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Student Stories In Their Own Words During a Pandemic

During one of the strangest times in modern history, dental students and dental school applicants have faced some tough questions:

  • Will I be safe in dental school?
  • How will I ensure I keep my family safe once I start dental school?
  • Should I still apply to dental school right now or defer enrollment?

Although we can’t know how all students are grappling with these questions, we do know that some students have successfully weathered the COVID-19 pandemic storm as they continue pursuing their dreams of becoming a dental professional.


ADEA GoDental highlights 11 of these stories—tales of resilience, determination and, often, anxiety. First-year dental students recall the unpredictability of their first few months of dental school while current applicants reminisce on the challenges of navigating the dental school application in these unprecedented times.

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Andrew Mina Slupek  |  University of Maryland College Park 

Andrew Mina Slupek is a post-bac student at the University of Maryland College Park and an applicant for the 2021 ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental School Application Service) dental school application cycle.




Camila Cardona  |  University of Illinois at Chicago 

Camila Cardona is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an applicant for the 2021 ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental School Application Service) dental school application cycle.




Felicia Der  |  Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark campus 

Felicia Der is currently pursuing her master's in biomedical science at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark campus and an applicant for the 2021 ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental School Application Service) dental school application cycle.




Jordan Cohen  |  North Carolina State University 

Jordan Cohen is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University with a master's in physiology and an applicant for the 2021 ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental School Application Service) dental school application cycle.




Kyle Harvey  |  University of Central Florida 

Kyle Harvey is currently studying health sciences at the University of Central Florida and an applicant for the 2021 ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental School Application Service) dental school application cycle.




Sheream James Reed  |  Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry 

Sheream James Reed is a first-year dental student at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.




Frank Perez  |  Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine 

Frank Perez is a first-year dental student at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine.




Genesis Perez  |  Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine 

Genesis Perez is a first-year dental student at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine.




Miles Woodard  |  Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University 

Miles Woodard is a first-year dental student at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University.




Nisa Far  |  University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine 

Nisa Far is a first-year dental student at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine.




Taylor Cone  |  University of the Pacific Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry 

Taylor Cone is a first-year dental student at the University of the Pacific Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry.