being the minimum).  This is a great opportunity to get help with the cost of professional school. To be eligible you MUST:
                        i. Be a U.S Citizen or National
                       ii. Enrolled or Accepted for Enrollment
                      iii. Pursuing any of the following degrees in an accredited U.S School:
                                  a. Physician: M.D or D.O
                                  b. Dentist: DDS or DMD
                                  c. Family Nurse Practitioner
                                  d. Certified Nurse Mid-Wife
                                  e. Physician Assistant
If you would like to off-set the expenses of a health profession program and are committed to services, this scholarship would be a great opportunity to explore. You may go to the National Health Service Corps Website here for more information on this wonderful opportunity.

2. Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

This scholarship is offered by the U.S Navy, U.S Army and the U.S Air Force. This is very similar to the previous scholarship as the Armed Forces covers the full tuition plus a $20,000 sign-on bonus, fees, books, clinical supplies, instruments and other education costs. They all award their scholars with a monthly stipend of approximately $1900.00 . These awards are made with a commitment that after the scholar has graduated, he/she will serve as a commissioned medical department officer in the armed forces - each year of service for each year of scholarship support. To learn more about these scholarship you may visit their websites:

The U.S Army HPSP

The U.S Navy HPSP 

The U.S Air Force HPSP

Take advantage of these opportunities! If you are eligible and are committed to serving the under-represented of this country - these scholarships would be ideal.

*Periodically come back for more scholarship opportunities!

*If you are a Dental Student and a Minority, join the Aid for Minority dental Students cause on facebook.

* Don't forget to visit The Stu-DENT Shoppe! Lots of great things for the soon to be Dentistas!!

Grand Opening!! The Stu-DENT Shoppe

Stu-DENT Diaries has opened up Shop!!

We have a brand spankin' new shop packed with personalized items from T-shirts to totes, to tracksuits, buttons, home decor, you name it! Now all you pre-dental and dental students can express yourselves with our items!
Here's a sneak peak of what's behind our doors:

                                          < Represent! Represent! with this fresh white T >

                                  < Who says you have to say a word to recruit your patients? >

                                                    < It's OKAY to be a showoff! lol >

                                                                     < Yea, tell 'em! >

                                             < Of course! no matter how grueling it may be >

                                                    < Of course I'm Tired, I'm a Dental Student >

                                                              < Oh yea! Dentalicious!! >

                                                       < Yea! Dentalicious - Smart AND Sexy! >

                                     < Represent! You're no Flake! You WILL BE a doctor >

All these items can be found at The Stu-DENT Shoppe <---Click. You can also access the shop by clicking on the Stu-DENT Shoppe button on the nav bar at the top of your screen. There are lots more things inside. Stop by and check us out!

NOTE: 5% of all proceeds will be donated to the cause: Aid for Minority Dental Students. Donations can also be made to this cause by clicking the donate button to the right of your screen.

Come on by guys! Happy Shopping!

Months before you start

It's February, and I'm already thinking of how I can prepare for the rigorous curriculum of Dental School come August. Despite the many advices to RELAX for my "free" couple of months before DS, I can't help but trying to get a head start. I suppose it's natural to feel that way? hmm...
Most Dental Schools have a similar or identical curriculum. First year usually consists of Biochemistry, Gross Anatomy, Physiology, Radiology, Microbiology, Occlusion, Histology, Embryology (phew!!), to name a few. With all this stuff that I will need to squeeze inside my cerebrum, why not start making space for them now? I might even get some chuckles for this, arched eyebrows or even some eye rolling. For some, trying to get a head start on some of these might prove to be an exercise in futility - which is okay! but for others, it might be beneficial. Starting early will slightly prepare you for the first couple months, okay maybe weeks of school. You will be familiar with some of the terminologies used so that you don't sit in class, looking around clueless.
Yes, the months before starting school can be quite hectic. For some, it might mean a new city, or a new state. If this is the case you will have to do some research on the places you would like to live, keeping in mind proximity to school, cost, the neighborhood, etc. THEN you will need to set aside time to travel to that new place to go apartment hunting. Of course, there is the pressure of coming up with a quadrillion dollars to pay for attending the school. Whichever route you take, scholarships, loans, fellowships, the military, out of pocket (do people actually do that??) it is stressful! and as if that is not enough, the school has it's own requirements that has to be completed by a certain time.
However, no matter how stressful pre-dental school gets, it is still very exciting! It's exciting to start a new chapter in your life, it's exciting knowing you are only a few more steps away from accomplishing your goals. It's exciting to move to a new place, exciting to meet new people - the people who will become family over the next four years. Excited for those sleepless nights; burning the mid night oil to make sure that you make the grade to stay in and see your way through DS. It is all exciting! and I can't wait to start!

How about you? what is your pre-dental school game plan? are you as excited as I am?