Is it OK to specify what area I am interested in?

[ficha]

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Hello. I have a question about the essays.
I am writing supplemental essays and I just wonder
if it is OK to say I am interested in particular area in dentistry
(ex. ortho, perio..etc..)

I just want to make sure if this is okay, because I think I read from
somewhere that it is not good to specify this in application or in interview...

 

[AmoDientes]

I actually think it shows AdComs that you're thinking ahead and I've been told that if you decide to pursue a specialty, it's better to know before going to/at the beginning of dental school. I can't see why it would be a bad thing to mention in the apps...

 

[Meatwad]

Just don't make it seem like you are only interested in that one specialty. Competition is fierce and the chances of getting into a residency is slim, so if you'd be totally miserable doing general dentistry, you probably shouldn't get into the field. That's why if I was an adcom I might not think writing about a specialty is a good thing.

 

[vize]

Hello. I have a question about the essays.
I am writing supplemental essays and I just wonder
if it is OK to say I am interested in particular area in dentistry
(ex. ortho, perio..etc..)

I just want to make sure if this is okay, because I think I read from
somewhere that it is not good to specify this in application or in interview...

No. You are not a dental student yet so how do you know for sure what area you want to specialize in? Your primary focus as a pre-dental student is to want to help people in the health profession, whether it be general dentistry, or specialization.

 

[Revellian]

Hello. I have a question about the essays.
I am writing supplemental essays and I just wonder
if it is OK to say I am interested in particular area in dentistry
(ex. ortho, perio..etc..)

I just want to make sure if this is okay, because I think I read from
somewhere that it is not good to specify this in application or in interview...

In general, this is frowned upon by admissions committees. It's unlikely you've had enough exposure to each of the dental specialties to know which would be the best fit, if any. Rather than show you've been thinking ahead, it may indicate that you're making uninformed decisions. Adcoms will sometimes try to trick interviewees into saying which specialty they plan on persuing. If you admit interest in a specialty, you had better be extremely well prepared during your interviews to defend this interest to a dentist who knows infinitely more than you do about the specialties. Be careful.

 

[yeabuddy]

Theres nothing wrong with expressing an interest or desire to specialize in dentistry but along with what the other posters have said do not tell the admissions committee that is you sole purpose for wanting to go to dental school.
Remember, admissions officers are looking for students they feel will have the potential to be great dentists first not specialists.
I would focus more on specializing once you have been accepted to dental school and have had exposure to the various dental specialties.