I want to eventually become a dentist, I need to know the steps to obtaining my degree, any help?

Question

do I need my bachelors in biology, then transfer to dental school? or whats the deal?!?

Answer 1

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.

Typically, you graduate from college after 4 years with a bachelor's degree and then start dental school, which is a whole separate entity from college. Some colleges offer combined programs where the really bright and focused student might be able to combine some credits and actually enter dental school before receiving the undergraduate degree. Obviously, you would have to know this well in advance, as it might even determine where you apply to college. You do not have to disclose this intention as you are applying to the college, but you need to look into the program almost immediately, because it will determine quite a bit about what courses you need to take as soon as possible in college.

Answer 2

My friend is a dentist and he studied only 4-5 years after he graduated from high school.
the years you have to study to become a dentist is less than the years you have to study to become a doctor.

Answer 3

where are you planning to study? its different depending on your location. in canada, you have to study 4 years to get your bachlor in dental hygiene then from there you can proceed to medicine, dentistry etc.