Dental School or MBA??

Question:

I recently graduated from UT Austin with a degree in biochemistry with hopes of going to dental school. My first attempt didn't work out but I have recently been admitted to a post-bac program that has a proven track record (80% success rate) of getting students like myself into dental and medical schools. So it would take 2 yrs of that plus 4 yrs of dental school. However I currently have a great job doing finance, and also got accepted to an evening MBA program in Dallas (I applied to both schools at the same time). I'm completely torn between the two options but have to make a decision soon. Obviously a career in dentistry would be a much better decision financially, but a much harder road to complete. I just think moving away from friends and family for 6 years while accumulating debt would be tough, but the pay-off would be huge (my dentist wants me to take over his practice). Anyone out there that was in a similar position as mine, or anyone have any advice to offer? Thanks!

Answer:
I am in Dental school and it usually takes two application periods to get in. You should apply again. Most get in the second time. Nevermind debt..I think you better get your DMD and forget about the other degree that everyone has. The money is great and the jobs and specialties are endless. Who ever told you about the two year plan and then dental school doesnt have personality, If there is a school you want to attend...get on a plane and go there. Tell them this is what you want to do and watch what happens. Serious people go knocking on doors and get to where they are going...you can do it..don't wait for the letter in the mail...make it happen. That is what I did...and I didnt have the best grades and highest DAT scores. I had drive and they saw it when I showed up. Good luck..it will be one of the most difficult journeys of your life.but way worth it. My older brother just graduated and got liscensed and I am about two years away myself. Take your DAT and try to score above 19...and you should be golden!

You should really go for whatever you have a passion for. Yes, yes, money is tempting, but believe me, if you are going to spend 40 hours a week (or more) for the rest of your life doing something you hate, you are going to regret it no matter what. Now, if you have an equal passion for both (you are not very clear about it), I would go for dentistry. I think you should always try the hardest thing first. If it doesn't work out, then it is much easier for you to go back to finance. About moving away from friends and family, don't look at it like a break up, you will see them enough, and most likely you will make new ones, plus, if this is your first time away from home, then by all means take the opportunity. There's no better way to really see what you are made off, until you have only yourself to rely on.

Well there is a big dif in jobs from a dentist to someone with an MBA. Can you handle / do you want to work with BLOOD and possibly work on dead people? OR do you want to sit in a quiet little office reading numbers all day?
Finance you dont really work with people, you work alone with papers.
Dentists work on people all the time and spend their days in blood, tissue, and plaque/calculus. So decide what type of life you rather have and what you can handle. My brother couldnt handle working on dead people or blood so he decided not to become a dentist.

Dental School or MBA??

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