Do I need more locations for shadowing?

[testsubject00]

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So I only just started realizing I enjoyed dentistry so I don't have a long time frame. However, I do believe I have a lot of hours.

Dental assisting- 3 months-400 hours (Practice 1)

Shadowing- By the time I'm done: 5 months-180 hours. (Practice 2)

Volunteering- By the time I'm done: 5 months- 100 hours (food pantry)

While I'm very confident I have a large amount of hours, I'm worried my timeframe is going to look bad and I don't have enough locations. Should I look to shadow at one more practice? I'd rather spend that time studying for the dat but if it'll make me look better, I don't mind. My sGPA and cGPA are both on the lower side so I'm really hoping my clinical experience will give me an edge.

 

[PerioDont]

when are you applying? when is your DAT?

 

[testsubject00]

when are you applying? when is your DAT?

This upcoming cycle, not taking DAT until May

 

[dnz2]

So I only just started realizing I enjoyed dentistry so I don't have a long time frame. However, I do believe I have a lot of hours.

Dental assisting- 3 months-400 hours (Practice 1)

Shadowing- By the time I'm done: 5 months-180 hours. (Practice 2)

Volunteering- By the time I'm done: 5 months- 100 hours (food pantry)

While I'm very confident I have a large amount of hours, I'm worried my timeframe is going to look bad and I don't have enough locations. Should I look to shadow at one more practice? I'd rather spend that time studying for the dat but if it'll make me look better, I don't mind. My sGPA and cGPA are both on the lower side so I'm really hoping my clinical experience will give me an edge.

Is this your first time writing the DAT? I think if you for sure want to apply this cycle focus on the DAT (since you said your GPA is on the lower end) and dont worry about additional shadowing, you can always avail more shadowing opportunities after your DAT and put it in your application/email the schools an update

 

[PerioDont]

Is this your first time writing the DAT? I think if you for sure want to apply this cycle focus on the DAT (since you said your GPA is on the lower end) and dont worry about additional shadowing, you can always avail more shadowing opportunities after your DAT and put it in your application/email the schools an update

Agreed. I wouldn't really worry about hours, just focus on the DAT! the vast majority of my shadowing was in the 2 months before I applied

 

[USC-Dentistry]

Your timeframes are fine. I would personally consider 3+ months to be long...I got acceptances with 5 DAYS of shadowing lol. No other dental-related experiences.

 

[d9m7]

I shadowed only one dentist and got in! However, make sure that you would have enough to talk about if you were asked about your shadowing experience during your interviews.