dental research importance

[267862]

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Hey guys,

I'm going to take a year off after I graduate in May. I have the option of doing dental research in LA (UCLA or USC) or doing molecular bio lab tech stuff in Berkeley. I'm just wondering how beneficial (if at all) doing dental research would be for me. I'm already doing an honors thesis in Neurobio.

I'm asking because I'm going to be super bored if I go to LA, I don't know anybody.

Thanks.

 

[NCToothDr]

If you are ultimately interested in doing dental research or attending a dental school focused on research, then I say get some experience this summer in LA. But if you plan to do more clinical dentistry in the future, go to Berkley and make sure to shadow a dentist or work in a lab for clinical experience. I know that you are planning to "take a year off" but you should find a niche during that year - just in case you don't get into dental school right away or you change your mind. As the saying goes - even the best laid plans are always broken.

Enjoy your time off and use it to your advantage to grow and refocus.

 

[267862]

If you are ultimately interested in doing dental research or attending a dental school focused on research, then I say get some experience this summer in LA. But if you plan to do more clinical dentistry in the future, go to Berkley and make sure to shadow a dentist or work in a lab for clinical experience. I know that you are planning to "take a year off" but you should find a niche during that year - just in case you don't get into dental school right away or you change your mind. As the saying goes - even the best laid plans are always broken.

Enjoy your time off and use it to your advantage to grow and refocus.

Hmm, i'm not interested in going into any sort of research in the future. I've already done about 30-40 hours of shadowing and just need to pay the bills in the coming year off. My thought that maybe dental research might help me get into dental school more so than a molecular bio research gig.

Any other thoughts? anyone?

 

[baseballjunkie]

I worked for a pharmaceutical CRO for a year before applying, and I got into 4 schools who have big research departments at their respective schools (UW, Case, Pitt, Tufts). My research had nothing to do with dentistry and I had many conversations with interviewers about the research. Really, it doesn't have to be dental research to look good on the application. Dental research might look a LITTLE better, but not big enough to suffer being somewhere that you don't really want to be.

 

[New2Philly]

If you go to LA, you could volunteer at UCLA dental clinic. You could get to know some of the faculty there (possible letter of rec), and I hear that if you put in a certain number of hours the director will write you a letter of rec. The experience also is interesting and looks good on 2nd-aries and personal statements.

 

[alikarimi]

Hi,
On the topic of dental research I was wondering would dental externships also boost the chances of a getting into a residency program?
Thanks

 

[noles]

just curious.. how did you come across these research opportunities? i might have to take a year off and would like to do something like that. what qualifications do you have other than a BS and also what kind of position would you hold within the pharm company, etc.

thanks

 

[joonkimdds]

Are you asking if the research is going to be a plus when you apply to dental schools? The answer is yes. However, it doesn't have to be dental related. Although it shows how much you are interested in dentistry, any research would be fine.

I had mice research since my 2nd year and interviewers were very interested in what I did.