Advice for 2006 Class Applicant (Dentistry Experience)

[jenl81]

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I am planning on applying to dental school for the 2006 entering class. I have pretty good credentials, graduated from undergrad with 3.6 GPA on a pre-med track, and am right now finishing up my master's of public health at Yale, and have had a variety of prestigious research internships. I am worried though that my application will fall short in the area of exposure to dentistry. Most of my experience has been in the medical field, as I was on a pre-med track throughout college, and realized after battling it that I did not want to be a doctor. The problem I am worried about with my application is that besides about 20 hours of shadowing, I dont have much expereience in the dental field. It is not a question of wanting to be a dentist for me, I really really am intersted in dentistry and through my shadowing realize that this is the career for me but i am worried that I do not have enough expereince in dentistry for admissions committee. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? It is difficult for me to do anything more at this point being that I will be applying in June and am currently in school and writing my thesis. Thanks so much for your help - I greatly appreciate it!

 

[wimmcs]

Sorry to be blunt, but if you really want it, then do whatever it takes to make it happen. Look, you still have a few months from now 'til application time. I don't see it unreasonable to at least put in 10 hrs. a month of shadowing time until your application, this would give you at least 60 hrs of shadowing and I believe that is sufficient. Again, this is my opinion. And, 10 hrs. a month is a bare minimum IMO.
Sounds like you have very good credentials, keep up the good work and make SURE this is what you want to do, you may change your mind. Good luck!

 

[Sprgrover]

...The problem I am worried about with my application is that besides about 20 hours of shadowing, I dont have much expereience in the dental field...

You are not as lost nor as forelorn as you think you may be. A lot of applicants apply to dental school without any shadowing at all - your 20 hours is a great start and will be looked upon very favorably. Of course the more you can get in the better. As wimmcs stated, if you can get in an average of 10 hours a week, or even five, you'll be golden. It sounds like you are a solid and sound individual and your accolades and credentials will only help you. Trust me, you won't have anything to worry about during this upcoming cycle (you'll be a part of the class of 2010 😉 ). Best of luck!

 

[egpndoc]

I am planning on applying to dental school for the 2006 entering class. I have pretty good credentials, graduated from undergrad with 3.6 GPA on a pre-med track, and am right now finishing up my master's of public health at Yale, and have had a variety of prestigious research internships. I am worried though that my application will fall short in the area of exposure to dentistry. Most of my experience has been in the medical field, as I was on a pre-med track throughout college, and realized after battling it that I did not want to be a doctor. The problem I am worried about with my application is that besides about 20 hours of shadowing, I dont have much expereience in the dental field. It is not a question of wanting to be a dentist for me, I really really am intersted in dentistry and through my shadowing realize that this is the career for me but i am worried that I do not have enough expereince in dentistry for admissions committee. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? It is difficult for me to do anything more at this point being that I will be applying in June and am currently in school and writing my thesis. Thanks so much for your help - I greatly appreciate it!

'if u do well on the DAT's 18 or 19 at least, u will get in no problem. just apply to a variety of schools, in state and private. but take the other peoples advice about shadowing a dentist for a couple of hours each month until you apply. also make sure to write on your application that you will continue to shadow during the application process (just give dates ahead of time). also try to expose yourself to several different dentists, not just one. this way you will see different things and the admissions committee will see that youre interested and serious. make sure they are general dentist, they dont really want u to be at a specialists office the whole time/