Brendan ElliottDental

NAME: Brendan Elliott
 
GRADUATION YEAR: 2022
 
MAJOR: Biology
 
 
STORY: Hi everyone! My name is Brendan Elliott, and I am a 2022 graduate of Gustavus with plans to attend the University of Michigan School of Dentistry beginning in June of 2023. Dentistry was something that I was exposed to at a very young age as my grandfather was a practicing orthodontist. I can recall running around his office and even entertaining patients from time to time. From that moment on, I always felt that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, even though I wasn’t completely sure whether that would be in dentistry or not. 
 
As I am from the small town of Marquette, Michigan, Gustavus was certainly not a location that was initially on my radar. In fact, I had never heard of Gustavus until the summer before my freshman year, and to say that my path to Gustavus was not linear would be an understatement. It began when I was 15 years old and decided to leave home to pursue my passion for hockey. My first stop was in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I graduated from high school. After high school, I spent three years traveling across the country and even spent some time in Canada playing junior hockey before coming back to begin my undergraduate degree. Gustavus had only come across my radar once, and to be quite honest, it was never a school that I was considering. It wasn’t until June of 2018 after finishing my final year of junior hockey that Gustavus came calling again, and I gave it a second chance as the final school I would tour. It is safe to say that I am forever grateful that I reconsidered. From the second I stepped on campus, I felt at home. The combination of outstanding academics, athletics, and community feel stuck with me, and as soon as I left Saint Peter, I knew that it was the place I wanted to call home for the next four years. 
 
Beginning in my first year, I was still undecided as to what career path I wanted to pursue, although I knew that it would be something involved with healthcare. I decided to major in biology and minor in public health as I felt the two would offer the perfect combination of the sciences and real world application of what I was learning. I was still undecided in my second year, and the onset of the pandemic shot down any chance that I had to shadow or get first hand experience. This created a significant delay in my decision making as I felt that I needed the in-person experience to feel comfortable making my choice. Over the next two years, I did hours of my own research, reached out to as many healthcare professionals as I could, and pieced together short shadowing opportunities where possible. I looked into dentistry, medicine, physical therapy, and even medical research. It was not until the summer after graduating that I finally decided on pursuing dentistry, winding up right back where I started. I loved the idea of being a lifelong learner, the hands-on aspects, the attention to detail and precision, and the ability to specialize should I choose to do so. Although I was late to making my decision, I dedicated my summer to studying for the DAT and created a well-rounded application. I was fortunate enough to be accepted to my top choice of dental schools in March, and let’s just say that it was a nerve wracking few months!
 
With all of that being said, I am incredibly grateful for all that Gustavus provided for me, and for the way things have worked out in my journey to dental school. Gustavus challenged me in many ways and taught me so much, especially with the balance of athletics and academics. In this gap year, I have been able to travel, explore other interests, and work as a dental assistant to gain experience in the profession. I have learned more than I ever thought I would, and I am now more ready than ever to return to school. Throughout my journey, I truly have learned that everyone is on their own path, and as long as you feel you are making progress towards your goals, there is no set timeline that you have to follow. Keep pushing forward, and remember that all things work out as they are supposed to in the long run!
 
 
Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. Gustavus Varsity Men’s Hockey
2. President of TriBeta
3. Student Representative on the COVID-19 Student Leadership Advisory Committee
4. Teaching Assistant in the Biology Department
5. Shadowing Experiences Across Numerous Dental Specialties
 
 
Advice:
1. Take the time you need to make your decision. As you can see from my story, it has taken me longer than most to make decisions that are important to my future. Even though there were plenty of moments that I felt I was falling behind my peers or simply stalling out, I always knew that I would only make decisions once I felt 100% comfortable with them. I would advise anyone else to do the same! No two people’s timelines are the same, and everyone’s journey is different. You may take a gap year, two gap years, or no gap year at all, and every option is just fine! As long as you feel that you are getting the experience and information you need to make the right choice for you, then you are on the right path. 
 
2. Take advantage of all that Gustavus offers. Although this sounds cliche, it really hits home for me. Gustavus truly has so many things to help you on your journey, whether that is geared towards your career pursuits, academic endeavors, or interests away from school completely. I personally felt that I was over involved at times, so much so that I had to back off from certain commitments, and I was happy to be able to do so! Get involved, explore your interests, and try new things. You have so many people around you that want to help you succeed, and all you have to do is be willing to accept their help! Most importantly, enjoy your time on campus because it goes so fast.
 
3. Keep the big picture in mind. College can be difficult and overwhelming at times. There will be life events that occur that make you feel like you’re no longer on the right path. You may change your plans or reassess your goals. In the end, remember that it’s all okay and part of the process. Have a vision in mind for what you want your future to look like, and remind yourself that the hard times will only better prepare you for your future!
 
 
Future Plans:
I plan to attend the University of Michigan School of Dentistry beginning in June of 2023. After completing my dental degree, I hope to pursue a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery.