How important is shadowing or volunteering?

[lopkiu]

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As title actually how important is that? I only have ~65 of volunterring and shadowing in the dental field. I have to choose my job over it, how bad will this affect my application?

 

[SanOnofre2002]

I'm no expert but 65 hrs sounds pretty good to me. I doubt they want you to quit your job and become homeless over it.

 

[lopkiu]

right now i kind of scared, it seem like everyone here have over 200+ hr combine in their volunteering n shadowing n i am still under 100

 

[whoaaitzkyle]

I have 85 hours of dental assisting at a general dentist and to be honest I really don't see why students overdo their shadowing. People with 300+ shadowing (not dental assisting) hours without getting paid makes me question a lot of stuff. As a pre-dent we can't do a whole lot besides suctioning, assisting, sterilizing, and setting up/cleaning up the rooms. Being a dental assistant has been a great experience but shadowing...just watching the dentist all day would be boring in my opinion and non-productive besides filling in an extra spot on your application.

The general dentist I shadowed specializes in cosmetic dentistry and had 2 other GP's and 3 dental hygienists in his office and I feel after 85 hours of shadowing I have a pretty darn good idea of how his office is ran (front office and back). I feel it's a bit of an overkill to be doing that much shadowing IMO. At least for me, being a college student I need money so every hour I spend shadowing is one less hour to pay for textbooks =\ I guess it's different from everyone. However, I was paid as a surgical assistant in an OMFS office and that was just a really cool job. I got paid to help out in a setting that was freaking awesome! 👍

 

[kappa505]

I think that most schools tell you how many hours of shadowing they require (hint: look it up). They are not impressed if you watch more than you need to. The schools also do not have a minumum volunteer amount (at least when I applied last year) but love to see charity/volunteer work. (hint: organize a charity event, be in charge, get a group of students together ( start a club with university recognition) and get the credit. You should volunteer more hours than you shadow. That is why they want to know in all of your essays/interviews how you plan to help your community or how you plan to impact undertreated areas. Also if you get an interview it will give you something to talk about. This is what the BYU kids figured out. Good luck to all.

 

[endoking]

I think I had a total of 18 hours shadowing when I applied. If you've got the stats, they don't care how much you've shadowed as long as you've at least taken a look. If you don't have the stats, I'm not sure increasing your shadowing from 65 hours to 365 hours is going to make much of a difference.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I think I had a total of 18 hours shadowing when I applied. If you've got the stats, they don't care how much you've shadowed as long as you've at least taken a look. If you don't have the stats, I'm not sure increasing your shadowing from 65 hours to 365 hours is going to make much of a difference.

I agree. The first time I applied and was accepted, I had no dental observation hours other than being in the chair myself and got into many schools.

 

[hye345]

I agree. The first time I applied and was accepted, I had no dental observation hours other than being in the chair myself and got into many schools.

Did you have killer stats or something?

 

[uclawill]

Did you have killer stats or something?

you dont need killer stats, just be well rounded.

 

[MaxAnn]

Volunteering/Shadowing is somewhat overrated, but it can have some uses. I wouldn't stress about it too much. If you don't get to shadow at all, it won't be the end of the world.

Overall, the best benefit of shadowing is getting a sense if you really like dentistry enough to make it your profession. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[ChrisM07]

uclawill,

What do you consider to be well rounded?

 

[1992Corolla]

Also many people include the hours of working in a dental office. If you had a summer job in an office than you could easily rack up 600 hours.

You are ok with 85, it is a lot, but the more the merrier!