Is Research Considered Much on an Application?

[palm014]

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[MedDevil]

If your GPA is going to suffer as a result, it's not worth it. Numbers come before anything else on your application. Some research-oriented schools will give it some weight, but by no means is it required to be a competitive applicant to dental school.

 

[molar3]

i don't think its required at all. I know certain schools use a number system to "evaluate" an applicant, and add up all the possible points and if it meets a certain minimum they consider the student for the interview. The dentist I work for told me this. they add up things like gpa, dat, research, volunteering etc. each being like 5 pts each or something, so if you have a GREAT gpa, youd get a 5, not such a stellar gpa....maybe youd get a 2 for that section. something along those lines, I'm not really sure. but SOME schools may consider research important. i said some, everyone calm down before you freak out .
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[txaggie03]

I was told research is merely "icing on the cake". The rest of the categories (GPA, leadership, volunteering, shadowing, etc) is why they bring you to the table.

 

[Smiling88]

I had many hours of research, and a I didn't even get asked about it at a few schools directly. They indirectly asked, "tell me about some of your accomplishments at school". This is where I brought up my research and a few other things. It is merely just something interesting to bring to the table and talk about.

You want to have a good application when applying to dental school, and do things you enjoy while in college. So if you want to get into some interesting research, go for it! You'll definitely be able to talk about it in interviews. It will look great, you'll sound great, and can't hurt.

 

[KillaCam]

I honestly believe that some of the top dental schools such as UCLA, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, ect. all love to see research on your app. If you plan on aiming for the top schools, I would definitely have some (at semesters worth at least).

 

[palm014]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I would like to do research because I'm interested in the topic, but also, if I do it for credit, it can slightly bump up my science gpa. Furthermore, I need a pretty good LOR 🙂

 

[redhawk11]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I would like to do research because I'm interested in the topic, but also, if I do it for credit, it can slightly bump up my science gpa. Furthermore, I need a pretty good LOR 🙂

Yes, this is a great way to get an LOR because the advisor or prof. who is actually in charge of the research will work closely with you and really get to know you. My research prof. wrote me a great letter because she knew a lot about me from all the work that we did together.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I honestly believe that some of the top dental schools such as UCLA, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, ect. all love to see research on your app. If you plan on aiming for the top schools, I would definitely have some (at semesters worth at least).

"top dental schools"...

lol wut

 

[In2Infinity]

Of course having research is great! get a good LOR from it, show diversity on your app, produce papers.. etc

 

[UltimateHombre]

"top dental schools"...

lol wut

Although dental schools are not ranked. There is really no disputing that those institutions are very respected and have a phenomenal track record of producing great clinicians, specialists, and research.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

Although dental schools are not ranked. There is really no disputing that those institutions are very respected and have a phenomenal track record of producing great clinicians, specialists, and research.

I'm assuming you mean "are very respected and have a phenomenal track record of producing great clinicians, specialists, and research" in a comparative sense as that is what "top dental schools" implies.

I'm also assuming you have no clue whether or not this is empirically true or if it could ever be proven to be the case.

 

[dl9006]

it's a plus but it won't hurt you if you don't have it.

i would think that schools that have research would like it if they have a decent pool of students that they can recruit from.

it helps your application since it would distinguish you from other applicants.
i had a publication and i think it helped with admission. i had a friend from the same undergrad as me and he had a slightly higher gpa and dat but he didn't get in. i don't know if this is what helped me get in but i'm sure it helped.

i was asked about my extracurriculars and etc during an interview and i mentioned this. i'm sure when they review your application after the interview, it's a positive even if they don't ask about it during the interview


but still GPA and DAT are the most important aspects of your application so make sure you make those a priority

 

[Lane138]

I know certain schools use a number system to "evaluate" an applicant, and add up all the possible points and if it meets a certain minimum they consider the student for the interview. The dentist I work for told me this. they add up things like gpa, dat, research, volunteering etc. each being like 5 pts each or something, so if you have a GREAT gpa, youd get a 5, not such a stellar gpa....maybe youd get a 2 for that section. something along those lines, I'm not really sure. but SOME schools may consider research important. i said some, everyone calm down before you freak out .
​

What schools have you heard do this?