How have you prepared yourself for the coursework and expectations of dental school?
Attending dental school is a highly involved commitment, and your actions towards preparing for this opportunity say a lot about your ambition and commitment. Yet, this question goes deeper than possibly relocating to a new city, the financial stress, and how you've mentally prepared to ground yourself. It also concerns the actions you've taken to prepare yourself for the hard work ahead and the research you've performed to understand what that future looks like, in addition to putting in the work necessary before you are even accepted into a university.
For example, the following is from their website: "To prepare for a career in dental medicine, your pre-professional education should include courses in biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, health, and mathematics. For admission, most professional schools of dental medicine require a bachelor's degree, often in a science-related subject, as well as recommendations, evidence of community involvement, and a personal interview." Consider these points when thoroughly answering this question.
"I have formed a three-pronged plan to tackle the stressors that may come up for me during dental school. These three approaches will address my academic stress, the emotional strain of adjusting to my new surroundings as I relocate, and the financial strain I will experience due to paying for dental school. For academic stress, I plan to create a study schedule that I will stick to closely. I will join study groups to gain a broader perspective from others, and I have made arrangements for a part-time tutor if needed. For the strain that will result from uprooting myself, I have planned to join a couple of university clubs to get to know other students and make new friends, avoiding feelings of loneliness. I also plan to Facetime my family every week to prevent myself from feeling homesick. I have come to terms with the financial expectations of becoming a dentist. I have created a solid financial plan to pay back my loans, and I enlisted a financial advisor to help me create a student budget that I will adhere to closely. I feel well-prepared to cope with and address the immense workload and other expectations ahead of me as a dental school student."
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