Dental School

Everyone cares about their teeth. When a molar starts to ache or someone’s tooth enamel becomes chipped, who do they call? They call a dentist, of course. Dentists are always in demand, and a career as a dentist is not only high paying, but in most cases, it will allow you to be your own boss. It is, however, an extremely skilled discipline, and to become licensed as a dentist, you’ll require a great deal of education, as much as any other type of doctor requires. And, you’ll need a four-year degree before you can even consider going to dental school. But, once it’s time for you to embark on the advanced phase of your education, which dental school should you choose? Here are some things to consider:

Cost: Can you afford the tuition at the dental school? It may seem astronomical, but there is more than one way in which you can fund your education. Many organizations, particularly the United States government, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who meet eligibility requirements and fill out applications. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site and fill out the FAFSA form, which allows you to apply for a large number of loans and grants at the same time. Student loans, though usually les expensive than other types of loans, will need to be paid back after graduation. Grants and scholarships, on the other hand, are essentially free, so you should try for as many of those as you can.

Location: Do you need to go to a dental school close to home? In that case, you’ll need to find a dental school within easy commuting distance—less than an hour’s drive each way is a good bet. (Remember that you don’t want to use up all of your studying time driving to and from classes.) If you can afford to move away from home, decide on a school in a place where you’d like to live. You may even like it so much that you’ll open a dental office there.

Prestige: Is the dental school well respected? Will having its diploma on your office wall make you more appealing to prospective patients? The more prestigious a school is, the more expensive your education will be. But having the school’s name in plain view of your patients will also help you establish yourself in a way that will more than pay for the extra expense. And, it may help launch your practice faster if the school is well known.

Staff: Are the teachers at the dental school well regarded? Remember, these are the people who will teach you the skills that will make you either a good dentist or an indifferent one.