How do I become a dentist???

[Cinderella58]

I know that this is really long and I apolagise for the essay but please read this.

Thanks

 

Hey, I'm 16 years old, still in school and about to take my GCSE's (I've been predicted good GCSE grades). I really don't want to stay in full-time education but really want to be a dentist when I'm older.

I had this plan that I was going to start in the industry just as receptionist and then go into the practice and be a dental nurse; the dental practice will pay for this course, which will mean me still working there but going to college one day a week.

I was going to stick at this until I got enough money to take myself back to college to do a three year course to be a hygienist, and then when I'm older go to uni for five years and become a dentist.

I've had it drilled into my head that in the cold world that is life, that this will NOT work, and that I probably won't even be ale to get into the industry without at least 2 A-levels, and even if I do that my "plan" woun't work out the way I want it to because of several different (very confusing) reasons.

Now what I'm asking you is: can I achieve A-levels through an apprenticeship or any other way, rather than to going to college now?

I've looked everywhere and can't find the information that I need. Any info is greatly appreciated in advance, anything that you think might be helpful and/or relevant would help.

Thank you x x x

[hugoboss]

post above is an intruder. why do you bother? you must know by now we know how to tell who you are!

Cinders - best advise i have for you is to stay on a school and do your A levels. you will really regret it if you don't. Even if you change your mind about dentistry, at least you can say you gave yourself more options. You're so young. Get some A Levels under your belt! Good luck!

[Sammy Snake]

I don't know about becoming an actual denist but I have 2 friends who are both qualified dental nurses and they don't have an A level between them.

They joined a dental practice straight from school and went to college on day release to do various exams to get qualified.

Hope this helps.

[Lillabet]

Hi Cinderella58 The other 2 answers from 'Lillabet' aren't from me. It appears I have an imposter. Now for a proper response to your question.

A lot of professions have more than one route into them. What you have set out appears in principal to be workable though long. Once you are over 21 and have been out of full time education for over 3 years then you do not actually need A levels to get into university. Many unis, not just the ex polytechnics will accept mature students who have taken an access course. You will be able to find out more about this by looking at some universities' websites under admissions.

If you decide you want A levels then you could take these part time whilst working. Depending on where you live and the local facilities there is likely to be at least one college offering evening classes in A level subjects if you don't want to go to 6th form now. A lot will want you to be 18 before you can sign up for any class labelled as adult education though.

A note of caution. You talk about going back to college and then uni after working. This can be hard. Not in terms of getting in but more that if you have become used to a salary it is hard to suddenly be without one. Having taught at a university and spoken to lots of mature students in that time they really did find the adjustment hard - especially if they had mortgages and / or children. A lot were in their late 20s and had left school at 16 or 18 having had enough of education. By 26 or so they were being told that they had got as far as they could realistically go without higher qualifications and so faced the choice of remaining in the same job for perhaps 30-40 years or going back to study. Having said that many were extremely motivated and getting a lot out of their degrees. More than they thought they would have had they come a decade earlier.

Hope this helps

[acw]

I'm so sorry to be irrelevant on the thread, but how can you tell which one has a capital I in lillabet and which one has two l's in the middle!?

 

I can tell who it is though Lillabet - can you? :-)

 

Cinders - I am sorry about that.  Re your dentistry, the REAL lillabet has it covered, except to say in very bright and bold letters -

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

[ursula62]

Hi Cinderella58

I'd suggest if you really can't stand staying on in full time education  that you take your  A levels at evening classes one at a time while you're working as a receptionist. That way you'll get the best of both worlds

Good luck.

[Octavius]

Becoming a dentist is difficult and demands a lot of study, learning, qualifications and exams.  There are only 13 accredited dental schools in the UK and they vary greatly in entrance requirements.

Your best starting point would be to read the career section of the British Dental Asscociation for guidance on how you would best go about getting qualified.  

You should bear in mid though, the length of time it will take to become a dentist.  Dental courses usually last five years and lead to a bachelor's degree (either BDS or BChD).  Subjects studied include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, behavioural sciences and dental materials science, as well as clinical skills in all dental disciplines.

See here for further info: bda

[Andy008]

After having left school with 4 bad GCSE's, it still amazes me that people like yourself, albeit through no fault of your own, listen far to closely to what other people say you can and can't do.

Bill Gates quit Harvard University, because he thought their was nothing useful they could teach him. He is now worth roughly �35 billion.

Phillip Green didn't even take exams, let alone fail them. He made �1.4 billion in 9 years.

[Minimatronic]

this isn't exactly an answer to what you asked, but i personally would recommend going to sixth form and getting your A levels.  you'd need chemistry and biology to go into dentistry, and from my work experience there they like art as well, especially if it's orthodontistry as it's all spatial.

i say go and do A levels because from where i'm standing, it'd be good to have something to fall back on.  if you decide dentistry isn't for you, A levels adn maybe even a degree would give you wide scope for other jobs.  i was all set to go into optometrics, but just recently there's been a huge increase in them and now it's hard to find a job and you're paid peanuts when newly qualified.  so i'm really thanking my lucky stars that i have other options.

just a thought.  if you're absolutely sure dentisty's for you, then go for it and good luck!