Hey y’all! I’m a 4th year pursuing a bachelors in Human Biology and Secretary of the Pre-Dental Society at UCSC. I became interested in dentistry after graduating high school and, as I became more exposed to it during my undergraduate years, my passion for the field grew stronger. For those who are not sure if they want to pursue dentistry, I recommend shadowing and attending dental conferences, but always make sure to take some time to self-reflect! I believe self-reflecting is most important so that you can better understand yourself. 


A blog I recommend checking up on is asdablog.com! It’s the official blog of the American Student Dental Association and many wide and interesting topics are discussed on this page. It’s helped me stay updated on current issues like the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has impacted dental students and schools. 
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Hey Everyone! My name is Brittany Echevarria and I am a 3rd year MCD Bio major and co-President of the Pre-Dental Society at UCSC. 

I became interested in dentistry when I was really little. My dentist made going to the dentist a really great experience. He let me play with toothbrushes and teeth molds but what honestly sold me was that he gave out really cool holographic stickers lol. He taught me how to do my first impression when I was 13 which was really cool. From that point on I knew I wanted to to pursue dentistry and make going to the dentist a great experience for everyone. 

When I got to UCSC I knew there was more to explore in the world of dentistry so I joined the pre-dental society. This opened up a multitude of opportunities and experiences I am very fortunate to have. I started watching YouTube channels and following people on Facebook who were in the dental field. I started following Taniasdentalschooldiaries on Instagram my first year of undergrad. She talks about her struggles and how she overcomes each year of dental school. She also takes really nice notes which then made me want to take better notes in all my stem classes. This Instagram page was recommended to me by the former Pre-Dental President so it also has a sentimental aspect to it.

I hope y’all check out the blog. It’s cool to see into the life of a dental student. Be sure to read the captions! It says more than what the picture holds. 

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Hi everyone, my name is Karina Pineda, 5th yr. psych&bio undergrad and co-president of UCSC.

I became interested in dentistry when I got braces in 7th grade.
I enjoyed visiting the dental office and realized this is something I want to pursue in life. Then I began volunteering at dental fairs and clinics which really increased my admiration for dentistry.

Now, being an undergrad, I try to learn as much as I can and gain as much exposure of dentistry as I can. As a pre-dental student, I enjoy knowing more about dentistry whether reading blogs, attending conferences, or communicating with dental students and dentists.

Recently, I started watching videos on YouTube about dental students’ experiences while in dental school and began following Erika Correa’s videos about dental school because of how helpful her videos have become especially for Pre-Dental students like myself. Not only is she an alumni but has provided valuable information to those interested in dental school.

I would definitely recommend watching her videos if you are interested in applying to dental schools or dentistry in general. Erika also provides insight on why she chose dentistry so it’s a great opportunity to know what dental applicants did to become accepted into a dental school.
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You can follow her YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGP-QXuLta5eYdPWW7kf3w