ECs, Volunteering, Shadowing, etc.

[100AY]

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I am a third-year undergraduate student who wants to pursue a career in healthcare. I have long considered medical school and have been taking my pre-reqs and have done some activities. I, however, for personal reasons, will/cannot not be a traditional applicant. Thus, I am taking the time I have now to explore other careers in healthcare, especially after my research about a career as a physician has somewhat destroyed my romance with becoming a physician. (I still want to become a physician even with my new knowledge about the cons of pursuing a career in medicine but am now more open-minded to exploring other careers.) I am volunteering and shadowing at a physical therapy clinic as well to see if I like it. I plan to shadow a general dentist I know as well.

My primary question is: What is required to gain acceptance into dental school? GPA and DAT seem to be most important. Also, shadowing or having some experience in a dental setting seems important. How much more important is work, volunteering, and other activities compared to medical school? What else besides LORs and interviews is important? (I know that I shouldn't do things just for my application, but I think we can agree that we must do some things even if we don't wholeheartedly want to.)

I ask this because dentistry seems very appealing on paper and if I do apply, I want to get started now since I have two years left in undergrad.

From my readings on the web, it seems that a 3.5GPA, 20 DAT, ~100hours of shadowing/volunteering at dental setting, and volunteering consistently in a thing or two seems to be the formula for success.

Lastly, can you give advice on what I can do at the moment? FYI, if I do apply to dental, it will be at least 2 years from now.
GPA: 3.80 (sGPA similar)
School: Bad but in a good program
DAT: N/A
Work: 1.5 years doing minimum wage work, although I do have some management responsibilities now
Volunteering: Habitat for Humanity( not consistently)
Research: Research in neuroscience
Activities: RA program at hospital ER for 1 year where I shadowed a doctor which is mainly for pre-meds (I think this is important because exposure to a variety of healthcare professions and settings is important for making a decision on what field to go into IMO.)

I know that I am lacking in dental exposure which I hope will help me make my decision on what field to go into as well as volunteering. What is the ideal amount of volunteering tho?

Again, I know these questions make me sound like someone who is just building an pplication (and its partly true since I have no experience in dentistry). However, if i do decide to choose dentistry, i want to be ready when i apply. luckily, many profesional schools have similar requirements. still, each have their own differences so I want to know what I is expected for dental schools in particular. Thanksss

 

[NRG]

i was going to reply with "there is no ideal amount", but i guess if you go buy some schools guidelines... 100 hours or something. I dont remember. but dont do it for school. do it for yourself. lots of times people will find that they end up volunteering more than the minimum amount required.

there is no magic number. just find things you enjoy and try and volunteer in that category.

I like to work on cars and such, so I volunteered at a garage that fixes up cars and donates them. it was very fun. I went as much as I could, which wasnt a ton of hours, but I enjoyed it. I didnt do it JUST to put it on my resume, but i think non dental volunteering can help.

why dont you start volunteering at clinics to see if you enjoy dentistry.

 

[100AY]

Thank you!

 

[sjv]

GPA is great, DAT score should be sufficient, ECs are fine, just do some shadowing to see if Dentistry is for you. Dental schools also love non-trad applicants.

I have no doubt with your current stats that you would obtain multiple interviews/acceptances.

 

[100AY]

Thank you very much for your help!

also, do you know how long pre-reqs are valid? I finished gen chem in freshmen year, orgo in sophomore year, bio during my sophomore year, and will finish physics by the end of my junior year. I fear that my courses will expire (for a lack of a better term) and I will have to retake it as a post bac or at a cc, which would obviously suck....my main concern is the chemistry requirements since even if i apply two years after grad 5 years will have passed, which to me seems like a long time