Pursuing Pediatric Dentistry: My Journey to UNC-Chapel Hill's Adam's School of Dentistry

My name is Abagail Grack, and I would like to become a pediatric dentist by attending UNC-Chapel Hill’s Adam’s School of Dentistry. I want to start this UNC Chapel Hill supplemantal essay with explanation why I choose the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The main reason is because they have the dentist programs I want and need, and being at such a big school means lots of school spirit and great athletics. Chapel Hill is also only two hours away from where I live, so trips back home would not be long at all. I decided on becoming a pediatric dentist because though it will be challenging, I want to make going to the dentist enjoyable for children who usually dread getting their teeth worked on. I know that growing up, the dentist I went to had items for the younger patients to play with while either waiting or getting checked on. This type of career will take a few years to achieve, and getting into Chapel Hill the first time around may be challenging. Through hard work and determination, accomplishing my college and career will be possible.

College and Career Research

The college I would like to go to is the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to attend their dental school: Adam’s School of Dentistry. UNC is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and they offer many majors, including dramatic arts, dental hygiene, consulting, and business journalism. Chapel Hill has a few student programs as well, like Achieving Carolina Excellence (ACE), and Beyond Carolina. UNC-CH is a great school to attend because they have majors for almost anything, and being at a big school means lots of school spirit. I would like to go to this school, not only for the athletics, but they offer all of the dental programs I need to become a pediatric dentist. Also, being at a big university means that there are lots of activities to do during one’s free time.

Tuition for Chapel Hill can be expensive, as the total cost to attend for North Carolina residents is 24,266 dollars, and for out of states residents, it cost 52,026 dollars. This includes housing and meals, travel and personal, etc.

Chapel Hill has many more student programs than what I have already named, including creative writing, European studies, archaeology, and even folklore. Along with student programs, Chapel Hill has a majority of athletics as well, such as softball, baseball, fencing, rowing, swimming and diving, gymnastics, and more. I know, personally, I may want to become a Tar Heels softball player because I very much enjoy being a part of a team and getting to play something a love.

To get in, I will need to score between 1,280 and 1,470 on my SAT, a twenty-nine between thirty-three on my ACT, and I will need to have a GPA of four and sixty-seven. Chapel Hill is extremely competitive, so I will have to work very hard for the next three years of high school.

Based on student activities and athletics, I see myself getting involved with possibly the arts and softball. The reason I would get involved with the arts is because I use to do theatre, and I really enjoyed being in plays and musicals. I would also want to play softball for Chapel Hill because being activity is a great way to get my mind off of things. If I had to choose one, I would want to be a Tar Heels softball player just because I have been softball longer than I have done theatre.

To continue this UNC application essay, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is a very competitive school to get into to, but it is well worth competing for. They have a number of student programs, like creative writing and European studies, and a variety of sports, like swimming and baseball. Tuition can be expensive, especially for out-of-state residents. I know that I, personally, would like to get a scholarship for either softball or academics so I do not have to pay as much. One’s GPA, SAT, and ACT scores will have to be pretty high to get in, but it really is all about trying and making sure one is working hard. To go to Chapel Hill is a dream of mine, and now that I know more about the university, I am going to finish out high school strong with good grades and great test scores. I will also continue to get better at softball so I have a higher chance of getting a scholarship for softball. If I do all three, getting into Chapel Hill to become a pediatric dentist will be a success.

I would very much like to become a pediatric dentist when I am older because I want children to have a good time at the dentist, and being able to put a smile on someone’s face means more to me than anything else. A pediatric dentist is a dentist for children, usually from ages one to twelve. I chose this career because it has good pay, and I am able to make going to the dentist enjoyable for kids who usually do not enjoy it. As a pediatric dentist, one must check for cavities, determine if they have to go to the orthodontist, clean the teeth, and pull teeth. This may seem like it isn’t fun, but I want to change that.

To be a pediatric dentist, one has to have three degrees: DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), DDM (Doctor of Dental Medicine), and a Bachelor’s degree in a pre-dental program. These require four years of college for each. High school classes that can help one get into dental school, which is highly competitive, are math—algebra—and science—biology and chemistry.

When it comes to a pediatric dentist’s salary, one can make a good amount of money. The average salary for a pediatric dentist in the Charlotte, North Carolina area is around 146, 634 dollars per year. This is a reasonable salary because it is just enough for one to have a stable family.

When I look twenty years into the future, I see myself running my own dentist office in North Carolina, most likely Charlotte. My office will be filled with lots of fun activities for the children to play with while they wait with their parents. My employees will be kind and hard-working, and they’ll be able to make it just as fun as I will. Growing up, as weird as it sounds, I loved going to the dentist because I always got a new toothbrush when I went, I was aloud to get a sticker after I had an x-ray, and when the dentist was checking over for cavities, I either played on a DS or iPad. I remember when I first started going to a normal dentist office. It was really boring, and all I wanted to do was go back to my pediatric dentist because I actually enjoyed it. I want to do exactly that for kids; I want to make going to the dentist fun as a kid, so when they start going to a normal dentist, they’ll miss going to the pediatric dentist’s office.

Someone I can interview to gain their perspective on being a pediatric dentist is my own dentist from when I was younger. The reason I would interview him is because he—Dr. Garcia—was always so kind to my siblings and me. Dr. Garcia’s office has games, TVs, stickers, and much more. I know that when I was younger, I would not mind getting an x-ray because it meant stickers after. Dr. Garcia enjoys making his patients happy, and he does not enjoy seeing a child with dirty, nasty teeth. I do not think he would choose another career just because he is always so passionate about his job. If anything, maybe he would like to be an orthodontist just because they make more, but he is happy either way. Before I get into dental school, I will surely contact him for advice on this path I am deciding to take.

To conclude, becoming a pediatric dentist takes time, effort, and lots of money. Dental school can be very competitive, and one will have to go to college for over eight years to get three degrees in dentistry before being able to open up their own dentist office. Becoming a pediatric dentist is something I have always wanted to be, and I understand how much it takes to be one, and that is why I work so hard. I am determined to achieve this dream of mine so I can make people smile. Dental health is important, so when I make it exciting for the pouty children who dread any type of medical office, that is how I will know I did my job right.

Likes and Dislikes

As much as I would like to go to UNC-Chapel Hill, I have to consider the pros and cons of going there. I really like how Chapel Hill is only two hours away from where I live, they have fantastic sports teams, the environment seems very friendly and welcoming to be around, and they have a number of dental programs. The school is amazing, but I do have some dislikes. It can get really expensive, Chapel Hill is hard to get into, and it can get challenging.

To become a pediatric dentist is a goal of mine, but considering the pros and cons for this job is necessary. I like being able to help kids, make great money, and be well respected by my peers. With that, I will not enjoy the long hours, the crying kids, the price of owning my own business, and the many years it takes to become a pediatric dentist.

I fully understand what I am getting myself into, and I know it will all be worth it in the long run. I will take the cons for both my college and career and find the good in them.

Conclusion

To conclude, I have learned that choosing a college and career can be challenging. Having to research everything did give me a bit of stress and worry for the future. Besides that, this project taught me to always look into things well enough before making a final decision. I can apply what I have learned moving forward by looking back at this paper before I start applying to Chapel Hill. My research will help me in making sure I truly want to go to this school in a few years.

Another thing I learned is to start now, I can email Dr. Garcia and ask him some questions, ask my two younger siblings’ dentist some questions, and keep doing research.

Though it was hard at times, I really did enjoy doing this project because it made me more knowledgeable on Chapel Hill and dentistry. I can take this paper throughout high school and be less stressed my senior year. It will all take time, but I know that I will be able to achieve my goals.

Works Cited

• “Academic Programs” UNC School of Dentistry Academic Programs Comments, www.dentistry.unc.edu/academicprograms/.
• “Academic Programs.” UNC School of Dentistry » Pediatric Dentistry Graduate Program, www.dentistry.unc.edu/academicprograms/ade/pediatric/
• “Current Student Programs.” University Office for Diversity and Inclusion, diversity.unc.edu/access/current/.
• “Current Student Programs.” University Office for Diversity and Inclusion, diversity.unc.edu/access/current/.https://admissions.unc.edu/afford/cost-of-attendance/
• High School Student, www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/be-a-dentist/high-school-student.
• “Majors, Minors, and Concentrations.” UNC Admissions, admissions.unc.edu/explore/academics/majors-minors-and-concentrations/.
• Niche User. “University of North Carolina at Charlotte Reviews.” Niche, 8 Apr. 2019, www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte/reviews/.
• “Official Athletics Website.” University of North Carolina Athletics, goheels.com/index.aspx.
• “Salary: Pediatric Dentist in Charlotte, NC.” Glassdoor, www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/charlotte-pediatric-dentist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,9_IM162_KO10,27.htm.
• “The Pros and Cons of Dentistry- Lolabees Career Coach.” Lolabees Career Coaching, 19 Mar. 2019, lolabeescareercoaching.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-dentistry/.
• “The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, www.unc.edu/.
• “UNC Requirements for Admission.” UNC Admission Requirements, www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/UNC-admission-requirements.
• “UNC School of Dentistry.” UNC School of Dentistry, www.dentistry.unc.edu/.