What does it take to be a dentist?

What high school courses should I take to help become a dentist?

• I am a sophomore in high school. We just filled out the courses we wanted to take next year and I feel like I put a lot on my shoulders with sports and a job also after school. If I do not need to take some classes then I will lighten my schedule up for next year. Here are my classes next year: -Chemistry -Anatomy and Physiology -Algebra 2 -Pre Calculus -Current Events -Government -English 11 Estimated classes for 2014: -Physics -Calculus -English 12 -Accounting -Fitness and Nutrition (Advanced foods and you) (Drawing) I was wondering if these courses listed above are a good way to get started to become a dentist? I was looking throughout other questions and websites, and it does not look like Anatomy is very advised to take in high school? SUMMARY: -Are these good courses to take to prepare for courses in college to become a dentist? -Should I take Anatomy and Physiology? -Around what gpa should I want to be sitting on as a high school student wanting to enter The Ohio State University to start a road to Dental School? Thank you very much!!!! (will choose best answer)

• Answer:

  That is an intense course load for a high school student, especially if you are doing a sports and working. I did both in high school as well and my only regret is that I didn't relax more. Honestly your high school courses(even AP) aren't really comparable to high school classes and won't really help you that much. If anything I would suggest that you start shadowing during 11th or 12th grade and doing volunteer work. You needs hundreds of hours in both to get into dental school. I had like 200hrs of dental shadowing by the time I graduated and I applied that to my dental school applications 5 years later. Plus in college, its harder to find the time and my high school had an internship program so I actually got credit for it. So basically relax on the class load so that instead of spending hours doing hw that won't help you in college-you can spend that time getting dental experience and enjoying your life (pre-health majors in college are miserable so don't burn yourself out to early on)