Wearing braces in middle school inspired Saloni Mehta’s career path.
The Boston University alumna spent her childhood in Framingham, Massachusetts, before her family moved to nearby Sudbury when she started high school.
“The one piece of solace I had during that time was the smile my orthodontist gave me,” she says. “Having a nice smile helped me feel confident.”
While she ended up majoring in environmental science in college, Saloni eventually enrolled in UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program’s dental track. Now she’s applying to dental schools throughout the northeast.
Taking courses in chemistry, biochemistry and physics at UVM helped Saloni fulfill the undergraduate science courses required for application to dental school. Coming to UVM also gave her a sense of belonging and community.
“The students here are motivated and competitive but they’re not cutthroat,” she says. “We helped each other and stayed in touch since completing the program. The sense of community was amazing.”
Pre Dental Programs and Applying to Dental School
While studying at Boston University, Saloni took calculus and biology, but soon realized how difficult the pre-dental requirements would be during her undergraduate years. She focused on environmental science and worked for an energy company after graduating.
But her dreams of becoming a dentist were never far away.
After completing the UVM Post-Baccalaureate Premedical program, she applied to several dental schools, including SUNY Buffalo, Boston University, University of Maryland, University of New England, and Temple University. She has chosen to attend Boston University School of Dental Medicine in the fall of 2019. But she is also interested in possibly returning to Vermont to practice dentistry.
Ultimately, Saloni’s goal is to be an oral surgeon, which not only requires dental school, but also licensing, residency and board certification. She’s confident UVM has set her on the right path.
“The way my UVM professors taught me was integrated and hands on,” she says. “The program gave me such a good foundation.”
Learn about UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
Celebrating 30 Years of UVM’s Post-Bacc Pre-Med Program
This milestone not only highlights our success but also our commitment to shaping the future of healthcare.
UVM’s innovative Post-Bacc Pre-Med program has transformed countless lives by providing rigorous academics, hands-on clinical experiences, and unwavering support from a dedicated faculty. As we reflect on our journey, we reaffirm our mission to empower the next generation of healthcare leaders.
“Our unique Post-Bacc Pre-Med program continues to impact the future of healthcare through transformative experiences, inspiring mentorship, and academic excellence. This milestone highlights the university’s Professional and Continuing Education division’s longstanding commitment to providing successful pathways for healthcare professionals. PACE prides itself as a critical higher education extension of the university, with a purpose-driven commitment to providing access for students at every stage of their journey. We remain dedicated to continuously innovating our Post-Bacc Pre-Med program as a vital catalyst for med school success, which to date has supported over 4,000 students becoming physicians, veterinarians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and more.”
— Maggie Lambert, MEd, UVM PACE, Post-Bacc Pre-Med Program Director
Read more success stories from our 30th Anniversary content series, here.
