After graduating from Georgia Tech, I began dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dental school lasts for four years, after which I will have the option to begin practicing as a general dentist or apply to a variety of specialty residencies. I'm very interested in pursuing general dentistry after graduation. General dentistry will provide me with the opportunity to help patients improve their oral healthcare from a comprehensive viewpoint. I look forward to seeing the same patients on a regular basis and working with them to improve oral hygiene at home and prevent future oral health issues. I like the idea of being able to provide a wide range of services to my patients.
A lot of dentistry is related to biological processes occurring within patients' mouths. Georgia Tech classes gave me an excellent background in the subjects studied extensively in the first two years of dental school. I felt proficient in many subjects covered during the first semester, and felt very prepared to tackle the more in depth material in subsequent semesters. The Biology program at Tech also helped me prepare for dental school by providing tons of opportunities to get involved outside of class through research, clubs, etc.
1. Read your e-mails. This is so important! All the opportunities available to you are announced via some e-mail or another. Even if you don't read every word give each e-mail a good once-over, or you'll find that you've missed out!
2. Use the classes you can choose on your own to tailor your education to your future goals. Research what topics correlate best with your interests and career goals, and enroll in those. It may take a little extra work now, but you'll be glad you have that strong background later!
3. Try something new. Whether you're applying for jobs or further education after graduation, your interviewers will want to know about your personality and experiences. There's no better way to share that than by talking about something you'd never done before. Being committed to an activity, hobby, or organization is important, but don't limit yourself to what you already know! Be open to opportunities for personal growth.
