Flying and dental school?

[Avi8er10]

Is there anyone out there who has or has known someone who has been a pilot and also gone through dental school...or anyother postgraduate professional program? I am considering going to dental school someday whenever I meet the minimum application requirements and really want to stay flying as well. Any success stories out there?

Thanks.

 

[labbats]

Stay flying as a private, or professionally?

 

[Avi8er10]

Well, fly professionally, or part-time while in dental school. Then after dental school fly whenever possible.

 

[BoilerUP]

You could concieveably get your ratings and flight instruct part-time while in dental school. Once you graduate, start working and make the big bucks. Then you won't have to worry about making ends meet on a first or second year FO salary, and you'll have plenty of money for flying. Depending on the time commitment of dental school and your location, it is conceiveable that you could fly 200-500hrs per year part-time instructing.

If this is your goal, by all means pursue it! The aviation world truly is in need of career instructors, even if it is a second or third career. Best of luck to you!

 

[ebaybob]

I'm currently in a PhD program and fly part-time. I instruct for a local flight school and for the Civil Air Patrol. I'll be looking to start doing a little more flying this summer as school cools off but I've flown about 150 hours in the last year. It's actually a nice release from school and classes.

 

[Avi8er10]

How does flight instructing part time and going to school full work for you financially? Thats the main thing I am worried about.

 

[ebaybob]

I absolutely don't do the flying for the pay....I just love to fly and want to stay in the game. I receive a stipend as part of my research assistant duties in the PhD program and get paid a little to teach some classes on the side. I also have taken out student loans to get through school. I'll leave school with several thousand dollars in loans but will have the opportunity to earn a nice living and hopefully still fly quite a bit. I couldn't see trying to support my family on regional pay or finally making it to the bigs and then getting furloughed. I'm not willing to take the risks necessary to get that far in an aviation career. Hope that helps...PM me if you have more questions.

bob

 

[FinalApproach]

Have you taken your DATs yet? Dental School is a full time commitment. 4 years plus the licensing boards after you graduate.
My brother is a DMD with post grad work under his belt. By the time he hit 30 he was averaging well over 150Gs. Now he makes 5 times that amount with 2 offices at 36.

Recommendation:
Become a dentist first. Save $$ buy your practice then sell it after awhile. Trust me you'll have plenty of funds to either fly personally or professionally. Additionally, you can teach/work at a teaching hospital still making over 130K without breaking a sweat while working around your hours flying the line while living the good life!

Not a bad gig...DMD and ATP...it can be done my friend...

 

[Avi8er10]

No, i haven't yet taken the DAT. Infact, I haven't taken any of the Bio, Chem or Physics classes that you need to get INTO dental school. After I finish my B.S., I was going to instruct full time and go to a local school to take those courses and then see what happens with a dental school application. I can possibly be a long road, thats why I am asking if it has been done.

 

[dorkdvr]

check your pm

 

[FinalApproach]

Things to think about:
-How's your manual dexterity? Got to love playing with tools cause you'll have plenty to contend with.
-Post-baccalaureate premed/predent courses are available after your get your BS. However, it'll be mostly at night. 4 credits each course, lecture & lab for a total of 32 credits. Wait when you take Organic I & II, the make you or break you classes. Remembering, not counting your BS degree GPA, science GPA has to be well above 3.0 w/letters of recommendation of course.
-Dental Schools are pricey even the state schools.
-Like medical school you have to take Gross Anatomy. Its exactly as the name implies. Can u stomach it?
-It is a major commitment.
-And your age. If your young enough and can meet the requirements go for it. But truly evaluate that career path before embarking on this journey. Otherwise spend the money on a good flight school getting your BA/BS in a degree other than aviation which is marketable for those unforeseen days in the cyclical world of aviation.