HELP-ADVICE-What is better for your "year off"?

Started by JustwantDDS
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J

JustwantDDS

DrAMG
10+ Year Member
Hi all,

I'm graduating in May 2010, and I am applying this summer.

What is best for my year off?

Paid dental assisting? Or working in a research laboratory?


PLEASE advise!

Should I call admissions offices and ask?

What do you think?
 
I would say paid dental assisting... you get more exposure to the dental field ... but i dont think it really matters you could go either way depending on what you want to do... also think about what part of your applications needs a boost (?) shadowing experience vs. research experience... it wont go wrong whatever u decide to do. 🙂
 
If you're aiming for a more reseach-focused school, such as UCSF, Michigan, Harvard, etc., I would definitely go with the research. For more clinically-focused schools such as Pacific or Temple, the paid dental assisting would probably be looked upon more favorably.
 
dentaldawg32 said:
If you're aiming for a more reseach-focused school, such as UCSF, Michigan, Harvard, etc., I would definitely go with the research. For more clinically-focused schools such as Pacific or Temple, the paid dental assisting would probably be looked upon more favorably.
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Do both if you can.
 
The following statement applies only if you are NOT pursuing an DDS/PhD:
The only way I would even consider doing research instead of paid assisting would be if I had absolutely NO research experience, and still, it would be a tough decision. Think of the benefit you will have once you get into school by having ~1 year of dental assisting under your belt. Not to mention, if the dentist knows you are going to dental school, he'll likely explain reasoning behind things in much more detail, etc. Not getting involved in assisting is the only thing I would change if I could do the past year over (and had alternate financial resources... unfortunately I have a much needed well-paying job).
 
Oh, and DON'T do both... This is your last year before you will be worked to the bones... enjoy yourself!
 
honestly

i would travel
you got a year off before you start working your entire life
take a break

but its up to you
im actually traveling to korea or bali or drivin across the US
no joke
 
Research shows that your undergrad diploma was not a worthless piece of paper. A paid position as a da may show the opposite.
 
doc toothache said:
Research shows that your undergrad diploma was not a worthless piece of paper. A paid position as a da may show the opposite.
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Doc is always spot on. You will learn all the dentistry you need to know in dental school. Research will teach you critical thinking skills, how to design and test experiments and hypotheses, how to analyze sets of data - all things that will prove useful in the diagnosis and treatment of your patients as a dentist.
 
I worked as a paid dental assistant for the year and a half I had between college and dental school and it was great. Made some good money, made some good connections, managed to rack up 400 dental volunteer hours on top of my paid dental experience, got to learn the business side of dentistry hands on, got to figure out how I want to run my practice and things to do and not to do in regards to my staff, got perspective from the other side of the chair that I think will be useful when I'm the boss, and had a lot of fun with my job.

That said, I had already done 2 years of research/presenting that research/thesis writing while in college, so I thought that was enough for me on the research front.

I got into my top choice school, enjoyed my time between undergrad and DS, and made some money. I'd do it exactly the same if I had to do it over.
 
I'm with Doc on this one...save dentistry for D School. As for what to do, I'd go for anything that keeps that mind of yours from atrophy 😉 research sounds good enough for that. Just make sure you are doing research, and not working as a tech (aka READ about what you are researching!)
 
Thanks for the help, but I'm still pretty confused.

I don't have research experience under my belt, so I've applied to be a research assistant at several locations, haven't heard back yet.

As for the dental assistant position- I pretty much have that position if needed.

I have volunteer/shadow hours with two dentists, but I'm not sure if the time I spent there was enough, I did it for an entire summer + semester.

Should I try to fit in both? Most of the research positions are full time jobs...
 
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