I majored in Polish, the language that 0.5% of the world speaks and has nothing to do with dentistry.
Doesn't it seem like every pre-dental student studies biology?
Sometimes, I felt self-conscious telling people my major because it's an uncommon area of study and not a stereotypical pre-health major. I worried that others would perceive me as less-than-qualified for dental school. I came to realize, though, that following my passion and deviating from the norm not only helped me stand out, but also made me feel happy.
When preparing my application last summer, I thought my humanities degree put me at a disadvantage. The truth of the matter is, though, dental schools don't care what you major in. All they want to see is that you perform well in the pre-requisite classes. As I mention in my post on how to decide which dental schools to apply to, each school has its pre-requisite classes. A student can major in whatever he/she very well pleases while also taking biology, chemistry, or physics. If you enjoy history, or business, or women's studies, get your degree in that while also checking off the dental school pre-reqs.
My Major's Advantages
Interviewers meet hundreds of biology and psychology majors, so my Polish degree helped me stick out in their brains. Not only that, but I was able to show who I am as a person beyond academics by explaining my interest in the language and connection to the country. Reflecting on my interviews, I'm thankful I chose not to study a science.
This post is not to put down anyone who has a passion for biology or loves psychology. Rather, I want to reassure those who are majoring in a non-science that: you can go to dental school! Anyone with the drive and passion for becoming a dentist can reach that goal, no matter the path.