Take a Year Off?
Some students, for various reasons, opt to take a year off
before entering graduate school. However, this is not usually
the case with dental students, who generally go directly to
dental school. Still, deciding to wait is a personal choice and
thus there is no right or wrong decision. The most important
thing is that you ask yourself exactly why you want to
wait.
After 4 years of college and
hundreds of stressful tests, papers, and projects, most
students say they are exhausted and need some time off from the
world of education. This is both a normal and understandable
sentiment.
But the summer might be able to cure this malaise. Remember
that you still have 3 to 4 months before school would start,
which could be a substantial amount of time to recuperate.
Depending on your financial situation, you could travel a bit
and only work part time somewhere far removed from academia or
your field of study. If you are certain that dentistry is for
you and your only reason for delaying dental school is that you
are tired, it is probably best to attend following your senior
year. Dental schools expect that everything you have learned as
an undergraduate is fresh in your mind. The longer you wait,
the fainter the material will grow.
Nonetheless, there are some good reasons to postpone entry. If
you did not get into any schools that you would seriously
consider attending, using a year to improve DAT scores, gain
experience, or enhance your resume may be a good idea. If you
are unsure about your desire to pursue the career or field
altogether, this also may warrant some time off to contemplate
your decision.
Dental school requires a ton of personal motivation and
commitment. If these elements are missing and you are not
completely devoted to your studies you may find it hard to
succeed. Perhaps a year to reflect will revive your passion for
dentistry, help to clarify your goals, and fuel the needed
effort.
If you do chose to take a year off know that you should be prepared to explain the
reasons for your decision, what you learned during your year
(or more) off, and how it enhanced your knowledge, experience,
and candidacy.
Taking a year off is a big decision. Don't make up your mind
before you think about your reasons for wanting to do so. Weigh
your options carefully and do what is best for you.
