NYU Dental School Class of 2013 – Here I Come!

NYU Dental School Class of 2013 – Here I Come!

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.
~Randy Pausch

Long story short – I’ve been accepted to the NYU Dental School graduating class of 2013. That means I start Monday August 24th, and go on my four year journey of Dental mastery!

I really want to thank a lot of people. Thank you foremost to all my family and friends that believed in me. I can’t say that it’s been an easy road, and your words of encouragement, the occassional kicks in the butt, and your excellent ability to give me space during many hundreds of tests over the years has helped tremendously.

Thank you to the various people that recommended me to the school, vouched for me as a person and as a student, and generally went out of your way and put your name on the line for me. This is a huge story that I could write a book about… I’d call it something like “How to Network Like a Monster and Crush It in The Trenches!”

A few facts about my failures (or the many ways I figured out NOT to get into dental school). I applied to Dental school straight out of college, and I didn’t get in. Both my GPA and Dental Admission Test didn’t meet the hardcore requirements brought on by 6000 applicants going after 200 spots. I then retook my admission test in the August of 2006, and got my Masters in Biomedical Science in 2008.

The waiting list. In December of 2008, I got on the waiting list for NYU Dental school, during which time I was supposed to wait. I take ‘waiting’ a bit differently then most other people. This included interning at the school, going on a circuit of continuing education seminars for dentists, and studying for another 3 months to retake my dental admission test. Much more on this in future posts.

The future. I can’t wait to get into dental school and learn everything I can. I want to be able to say that my patients will not get a better treatment anywhere else in the world, they might get just as good (someone else’s 100%), but they won’t get any less from me. I’m also looking forward to combining both my knowledge of personal development and social media to create communities both online and off, and to create both brighter smiles and a brighter world.

All I can say is… If you have a dream,  whether you have to go through those doors sideways, backwards, or jump in from the roof… don’t give up.

Thank you for the congratulations in advanced… let em rip. ;)

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Posted by in Featured, Personal Development | August 18, 2009 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Print | 52 comments

  • http://www.lewishowes.com Lewis Howes

    Congrats my man… you deserve it with all the hard work you do!

  • d-fox

    congrats Alex :)

  • http://www.alejandrozarazua.com Alex Zarazua

    Congrats! What a true accomplishment and a great way to plow through those brick walls!

    -Alex Z

  • Laurie

    Congrats Alex! You’ll make a great dentist. Much better than the one in Little Shop of Horrors! LOL I know you will be great.

  • http://www.lrthompson.com Logan Thompson

    Congrats Alex. That’s awesome!

  • http://www.36pounds.com Adrian

    Hmm.. I’m a bit surprised about dentist stuff but CONGRATS on overcoming your challenges and especially on not just sitting there waiting for stuff to happen and taking action and learning more! That is a great example for people. You not only talk but walk the walk too! Best of luck !

  • http://www.installedforyou.com Jeff Rose

    Congratulations Alex! Now we have to launch our plugin to pay for your schooling!

  • http://jobmob.co.il/ Jacob Share

    Congratulations! Mazel tov! More real world lessons to inspire us.

    What’s next on the road map?

  • Albert OC

    Living the dream – I’ll toast to your accomplishment – hard work always pays off in the end.

  • http://blog.thenicelife.com Brandon Merhout

    Nice work, Bro! Randy Pausch was such a cool cat.

    By the time you’re finished, I’ll probably need work on one of my back molars.

  • Amanda Yee

    Congratulations! Your story really gives me hope for my first semester at UMDNJ GSBS this fall and my chances at Dental School!

    -me

  • http://www.agapeinc.com Chris KY

    I had no doubt you would compel NYU to accept you. The only question now is what’s next? I can see you setting up dental facilities all around the world.

    Enjoy the ride Alex.

    Pax

  • http://www.personalgrowthmap.com Haider

    Congrats, Alex!

    It’s great to see (well, read) how excited and enthusiastic you’ve been trying to get into dental school, and to finally achieve that goal!

    I wish you an incredible journey in the school and a rewarding career!

  • Alanagh

    Congratulations!! Well done. It’s inspiring to hear you overcoming challenges in pursuit of your dreams. Best wishes for the next stage of your journey.

  • http://www.Smile2Go.com Pamela

    YOU ROCK!!!!! I can’t think of anyone who deserves this more than you. Wonderful things happen when you give so much of yourself to the world and you are a gift to everyone you meet. Congratulations…doc!
    Luv-n-Hugs,
    Pamela

  • http://fresh-perspectives.net Pearl

    Congratulations Alex….

    So when do we start calling you Dr. Shalman? :) Don’t know if you’d have time to continue blogging while going to dental school but would be neat to read your experiences first hand..

    My Bests
    Pearl

  • http://www.TheCoachShoppe.com Kim, Biz & Life Coach from NYC

    Well done! So happy for you!

  • http://dumblittleman.com Jay White

    Congrats Alex, or um, Alex Shalman, D.D.S!!

  • http://www.thebridgemaker.com Alex Blackwell

    You Rock Alex – Congratulations!

  • http://LittleBlackDressFitnessTips Chris Tomek

    Congratulations, and good luck with school!

  • Marina Tsipenyuk

    Congratulations baby! I love you and I am so proud of you!

  • Cesar

    Congratulations, dude! Keep up the good work!

  • rwjghost

    congrats

  • http://www.TheMidnightCandle.com treena

    Congratulations!!,I am so happy for you!

  • http://www.jimkukral.com Jim Kukral

    HUGE congrats Alex. I knew you would get in. Hope you follow through with your plans for the King of all dentists on social media!

  • Geeta

    Congratulations Alex! You proved that Patience, Persistence and Perseverance always pay off. ALWAYS
    As Vince Lombardi said: “If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.”
    One of life’s simple pleasures is to send someone like you best wishes for today and always.
    To life and the joy it brings!
    Geeta

  • http://www.twitter.com/BruceAchterberg Bruce Achterberg

    Awesome to see you got accepted, Alex. I know from reading your blog that you’ve been working towards this for a while. It must be really nice to see it come together (probably an understatement, heh). Congrats! :)

  • http://85731500.blog.163.com Kitch

    I‘m ur reader from China,so teach some Chinese for u BTW.
    Congratulations! ??!???
    I always have faith in you? ????????
    Keep going on! ?????

  • http://www.aliventures.com Ali Hale

    Just wanted to say a huge congratulations — well done on not giving up when you didn’t get in the first time! Hope it’s the start of a wonderful four-year journey for you, and hope that in a few years after that, you’ll be an amazing dentist taking brilliant care of patients.

    Best of luck, and well done again!

  • http://www.youngandgreat.com duke

    hey dear!!!
    congs!! its great to see that you made it! i am also actually finishing my degree in medical radiotherapy and i know what it means to wait and try and try and try…
    but eventually, good things dont come to those who ‘wait’, they come to those who go out and make them happen.
    you made it happen, you did interns at the school, attended seminars and all you could do. that is what happens to those who know what they want and go out and get it.

    success!
    duke

  • http://www.questforbalance.com Lisis

    OMG! I just read Pearl’s comment… Dr. Shalman, indeed! You know THAT is going to go to your head! ;)

    Congratulations, Alex; no one deserves this more (seriously, NO ONE). Your final statement is fantastic:

    “If you have a dream, whether you have to go through those doors sideways, backwards, or jump in from the roof… don’t give up.”

  • http://theinvisiblementor.com Avil Beckford

    Alex,
    Congratulations! Persistence pays. While you were looking at your target, you were taking steps to improve your situation. You will do well in dental school. Avil

  • http://valeriemondesir.wordpress.com/ Valerie M

    Wow, congrats Alex! Does that mean we’ll be seeing less of you? I hear the first two years are crazy. Either way, I wish you the best of luck. Show all the nay-sayers out there that dentists are not the evil sadists they’re thought to be. :)

  • Crystal

    Congrats Alex – thank you for sharing your story it keeps me motivated :)

  • http://www.mrselfdevelopment.com Mr. Self Development

    Congrats Alex!!!…love the quote by Randy Pausch….

  • Sandeep

    Congratulation! you have done it.

  • Nicholas Marekia -From Kenya

    Congrats! It is a big learning for all of us. It proves that one gets what he wants – only need to focus on the outcome and work towards achieving the goal. Well done

  • Donna Marie

    Congratulations to you! Thanks for sharing the process that gave you access to dental school. It is inspiring and exciting! Here’s to continuing creative & self-expression!!

  • http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com Marelisa

    Hi Alex: I watched a Ted.com talk by Tony Robbins yesterday in which he explains that the reason people fail is not because of lack of resources (time, money, and so on), but because of lack of resourcefulness. I really like your message of climbing in through the rooftop it you have to. Congratulations, learn lots in Dental School, and enjoy yourself. :-)

  • http://www.marcandangel.com Marc and Angel Hack Life

    Awesome, Alex!

    Congrats!

    ;-)

  • http://jobmob.co.il/blog/key-entrepreneur-success/ Entpreneurial Success: How To Quit Your Job By Burning The Ships | JobMob

    [...] Shortly after writing this guest post, Alex Shalman received some good news: he was accepted into the New York University dental program. [...]

  • http://joshuadenney.com Joshua

    I know it’s been a long road. You’re a deserving of all the greatness that will come with this achievement…and all the additional hard work, ha!

    *brushes teeth

  • http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/2009/08/24/the-key-to-success-resourcefulness-creativity-determination/ The Key to Success: Resourcefulness (Creativity + Determination)

    [...] blogs over at “Practical Personal Development”, wrote recently about getting into the NYU Dental School. He failed a few times in his attempts to get in, but he didn’t allow those temporary [...]

  • http://www.sowilldo.com Zoltán Cserei

    Patience grows roses, as we say it in Hungarian.

    Congratulations, Alex! :)

  • http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/09/best-practices-for-overcoming-obstacles/ Best Practices for Overcoming Obstacles | Student Doctor Network

    [...] Shalman is a superstar Personal Development writer and speaker, and most recently an NYU Dental student. If you enjoyed this article please tweet it and vote for it on StumbleUpon. I’d appreciate [...]

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/2009/09/26/ask-the-readers-criticize-my-presidential-speech/ Ask The Readers: Criticize My Presidential Speech | Alex Shalman.com

    [...] ran for the position of Class Council President for my New York University School of Dentistry class – for our first year. I lost. While not every attempt can result in a win, I believe [...]

  • http://www.timelessinformation.com/timeless-information-2009-review/ Timeless Information 2009 Review

    [...] guaranteed that we take and pass each one.  This also reminds me of Alex Shalman’s article which mentioned Randy Pausch’s quote about how the brick walls are there for us to prove [...]

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/2010/03/01/daily-workout-trial/ 30 Day Trial: The Lifestyle of a Gym Rat (or Daily Workouts For Normal People) | Alex Shalman.com

    [...] evolved in motion; hunting, fighting, and surviving. Since starting NYUCD in September, I’ve lost track of how many 16 hour days were spent sitting in the same spot [...]

  • http://weightlossltd.co.cc/?p=40 Your Weight Loss Solution

    [...] evolved in motion; hunting, fighting, and surviving. Since starting NYUCD in September, I’ve lost track of how many 16 hour days were spent sitting in the same spot [...]

  • http://SourcesOfinsight.com J.D. Meier

    Congrats!

    Brighter smiles and a brighter world sounds like a compelling vision.

  • http://www.successdemandsaction.net Allen Loomis

    I think you have a great blog here and was wondering if you would be interested in exchanging links. Please comment back on my blog and let me know!

    P.s I love the Randy Pausch quote!

    Success Demands Action

  • http://alwayswell.wordpress.com Sandra Lee

    Congratulations! I am so happy for you.