Life changes... My husband wants to go to dental school!?

My husband and I are 28 and 27. We both have great jobs and he is doing great as a bank manager. HOWEVER - he says he feels unfulfilled in his job and wishes he had more of a "real career". He thinks he wants to go to dental school. We are both worried about the enormous strain this will put on our finances. He will have to quit his job for school and we will have to take out lots of student loans, etc. Not only that, but he is also going to have to take about 1 year's worth of undergrad science before he can take the DAT and apply! Then we are looking at about 4 more years of dental school. We have enough money to live comfortably as we are now, so it is more about being fulfilled in his job. I want him to be happy. My questions - hopefully to someone who has experienced this are - How hard is it? How's the payoff and is it worth it? Are you happy now? How did it affect your marriage? Is he too old to make this change? He will be mid 30s when he starts practicing! Help

Life changes... My husband wants to go to dental school!?
You sound like a great wife, he should be glad to have someone who supports him so much. I'm kind of in the same situation. I kept my day job and work full time while I attend night classes to earn my degree and then I can move on. It's really really hard having a full time job and being a full time student...but I'm glad to see that you and your husband know that the work and the payoff is better than him being in a miserable job. I really doubt your husband is too old to start learning new things. However, as far as marriage, keep in mind that if he takes night classes or even if he quits his job and gets a new one while he goes to school...he won't be around as much and he'll have more responsibilities. Me and my wife sometimes don't see each other for awhile and argue sometimes, but it's not that bad. Good luck!
Reply:You have to be able to see the big picture. Yes, it will be hard and there will be sacrifices involved but in the end he will be doing something that he enjoys and it will pay well. Report It

Reply:if he has his mind made up and this is what he feels he wants to do his life is not over yet and he has plenty of time to go to school and pursue this career but he has to have alot of interest in it he cant just do it for one reason and i think that you would incourage him more if you supported him.
Reply:Sorry, no direct experience. It's a good thing that your husband wants to do something more with his life than hold a mediocre career and not really be happy. Ever notice how the most interesting stories in this life are the ones about the challenges people take on and achieve?





This may or may not be for the two of you, but there's always the possibility of having the Army pay his way through all that schooling, which they will. Of course this will incur some considerable service time, but you'll get a chance to travel, you'll still live quite well (which he'll have a good income as an officer), and best of all you'll come out debt free once he's done with his service time. I've met a lot of fellow officers in the medical field that are really happy because they not only get to support the troops directly, but they are sent on a lot of humanitarian missions that help the less fortunate in this world.





Either way, I just recommend that you make the best of whatever choices you make...it's your life after all, and when you look back, what kind of story do you want to end up with? You need to really decide that you're going to follow through either way though. If you attempt to make a drastic change, you have to see it through. Best advice either way is to just research all your options, typical debt, typical pay, etc to get a really good idea of what you'll get. It's the choice of both of you in the end and what challenges you're willing to go through to accomplish the goals you set.
Reply:He could take courses now and not have to quit (those science courses). My wife is taking Master's courses right now, but has a good job and could continue where she is at. I support her decision to go back b/c education is priceless and she feels the same as your husband, that she needs more than the job she has now. Kids who have parents that are highly educated have more impetus to complete a high level of education themselves.





I'm 32 and still paying off my student loans. I have a co-worker who is 48 and just finished his, and we're auditors at a Big 4 accounting firm. I can't believe anyone would want to snuff the desire of their family/friends/spouse to better themselves or get more education!
Reply:i'd be able to answer this question in a few years but until then, i will say this:


1. way to be supportive and realistic.


2. it's a risk to take, but he sounds very driven and more power to him.


3. go for it


4. make sure you have enough to live comfortably.





in the end, you both wanna be happy.


best of luck!