Dental How do Adcoms view shadowing family members?

[artist2022]

I just submitted my application for dental school and I have one concern about it. The bulk of my dental experience has come from shadowing and assisting in my dad's practice (100 shadowing, 600 assisting). I have also shadowed other dentists and orthodontists for about 50 hours total. How do schools view shadowing family members?

Not an adcom, but imo I think it's viewed poorly if the bulk of your hours are with your parents, as it is in this case. Tagging @Mr.Smile12 for his expertise!

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[Mr.Smile12]

There's not a true consensus, but there is an acknowledgement that a lot of children of dentists want to carry the family practice. That said, depending on how available other dentists are in your area, I would try to have more exposure to other dentists, even if they are friends of your dentist-parent(s). So I generally would encourage you to shadow outside your family's office.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Probably better to shadow outside of family if possible.

That being said, if the family members have different last names than you, I don’t see a reason to specify that this was a family member on your application.

I shadowed friends and never stated that. It also never came up.


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