Does extra shadow hours make me more competitive?

[MSPV]

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I'm considering shadowing up to 4 dentists, 2 general dentists and 2 specialists (peridontist, etc). I want to do a total of 200 hours of shadowing, 50 for each dentist. My question is, will shadowing more than the amount needed make me more competitive when applying for dental school? Do dental schools consider shadow hours when you shadow a specialist?

Thank you. 🙂

 

[squigloo]

I'm considering shadowing up to 4 dentists, 2 general dentists and 2 specialists (peridontist, etc). I want to do a total of 200 hours of shadowing, 50 for each dentist. My question is, will shadowing more than the amount needed make me more competitive when applying for dental school? Do dental schools consider shadow hours when you shadow a specialist?

Thank you. 🙂

Shadowing is more of a requirement so that schools know that you have an idea of what you're going into. Having a ton of shadowing hours probably won't make or break you in any way. Just aim for 100+, and you're set.

 

[childlife1104]

Id shadow the crap out of just one general dentist if I were you.

I just shadowed one dentist. I think more is better but some ppl say its pointless. I personally did about 1000 hours of shadowing.

Personal preference i suppose. Some ppl get in with barely any shadowing and some dont get in with thousands of hours.

If you have a solid GPA/DAT you should be set either way.

I found the best thing I got from shadowing wasn't actually watching the procedures but actually interacting and talking to patients before and after the treatment. They seem to like to talk sometimes since most of them are nervous about seeing a dentist.

I ended up talking to my interviewers and related my experiences I got from the clinic to pretty much all the questions theyve asked me.

So long story short. I think shadowing excessive amounts can get your unique experiences with patients that you dont normally get when you just shadow 20 hours and also you get tons of things you can talk about in your interviews!

 

[UltimateHombre]

I'm considering shadowing up to 4 dentists, 2 general dentists and 2 specialists (peridontist, etc). I want to do a total of 200 hours of shadowing, 50 for each dentist. My question is, will shadowing more than the amount needed make me more competitive when applying for dental school? Do dental schools consider shadow hours when you shadow a specialist?

Thank you. 🙂

No it will not, it will just give you greater exposure to different practices and procedures.

However, a better GPA and DAT will make you more competitive. Your hours are much better spent, attempting to make those the best you possibly can.

 

[squigloo]

I'm considering shadowing up to 4 dentists, 2 general dentists and 2 specialists (peridontist, etc). I want to do a total of 200 hours of shadowing, 50 for each dentist. My question is, will shadowing more than the amount needed make me more competitive when applying for dental school? Do dental schools consider shadow hours when you shadow a specialist?

Thank you. 🙂

Shadowing is more of a requirement so that schools know that you have an idea of what you're going into. Having a ton of shadowing hours probably won't make or break you in any way. Just aim for 100+, and you're set.

 

[dentalWorks]

laughing out loud @ 1000 hours

short answer: no.... matter of fact, too much shadowing (in my opinion) looks bad because instead of doing useful and productive things (studying, hanging out, exercising, working, etc etc) you decided to spend hours upon hours "observing" a profession where all you needed were 50-100 hours.

in fact, I even encourage pre-dents to shadow only a general dentist as majority of dental graduates end up here....

I think this has been said before, and I'll say it again, shadowing, volunteering, extra curriculars, etc etc will NOT make up for poor academic performance

 

[Ionz]

I just shadowed one dentist. I think more is better but some ppl say its pointless. I personally did about 1000 hours of shadowing.

ONE THOUSAND HOURS?!😱😱😱

Please tell me you added an extra zero in there...that's an unhealthy amount of standing and watching the same thing over and over without doing ANYTHING 42 days worth in fact, oh dear god...

 

[dentalGator]

You should aim for 50-100 hours of shadowing minimum IMO for your application to show you have a genuine interest in dentistry. I think most people applying have somewhere around 100 hours. Of course there are those with an insane amount of hours...what I believe is most important though is the quality of your shadowing hours versus the quantity. Just be able to talk about your experiences in detail when it comes time to interview.

 

[mcfuzzy]

I feel like everybody has about 100, which is also the max required hours for any school I believe. However, some schools require diversity of practices as well. Spreading out into a couple practices is a must. Total hours though, I doubt having 200 doesn't make you any more special than the chap with 100. Only people with minimum hours need to worry about total hours.

 

[tandem7]

What about 50 hours shadowing different general practices? Is that too little. Those are my hours and I am a bit worried. I couldn't do more given that I work more than 50 hours a week and I am a part time student.

 

[doc toothache]

I found the best thing I got from shadowing wasn't actually watching the procedures but actually interacting and talking to patients before and after the treatment. They seem to like to talk sometimes since most of them are nervous about seeing a dentist.

Unless, you were given the go ahead, you may have taken more liberty than common courtesy would allow.