As the class of 2026 approaches commencement, Ramapo College of New Jersey is spotlighting the journeys and accomplishments of graduating Roadrunners.

April 7, 2026

by Elizabeth Mendicino ‘26

Determining one’s career path is one of the major decisions made in a lifetime, but for many this choice is the realization of a generational legacy.

When Arthur Khaytin ‘26 and Bani Dhillon Hira ‘26 met at orientation the summer before they each started classes at Ramapo College of New Jersey, they had no idea just how intertwined their college journeys would be or how similar their paths would become. After their initial meeting, the pair realized they had the exact same schedule.

Since then, they have spent their time at Ramapo sharing classes together, being in the same clubs and extracurricular activities, building a friendship and encouraging each other’s dreams of following family members into the field of dentistry.

Now, as graduation approaches, Hira and Khaytin are preparing to continue their journeys at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Both students were ecstatic to learn of their acceptance, and to begin the transition to this next stage of their careers – together.

At Ramapo, students like Khaytin and Hira who are interested in dentistry have the opportunity to major in biology with a concentration in dentistry. This gives them the opportunity to learn alongside other students pursuing careers in the medical field and, combined with Ramapo’s liberal arts mission, a well-rounded and interdisciplinary education. While pre-dentistry is not a major degree, it consists of a concentration track with a strong focus on chemistry and biology courses that effectively prepare students for their time in dental school.

Building on Family Legacy

For Khaytin, becoming a dentist is in his blood.

“I actually have a lot of dentists in my family; my dad is a dentist, my aunt and my grandpa,” said Khaytin, of Alpine, NJ. “I was especially inspired by my dad and my aunt’s journey, because they came here to the US as immigrants from the Soviet Union, and they basically came with nothing. They were able to attend dental school here and become dentists, and that’s what’s kind of been driving me.”

Khaytin’s passion for dentistry, through his clinical and familial experiences, is more nuanced than one may expect. He sees his career path as a means of helping others not only boost their health, but their confidence as well.

Arthur Khaytin ‘26 is following in the footsteps of his family members to become a dentist.

For Hira, becoming a dentist meant following in the footsteps of her role model: her mother. From a young age, it stuck out to Hira that after a 10-hour shift her mother would still come home with a smile on her face, especially as a single mother. As Hira got older and was able to shadow her mother, she saw just how meaningful dentistry can be.

“I got to see how much she enjoys helping people feel more confident in themselves and she’s instilled that in me,” said Hira, of Tenafly, NJ. “I really believe in self-empowerment and loving yourself to the max, and in preventative care. That is something I really want to implement as a dentist, not trying to find cures [or] treatment, but trying to prevent the need for treatment if you can.”

Dr. Ravneet Hira, Hira’s mother, takes great pride in her daughter’s success and acceptance into dental school..

“Watching you reach this milestone fills me with a gratitude and pride that words can barely hold,” she commented on her daughter’s LinkedIn post announcing her acceptance to dental school. “This journey was built on your dedication, discipline, and quiet strength, and you earned every bit of this moment through your own hard work.To see you step into dentistry with such purpose and compassion reminds me why this profession is so special. Not because of titles or achievements, but because of the care, integrity, and heart you bring into everything you do. That is what truly matters.”

Seizing Extracurricular Opportunities 

In both the Pre-Med/Pre-Health and Biology Clubs, Khaytin serves as president with Hira by his side as vice president. Hira’s extroverted and lively personality is balanced out by Khaytin’s organized and introverted one, making them a dynamic duo. While they are high-achieving student leaders pursuing intense careers, they both make time for their passions and themselves. Khaytin also serves as the Executive Vice President for the Ramapo College Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, both students also serve as chemistry tutors at the STEM Center and chemistry volunteers for the Upward Bound Math and Science program.

“Make sure you have time for your family and for your friends because, you might have all this education, might have the best grades, but if you don’t have all those memories and all the time you had together, that’s gonna go away,” said Hira. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and her dog, and is a strong advocate for work-life balance.

Bani Dhillon Hira ‘26 majored in biology with a concentration in dentistry at Ramapo.

Khaytin is a registered dental assistant, and spends much of his free time helping others via tutoring.

When asked about advice they would give to students applying on the pre-dental track, both stressed the importance of knowing what you want out of college. With dental school being expensive, both agreed that Ramapo’s affordability was a driving factor in their decision to attend Ramapo.

“I think it’s important to look for a school that has a lot of extracurricular opportunities, and with Ramapo being a liberal arts college it has a lot of courses that might be outside of the sciences, which aren’t traditionally things that pre-dental students take,” said Khaytin. “So if you’re interested in other subject fields, you want to look for a school like that. I personally also prefer a smaller school, because you get to know your faculty more, it might be easier to get recommendation letters and things like that. It’s important to know your preference [when applying].”

Both students felt grateful for the unique opportunities they have been granted by choosing Ramapo, such as increased time with family and involvement in the campus community.

Additionally, they stressed the importance of knowing what prerequisites colleges will take, and which dental schools will require you to take. Most importantly, they presented college as a fresh start, an opportunity to put your best foot forward.

“There’s more to you than just grades, and you want to build off of that,” Hira said. “You’re going to apply to college and be pre-dental, and you have a clean slate. The dental school is not going to ask for your high school grades, the dental school’s going to see how far you’ve come in undergrad. I think that’s so important, and a lot of kids don’t realize.”

For more information on the pre-dental track at Ramapo, check out the dentistry website.