Insuffient Shadowing exp?!

[Springs01]

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I only have 40 hours shadowing a general dentist - that I did 2 years ago! I've done SMDEP after that, and got to shadow a little over there. Other than that, I have nothing else.
Does this look really bad on my application?

Some schools that I'm applying to (buffalo, howard, and NYU) recommends 100 hrs.
I was planning on doing more shadowing this summer (just for numbers sake), but how will I be able to indicate that to the adcoms?

Sigh... am I seriously screwed for those 3 schools? 🙁

 

[MelonDew]

It depends on what your other stats are like. Do you have a high GPA, DAT, and good volunteer experiences? (mainly the first two are most important).

If I you answered yes to all three then I would still apply to those schools you mentioned. However, you should definitely start looking for a place to shadow ASAP so you can say that you are currently shadowing.

 

[Springs01]

My stats aren't that good either: 3.3 overall 3.4 sci. Haven't taken DAT yet, but I'm scoring around 18 on practice tests

I'm doing a full time job in the summer, so I can only shadow on the weekends.

I don't think I'm going to get in to anything.

 

[squigloo]

I only have 40 hours shadowing a general dentist - that I did 2 years ago! I've done SMDEP after that, and got to shadow a little over there. Other than that, I have nothing else.
Does this look really bad on my application?

Some schools that I'm applying to (buffalo, howard, and NYU) recommends 100 hrs.
I was planning on doing more shadowing this summer (just for numbers sake), but how will I be able to indicate that to the adcoms?

Sigh... am I seriously screwed for those 3 schools? 🙁

Yes, it won't look great, but it isn't the end of the world. If you have the time, you have the rest of June to shadow a dentist (assuming you submit during this month). They only ask what month and year you finished shadowing on, so it wouldn't be too big of a deal to shadow within the month you apply (after submitting).

If you can't shadow, don't have stellar stats, and are OOS, you may want to consider removing buffalo. From what I've heard, they really prefer experienced applicants. Howard (assuming you are of darker skin... lol) and NYU you probably don't have to worry quite as much about.

 

[Springs01]

Thanks squigloo. The only reason i'm actually keeping buffalo is because i'm a NY resident.
I'll keep looking for a dentist to shadow.
And maybe I'll do good on the DAT, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm so tired at this point.

 

[bpester]

Don't give up buddy 🙂 This is solely my personal opinion, but I feel like the main purpose of having shadowing experience is just to ensure that dentistry is the field that you want to pursue. The schools don't want to fill up a spot with a student who decides in his second to third year that "dentistry isn't the field for him/her". That being said, 40 hours should be plenty for you to have made that decision, not to mention you still have the remainder of the summer to squeeze some more time in. As far as your DAT goes, I'd try to keep a positive attitude and keep studying hard! You might surprise yourself 😉

 

[dentalWorks]

Okay, first of all, there is no relationship whatsoever between GPA/DAT and shadowing hours.

One tells if you know what you're getting yourself into, and the other simply indicates if you have the wok ethic to "plow" through a heavy curriculum.

I think 40 hours is okay (and the lack of experience is fine too). I can guesstimate that 75% of pre-dents applying today haven't done anything other than shadowing. You have a 3.4 science GPA, thats your shining beacon of light