There are so many opportunities for Ramapo students, especially when it comes to life post-graduation. For biology students on the pre-dental track, they have the opportunity to participate in the 4+4 partnership program with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. David George ‘26 is one of the many brilliant Ramapo students participating in the several LECOM tracks offered, and sees the college’s pre-dental track as the perfect foundation for success.

The LECOM Dental School has approximately a 2.7% acceptance rate, providing quality education that is more financially accessible for students. George, permitting that he passes the Dental Admittance Test (DAT), will start at LECOM in the fall of 2026. George was accepted to the program during his applications to undergraduate in 2022, and was able to select to attend Ramapo prior to LECOM. “It felt like a sigh of relief, I have friends and family who have applied to medical or dental school and I know the struggles that they had through the process,” said George. “I consider myself blessed to be selected for a program that allows me to have total control of my future in regards to my admission into dental school,”. Students like George in the pre-dental 4+4 have a set path through their undergraduate education that is designed to prepare them for exactly what they will need to know after graduation. They also have strong support from the faculty of the biology major, who are able to pursue strong mentorship relationships with their students.

In his senior year of high school, George participated in the Rutgers Decision for Dentistry program, which exposes the world of dentistry to high school students. George additionally interned at Kreiner Dental from 2021-2022, and was offered a part-time position as a sterilization technician after its completion. Through his time working there, he has gained a great deal of dental shadowing experience. “Not many people know about the early acceptance programs,” George said. “I applied to a lot of schools and how the application works is as long as you get into LECOM, you can choose any undergraduate and you just have to tell them which school you go to. I applied to LECOM and I chose Ramapo because I think it’s necessary to have security, especially because dental applications afterwards are very competitive,”. George also noted that by choosing Ramapo for his undergraduate degree along with LECOM’s dental program, he is saving a significant amount of money.

George, second from right, at the American Student Government Association Conference with fellow RCNJ attendees in the summer of 2024.

George is not extremely accomplished academically, he is also a renowned student leader on campus. He serves as the Senate Vice President in the Student Government Association and the Secretary of the newly reinstated Chemistry club. Being at Ramapo has allowed him to not only pursue rigorous courses that will prepare him for his time in dental school, but has also given him the breathing room to make friends and pursue extracurriculars. “I spent the first year focusing on academics,” said George. “My second year, I joined different organizations, I started my own club, and it made me realize how great the community is here at Ramapo. Although it’s a smaller school, the people are great and I’ve met a lot of friends that I think I’ll be keeping for a long time,”. He stresses his gratitude for Ramapo’s programs, as it has also given him the space to discover what study methods work best for him, and the reassurance that if he faces any personal or academic issues, he has flexibility.

“I think one big experience I’ve learned that comes with being in such a competitive field is imposter syndrome, where you feel that you’re not qualified, or you feel you don’t feel that you’re deserving of your spot,” said George on what often goes unsaid about his program. “Applying from high school, it’s a very competitive program. You hear often that you got lucky, and while those sentiments may not always be intentionally negative, it can impact you. One of the things I do is look introspectively at what I’ve done, and look at how I perform. Honestly? The doubt motivates me to work harder than everyone else.”