Dentist LOR

[mudblood100]

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Hello,

So I shadowed a dentist last semester for around 48 hours and when I asked him for a STRONG LOR he said that he would write me a LOR but not sure if it will be strong because he liked the previous person who shadowed him better, but he won't screw me over but his LOR would be normal.


I am studying for DAT this semester and was wondering if it really is worth sacrificing my DAT studying time for another shadowing experience in hopes of getting a slightly better LOR.

*I am planning to submit 4 LOR, two of which are from my science professors that I feel confident about. I am planning to get one from my research lab PI (he's a professor at the Dental School) know him for 2 years and feel good about getting LOR from him, and one should be from a detnist..but not too sure about that.

*I also do research, work, volunteer at the hospital, and am taking 14 credits.

Also, how many volunteer hours are considered to be competitive? is ~380/400 good?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Buck-E-Badger]

Wow, if that's truly what the dentist said to you, I wouldn't even risk asking him for one. The fact that he explicitly told you that he did not like you as much as another shadowee is a huge red flag that he may sabotage you by agreeing to write a neutral LOR and in turn write a scathing one (worst case scenario). Additionally, I would say that you should only request LORs from professors, dentists, etc. that you are certain will write you a positive LOR. 99% of applicants will have solid LORs, and in this situation even if the dentist were to write a neutral LOR I think it would only hurt you (a neutral LOR essentially tells an adcom that you did not make an impression on your writer). You already have 3 LORs (which meets the minimum for most if not all schools) so why risk it? Just my two cents. If it's any consolation, I did not request a LOR from any of the four dentists I shadowed and off the top of my head I can't recall any friends who did either.

Volunteer hours vary from school to school, I'd say 400 hours is more than enough.

 

[ncide]

Many schools require a minimum of 100 hours of shadowing...

 

[doc toothache]

Would a "strong lor" be nothing short of the second coming of Pierre Fauchard"

 

[predent000]

Hello,

So I shadowed a dentist last semester for around 48 hours and when I asked him for a STRONG LOR he said that he would write me a LOR but not sure if it will be strong because he liked the previous person who shadowed him better, but he won't screw me over but his LOR would be normal.


I am studying for DAT this semester and was wondering if it really is worth sacrificing my DAT studying time for another shadowing experience in hopes of getting a slightly better LOR.

*I am planning to submit 4 LOR, two of which are from my science professors that I feel confident about. I am planning to get one from my research lab PI (he's a professor at the Dental School) know him for 2 years and feel good about getting LOR from him, and one should be from a detnist..but not too sure about that.

*I also do research, work, volunteer at the hospital, and am taking 14 credits.

Also, how many volunteer hours are considered to be competitive? is ~380/400 good?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I agree with Luther2016, if a dentist told me that, I would feel a little uncomfortable. I remember my dentist was so happy that I asked him, telling me he remembers the process and how he'll definitely write a good one. If he told me what your dentist told you, I would be kind of hesitant honestly. Definitely note down that you shadowed with him/her in your application, but start shadowing someone else for the next 3 months, literally each week for like 1-2 hours (along with the current one), and by early May, the new dentist would probably write one for you. At the end of the day, you're going to be getting more shadowing hours too! I think spending one hour a week would be worth it. I was in your same boat with volunteering, 18-20 hours of school, work and studying and still managed to spare an hour or two on Fridays or at least every other Friday, tiring but definitely worth it.

 

[DC206R]

Find another dentist LOR.

 

[MickeyMouse45]

you should not risk asking this dentist to write LOR for you. a good LOR won't help you much but a bad LOR will screw you. you should rather hurry up to find another dentist, who is nice and you know for sure will write a strong LOR.

 

[predental21250]

I agree with Luther2016, if a dentist told me that, I would feel a little uncomfortable. I remember my dentist was so happy that I asked him, telling me he remembers the process and how he'll definitely write a good one. If he told me what your dentist told you, I would be kind of hesitant honestly. Definitely note down that you shadowed with him/her in your application, but start shadowing someone else for the next 3 months, literally each week for like 1-2 hours (along with the current one), and by early May, the new dentist would probably write one for you. At the end of the day, you're going to be getting more shadowing hours too! I think spending one hour a week would be worth it. I was in your same boat with volunteering, 18-20 hours of school, work and studying and still managed to spare an hour or two on Fridays or at least every other Friday, tiring but definitely worth it.

1 or 2 hour a week?? What?? Have you actually thought about this? Why would you want to commute to an office, watch basically 1 or 2 procedure, and then go home? Spend a whole day or at least half a day. lmao this advice, lets be a little practical

OP: I think you should get a new dentist. Would definitely boost your application too, and you can sacrifice a day or so a week from your DATs to get this LOR, and more importantly, the experience.

 

[predent000]

1 or 2 hour a week?? What?? Have you actually thought about this? Why would you want to commute to an office, watch basically 1 or 2 procedure, and then go home? Spend a whole day or at least half a day. lmao this advice, lets be a little practical

OP: I think you should get a new dentist. Would definitely boost your application too, and you can sacrifice a day or so a week from your DATs to get this LOR, and more importantly, the experience.

Lol I did it. I didn't always stay 1 hour, it varied each week, sometimes staying 2-3 hours & the clinic was a few minutes away. And I'm telling OP a few hours since he/she said there's also other stuff to do and limited with time.
I didn't need to stay half a day each week for a year lol, time wise with classes and work I couldn't even do that, everyone has different schedules, so it was practical for me and maybe also with someone I thought who might be in my same boat. I find it better to have a few hours each week over a longer period of time with a dentist. Just my opinion and experience though.

 

[mudblood100]

So I am currently shadowing a pediatric dentist, and how long do you think I should shadow him for before asking for a LOR? Also, did you guys ever go upto the front desk to inquire about the insurance and stuff...is it okay for a shadowee to do that?

 

[mudblood100]

Many schools require a minimum of 100 hours of shadowing...

yah I have total of 110 hours, but I spent most of my time shadowing that dentist who I asked the LOR from. I shadowed bunch of other practices for like 2-10 hours the summer after my freshmen year, so no quality time.

 

[DC206R]

So I am currently shadowing a pediatric dentist, and how long do you think I should shadow him for before asking for a LOR? Also, did you guys ever go upto the front desk to inquire about the insurance and stuff...is it okay for a shadowee to do that?

Definitely expose yourself to all aspects of a private practice. I would say after a month or so would be good to ask for a LOR.

 

[mudblood100]

Wow, if that's truly what the dentist said to you, I wouldn't even risk asking him for one. The fact that he explicitly told you that he did not like you as much as another shadowee is a huge red flag that he may sabotage you by agreeing to write a neutral LOR and in turn write a scathing one (worst case scenario). Additionally, I would say that you should only request LORs from professors, dentists, etc. that you are certain will write you a positive LOR. 99% of applicants will have solid LORs, and in this situation even if the dentist were to write a neutral LOR I think it would only hurt you (a neutral LOR essentially tells an adcom that you did not make an impression on your writer). You already have 3 LORs (which meets the minimum for most if not all schools) so why risk it? Just my two cents. If it's any consolation, I did not request a LOR from any of the four dentists I shadowed and off the top of my head I can't recall any friends who did either.

Volunteer hours vary from school to school, I'd say 400 hours is more than enough.

thank you so much for your advice! But I thought the Dentist LOR is very much preferred if not required. According to other SDN posts "if you're applying for Dental School it's only common sense to get a LOR from a Dentist"

 

[mudblood100]

Definitely expose yourself to all aspects of a private practice. I would say after a month or so would be good to ask for a LOR.

I currently have 12 hours with him because I shadow him in the morning for 4 hours....so after 24 hours it's okay to ask him? I guess my biggest concern is that I have 48 hours from that one dentist and would it look weird that I didn't ask that guy? idk if the schools care about that....I am just stressing about it so much.

 

[Buck-E-Badger]

thank you so much for your advice! But I thought the Dentist LOR is very much preferred if not required. According to other SDN posts "if you're applying for Dental School it's only common sense to get a LOR from a Dentist"

For some schools a LOR from a dentist is required (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...n-requirements-list-for-dental-school.911558/). Don't listen to everything SDN says, I have a feeling that most adcoms would take a LOR from a dentist with a grain of salt, however a glowing LOR from a professor that is putting their reputation and their schools' reputation behind you might be taken more seriously. At the end of the day, if you're applying to a school that requires a LOR from a dentist, ask another dentist for a LOR. If not, don't waste your time as you already have three letters. LORs are such a small part of the overall picture that as long as you have three solid LORs they are more or less negligible. No school accepts applicants purely on the basis of their LORs. Ask the people who know you best and can write about you as a person, not just a student, shadowee, etc.

 

[Faefly]

I would focus on my DAT
If you get a steller Dat with an OK LOR. You'll be fine!
but a bad DAT with an OK LOR is gonna hurt you!

 

[DC206R]

Do'nt worry about it. I got one from a dentist that I shadowed less. It turned out great. Quality > quantity.

 

[doc toothache]

For some schools a LOR from a dentist is required (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...n-requirements-list-for-dental-school.911558/). Don't listen to everything SDN says, I have a feeling that most adcoms would take a LOR from a dentist with a grain of salt, however a glowing LOR from a professor that is putting their reputation and their schools' reputation behind you might be taken more seriously. At the end of the day, if you're applying to a school that requires a LOR from a dentist, ask another dentist for a LOR. If not, don't waste your time as you already have three letters. LORs are such a small part of the overall picture that as long as you have three solid LORs they are more or less negligible. No school accepts applicants purely on the basis of their LORs. Ask the people who know you best and can write about you as a person, not just a student, shadowee, etc.

It helps to understand the whole enchilada about an lor requirement.

 

[Buck-E-Badger]

It helps to understand the whole enchilada about an lor requirement.

I'm not implying that they go to their grandmother and ask for a LOR, I'm saying that if you're going to go to a professor, research mentor, etc. go to one that can write about you beyond the given "this student got an A in my class and is therefore motivated and qualified for dental school." My apologies if I wasn't clear enough.