Hi as I've been filling out my application I am getting more and more discouraged because I really did not do much EC or volunteering like I should have. I also didn't do any research. My overall GPA is a 3.81 and science is a 3.7something. My DAT is AA 23 TS 24 PAT 23. Do I still have a good chance of getting accepted?
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How important are EC/volunteering?
Started by deena44
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I have about 60 hours of community service overall. I've been involved in 2 pre-dental clubs, one for pre-health, and I was also in a sorority. However, I feel like I wasn't totally committed to any.
It honestly depends on the school. Some schools really emphasize it, but to be honest, with your stats I wouldn't worry too much.
I decided to be a dentist kinda late, during my sophomore year or college, and I worked two jobs for 2 years starting that year so I didn't have much time to do everything that I needed. I know that there is a lot of people who can fit everything in but I just couldn't since I really wanted to keep my grades up. Do you think that some schools will be understanding?
Your stats are nice but you'll be limited to some schools who have a preference for community service. I'm sure you have a shot somewhere but lack of even 100 hours of volunteering might be a small issue. I feel you on the working part. It does take up a big chunk of your time which leaves less time for academics, let alone ECs/volunteer.
Are those 60 hrs consistent? Or are they spread all over? Like one hour there, 20 mins there, etc.
The reason I ask is that they WILL ask you not about your volunteer hours but what you learned from them and how it has shaped your life. Quality over quantity truly matters from what adcoms have told me.
The reason I ask is that they WILL ask you not about your volunteer hours but what you learned from them and how it has shaped your life. Quality over quantity truly matters from what adcoms have told me.
Please, enlighten us on what the minimum amount of volunteer hours are, LOL. It cracks me up when people around here say you need 100 volunteer hours. Majority of people I know got in with <100 hours. If you bomb your DAT and your GPA is shot then yes, maybe you need to have a lot of volunteer hours to show you're at least involved. This obviously isn't the case here.
As for OP, your grades are amazing and you will have no problem getting into schools. People would kill for stats like that. If for some crazy reason you don't get into a school then it'll be an easy fix for the next cycle. If you're that worried about your volunteer hours, continue to volunteer throughout the cycle and let schools know periodically that you've been working on it.
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Your stats are pretty good to warrant some interviews, do you have any dental shadowing hours? That's the only thing I could see holding you back from some schools
You have a great GPA and DAT score, so I doubt you'll be denied an interview merely because of your EC's. However, keep in mind that you are going up against a variety of applicants, and the admissions process is a holistic one. Numbers are not everything.
I agree that you do need shadowing (if you lack it). If you can explain how community involvement has impacted you as a person, your volunteering hours will not necessarily work against you, but no dental exposure whatsoever will be a big red flag.
I agree that you do need shadowing (if you lack it). If you can explain how community involvement has impacted you as a person, your volunteering hours will not necessarily work against you, but no dental exposure whatsoever will be a big red flag.
That's not late. Late is when you're 30 years old. Plenty of people work yet still find time for activities outside of classes.
If you don't have ANY shadowing hours do not apply yet. Not showing any real commitment to the little ECs you were involved with also raises some concern.
I guess all the schools I'm applying to have require it. For example, UW requires at least 50, but we all know they obviously want more. I'm just giving my opinion. And shouldn't you show that you're involved regardless of your stats anyways?
50 is a lot different than 100. I don't think any of my schools have a threshold or a minimum, but I digress. I'm sure OP won't have a difficult time landing interviews, and as long as they can explain things they gained from their experiences they'll be fine. Being involved in something is important, but it doesn't have to be just volunteering or community outreach. I would definitely suggest to keep adcoms updated throughout the process. Get involved with research if you can!
ASDOH and MOSDOH off the top of my head are two that ask for 300+ hours. Honestly though, if you don't have over 100 hours over the course of your college career you're doing something wrong.....it doesn't take much at all.
And that's why I mentioned to get around 100 if not more to give herself a better chance. That is all.
+1. Even a few hours of volunteer work a week will add up significantly over three or four years. Like I said earlier, OP has great numbers but that lack of EC's will not help the application (though it might not destroy their chances at an interview). Many are applying with way more experience.
Agreed. It's baffling. Over the span of 4 years that is literally no time commitment.
Yes, and ASDOH/MOSDOH are the ones that favor excessive amounts of volunteering. The two exceptions, sorry.
You are just so salty 😆.
I have to agree with DC here. Reason being, plenty of people have the stats. But if she has no exposure to dentistry how is she going to prove to the adcoms that's what she really wants to do? That's what shadowing/dental related volunteering is for.
And before the excuses about working two jobs or whatever comes up, she had enough time to join and participate in a sorority but not do any shadowing? My girlfriend is in a sorority(theta) and it eats up a chunk of her time. I worked two jobs over much of my undergrad as well(full time) and I still racked up 200 shadowing hours, did research and 100 volunteering hours. So it's not an excuse at all.
I have consistent of volunteer hours at a library but health-related community service is spread out like you mentioned. I did about less than 5 events (health-related) a year and about 5 hours for each event. Is this bad?
F
fogorvostan
I was a Chi Omega and we had sooooo many required volunteer events. Plus we also had to do required volunteer hours on our own (only 20 a semester... but if you were active all four years, that's an additional 160 hours).
Dropping the sorority for something more productive in the future is what I would've done. I didn't join a frat because I didn't have the time.
some schools require a minimum of 100. I believe that is what he means.
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fogorvostan
I loved my sorority to death and had such good experiences with it. There is absolutely no way I would have given that up 😍
However, I know some people who had bad experiences, so to each their own!
I don't think she mentioned that she's missing the shadowing. However if that is the case, then I agree with DC as well. Shadowing is absolutely mandatory (and 100 hours of dental shadowing is actually a requirement for most schools).
Yes I have more than 100 hours on shadowing.
Yeah like I know I mess up and I should have done more. I am not trying to make up an excuse I'm just stating my situation.
Thank you! I went in and talked to my advisor today and he told me something very similar.
How do you all have outrageous amount of shadow hours? 200+ hours of shadow is a lotta shadowing hours.lol.. Thats 200 + days (guessing max of 8 hours a day?). I have 48 hours of shadow experience at an orthodontist and that was 6hrs at 8 different occasions. Am I encountering dentists that don't want people around much? How are you making them open their doors for such long periods time? Please advise.
"Would you mind if I shadow you for 4 days or so over the next month? Great. That would be much appreciated"
The end. Wear scrubs or nice clothes and there's no reason one wont let you keep coming back.
I try not to stay longer than 3-4 hours if I'm shadowing. Come with questions and be nice to staff and they won't have a problem with you coming back often.
For all my experiences I usually stayed from open to close for each day I was in. I don't know if I just got lucky and all my doctors were laid back but it goes by so quick. More often than not the whole office would go get lunch together and invite me as well.
