Weeks 3 & 4 - First exam, quizzes, and a thing that may be a heartbeat

Day 11 - Exam 1 - Anatomy. 
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I stopped there and reread that sentence. Didn't I just get here?
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Studying for anatomy can get overwhelming if you let it.
Resources I use: flash cards (printed, written and electronic), a skull & bones (don't call Spencer Reid, I'm not graverobbing), textbook & atlases (printed and electronic), that awesome app (Essential anatomy) expensive but badass, boards prep material, Softchalks, Thieme online dissector, my donor, professor, classmates. There's really no excuse for me to not learn!

What is the thing? A vein, artery, muscle, nerve...? How do you know that? What does the thing do? Where is it? What is it by and do they relate?


K.I.S.S.
Two more quizzes. I see...I'll just assume there's a quiz everyday and I'll be safe.

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Yeehaw dental anatomy! Composition and development of enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum, PDL, gingiva...lots and lots of material! There's also taking vitals (listening for a heartbeat and hearing what sounds like ocean with a mix of random mummerings of classmates) and recording patient history. This included a glucose test! Ouch!! The first drop of blood has been shed at dental school. But my glucose level is "within normal limits" so I got that going for me.

Three more weeks until first exam block and what I have learned so far is enough for a semester.

Week 2 - Looking at life upside down

Not only do you have to sit with perfect geometrical configuration both parallel and perpendicular to the floor, knees, thighs, chair seat and chair back.

Not only do you have to put the patient in a certain position depending on which tooth you're working on.

Not only do you have to place yourself in a certain position depending on the tooth--and the light--and the instrument tray....

You have to see and view the patient's tooth upside down and backward in a mirror.

We did a cool exercise to practice this by writing our names on paper upside down using the mirror. Mine was legible! Barely.
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In other news, academic classes have gone insane. Last week was a nice rosy introduction and all of a sudden we have to know most of the brachial plexus (along with how it works and how it developed) along with everything around it (and how it works, what innervates and supplies it). Along with the physiology, histology and embryology of muscles (all types, everywhere). No exaggeration here. In fact, I'm quite sure I'm missing something from this quaint list.

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My organization has to change!! I'm used to classes being separate and having a folder for each class. That won't cut it anymore. I can only separate things into two compartments now--academic and dental. I either need to start loving electronic files or use up all of my printing credits. We'll see--but I'm starting to feel the pressure. I have to study almost everyday now to make sure not to get behind!

Over and out.

Week 1 - DONE!!

Dental school isn't so bad so far! Granted, I've only been here five days 😁.

Our dental component has started too. We started to wax. That stuff is a little tricky but it's a bit therapeutic.

Here's a picture of my first project!

#8MFL

Cool huh? I think so. We have about 10 intruments to choose from and what's cool is that our professors show us ways to do the project, but ultimately it's up to you on how you want to use the instruments or which ones you want to use in the first place! 

Day 1 - Whoa

What would be the one thing you would guess to be the best way to introduce someone to dental school? We're talking first day here. Would you say...a nice catered lunch? A boat trip? Tchotchkes and helpful advice?

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong and wrong. Silly you. That was all orientation week.

Welcome to dental school. Here's a quiz.

Yes, we were quizzed for credit on the first day of class. Before we learned...anything really. This was of course, interesting, but it's not time to panic. The time to panic for me came a few hours later. It's the first day of anatomy.

I've never taken anatomy with dissection. I was completely afraid to pass out, cry, vomit or be terrified. But in reality, it's actually pretty darn cool! When you think about the fact that a person has offered to allow you to learn from them--it's a beautiful thing! I can't wait to learn from them.

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I think I should go study....

The Cost of Applying to Dental School

In the process of applying to schools, you should be very aware of how your GPA and DAT scores stack up to the rest of the competition. Everyone applying to dental school should read this. It is the ultimate guide to dental schools directly from the ADEA. Using this guide, I compared what my stats were to the average student and made an Excel file and ranked my top 20 schools based on stats alone. 

I then cut schools based on factors such as desired location, mean science GPA and DAT of the previous class, school mission--and to be completely honest, how much money I had to spend on the application. 

It is quite expensive to apply to dental school. To quote directly from ADEA.org, 

"The ADEA AADSAS processing fee is $244 for the first dental school, and $90 for each additional school."

That's not all folks!

• Each school has their own supplemental fee attached that could be between $30 - $100+ per school. 

• If you pass the initial assessment and receive an interview invitation (go you!), you'll need to pay for your own travel and lodging accommodations (along with suiting if you don't already have that in your wardrobe). Don't forget about the rental car/cab/uber fare, food, drinks and mad money for any sightseeing touristy stuff or emergency items that you forgot. 

• If you get accepted into a school (go you!), you'll need to put down a deposit for a seat that could range between $500 - $5000 (I'm looking at you, NYU). 

• Looks like you need a background check now, that'll be at least $75. All schools don't use the same background check company btw....

• Another possibility is getting accepted into a more than one school (go you!). Maybe one school let you know on Dec 1st and the other school let you know on March 1st. Check out the "traffic guidelines"--basically you only have a certain amount of days to make a final decision.

• Ahhhh you preferred that second school but already put a deposit down for the first school? That'll be another deposit please. No, you can't get your money back on that first school. 

• Didn't get accepted this cycle and must reapply? Start over. 

• Need to take the DAT again? That'll be another $430.

• None of the above is refundable by the way. For any reason. Don't even think about it! Well, you can think about it, but you won't be getting any money back. 

I say all of the above to say, save your money.

Waiting

http://crusadingwithkatie.com/?p=6391

Since the age of 15, I've wanted to become a dentist. 

So imagine how I felt when I got accepted?

http://giphy.com/gifs/hobbit-shorter-IFpVKDqOo84F2

Wasn't expecting that were you? 

Me either. 

What do you do when you get accepted in December but can't start doing anything until August? 

You wait.