EC Experiences

[windsurfercali]

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Hi All, I'm new here,

My question is regarding Extra-curricular experiences. I was formerly a Premed and my EC's for the past few years show it. For example, ~1,038 hours [over a period of 2 years] working in the ER and assisting doctors.

My question is, should I not list these activities? I am hesitant to list them because at this point I do not expect that I will be able to gain as many hours shadowing a dentist.

I don't want adcoms to think that I suddenly shifted to dentistry on a whim. I don't want adcoms to think Dentistry is a backup, it isn't.

I have a 3.68 BCPM GPA with a 39R on the MCAT, I feel I could get into medical school if I wanted, but over the last 2 years I've always felt hesitant and wanted to explore dentistry. Now that I have, I've switched to dentistry and don't plan on applying to medical school.

Should I list the EC's even though my experience with a dentists will appear dwarfed in comparison [probably 50-60 hours by the time I apply].

What else do I need to do besides taking the DAT?

 

[alanan84]

I wouldn't list them. The only reason I can think of for mentioning them is if your decision toc switch to dentistry was b/c of what you saw while volunteering. Otherwise they really don't have anything to do with Dentistry.

 

[Doh Boy Fresh]

are you kidding? youshoudl DEFINITELY list them! They show that you are not a bum, you have ( I HOPE) a good reason for choosing dentistry over med-school... and you can say (at the interview if htey ask you about it) that you even went as far as takign the MCAT and getting a 39 on it (btw, amaaaazing score if U DID INFACT get a 39) .. why DO you wanna do dent now? thats the ? you should answer first and if u are able to, then add it.

its cool that you have er experience....and less dental.. its okay to change ur mind. people do ALL the time

good luck

 

[windsurfercali]

are you kidding? youshoudl DEFINITELY list them! They show that you are not a bum, you have ( I HOPE) a good reason for choosing dentistry over med-school... and you can say (at the interview if htey ask you about it) that you even went as far as takign the MCAT and getting a 39 on it (btw, amaaaazing score if U DID INFACT get a 39) .. why DO you wanna do dent now? thats the ? you should answer first and if u are able to, then add it.

its cool that you have er experience....and less dental.. its okay to change ur mind. people do ALL the time

good luck

My plan was to spin my ER experience as just volunteering even though It was really shadowing and hands on work more than anything.

Regarding the decision to pursue dentistry. I have many, but one reason has to do with how medical care is given; wait times, patients dying in waiting rooms or dying because they were not seen expediently, doctors who have become apathetic and insensitive due to the sheer volume and stress associated with the work. Lawsuits. Liability associated with things that aren't your fault. The threat of lawsuits [far worse since actual lawsuits are few and far between]

I've been sitting on the fence since the very beginning. When asking a very well liked doctor if he would encourage his little children to pursue medicine he laughed and gave me a very definite NO. "They are going to be dentists when they grow up." At the time, I thought maybe he was just an unhappy doctor.

How often do dentists have to tell their patients they will die? Doctors really don't have to say those words very often. But I'd imagine dentists even less if at all.

There are more, but the fact that many if not most doctors are unhappy with the way things are exemplify the remaining reasons. I want to be happy with my profession