Community Service that is ACTUALLY meaningful?

[TeethRCool]

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I heard volunteer community service looks really good to dental schools especially the California ones. So I plan on probably doing volunteer work in the hospital but it seems that all you do is paperwork without much interaction with patients, etc. So I was wondering what kind of volunteer work looks meaningful so that when you describe it in your applications, it actually looks meaningful instead of just saying that I filed papers and put them in binders ....

 

[philicity]

I heard volunteer community service looks really good to dental schools especially the California ones. So I plan on probably doing volunteer work in the hospital but it seems that all you do is paperwork without much interaction with patients, etc. So I was wondering what kind of volunteer work looks meaningful so that when you describe it in your applications, it actually looks meaningful instead of just saying that I filed papers and put them in binders ....

I volunteered at a community dental clinic for a few months and thought that it was a great experience. At first, I was made to do paperwork, but after awhile, they let me sterilize instruments and assist the dentists. I would think that all clinics are ran differently, so try to find one that's understaffed and in need of volunteers! 🙂

 

[Premedalltheway]

I volunteered at a community dental clinic for a few months and thought that it was a great experience. At first, I was made to do paperwork, but after awhile, they let me sterilize instruments and assist the dentists. I would think that all clinics are ran differently, so try to find one that's understaffed and in need of volunteers! 🙂

Isn't that more in the lines of dentist shadowing. I've been shadowing a dentist and they let me sterilize equipment and set up the tools to operate on the next patient. I was looking more into just community service (doesn't have to be dental related).

 

[philicity]

Isn't that more in the lines of dentist shadowing. I've been shadowing a dentist and they let me sterilize equipment and set up the tools to operate on the next patient. I was looking more into just community service (doesn't have to be dental related).

Dental shadowing....Community service...
Here's my way of seeing it: hitting two birds with one stone

....or however you label it on the AADSAS application

 

[Premedalltheway]

Sorry for any confusion but premedalltheway=TeethRCool(same people). I was premed but converted to predent 🙂

 

[Utes]

Just do something that you are passionate about. If you see a need in your community that is not being met... think big and organize a group and do something about it. If you are truely passionate about something, your feelings with shine through in your application.

Good luck,
Utes

 

[darius99]

Sorry for any confusion but premedalltheway=TeethRCool(same people). I was premed but converted to predent 🙂

guess it wasnt premed all the way then, was it?

 

[Dental DL]

PremedUntilISawTheLight = Dental DL 😉

 

[utahdent123]

Looking kind of sexy in your bunny undies Dental DL. Nice avatar.

 

[Dental DL]

hehe, thx 😛

i'm a bit of an exibitionist i guess haha
just having a little fun

 

[Toothinator]

Is that really you?? Lets see a full body shot 👍

 

[Dental DL]

um, i think i'll keep my name, face, and matriculation private

but who knows, maybe we'll be classmates this summer!

 

[utahdent123]

um, i think i'll keep my name, face, and matriculation private

but who knows, maybe we'll be classmates this summer!

I can only hope so. 🙂

 

[Dental DL]

well, as of this morning... if you're going to buffalo, penn or umd, you have a 33% chance of meeting me. (not really though, i'm leaning heavily towards one of the three and i actually let one of the spots go already.. so sad to see it go hehe)

 

[VClovesteeth05]

hi,

i was premed intially so i did a lot of volunteering in the pediatric ward at University of Rochester's hospital. Their pediatric ward is AMAZING and when you volunteer there you actually only interact with patients. This experience was very rewarding for me, but in terms of helping me decide to either be a dentist or a doctor it really didn't play a role, and I made this clear at the interview. I also shadowed a dentist, and got to help assist, sterilize instruments, take and develop x-rays etc. I think both experiences probably didn't hurt my application by any means. I think admissions committees want to see you are human, that you care about others and that you have an idea of what dentistry is.

good luck!