Is ASDA/ADA membership worth it or favorable?

[dichloromethane]

ADA and ASDA both boast plenty of perks for joining. ASDA has a pre-dental chapter for $43 a month I believe. I came across this thread in the pre-allopathic section:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=956954

And it got me thinking...if doctors are wary of AMA's "political" interests, should dentists and pre-dents also be wary of ADA? Is joining ADA and ASDA worth it?

I haven't heard ANYONE speak poorly about ADA or ASDA like I have the AMA or NABP. At every dental school i've been to, the students and faculty speak very highly of both organizations. I actually went ahead and joined the ASDA pre-dental chapter. Mostly for the news. $43 a year isn't that bad, and it seems DMDs will need political supporters very soon. I can do my part.

Thoughts?

Also, does anyone think joining ASDA as a pre-dent is worth putting on your application? I do intend to go into dental education and administration somewhere down the line.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Ding2daDong]

I think it's worth it. You get Mouth magazine which has great articles on research, dental school experiences, and access to care among a bunch of other things. You also get the ASDA news article. I was just at an interview yesterday and the dean asked if anyone was an ASDA member and I was the only person to raise my hand. I think the magazine alone is worth it. I didn't put it on my application though because I forgot. :/

-Matthew

 

[dichloromethane]

I think it's worth it. You get Mouth magazine which has great articles on research, dental school experiences, and access to care among a bunch of other things. You also get the ASDA news article. I was just at an interview yesterday and the dean asked if anyone was an ASDA member and I was the only person to raise my hand. I think the magazine alone is worth it. I didn't put it on my application though because I forgot. :/

-Matthew

Can someone move this to the dental section? I want some advice from dentists. Thanks ding2dadong I feel the same way

 

[Stacker]

The only thing that joining those two organizations shows to the committee is that you have money to spend. It's as pointless as joining the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). If you actually joined NSCS then you are the last person I would entrust with investing my money if such a hypothetical scenario ever came up.

Only if you genuinely support the two organizations would paying those fees be reasonable.

 

[UCSFx2017]

I think it's worth it. You get Mouth magazine which has great articles on research, dental school experiences, and access to care among a bunch of other things. You also get the ASDA news article. I was just at an interview yesterday and the dean asked if anyone was an ASDA member and I was the only person to raise my hand. I think the magazine alone is worth it. I didn't put it on my application though because I forgot. :/

-Matthew

So does the internet. But if you feel it's worth it, go ahead and buy it. It's your money.

LOL @ http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=127404

- Bilbo Baggins

 

[Stacker]

If you agree with the majority of ADA's political views, as you probably should, go ahead and join the organization. Most of their donated dollars goes to lobbying.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000105

 

[dichloromethane]

If you agree with the majority of ADA's political views, as you probably should, go ahead and join the organization. Most of their donated dollars goes to lobbying.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000105

Your first post was unnecessary, but your second post made up for it.

What's in the best interest of dentists, dental students and patients?

Well, I suppose the question should be what is in the worst interest for those AGAINST dentists, dental students and patients?

 

[Stacker]

Your first post was unnecessary, but your second post made up for it.

What's in the best interest of dentists, dental students and patients?

Well, I suppose the question should be what is in the worst interest for those AGAINST dentists, dental students and patients?

Listing or not listing that you joined the ADA or ASDA is not going to make or break whether you get accepted by December. If you're only joining for the sole reason of thinking that it'll impress the committee, it's not worth it.

 

[dichloromethane]

Listing or not listing that you joined the ADA or ASDA is not going to make or break whether you get accepted by December. If you're only joining for the sole reason of thinking that it'll impress the committee, it's not worth it.

I do intend to go into dental education and administration somewhere down the line.

No, this is why I wanted to get involved. Politics is part of any administrator's work. It's best to show an interest early on. I don't need the ASDA listing to get in. I'm just wondering if the dental community looks favorably on ADA and ASDA.

 

[Stacker]

Joining the ADA doesn't mean that you agree with everything that the ADA says or doesn't say.
It works like any democratic government. You either get elected to be among the 473 house of delegates or the Board of Trustees in order to decide on single-voiced policies and political stances that speaks for the majority of ADA's constituents or decide how the ADA spends its money, respectively. Obviously, the minorities will object to the single, majority-ruled opinion of the ADA but the ADA still has only one authoritative voice for the public. Joining the ADA does not necessarily show political stance. It just means that you are a constituent of the group and someone who may or may not share the majority opinion of the ADA. The University of Minnesota's dental school, whose opinion on dental therapists conflicts with that of the ADA, will not deny you a faculty position just because you joined the ADA. Joining the ADA says nothing about your opinion.
Summation: Join the ADA, regardless of if your views align or don't align with that of ADA.

The ASDA mostly advocates for issues regarding education, research, and the welfare of dental students. It works the same way as a democratic government and by paying your dues, you become a "citizen" of sorts and can participate in voting for representatives or become voted to be a representative.
Summation: Join the ASDA.

The ADA and ASDA are living entities. In fact, they're two groups of people. They are not a conglomerate of written opinions that are set in stone. Post #6 means that with the current direction of the ADA, which is to limit mid-level providers, people who are members of ADA, but support mid-level and disagree with the ADA, will inevitably end up having their money (dues) support the ADA lobbyists who advocate for the very idea of limiting mid-level providers that you oppose. But you still have to pay the dues in order to remain a member so you can voice your vote on who gets to represent your district and with what opinion.

Asking "if the dental community looks favorably on ADA and ASDA," is like asking American citizens if they look favorably at the structure of democracy.

 

[Ding2daDong]

So does the internet. But if you feel it's worth it, go ahead and buy it. It's your money.

LOL @ http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=127404

- Bilbo Baggins

We keep our Mouth magazines, ASDA news, and a bunch of other magazines and dental school information packets for our members of the pre-dental society at my university. A lot of students find it very useful for them.

-Matthew

 

[colombianDDS]

The sent me a big molar stuffed "animal," Mouth and ASDA newspaper.

 

[695680]

I found this thread very informative, but I have one other question - In which section of the AADSAS application does one put his ASDA membership?

 

[irishmom]

Not worth it at all. ADA is a money making machine and has gone away from what is good for dentist and more what is good for their bottom line. Case in point....Delta Dental personell sits on the ADA board. And as many know Delta does not advocate for dentists. Also, they seem to be in the pocket of Corporate Dental Groups. YMMV of course.

 

[flossboss24]

I think ASDA is worth it if you don't have a Pre-Dental society near your school or if the dental school you want to attend has a strong ASDA presence. My college has a Pre-Dental society but, I joined ASDA anyway. I have to agree that the Mouth Magazines is a decent read and has a decent amount of information of what it is like to be a dental student. Also, ASDA has helped me build connections at the dental school I want to attend through events for Pre-Dental ASDA members. In the end, it is up to you. It really comes down to what you make out of the membership, I have had awesome experiences through ASDA, therefore, I find it valuable to me.

 

[irishmom]

Let me clarify. ASDA=good. ADA=bad.

 

[sbdento]

It will not help you on the application process and once you become a dental student you will become a member for free.

 

[I want to go to there]

It will not help you on the application process and once you become a dental student you will become a member for free.

It's included in your tuition once you become a dental student, whether you want to pay for it or not. 🙁

 

[sjv]

It will not help you on the application process and once you become a dental student you will become a member for free.

Dues are part of your tuition/fees, $80/yr. 🙂

 

[ajj70]

Dues are part of your tuition/fees, $80/yr. 🙂

$65/year for pre-dents 😀.

I signed up with ASDA for the discounts on the study materials if nothing else.