gap year activities

[dentalgirl16]

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What activities did you do during your gap year? Did dental schools ask you a lot of questions about how you spent your gap year?

I'm taking a gap year, and so far, I've just been volunteering and shadowing, but not working (my schedule just doesn't allow it at the moment. I plan to start working full-time in three months though). I am worried that dental schools are going to look at the few months that I spent volunteering and shadowing, and accuse me of not being "productive" or not doing enough with my free time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dentalkid434]

I have a friend who did investment banking for two years before deciding on dentistry.

 

[Zbtb7]

You've already found a job. You're already volunteering and shadowing. I guess if you feel you're not being productive enough, you could go volunteer and shadow more.

 

[cakefacade]

During my gap year I was volunteering at an old folk's home, shadowing a dentist, working part time at an optical store and taking part time studies. It was actually a really good experience!

They asked me a few questions. I personally think they just want to see that you've been doing something (preferably improving your application) to show that you're still motivated.

best of luck to you!

 

[awaitsimpatient]

They don't want you to stop LEARNING so maybe take an extra class on something.. like learn another language, art, music... something educational 🙂 I am learning Chinesse this semester I am out of school 🙂 and doing volunteer services while working full-time, next semester I will take more classes to keep my brain working and increase my science GPA 🙂 good luck

 

[colombianDDS]

I'm currently taking a gap year and I have interviewed at 3 very prestigious schools. None of them asked me what i was doing this year. I brought it up myself at the end of the interview. I am currently working as a full time dental assistant. I think this is the best thing to do (although it is hard to get a paid position in some areas). So this whole year ill be making some money but also getting great experience in the field (assisting>>>shadowing). I wouldn't recommend taking classes unless its some classes such as biochem, pchem, or high level biology. I was thinking of taking anatony but honestly I don't think it will be that helpful because I will probably forget a lot of it before school starts in august 2013. You want to rest your brain (even tho that's not the reason why I'm taking a year off).

 

[awaitsimpatient]

I'm currently taking a gap year and I have interviewed at 3 very prestigious schools. None of them asked me what i was doing this year. I brought it up myself at the end of the interview. I am currently working as a full time dental assistant. I think this is the best thing to do (although it is hard to get a paid position in some areas). So this whole year ill be making some money but also getting great experience in the field (assisting>>>shadowing). I wouldn't recommend taking classes unless its some classes such as biochem, pchem, or high level biology. I was thinking of taking anatony but honestly I don't think it will be that helpful because I will probably forget a lot of it before school starts in august 2013. You want to rest your brain (even tho that's not the reason why I'm taking a year off).

I went to three open houses this year NY, all of them talked about taking a year off makes no sense,,they encourage to continue learning something.. keep your brain active! It never hurts to learn something new, Even if you take anatomy you won't forget, for sure will help you a lot on first year of dental school because you will know the basics by then 🙂 , you are taking a year off and working/shadowing which is good too but always keep brain active
Good luck on all those interviews

 

[vinnie83]

I was asked at one interview if I planned on taking more upper level bio courses during that year, but other than that no one really asked me about what I was doing. Talking to many of my classmates it seems like spending a year taking the last couple of pre reqs and working part time/shadowing is pretty common.

At some point, if you haven't already, you should reach a point of diminishing returns regarding shadowing and volunteering. Not bashing volunteering, but isn't it a little wiser to support yourself first and volunteer in your free time, unless you have someone else paying your bills.

My recommendation is to get a job and as someone else mentioned above try and take an anatomy class. Having at least some foundation will make your first year go a little smoother, I definitely wish I had.

 

[colombianDDS]

I went to three open houses this year NY, all of them talked about taking a year off makes no sense,,they encourage to continue learning something.. keep your brain active! It never hurts to learn something new, Even if you take anatomy you won't forget, for sure will help you a lot on first year of dental school because you will know the basics by then 🙂 , you are taking a year off and working/shadowing which is good too but always keep brain active
Good luck on all those interviews

Actually, taking a year off makes a lot of sense. If you apply lets say during the summer after your senior year instead summer between JR and SR years, you will have your entire senior year to build up your resume even further and get more experience in the dental field. Maybe not everyone needs a year off, but taking one does not make you a less qualified applicant since you can use your senior year and the year off to do activities to increase your chances. I highly doubt that if you don't "keep your brain active" during that year off you will forget how to study or learn new material.

 

[awaitsimpatient]

Actually, taking a year off makes a lot of sense. If you apply lets say during the summer after your senior year instead summer between JR and SR years, you will have your entire senior year to build up your resume even further and get more experience in the dental field. Maybe not everyone needs a year off, but taking one does not make you a less qualified applicant since you can use your senior year and the year off to do activities to increase your chances. I highly doubt that if you don't "keep your brain active" during that year off you will forget how to study or learn new material.

HaHa, I sound like a "Hater" with my comments, I never went to a Dental School interviews but I wish the best to all my competitors lol 🙂