From Oregon State to OHSU: Building Clinical Confidence Before You Touch a Drill

Most dental students show up to D1 year at a place like OHSU thinking they need to be perfect from the jump—and that’s just not true. In this episode, we’re talking to Carson, a D1 at OHSU, about the reality of transitioning from Oregon State to the environment of dental school in Portland. We’re stripping away the fluff to talk about how to manage failure, learn from your mistakes, and stay motivated when the expectations feel impossible. We also look ahead at the long game: how to build the clinical confidence you’ll need in your third and fourth years so you're prepared when you finally start working on real patients. If you want to stop stressing about being perfect and start focusing on being prepared, listen to this.