Include Manual Dexterity in Personal Statement?

[Teeth12345]

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Hi all,
I am working on what seems the 50th draft of my personal statement and I just don't know if I should include anything about manual dexterity. I have played musical instruments and I also had a lab job that involved a lot of "hand" work. Right now, I have only one paragraph about manual dexterity and the rest is about my personal traits, motivation, etc.

I could use some input. Is it a good idea to include manual dexterity??

Thanks!

 

[whodat4life]

Hi all,
I am working on what seems the 50th draft of my personal statement and I just don't know if I should include anything about manual dexterity. I have played musical instruments and I also had a lab job that involved a lot of "hand" work. Right now, I have only one paragraph about manual dexterity and the rest is about my personal traits, motivation, etc.

I could use some input. Is it a good idea to include manual dexterity??

Thanks!

YES! Put it in there, anything that makes you who you are while at the same time relating to anything (in this case, manual dexterity) in the field of dentistry. I assume everyone would agree with me here. I put in my statement that I enjoyed building balsa wood airplane models...and of course tied it in with dentistry. Hope this helps!

 

[321931]

Hi all,
I am working on what seems the 50th draft of my personal statement and I just don't know if I should include anything about manual dexterity. I have played musical instruments and I also had a lab job that involved a lot of "hand" work. Right now, I have only one paragraph about manual dexterity and the rest is about my personal traits, motivation, etc.

I could use some input. Is it a good idea to include manual dexterity??

Thanks!

Just make sure you answer the main question "why." Grades, accomplishments, and manual dexterity doesn't necessarily have to be in there, because they will see those sections later in AADSAS. Why repeat yourself in P.S. and the later section of AADSAS sections? I guess what I'm trying to say is don't make your P.S. restate everything in the other AADSAS sections. I have a feeling people actually do that by saying etc etc I achieved a 3.0 but then got a 4.0 and shadowed while working on hand dexterity. Boring! Plus they will read everything again in the later sections. But if you can tie it in well, then by all means go for it.👍

 

[SoulPower]

I would disagree that it should be in your PS. There is a section on AADSAS for what skills you possess that relate to manual dexterity.

I feel that unless you think your hand skills are what put you on the path to dentistry then go for it, but if you are just throwing it in there to make you sound more dentist-like I would leave it out.

I have also found that the majority of schools I interviewed at didn't care about manual dexterity as the question rarely arose, if at all. And schools know that each applicant has a great deal of hand skills to develop during school.

My 0.02.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi all,
I am working on what seems the 50th draft of my personal statement and I just don't know if I should include anything about manual dexterity. I have played musical instruments and I also had a lab job that involved a lot of "hand" work. Right now, I have only one paragraph about manual dexterity and the rest is about my personal traits, motivation, etc.

I could use some input. Is it a good idea to include manual dexterity??

Thanks!

A dental personal statement is going to (or should) describe your MOTIVATIONS for pursuing this field.

Being good with hands is an excellent motivation toward this field, afterall, dentistry is very hands-on, very precise, and artistic in a way.

 

[Teeth12345]

Hmm interesting. I did not have it in there originally but then I felt that I was not talking enough about the technical aspect of dentistry. Plus, I didn't have a cool intro/hook. Adding in the manual dexterity helped create a cool hook but I guess it doesn't really do anything for the rest of my P.S. I'm sending it to a few people so maybe they can help me too.

I appreciate all your input guys!!

 

[BombayBDS]

I wouldn't.

manual dextirity are the small grains, while what AdComs expect is the Big picture. WHY dentistry? WHAT plans for life?

 

[Lane138]

I'm no expert on writing personal statements and am still working on my fifth draft, but I think the essay should paint a picture of you, why you like dentistry, what you feel like you can add to the field, and why you are a strong candidate. If you can weave a sentence or two about your experiences working with your hands and how it relates to dentistry, then by all means do so. Just don't drop a line about making airplanes randomly so it sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[jeffity]

My whole statement is just some amazing ASCII art. I'm in!