If you still need to shadow, call a new dentist!

[sacapuntas]

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Just wanted to share my experience with ya'll.


I have been trying to figure out who to shadow, and how to approach it. I have an uncle-in-law that I could shadow, but would rather find a dentist on my own merit.

Since I was feeling good after taking my last final, and thinking I aced it, I decided to call a dentist I had for an appointment last year. I knew he graduated somewhat recently from a school I would love to go to. I didn't know what to ask, but just wanted to tell him that I would greatly enjoy shadowing him to see what his daily life was like. I assumed I would just get the receptionist and leave a message, didn't even consider he would take my call.

Well, to my surprise, the receptionist went and got the dentist when I called. He then talked to me for 20+ minutes about his experience applying for D-School, being in the process of buying a practice, advice for me to get into d-school, things he knows adcom's are looking for, and everything else under the sun.

I now have an open invitation to shadow him any time, just check with his receptionist to make sure he will be in that day.

I think the key to this all, is that he is a relatively new dentist and remembers what it was like to be one of us! He said he wanted to 'pay it forward' and help me out however he could. I am so thankful he has this attitude!


So the moral of the story, is that if you are stuck finding a dentist to shadow, call a new to the field dentist! He will remember how much your life currently sucks!

 

[UCSD1984]

Just wanted to share my experience with ya'll.


I have been trying to figure out who to shadow, and how to approach it. I have an uncle-in-law that I could shadow, but would rather find a dentist on my own merit.

Since I was feeling good after taking my last final, and thinking I aced it, I decided to call a dentist I had for an appointment last year. I knew he graduated somewhat recently from a school I would love to go to. I didn't know what to ask, but just wanted to tell him that I would greatly enjoy shadowing him to see what his daily life was like. I assumed I would just get the receptionist and leave a message, didn't even consider he would take my call.

Well, to my surprise, the receptionist went and got the dentist when I called. He then talked to me for 20+ minutes about his experience applying for D-School, being in the process of buying a practice, advice for me to get into d-school, things he knows adcom's are looking for, and everything else under the sun.

I now have an open invitation to shadow him any time, just check with his receptionist to make sure he will be in that day.

I think the key to this all, is that he is a relatively new dentist and remembers what it was like to be one of us! He said he wanted to 'pay it forward' and help me out however he could. I am so thankful he has this attitude!


So the moral of the story, is that if you are stuck finding a dentist to shadow, call a new to the field dentist! He will remember how much your life currently sucks!

This is awesome advice. Almost all dentists I've met in San Diego are really laid back and happy, making it realllyyyy easy to talk to them. I'm probably going to give this a shot in the next coming weeks.

 

[In2Infinity]

Sounds like great advice, thanks!

Please let us know about any good advice he throws your way 😉

 

[hamptongirl]

how do you go about finding a new dentist? Do you just end up calling them to find out?

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

I have done this for every dentist I have shadowed besides my own ha. I literately call or walk in their office and just discuss my plans with them. It has worked for me every time and this is even how I ended up interning at an Oral Surgeons for the semester near my University (120 hours). He's even writing me an LOR.