Crap...dentist LOR falling through

[vlct0ria]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So for my dental experience thus far, I've shadowed/assisted at a free dental clinic for about 25 hours (part of a program made for my school's pre dent society)...it's a clinic that UF D4's rotate around to every couple weeks, so I usually shadow or assist with them, and very occasionally with the dentist who directs the program. I emailed the dentist about writing a LOR for me, but he said he only does it for people he has worked really closely with, which doesn't really include me since I've only been assisting with the UF students for the majority of the time.

I am going home next month and I will be shadowing a dentist in my hometown for about a week (prob about 20 or so more hours). This dentist is my only other option for a LOR before application time...but I am basically screwed because there's no way a dentist who I've only known for a week can write a letter that thoroughly describes my personal character and interest/experience in dentistry.

What should I do??? Hound the dental clinic director for a letter? ... or hopefully get to know the new dentist amazingly well in a week???

 

[DrReo]

So for my dental experience thus far, I've shadowed/assisted at a free dental clinic for about 25 hours (part of a program made for my school's pre dent society)...it's a clinic that UF D4's rotate around to every couple weeks, so I usually shadow or assist with them, and very occasionally with the dentist who directs the program. I emailed the dentist about writing a LOR for me, but he said he only does it for people he has worked really closely with, which doesn't really include me since I've only been assisting with the UF students for the majority of the time.

I am going home next month and I will be shadowing a dentist in my hometown for about a week (prob about 20 or so more hours). This dentist is my only other option for a LOR before application time...but I am basically screwed because there's no way a dentist who I've only known for a week can write a letter that thoroughly describes my personal character and interest/experience in dentistry.

What should I do??? Hound the dental clinic director for a letter? ... or hopefully get to know the new dentist amazingly well in a week???

Ask in person to work with him. If you have to ask via email, you're not close enough to ask. ( I know many people have asked for LORs via email)

 

[vlct0ria]

Ask in person to work with him. If you have to ask via email, you're not close enough to ask. ( I know many people have asked for LORs via email)

Unfortunately, that is my problem. I haven't worked very closely with him at all- I spend about 90% of my time with the UF students. I never would have gone through this program at my pre-dental society if I would have known I would get so little interaction with the dentist...at this point I am seriously regretting not just searching the phone book for a private practice dentist to shadow. I'll see the clinic dentist tomorrow in person, so hopefully I can sway him to make an exception for me.

 

[MiamiNole20]

I assume you're talking about Dr. B?? I was in the same situation and couldn't get Dr B. to write me one. I actually asked my personal dentist, who I never shadowed, to write me a "character letter", ie. describe me and my passion to pursue dentistry and pretty much vouch for my good character. It ended up working out for me. However, after graduating, I did eventually get to shadow/assist him. I ended up updating schools w/ a second letter (written by him) proving that I did put in shadowing hours. So, you may want to try this, or try hounding Dr B.... Maybe give him a CV, your personal statement, & a copy of your transcripts so he'd be able to write more about you. Hope this helps.

 

[vlct0ria]

I assume you're talking about Dr. B?? I was in the same situation and couldn't get Dr B. to write me one. I actually asked my personal dentist, who I never shadowed, to write me a "character letter", ie. describe me and my passion to pursue dentistry and pretty much vouch for my good character. It ended up working out for me. However, after graduating, I did eventually get to shadow/assist him. I ended up updating schools w/ a second letter (written by him) proving that I did put in shadowing hours. So, you may want to try this, or try hounding Dr B.... Maybe give him a CV, your personal statement, & a copy of your transcripts so he'd be able to write more about you. Hope this helps.

Yeah, its Dr B...What did he tell you when you asked? I emailed him and explained my situation a little bit (and offered to provide a copy of my transcripts and CV), so we'll see if I can get any sympathy

I've recently changed my personal dentist (since my last one retired), who I've only seen once, so he probably couldn't say much about my character or motivation. I'm thinking now about searching for a private practice dentist in Tally to shadow for a few weeks too.

 

[dentalmagnet]

What's so bad about getting an LOR from 20hrs with a dentist (at home)? You've only spend 25 hrs at the clinic so it's not that big of a difference. I would ask someone after two or three times shadowing. It's really not that big of a deal

 

[Kneecoal]

dude, i shadowed an ortho for about 80+ hours 2.5 years ago, and when i asked her to write me a letter recently, she said she didn't even remember me (granted this was on the phone). but she told me to come in anyway, and we sat down and she basically gave me a mini interview, and i brought her a blurb of what i'd done in her office while i shadowed, and what i learned while i was there (she remebered who i was once she saw me, or at least she said she did). she agreed to write me a letter. see if you can't do something like that with him! i know how you feel, she's the only one i've shadowed during college, and i was so nervous she'd say no. good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Crap dentist- def. a dentist who, in good conscience, is not willing to write an LOR.

 

[burnzee06]

I stressed about getting a dentist letter until the health committee explicitly said they don't want letters from dentists because they don't write good ones. Then I looked up some of the schools I was thinking about applying to and only two of the ten or eleven even required dentist letters (VCU and NC maybe?) so I just crossed them off my list.

 

[vlct0ria]

Alright alright...you guys are making me feel better, thank you. I think I will just suck it up and ask for a recommendation letter from the dentist I'll be shadowing next month. Thanks again!

 

[Kneecoal]

Crap dentist- def. a dentist who, in good conscience, is not willing to write an LOR.

doc, come on now - i know you like to pull bits and pieces out of people's posts and make sarcastic remarks, but this one was taken way out of context. you're usually good at it, but i'm calling you out on this one.

 

[Contach]

it was funny enough..

noone was calling the dentist crappy..

 

[doc toothache]

doc, come on now - i know you like to pull bits and pieces out of people's posts and make sarcastic remarks, but this one was taken way out of context. you're usually good at it, but i'm calling you out on this one.

The op does not take the credit for the cd, although she was the catalyst behind the idea. It was just a matter of deleting a few periods.

 

[Jake8]

If you have time go to the Eastside clinic. Dr. Soares and the lady Dr. are both super nice and willing to let you shadow, assist, and help you out with letters after they know you.

 

[supraman]

how many LOR threads you gonna make buddy

 

[vlct0ria]

how many LOR threads you gonna make buddy

Huh?? I've only done 3 or 4 threads, and that's because things keep going wrong and new questions keep arising, so I figured a pre-dental forum was an appropriate place to ask for advice. Am I wrong in assuming this?