My last post was right after I found out that my "perfect" plan was not going to become reality.
For the past ten years I have dreamt about going to dental school at UMKC. In high school I hadn't even looked at other colleges because I wanted to be in their six year dental program, but my Junior year of high school they got rid of the program. So, when I found out that I wasn't accepted I was devastated. I had been told time and time again that I was a shoe-in and didn't need to worry at all about getting in and that I had a great application. When I didn't get a call I was mostly confused. I thought what on earth could I have done to screw this up?
I went to UMKC to talk to the admissions director to talk about why I didn't get accepted. I was expecting him to tell me a short list of things. Possibly, your science GPA could be higher, you didn't have a job in a dental office, or you are too young because you are graduating in three years. But to my surprise, none of these were the problem. Actually he told me that there wasn't anything that was really "wrong". He said that "the committees 'concern' if you could even call it that is that you said the most stressful time in your life was when you had to take organic I and cell biology together." When he said this I automatically got mad. I was thinking, I am a student, what do you want my most stressful time to be? I have taken two science classes together almost every semester, but these classes were just particularly difficult. So he said the concern with this is that if I couldn't handle two science classes together then how could I handle five in dental school. Sitting there I was so mad. I thought what a stupid reason. Seriously, you couldn't find anything else that was wrong? Obviously I have proven that I can handle it if I have gotten this far in three years, being just as competitive as students who took the full four years. I left in angry tears.
At first I was so mad. I mean what the heck? Then as the day went on I came to realization that this is God's plan. Let me explain
1. I have been praying since JUNE that God's will is fulfilled
2. I have prayed since June that I will get into the one school God wants me to go to so I don't have to pick and make the wrong decision
3. Only 45 people got accepted here and 100 got accepted to UMKC
4. I got a "stupid" reason for not being accepted, but God had to do something to keep me out.
5. This school is almost the exact same school as AT Still in Arizona (the school absolutely loved)
6. I already have a great group of friends here and am making an impact on my small group girls at K-Life
7. I am already familiar with the area, I could easily find a roommate.
8. It is only 3 hours away from home and Luke (much better than 17 hours to Arizona)
9. My younger brother will be here and we are really close.
I have been so blinded by the fact that my "dreams" have been flushed down the toilet. Seriously, what a blessing to be given. I will be one of the first students to graduate from this new school. It is completely set up based on ASDOH, which means it is everything I loved about ASDOH, but closer. At first I was really bummed by the news I received, but now as I have had time to think about the situation, I am actually excited to stay here for another two years. My biggest worry now is what the future of my relationship with my boyfriend will look like, but we have made it 5 years and 3 years of that has been long-distance. If we can make it through that, we can make it through anything. Our plans may change, but obviously our plans don't really compare to the greatness God has planned.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
National Dental School Acceptance Day
Well, to start off, yesterday did not bring what I thought it would. I thought after yesterday I would know where I was going to dental school and not have to wait anymore. Wrong, again. This is what happened....
I woke up at 7:30 because I knew that schools could start calling at 8:00. By the time I got to class at 9:30 I felt like I was going to puke. I didn't understand why I hadn't got a call and as the class finished at 10:20 I still hadn't received a call, and knew a few other pre-dental students that had. I was freaking out, not knowing what went wrong. In my second class at 10:45 I got a call, so I left to answer it. I was told that I got accepted and would receive an acceptance packet within the next week. I wasn't even excited. I went back to class and was texting my mom and boyfriend and not paying attention to class at all. I couldn't think about anything else. This was my very last choice, and I honestly didn't think I would even have to think about going there. I had to make myself hold my composition and not break down crying in the middle of class.
A couple hours later I finally got to go to my apartment and as soon as I walked through the front door I lost it. I ended up crying for a majority of the rest of the day. I was so confused as to why I didn't get a call from UMKC. It was well after 12 and I knew they should have finished calling by then. During my interview day everyone was saying how I didn't need to worry and that I was for sure going to get in. I was concerned as to what I could have possibly done wrong between then and now and what had changed their minds. All types of ideas were running through my head as to what went wrong. Everything from them accidentally skipping my name on the call list to forgetting about me all together since I didn't get an email saying I was on the wait list. I was seriously devastated. I have worked my whole life to get into UMKC and done everything I needed. I felt confident about my interview and that I would get in without any trouble. So not hearing from them was the worst news I could imagine.
Later that night I called my mom and was talking to her about how I was concerned since I hadn't heard anything, but when she got home there was a letter in the mail from UMKC. It stated that I was put on the wait list and my application would be processed with a very select number of students for the second round of acceptance. So, there was my answer. I have no idea what went wrong, or what happened, but at least I still have a good chance of getting in.
So, now what?....
I am going to accept the seat with a deposit because I only have a few weeks to accept it or I will lose it.
Yesterday was disappointing, confusing, and upsetting but I know there is a reason this is happening. God is continually teaching me to trust and believe Him. Although it is sometimes hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know it is there. Wherever God wants me I am going to be a dentist! The fact that I even got accepted at all is huge and I don't want to sound ungrateful for being accepted. My number one word in life is "PATIENCE" Everywhere I turn I am slapped in the face with it. If I could just learn that everything doesn't happen when I expect it to, I think I would be a lot better off. God has a greater plan than I do for myself. So now.... I WAIT.
I woke up at 7:30 because I knew that schools could start calling at 8:00. By the time I got to class at 9:30 I felt like I was going to puke. I didn't understand why I hadn't got a call and as the class finished at 10:20 I still hadn't received a call, and knew a few other pre-dental students that had. I was freaking out, not knowing what went wrong. In my second class at 10:45 I got a call, so I left to answer it. I was told that I got accepted and would receive an acceptance packet within the next week. I wasn't even excited. I went back to class and was texting my mom and boyfriend and not paying attention to class at all. I couldn't think about anything else. This was my very last choice, and I honestly didn't think I would even have to think about going there. I had to make myself hold my composition and not break down crying in the middle of class.
A couple hours later I finally got to go to my apartment and as soon as I walked through the front door I lost it. I ended up crying for a majority of the rest of the day. I was so confused as to why I didn't get a call from UMKC. It was well after 12 and I knew they should have finished calling by then. During my interview day everyone was saying how I didn't need to worry and that I was for sure going to get in. I was concerned as to what I could have possibly done wrong between then and now and what had changed their minds. All types of ideas were running through my head as to what went wrong. Everything from them accidentally skipping my name on the call list to forgetting about me all together since I didn't get an email saying I was on the wait list. I was seriously devastated. I have worked my whole life to get into UMKC and done everything I needed. I felt confident about my interview and that I would get in without any trouble. So not hearing from them was the worst news I could imagine.
Later that night I called my mom and was talking to her about how I was concerned since I hadn't heard anything, but when she got home there was a letter in the mail from UMKC. It stated that I was put on the wait list and my application would be processed with a very select number of students for the second round of acceptance. So, there was my answer. I have no idea what went wrong, or what happened, but at least I still have a good chance of getting in.
So, now what?....
I am going to accept the seat with a deposit because I only have a few weeks to accept it or I will lose it.
Yesterday was disappointing, confusing, and upsetting but I know there is a reason this is happening. God is continually teaching me to trust and believe Him. Although it is sometimes hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know it is there. Wherever God wants me I am going to be a dentist! The fact that I even got accepted at all is huge and I don't want to sound ungrateful for being accepted. My number one word in life is "PATIENCE" Everywhere I turn I am slapped in the face with it. If I could just learn that everything doesn't happen when I expect it to, I think I would be a lot better off. God has a greater plan than I do for myself. So now.... I WAIT.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Less than 3 weeks left
On December 2nd I find out my future dental school, or dental school options. I can't believe it is so soon and will be here before I blink. On my birthday yesterday, I looked at the calendar and realized in 3 weeks I will no longer have to wonder where I will be next year. I definitely have my first choice picked out, but am still open to where God wants to put me. I only have 2 weeks left of school before Thanksgiving break, and the Monday after I come back to school I will be expecting calls on National Dental School Acceptance Day (yes, it's a real thing). It is usually on December 1st, but since it is a Sunday this year, it is December 2nd.
I am really excited for this day, not necessarily nervous. Please be praying that I stay calm and collected the next few weeks. Please pray that my heart will be ready for whatever comes of that day, and the news I receive or don't receive. Also, pray for opportunities to open that will continue to help me grow in every way (academic, dental, spiritual). Lastly, pray that everyday I remember to love those around me, to live my life more like Christ, and to share Christ's love with everyone I come in contact with. My next update will be after December 2nd, so buckle your seat belts and please pray!
I am really excited for this day, not necessarily nervous. Please be praying that I stay calm and collected the next few weeks. Please pray that my heart will be ready for whatever comes of that day, and the news I receive or don't receive. Also, pray for opportunities to open that will continue to help me grow in every way (academic, dental, spiritual). Lastly, pray that everyday I remember to love those around me, to live my life more like Christ, and to share Christ's love with everyone I come in contact with. My next update will be after December 2nd, so buckle your seat belts and please pray!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Blessings upon Blessings
Oct. 31, 2013
I had my interview at MOSDOH (the new ATSU dental school in Kirksville, MO). This was very nice for my schedule, since I live and go to school right down the street. I think the interview went very very well. I feel like the interviewers saw my passion for dentistry and compassion for others, which is always my goal in my interviews. It was actually the first time I mentioned that I was a christian, I didn't plan on revealing that or keeping it to myself, but it just came out. I felt super confident and it made my answers make more sense. They asked me "You said you know what you know, but what do you know that you don't know?" At first I was like, HUH?! Then I explained how I don't know what my future holds for me, but I know that wherever I end up is where I am suppose to be and that I can hold all these dreams and hopes, but there is no guarantee that any of those will actually happen. AND I am okay with that. I know God holds my life in His hands and I have nothing to worry about. God already knows what my future holds and I know it is more magnificent than I could ever dream or imagine. My God loves me, this I am sure. So, my interview was awesome, but I kept asking questions about faculty, the clinic in St. Louis, and the curriculum and there were so many unknowns because of the starting of the school. The first class just started in October, and there are many up-in-the-air decisions that kind of scare me. I am absolutely positive this school will be awesome someday, probably 5 years, but I do not want to be a guinea pig. I want to be the best dentist I can possibly be.
Nov. 2, 2013
Did I mention that my God loves me more than I could ever imagine? He blesses my life immeasurably more than I can imagine, EVERYDAY. So I competed in a case competition on this Saturday morning. The case was seeing our proposal of how my teammates and I would treat this patient and his family and how we as professionals would work together to make sure the patient was treated in the best possible way and that no gaps would be left in the treatment. We presented around 12 and then the awards ceremony was at 5. The competition was on the Kirksville ATSU campus and Mesa, AZ ATSU campus. We videoed the Mesa campus in and the first three teams of the whole competition were all from Mesa (all of them were graduate students). We thought the awards were done, but then they announced that there were some awards for the Kirksville campus. There were two teams who won $100 together and then they said and our Kirksville winner is Team K4 (MY TEAM!) We just looked at each other in shock! Then we realized we needed to get up and go accept our award. I won $100. What a huge blessing. Seriously, I have done nothing to deserve these gifts of goodness.
Since my last post I have honestly felt so empowered and blessed by the people around me, the people far away encouraging and praying for me (and even visiting me), my small group girls at KLife, my fellow KLife leaders, my family, my boyfriend, and my Jesus. I feel so at peace and know that whatever happens, happens for a reason. This semester has been rough academically, but I know that nothing can stop the plans God has for me. Nothing has stopped Him thus far, so I have no doubt that His plans are for me to become a dentist and serve His people in a way that few get to. I am so excited to get to rest in Him over Christmas break and just enjoy life with those who have blessed my life so much. Only 30 days until I find out where I will spend the next 4 years of school, learning to serve and treat others. Pray for His will!
I had my interview at MOSDOH (the new ATSU dental school in Kirksville, MO). This was very nice for my schedule, since I live and go to school right down the street. I think the interview went very very well. I feel like the interviewers saw my passion for dentistry and compassion for others, which is always my goal in my interviews. It was actually the first time I mentioned that I was a christian, I didn't plan on revealing that or keeping it to myself, but it just came out. I felt super confident and it made my answers make more sense. They asked me "You said you know what you know, but what do you know that you don't know?" At first I was like, HUH?! Then I explained how I don't know what my future holds for me, but I know that wherever I end up is where I am suppose to be and that I can hold all these dreams and hopes, but there is no guarantee that any of those will actually happen. AND I am okay with that. I know God holds my life in His hands and I have nothing to worry about. God already knows what my future holds and I know it is more magnificent than I could ever dream or imagine. My God loves me, this I am sure. So, my interview was awesome, but I kept asking questions about faculty, the clinic in St. Louis, and the curriculum and there were so many unknowns because of the starting of the school. The first class just started in October, and there are many up-in-the-air decisions that kind of scare me. I am absolutely positive this school will be awesome someday, probably 5 years, but I do not want to be a guinea pig. I want to be the best dentist I can possibly be.
Nov. 2, 2013
Did I mention that my God loves me more than I could ever imagine? He blesses my life immeasurably more than I can imagine, EVERYDAY. So I competed in a case competition on this Saturday morning. The case was seeing our proposal of how my teammates and I would treat this patient and his family and how we as professionals would work together to make sure the patient was treated in the best possible way and that no gaps would be left in the treatment. We presented around 12 and then the awards ceremony was at 5. The competition was on the Kirksville ATSU campus and Mesa, AZ ATSU campus. We videoed the Mesa campus in and the first three teams of the whole competition were all from Mesa (all of them were graduate students). We thought the awards were done, but then they announced that there were some awards for the Kirksville campus. There were two teams who won $100 together and then they said and our Kirksville winner is Team K4 (MY TEAM!) We just looked at each other in shock! Then we realized we needed to get up and go accept our award. I won $100. What a huge blessing. Seriously, I have done nothing to deserve these gifts of goodness.
Since my last post I have honestly felt so empowered and blessed by the people around me, the people far away encouraging and praying for me (and even visiting me), my small group girls at KLife, my fellow KLife leaders, my family, my boyfriend, and my Jesus. I feel so at peace and know that whatever happens, happens for a reason. This semester has been rough academically, but I know that nothing can stop the plans God has for me. Nothing has stopped Him thus far, so I have no doubt that His plans are for me to become a dentist and serve His people in a way that few get to. I am so excited to get to rest in Him over Christmas break and just enjoy life with those who have blessed my life so much. Only 30 days until I find out where I will spend the next 4 years of school, learning to serve and treat others. Pray for His will!
Monday, October 7, 2013
October Update
Everyone keeps asking me if I have heard from or when I will hear from dental schools for acceptance. December 2, 2013. The national dental school acceptance day. However, I could hear from them later than that as well.
As an update, I haven't received any more interview invitations. I am perfectly ok with this, I've missed quite a few days of school already and feel like it would be a big hassle to have to go to another school and miss class.
I've been looking more into the details of the schools I've interviewed at in regards to classes, schedules, and prices. Whenever I first got back from Arizona I was convinced that I wanted to go there. Now that I have looked at other details it isn't looking as good as I thought. I would only have 4 weeks off the whole entire year. Two at Christmas time and 2 in the summer. So, I kind of have plans for the first summer of dental school and two weeks is definitely not enough time. Also, Arizona would be triple the amount of UMKC because it is private and I'd have to pay living expenses. Not to mention the plane tickets to get home and back. Saying all that, I am still weighing my options and trust that God will open the right door for me and I will be exactly where I am suppose to be.
As an update, I haven't received any more interview invitations. I am perfectly ok with this, I've missed quite a few days of school already and feel like it would be a big hassle to have to go to another school and miss class.
I've been looking more into the details of the schools I've interviewed at in regards to classes, schedules, and prices. Whenever I first got back from Arizona I was convinced that I wanted to go there. Now that I have looked at other details it isn't looking as good as I thought. I would only have 4 weeks off the whole entire year. Two at Christmas time and 2 in the summer. So, I kind of have plans for the first summer of dental school and two weeks is definitely not enough time. Also, Arizona would be triple the amount of UMKC because it is private and I'd have to pay living expenses. Not to mention the plane tickets to get home and back. Saying all that, I am still weighing my options and trust that God will open the right door for me and I will be exactly where I am suppose to be.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Peace in the Waiting
When I first decided to go to school to become a dentist I was a little worried. I am in no means a genius and in no means qualified to become a dentist. However, after praying for months and months about my future school and career, I had a firm answer that God wanted me to be a dentist. I have done all the prerequisites, taken all the tests, done the community service and job shadowing. I've done all the pre-dental clubs and volunteering. When it came to apply I was worried. My science and math GPA was lower than most schools would like, I had a good, but not great DAT score, and I didn't have job experience in a dental office. All of these things I felt were negative aspects to my application and could keep me out of dental school.
I had calculated and weighed all these different things and had an idea of where my GPA sat and my overall application strength. After I turned in my application the website calculated my science and math GPA and it was higher than I thought. Also, I earned very good grades in organic chemistry II this summer after having a horrible experience with my organic I class. Then, later I found out that my grade appeal for organic I was approved and my grade would be changed to a higher grade. Then I received two interviews very quick and I was thinking wow, this is moving fast and going better than I could have imagined. I wondered why everything was going my way.
I am doing the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer and just finished the 5th week. The theme of the study is your weakness, God's strength. I was reminded that God doesn't call us to do everything, but to do what He asks and He will take care of the rest. This is exactly what God has done in my journey to dental school. I've done my best and what He has asked, and He has stepped in and done His part. Obedience is key. God doesn't just give us the things He calls us to, but calls us to work with Him and to reach for His path even when it seems impossible. It may look impossible, but God will step in when we've reached the point of total dependence on His power, grace, and victory. God is the reason for my success so far in the dental school application process.
I know God will put me exactly where He wants me to be. I am not worried, waiting until 12/2 to hear where I get accepted. I know God has great plans and as long as I continue to obey Him, His path for my life will be made clear.
I had calculated and weighed all these different things and had an idea of where my GPA sat and my overall application strength. After I turned in my application the website calculated my science and math GPA and it was higher than I thought. Also, I earned very good grades in organic chemistry II this summer after having a horrible experience with my organic I class. Then, later I found out that my grade appeal for organic I was approved and my grade would be changed to a higher grade. Then I received two interviews very quick and I was thinking wow, this is moving fast and going better than I could have imagined. I wondered why everything was going my way.
I am doing the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer and just finished the 5th week. The theme of the study is your weakness, God's strength. I was reminded that God doesn't call us to do everything, but to do what He asks and He will take care of the rest. This is exactly what God has done in my journey to dental school. I've done my best and what He has asked, and He has stepped in and done His part. Obedience is key. God doesn't just give us the things He calls us to, but calls us to work with Him and to reach for His path even when it seems impossible. It may look impossible, but God will step in when we've reached the point of total dependence on His power, grace, and victory. God is the reason for my success so far in the dental school application process.
I know God will put me exactly where He wants me to be. I am not worried, waiting until 12/2 to hear where I get accepted. I know God has great plans and as long as I continue to obey Him, His path for my life will be made clear.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Dental School Application Adventure Details
Ok, so everyone keeps asking me all the details of my dental school application process. There are so many details though. If I told everyone all of them I would never stop talking about it. So I am going to try to lay it all down. To start off I want to emphasize how much work applying is, and how much money my parents have spent to help me reach my dreams. There is NO WAY I would have been able to afford any of this without their support. This has truly been a journey and it is such an honor to come as far as I have so far.
January 11, 2013.
I took the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Dental school specific test that has four parts: Math, Science (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry), Reading, and Perceptual Ability Test (PAT). The test takes four hours and is very tough. I spent three months studying for it and earned an 18 out of 30 which is a very good score.
June 3, 2013.
I filled out my dental school application online through a website called AADSAS. This site allows you to apply one time and then send it to whatever schools you wish. It took about five hours to fill out everything. I chose to send my application to six schools. The schools: University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City (UMKC), MO, Creighton University in Omaha, NE, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH) in Mesa, AZ, Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH) in Kirksville, MO, and University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. You may be wondering why I applied to schools so far away. Well, there are not very many dental schools, UMKC was the only one in Missouri until this year when MOSDOH opened. I had a tough time narrowing it down to schools I would be happy at and an area that would be able to provide my boyfriend of almost five years, Luke, a place of employment in the area of mechanical engineering. Luke will graduate from University of Missouri Science & Technology in May 2015 so I will still have three years of dental school after he graduates. So him having a job in the area where I go to school is an important detail.
July & beginning of August, 2013.
I began receiving offers form dental schools to fill out secondary applications. What this is is another application, pretty similar to the one from AADSAS but more detailed and specific to their school. So I got emails and secondary applications from all the schools except Iowa. I found out Iowa had deferred my application mid-August, due to not being a resident of Iowa.
August 2, 2013.
I received an interview invitation from ASDOH! I was very surprised that I heard back that quickly and scheduled my interview for September 24, 2013. I worked out all the details of my flights and shuttle later. My parents decided that because I am only 20 and can't rent a hotel room or car, it would work best to fly there and back in the same day. My mom wanted to go with me, but my dad didn't want to spend the extra money for her to go too.
August 9, 2013.
Went suit shopping and bought my very first suits! A black skirt suit and a gray pantsuit.
August 21, 2013.
I received an interview invitation from UMKC! Later I found out I was in the first round of people they accepted for an interview, which is a BIG deal. I called and they told me September 9, 2013. I was not prepared for it to be that soon, but said okay I'll be there. They sent me an email with a supplemental interview application. The application was nine pages long, 10 point font. It took me a week to fill out.
August 28, 2013.
I had a mock interview through Truman State's career center. I learned what I needed to improve and what my strengths were. The student who interviewed me told me I had really nice expressive eyebrows. What a complement! Ha!
September 9, 2013.
I interviewed at UMKC. I came home the weekend before so I could just get up and go that Monday. The day started at 8:00am and went until 3:30pm. At 8:00 they introduced the school and explained the activities for the day. There were 11 other people besides me, 2 girls and 9 guys. Three of the guys were from New Mexico, one guy from Arkansas, and the rest were from Missouri. UMKC really likes instate students, but has agreements with a few other states to allow a couple students from states where there isn't a dental school. We were informed that day that we were the first group of students to interview and that we should be very proud of that. We each had one faculty member that interviewed us that day and it was very relaxed. My interviewer only asked me four questions I really had to think about. She asked "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" What is the difference between a business person and a professional?" "Why do you want to go to UMKC?" "How will you deal with not providing perfect dental care?" Besides these questions she told me why I was going to be a great dentist. She asked if I had ever thought about becoming a dental school teacher and pretty much told me answers she really liked from my interview application. The rest of the day I listened to people talk up the school and the clinic. I job shadowed (again) in the clinic and got to shadow Kati Pyle, a Truman State Alumni. She told me that the first two days of interviews are very selective, and if you get one of those interviews you are in. Another student told me this later on in the day too. I had to do a 10 minute timed writing sample about an ethical scenario. A student was caught cheating on an exam and I had to explain the problems, what the teacher should do, and what I would do. At the end of the day they checked to make sure I had all my prerequisite classes taken or lined up and got a free shirt. I felt really good leaving this interview day, and felt confident that this is where I want to go and where God wants me to be too.
September 24, 2013.
The craziest day of my life. I came home from school the afternoon before, had chipotle for dinner, borrowed Shayna's (Luke's sister) bag, and got everything ready. I went to bed at 8:00pm and didn't fall asleep until 10:00pm. I woke up at 2:30am, after only 4 and a half hours of sleep, and got ready for my big day. I wore my suit all day and heels for the majority of it. I left my house at 3:30am and got to the Kansas City airport at 4:30am. My flight left at 5:45am. I tried so hard to sleep on the plane, but had no luck because I couldn't get comfortable. I can't sleep on cars either, so this didn't surprise me. I got the Phoenix, AZ at 6:45am, my flight was 2 hours and 45 minutes, but there is a two hour time change. Let me just add that I haven't flown on an airplane, or been inside of an airport since I was in 4th grade. So, 10 years later I am flying across the country by myself. I found my shuttle van service point and left the airport at 7:00am. I got to ASDOH at 7:30am and found where I was suppose to go. I got my name tag and waited.
The other applicants started arriving and I began talking to them. I found out that I was the youngest by five years. There were 7 other applicants, 3 girls and 4 guys. We were all from different parts of the country. A girl, no woman, was from New Jersey, now living in Las Vegas. She had graduated college, become a financial officer for the Air Force for four years, joined the Army and was a financial officer for them for four years, and now back in school completing her prerequisites for dental school. Talk about a career change, I didn't ask how old she was, but in her 30s at least. Another girl was from New York, working on her Masters in Biology. A girl from Washington working on a Master's degree of some kind. A guy from Wisconsin who had an interview last year, but didn't get in and had finished his degree and worked as a carpet cleaner since graduation. A guy from Mesa, AZ who was married and going to school at Arizona State, I think on his Master's. A guy from Texas, living in California now working on his Master's in Biochemistry. Lastly, a guy from Texas finishing his Master's in Public Health. So, as you can probably imagine, I felt like a black sheep in this group of older, more educated people. Also, by the time all the interview stuff was getting started, I was beginning to feel the exhaustion come. We first had an introduction of the day and then the dean came and talked to us. He was really fun and energetic and told us a lot about why the school is so special. Then we took a manual dexterity test with the Purdue Pegboard. Then we had to do a presentation in groups of four. Our prompt asked what access to healthcare is, 3-5 issues with it, and 3-5 ways we can fix the issues. So I said quality of care and explained how continuing education and other things can help increase the quality of a professional. Then we went to the actual school building and the interview portion began. I was the first interview and had two faculty members in my room. This interview was much more formal than the one at UMKC. They asked me a lot of questions and wrote down a lot of stuff. They didn't really give me any feedback about my answers, so I don't know for sure what they thought of my answers. However, I feel confident in my answers and feel like I portrayed my strengths and assets well. Then I had to watch a 20 minute video about the school and then one about their fourth year rotation cycle. By this time, I was having trouble focusing and started to dose off. I found a vending machine and got a Dr. Pepper to give me some energy. Then I talked with the secretary about my prerequisites and my plan for what classes I am taking now and in the fall. Last part of the formal interviews was talking with the Chair of Admissions. He didn't ask me questions like the other interview, but gave me a series of scenarios and asked how I would handle them. Most of them were ethical problems and then some were about my study habits and attendance to class. This interview went very well as he said "Oh, good, yes" to every single answer I gave. Then we went on a tour of the clinic, I was AMAZED. It is so incredibly nice and up-to-date. The whole clinic is as nice as or nicer than any dentist office I have ever been in. It actually looks like a dental office and is set up very well. I learned so many things that made me love this school. I absolutely fell in love with this school and everything about it. Then we had lunch and were fitted for our white lab coats that we will get in the first week of school, upon acceptance.
I left ASDOH at 1:05pm on the same shuttle service van and got to the airport at 1:30pm. I went through security and then found my gate. Then I went to try to find somewhere to buy a Dr. Pepper and plug in my phone. So I start walking and find a place to plug-in my phone, but keep going to find a Dr. Pepper because all I can find is Pepsi products. Then I realize that I just walked out of the area I had just went through security to get into and couldn't turn around. So, I went through security, AGAIN and then right outside of security I found a much needed Dr. Pepper. Then I plugged my phone in, later realizing they have plug in stations which I had completely missed. This, my friends, is what happens to me when I am running on little sleep and a long day. I completely lose my mind. Also, all I had eaten up to this point was two granola bars, some almonds, fruit snacks, and half a turkey wrap from the school. So, I went to my gate and had another granola bar. I got in line once they started boarding, which was the longest line I had stood in all day, so I can't complain too much. I was really started to feel exhausted at this point and just wanted to lay down and sleep. I got on the plane and a guy was sitting in my seat because his wife and baby's seats were there. I was like seriously? But I switched seats with him so my seat was then three rows from the back of the plane, but I was happy I didn't have to sit by a baby for two hours. My flight left at 4:00pm and I got to Denver at 6:50pm after waiting for the whole entire plane to get off I then checked the board for which gate my connecting plane was at because it hadn't been assigned when I got my boarding pass. I was at gate 24 and had to run (now wearing flats for the first time all day) from one side of the airport to the other to gate 73. I got to my gate and realized there was no way I would have time to get food before they started boarding and ate a clif bar and the rest of my almonds instead. This plane was super small and I had to walk outside to board, after walking down a flight of stairs into another long hallway. I left Denver at 7:30pm. I did homework on this flight because it was so uncomfortable and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. I got to Kansas City at 10:20pm and my awesome mom was there waiting for me. Completely exhausted I was ready to go home.
So, all in all. The day was horrible, but worth it. I want to go to ASDOH more than anything. They have an actual residency the 4th year of school, which is 4 rotations of 4-6 weeks in an actual dental office. So where other schools only work in the school's clinic and see one patient in the morning and one at night. You would see 10-20 patients a day. ASDOH has the most clinical hours of any dental school and they beat the number 2 school by 1,000 hours! Also, the first year is all class work and it is modular curriculum. This means that each subject is 1-3 weeks long and you are tested and move on. I love that! I get so bored with the same topic for a whole semester and think I would really learn well if I could just focus on it for a couple weeks and be done. The second year is all in a simulation lab. They have actual mannequins with teeth, so instead of just working on a set of teeth without a head connected to them, I would have experience working around cheeks, and shoulders, and being able to use the patient's chin or cheek to anchor my hand. Also, I don't have to do any lab work. This is so important to me because I think it is silly to have to learn how to make a wax up, or make a denture when I am never going to have to do that when I'm a dentist. Everything is sent off and done in a lab. The reason they do this is because they have a lab in the same building as the clinic! So you just take it upstairs and they make it for you. The third year is all in the clinic, which like I said is AMAZING! You rent your instruments, that way if anything breaks, they replace it for free. They also clean all the instruments and put them in your locker for you. They are all paperless and have a huge client base so I wouldn't have to find my own patients. They have a comprehensive clinic set-up so the dentists come to me instead of me taking my patient to each department. This gives dentists a broad view of the patient as a whole instead of working on each individual problem at a time. Also, ASDOH doesn't have any specialty programs so I would get to do the hard stuff that the specialty residents would get at other schools. I would learn how to do implants here too! The fourth year is half clinic and half residency. They have 67 clinics across the US that you choose from. You have to do 4, 4-6 week residency, but there are 18 in Arizona that are within driving distance, in case you don't want to move around. This is a huge deal. This gives students real world experience where they learn what real dentistry is like and perform so many more procedures. Also, an impressive fact: 76 students are in each class, last year 36 students applied to a specialty program, ALL 36 of them were accepted into their top choice! Specialty programs are TOUGH to get into, we are talking 3 people get accepted in most cases. That shows that there is something special about this school, if all these other schools are accepting ASDOH graduates over other schools. On top of all of this, Arizona is beautiful, at least what I saw of it in my hour commute.
September 25, 2013.
Now I wait until December 2, 2013 to hear back from schools. It could also be later than that, and I could still have more interviews at other schools.
January 11, 2013.
I took the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Dental school specific test that has four parts: Math, Science (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry), Reading, and Perceptual Ability Test (PAT). The test takes four hours and is very tough. I spent three months studying for it and earned an 18 out of 30 which is a very good score.
June 3, 2013.
I filled out my dental school application online through a website called AADSAS. This site allows you to apply one time and then send it to whatever schools you wish. It took about five hours to fill out everything. I chose to send my application to six schools. The schools: University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City (UMKC), MO, Creighton University in Omaha, NE, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH) in Mesa, AZ, Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH) in Kirksville, MO, and University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. You may be wondering why I applied to schools so far away. Well, there are not very many dental schools, UMKC was the only one in Missouri until this year when MOSDOH opened. I had a tough time narrowing it down to schools I would be happy at and an area that would be able to provide my boyfriend of almost five years, Luke, a place of employment in the area of mechanical engineering. Luke will graduate from University of Missouri Science & Technology in May 2015 so I will still have three years of dental school after he graduates. So him having a job in the area where I go to school is an important detail.
July & beginning of August, 2013.
I began receiving offers form dental schools to fill out secondary applications. What this is is another application, pretty similar to the one from AADSAS but more detailed and specific to their school. So I got emails and secondary applications from all the schools except Iowa. I found out Iowa had deferred my application mid-August, due to not being a resident of Iowa.
August 2, 2013.
I received an interview invitation from ASDOH! I was very surprised that I heard back that quickly and scheduled my interview for September 24, 2013. I worked out all the details of my flights and shuttle later. My parents decided that because I am only 20 and can't rent a hotel room or car, it would work best to fly there and back in the same day. My mom wanted to go with me, but my dad didn't want to spend the extra money for her to go too.
August 9, 2013.
Went suit shopping and bought my very first suits! A black skirt suit and a gray pantsuit.
August 21, 2013.
I received an interview invitation from UMKC! Later I found out I was in the first round of people they accepted for an interview, which is a BIG deal. I called and they told me September 9, 2013. I was not prepared for it to be that soon, but said okay I'll be there. They sent me an email with a supplemental interview application. The application was nine pages long, 10 point font. It took me a week to fill out.
August 28, 2013.
I had a mock interview through Truman State's career center. I learned what I needed to improve and what my strengths were. The student who interviewed me told me I had really nice expressive eyebrows. What a complement! Ha!
September 9, 2013.
I interviewed at UMKC. I came home the weekend before so I could just get up and go that Monday. The day started at 8:00am and went until 3:30pm. At 8:00 they introduced the school and explained the activities for the day. There were 11 other people besides me, 2 girls and 9 guys. Three of the guys were from New Mexico, one guy from Arkansas, and the rest were from Missouri. UMKC really likes instate students, but has agreements with a few other states to allow a couple students from states where there isn't a dental school. We were informed that day that we were the first group of students to interview and that we should be very proud of that. We each had one faculty member that interviewed us that day and it was very relaxed. My interviewer only asked me four questions I really had to think about. She asked "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" What is the difference between a business person and a professional?" "Why do you want to go to UMKC?" "How will you deal with not providing perfect dental care?" Besides these questions she told me why I was going to be a great dentist. She asked if I had ever thought about becoming a dental school teacher and pretty much told me answers she really liked from my interview application. The rest of the day I listened to people talk up the school and the clinic. I job shadowed (again) in the clinic and got to shadow Kati Pyle, a Truman State Alumni. She told me that the first two days of interviews are very selective, and if you get one of those interviews you are in. Another student told me this later on in the day too. I had to do a 10 minute timed writing sample about an ethical scenario. A student was caught cheating on an exam and I had to explain the problems, what the teacher should do, and what I would do. At the end of the day they checked to make sure I had all my prerequisite classes taken or lined up and got a free shirt. I felt really good leaving this interview day, and felt confident that this is where I want to go and where God wants me to be too.
September 24, 2013.
The craziest day of my life. I came home from school the afternoon before, had chipotle for dinner, borrowed Shayna's (Luke's sister) bag, and got everything ready. I went to bed at 8:00pm and didn't fall asleep until 10:00pm. I woke up at 2:30am, after only 4 and a half hours of sleep, and got ready for my big day. I wore my suit all day and heels for the majority of it. I left my house at 3:30am and got to the Kansas City airport at 4:30am. My flight left at 5:45am. I tried so hard to sleep on the plane, but had no luck because I couldn't get comfortable. I can't sleep on cars either, so this didn't surprise me. I got the Phoenix, AZ at 6:45am, my flight was 2 hours and 45 minutes, but there is a two hour time change. Let me just add that I haven't flown on an airplane, or been inside of an airport since I was in 4th grade. So, 10 years later I am flying across the country by myself. I found my shuttle van service point and left the airport at 7:00am. I got to ASDOH at 7:30am and found where I was suppose to go. I got my name tag and waited.
The other applicants started arriving and I began talking to them. I found out that I was the youngest by five years. There were 7 other applicants, 3 girls and 4 guys. We were all from different parts of the country. A girl, no woman, was from New Jersey, now living in Las Vegas. She had graduated college, become a financial officer for the Air Force for four years, joined the Army and was a financial officer for them for four years, and now back in school completing her prerequisites for dental school. Talk about a career change, I didn't ask how old she was, but in her 30s at least. Another girl was from New York, working on her Masters in Biology. A girl from Washington working on a Master's degree of some kind. A guy from Wisconsin who had an interview last year, but didn't get in and had finished his degree and worked as a carpet cleaner since graduation. A guy from Mesa, AZ who was married and going to school at Arizona State, I think on his Master's. A guy from Texas, living in California now working on his Master's in Biochemistry. Lastly, a guy from Texas finishing his Master's in Public Health. So, as you can probably imagine, I felt like a black sheep in this group of older, more educated people. Also, by the time all the interview stuff was getting started, I was beginning to feel the exhaustion come. We first had an introduction of the day and then the dean came and talked to us. He was really fun and energetic and told us a lot about why the school is so special. Then we took a manual dexterity test with the Purdue Pegboard. Then we had to do a presentation in groups of four. Our prompt asked what access to healthcare is, 3-5 issues with it, and 3-5 ways we can fix the issues. So I said quality of care and explained how continuing education and other things can help increase the quality of a professional. Then we went to the actual school building and the interview portion began. I was the first interview and had two faculty members in my room. This interview was much more formal than the one at UMKC. They asked me a lot of questions and wrote down a lot of stuff. They didn't really give me any feedback about my answers, so I don't know for sure what they thought of my answers. However, I feel confident in my answers and feel like I portrayed my strengths and assets well. Then I had to watch a 20 minute video about the school and then one about their fourth year rotation cycle. By this time, I was having trouble focusing and started to dose off. I found a vending machine and got a Dr. Pepper to give me some energy. Then I talked with the secretary about my prerequisites and my plan for what classes I am taking now and in the fall. Last part of the formal interviews was talking with the Chair of Admissions. He didn't ask me questions like the other interview, but gave me a series of scenarios and asked how I would handle them. Most of them were ethical problems and then some were about my study habits and attendance to class. This interview went very well as he said "Oh, good, yes" to every single answer I gave. Then we went on a tour of the clinic, I was AMAZED. It is so incredibly nice and up-to-date. The whole clinic is as nice as or nicer than any dentist office I have ever been in. It actually looks like a dental office and is set up very well. I learned so many things that made me love this school. I absolutely fell in love with this school and everything about it. Then we had lunch and were fitted for our white lab coats that we will get in the first week of school, upon acceptance.
I left ASDOH at 1:05pm on the same shuttle service van and got to the airport at 1:30pm. I went through security and then found my gate. Then I went to try to find somewhere to buy a Dr. Pepper and plug in my phone. So I start walking and find a place to plug-in my phone, but keep going to find a Dr. Pepper because all I can find is Pepsi products. Then I realize that I just walked out of the area I had just went through security to get into and couldn't turn around. So, I went through security, AGAIN and then right outside of security I found a much needed Dr. Pepper. Then I plugged my phone in, later realizing they have plug in stations which I had completely missed. This, my friends, is what happens to me when I am running on little sleep and a long day. I completely lose my mind. Also, all I had eaten up to this point was two granola bars, some almonds, fruit snacks, and half a turkey wrap from the school. So, I went to my gate and had another granola bar. I got in line once they started boarding, which was the longest line I had stood in all day, so I can't complain too much. I was really started to feel exhausted at this point and just wanted to lay down and sleep. I got on the plane and a guy was sitting in my seat because his wife and baby's seats were there. I was like seriously? But I switched seats with him so my seat was then three rows from the back of the plane, but I was happy I didn't have to sit by a baby for two hours. My flight left at 4:00pm and I got to Denver at 6:50pm after waiting for the whole entire plane to get off I then checked the board for which gate my connecting plane was at because it hadn't been assigned when I got my boarding pass. I was at gate 24 and had to run (now wearing flats for the first time all day) from one side of the airport to the other to gate 73. I got to my gate and realized there was no way I would have time to get food before they started boarding and ate a clif bar and the rest of my almonds instead. This plane was super small and I had to walk outside to board, after walking down a flight of stairs into another long hallway. I left Denver at 7:30pm. I did homework on this flight because it was so uncomfortable and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. I got to Kansas City at 10:20pm and my awesome mom was there waiting for me. Completely exhausted I was ready to go home.
So, all in all. The day was horrible, but worth it. I want to go to ASDOH more than anything. They have an actual residency the 4th year of school, which is 4 rotations of 4-6 weeks in an actual dental office. So where other schools only work in the school's clinic and see one patient in the morning and one at night. You would see 10-20 patients a day. ASDOH has the most clinical hours of any dental school and they beat the number 2 school by 1,000 hours! Also, the first year is all class work and it is modular curriculum. This means that each subject is 1-3 weeks long and you are tested and move on. I love that! I get so bored with the same topic for a whole semester and think I would really learn well if I could just focus on it for a couple weeks and be done. The second year is all in a simulation lab. They have actual mannequins with teeth, so instead of just working on a set of teeth without a head connected to them, I would have experience working around cheeks, and shoulders, and being able to use the patient's chin or cheek to anchor my hand. Also, I don't have to do any lab work. This is so important to me because I think it is silly to have to learn how to make a wax up, or make a denture when I am never going to have to do that when I'm a dentist. Everything is sent off and done in a lab. The reason they do this is because they have a lab in the same building as the clinic! So you just take it upstairs and they make it for you. The third year is all in the clinic, which like I said is AMAZING! You rent your instruments, that way if anything breaks, they replace it for free. They also clean all the instruments and put them in your locker for you. They are all paperless and have a huge client base so I wouldn't have to find my own patients. They have a comprehensive clinic set-up so the dentists come to me instead of me taking my patient to each department. This gives dentists a broad view of the patient as a whole instead of working on each individual problem at a time. Also, ASDOH doesn't have any specialty programs so I would get to do the hard stuff that the specialty residents would get at other schools. I would learn how to do implants here too! The fourth year is half clinic and half residency. They have 67 clinics across the US that you choose from. You have to do 4, 4-6 week residency, but there are 18 in Arizona that are within driving distance, in case you don't want to move around. This is a huge deal. This gives students real world experience where they learn what real dentistry is like and perform so many more procedures. Also, an impressive fact: 76 students are in each class, last year 36 students applied to a specialty program, ALL 36 of them were accepted into their top choice! Specialty programs are TOUGH to get into, we are talking 3 people get accepted in most cases. That shows that there is something special about this school, if all these other schools are accepting ASDOH graduates over other schools. On top of all of this, Arizona is beautiful, at least what I saw of it in my hour commute.
September 25, 2013.
Now I wait until December 2, 2013 to hear back from schools. It could also be later than that, and I could still have more interviews at other schools.
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