Career and Budget Report

Natalia Perez 5-3-22 DE: Intro to Lit Career and Budget Report The field of dentistry is what I want to pursue. In specific, I would want to dive deeper into dentistry by becoming an orthodontist, a dentist who treats teeth and jaw irregularities by correcting alignment and keeping track of oral health. To begin my journey, I would get my bachelor’s degree from Florida International University which is required to apply to dental school. Luckily with Bright Futures scholarship and aid, the cost for undergraduate school will not be an issue; however, FIU tuition for 4 years usually comes out around $26,283. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I need to take the Dental Admissions Test to apply to dental school, which costs roughly around $495. Dental school at University of Florida would take up to 4 years and would cost me around $300,290 for all 4 years. This price not only includes tuition for all 4 years but also considers the overall estimated cost of attendance which is housing, food, books, fees, and personal expenses. The tuition alone for instate Florida residents averages out to $37,566 per year and I would be gaining my Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree. After dental school, I will need a dental license which means I would need to pass the National Board of Dental Examination, ADEX Dental Licensing Examination, and Florida Laws and Rules Examination. The Florida Laws and Rules Examination is $135, the ADEX examination has a fee of $2,295 for the first time, and part 1 of NBDE costs $433 while part 2 costs $425 according to data from 2016. After that, the dental licensure itself costs $405. After this I would begin my orthodontics residency which would take 2 to 3 years. If I were to complete my orthodontics residency in a program in University of Florida, the cost of attendance would be $41,555. Finally, I’d be finalizing my journey with my orthodontist license/certificate which would be

Natalia Perez 5-3-22 DE: Intro to Lit like the dental license around $400. According to reported data, the average salary pay for an orthodontist in Miami, FL is $142,165 and $11,847 monthly. Budget For: Natalia Perez Income Monthly Yearly Net Paychecks Orthodontist $11,847 $142,165 Other Incomes N/A TOTAL INCOME $11,847 $142,165 Expenses Fixed Expenses 1. Housing Mortgage (250k home : 15 year fixed) $1,505 $18,060 2. Housing Homeowners Insurance $104 $1,248 3. Housing Taxes + other expenses $188 $2,256 4. Loans School loan payments $2,500 $30,000 5. Transportation Car payment (60 month term) $461 $5,532 6. Transportation Full coverage car insurance (Geico) $116 $1,396 7. Health Insurance $244 $2,928 8. Phone AT&T Phone bill $75 $900 9. Utilities Internet $70 $840 TOTAL Fixed Expenses ……………………………………………… ……………………………. $5,263 $58,180 Variable Expenses 1. Utilities Electric $110 $1,320 2. Utilities Water $70 $840 3. Utilities Trash/recycling $14 $168 4. Utilities Natural gas $72 $864 5. Transportation Gas money $150 $1,800 6. Food Groceries $350 $4,200

Natalia Perez 5-3-22 DE: Intro to Lit References Belliveau, E. (2021, May 13). Dental admission test (DAT): Pre-medical and Pre-Dental Advising Office . PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://premed.uconn.edu/dental-admission-test-dat/ Budgets & Cost of attendance " Office of Admissions " College of Dentistry " University of Florida . UF monogram. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/financial-aid/graduate-dental-education/budgets-cost-of- attendance/ Budgets & Cost of attendance: D.M.D. " Office of Admissions " College of Dentistry " University of Florida . UF monogram. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/financial-aid/d-m-d/budgets-cost-of-attendance-d-m-d/ CareerExplorer. (2019, November 14). How to become an orthodontist . CareerExplorer. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/orthodontist/how-to- become/ Contributors, W. M. D. E. (n.d.). What is an orthodontist? what they do, what conditions they treat, and what to expect . WebMD. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-an-orthodontist Dental (ADEX) . CDCA. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.cdcaexams.org/dental- exams/ Dentistry, F. B. of. (n.d.). Dentist . Florida Board of Dentistry. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://floridasdentistry.gov/licensing/dentist/#tab-fees Florida International University - Tuition & Fees, net price . College Tuition Compare. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/edu/133951/florida- international-university/tuition/ Salary.com, S. built by: (n.d.). Salary.com salary wizard- do you know what you're worth?: Salary-calculator . Salary.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.salary.com/tools/salary-calculator/orthodontist/miami-fl Welcome Back Initiative. (2016, March). U.S Licensing Process for Foreign Trained Dentists . San Francisco .

Natalia Perez 5-3-22 DE: Intro to Lit Reflection The outcome of this project surprised me in many ways. Having to research the educational cost of an orthodontist opened my eyes. I was never familiar with the cost nor with the intricate steps needed to become an orthodontist, so, with this project I was able to feel more prepared for the future. I got a better idea of the timestamp of things and when I should them. However, the money aspect took me by surprise since everything came with a cost, even certain exams needed to get a license, exams some people need to retake and repay. I always expected tuition and such to be expensive but never thought there were so many additional costs to become a dentist. This made me realize how much I need to save for my education and how much I need to pay back in the future. Although it seems like I’ll have a couple years struggling with the costs of my education, once I researched the income salary for an orthodontist, I was relieved. The income salary varies but ranges anywhere from $120k to $200k with no experience and continues to increase with more experience. With this knowledge, repaying student loan debt seemed doable. While doing the budget I made sure to input expenses I needed to pay and those that I desire and will desire in the future. I was able to be lenient with the money set aside for the things I want, while still having extra money that could go into my savings or even into my student debt to pay it off faster. However, I did sacrifice a big multiple bedroom house for a one-bedroom condo since I don’t plan on having kids as soon as I graduate and needed to be reasonable with my expenses because of the debt I need to pay back. In addition, I could also cut back on the money I set aside for personal care, shopping sprees and travel. I could set the budget from $300 to $100 and still have enough for the basics of personal care and clothes while saving more money. However, I was surprised and pleased that years of hard work will pay off in the end since I was still able to do what I want, save, and still have some left over.