Hey guys, I've been doing research with one of my professors here at UC Riverside this quarter. As this quarter draws to an end, I am planning to ask him to write me a letter of recommendation for dental school. I am unsure as to how to ask him. Do I just tell him that I am planning to apply to Dental school in the future and would greatly appreciate it if he would write me a letter of rec? Also, I am currently a Sophomore and will be a Junior this upcoming September. I am wondering when is the ideal time for me to start studying for the DATS. Finally, in addition to research, I am applying for an internship to my local hospital and will must likely get the spot. I will try to net as many hours as possible while searching for a dentist to shadow. Will 1 research, 1 volunteering at a hospital, and 1 dentist shadowing be competitive for my application or should I try to net even more?
A Few Questions:
- Thread starter tpwelie34
- Start date
As far as shadowing dentists goes, there are some things to keep in mind:
- You're probably going to want to shadow more than one dentist
- The majority of those hours should be from someone in general practice, although shadowing one or multiple specialists as well can only help
- It's not as difficult as you make it out to find dentists to shadow. From my experience, most have been pretty open to shadowing. Just make sure that you go in person to their office, that personal touch as opposed to a phone call helps.
With regards to the DAT, I wouldn't start studying more than three or four months before you take it, but that's just me. I feel that you risk losing information if you study that far in advance, especially as your DAT information gets mixed up with the information you learn at Riverside.
Extracurriculars are an integral part of your application, but they are trumped by GPA and DAT scores. Prioritize those two components above the rest.
- You're probably going to want to shadow more than one dentist
- The majority of those hours should be from someone in general practice, although shadowing one or multiple specialists as well can only help
- It's not as difficult as you make it out to find dentists to shadow. From my experience, most have been pretty open to shadowing. Just make sure that you go in person to their office, that personal touch as opposed to a phone call helps.
With regards to the DAT, I wouldn't start studying more than three or four months before you take it, but that's just me. I feel that you risk losing information if you study that far in advance, especially as your DAT information gets mixed up with the information you learn at Riverside.
Extracurriculars are an integral part of your application, but they are trumped by GPA and DAT scores. Prioritize those two components above the rest.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2009
- Messages
- 5,650
- Reaction score
- 169
Since your going to be a junior next year... perhaps its best you get the DAT out of the way this summer. So next summer (between junior and senior year), you devote all your time into the application process.
As far as shadowing / volunteering / and research goes.... your fine.
As far as shadowing / volunteering / and research goes.... your fine.
I will be taking summer school as well as spending time at my hospital internship for all of my summer this year so I won't be able to focus 100% of my time on the DAT. When is the optimal time in my college career to take the DAT?
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2009
- Messages
- 5,650
- Reaction score
- 169
Well many people take the DAT in the same summer they are applying.... If you ask me, its certainly doable but its also a pain in the ass cause the DAT is stressful as is, add to it the application, collecting LORs (if you don't have already), making a list of schools to apply to, getting your money ready...
This is why I suggested you take this summer and kill the DAT out of the way.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2009
- Messages
- 5,650
- Reaction score
- 169
Does your school offer a letter of rec. service? Like a letter bank or a committee that compiles a bunch of your letters? Find out what your school offers then I can give you a better idea
Another question: My school offers Biochemistry in a one quarter series or a three quarter series. I was originally planning to take the one quarter series to finish it off quickly but my friend says that dental schools strongly prefer that I take a full year of biochemistry. Is this true?
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2009
- Messages
- 5,650
- Reaction score
- 169
doubt it.
They recommend about 3-4 credits of biochem (basically half of the series) but not 1 years worth.
