LoR from a specialist?

[rose786]

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So I already have 2 professor LORs, but I want to get one from a dentist. I've shadowed a couple different ones: general, periodontist, orthodontist. But the one I feel is the nicest and would thus give me the best LOR is the specialist.

How does it look if you've shadowed a general dentist (and listed it on your app) but have a LOR from a specialist? Also, for schools that require a dentist LOR, are they usually asking for a general dentist?

 

[Regmata]

I highly doubt they will frown upon a letter from a specialist...and specialists are dentists too, they just streamlined their practice. Get the best letter you can...

 

[jigabodo]

So I already have 2 professor LORs, but I want to get one from a dentist. I've shadowed a couple different ones: general, periodontist, orthodontist. But the one I feel is the nicest and would thus give me the best LOR is the specialist.

How does it look if you've shadowed a general dentist (and listed it on your app) but have a LOR from a specialist? Also, for schools that require a dentist LOR, are they usually asking for a general dentist?

Not sure about others, but LLU asks for at least 20 hours of GP shadowing (you've got to prove it too).

 

[apollo2bd]

Tufts says you need a letter from a dentist providing proof of at least 30 hours of shadowing experience. Another place it had listed that you need a minimum of 30 hours shadowing/assisting in a general dentists office. I only had 20 hours shadowing general dentistry but I have worked 40 hours a week for the past 3 summers as an assistant for an oral surgeon and he wrote me a LOR. I asked them if that was fine and they said yes.

Just check out the requirements for each school and if it is specific for general dentist but you really think the specialist knows you better or would have more to say, then call and ask if they make exceptions.

 

[rose786]

Ok thanks guys. Sometimes I worry too much.

 

[lollipop999]

I have like 5 hours with a GP, about 500 with a surgeon.... im sure it all worked out fine

 

[Daydream46]

Ack... My dad is a dentist and i shadowed him, because well... he is my dad and I think he rocks (sometimes)... I shadowed him for about a million hours, and a specialist for a few.... so I wonder if that would look bad to have my dad say I shadowed him....

 

[Cinnabans]

I wondered the same thing, except my dad isn't a dentist but three of my uncles are and I've been shadowing them since...forever (along with other dentists as well). So will it look bad if a lot of your shadowing experience is within your family??

 

[Mrbubbles]

i think it's fine that u say u have dentist in the family, but don't ever say u shadowed a family member dentist! it makes it seem that u got that position only becuz ur family, not as a pre-dental student determined to learn. make it look as if u've worked harder than u have. =)

 

[Regmata]

i think it's fine that u say u have dentist in the family, but don't ever say u shadowed a family member dentist! it makes it seem that u got that position only becuz ur family, not as a pre-dental student determined to learn. make it look as if u've worked harder than u have. =)

Easy trigger. Having a dentist for a family member and having been involved with them will tell an adcom that you actually do know quite a bit about the ins and outs of dentistry and that you have likely made a well-informed, intelligent decision to enter the field. If I recall, OSU asked for a sheet to be filled out by a non-family member dentist stating your shadowing hours...in that case shadow someone else. Hell, you may want to shadow a nonfamily member dentist regardless just to get a different perspective and to let adcoms know that you are willing to go the extra mile. However, don't hide the fact that you have a family member in the field...if anything, I would advertise it.

 

[Daydream46]

i think it's fine that u say u have dentist in the family, but don't ever say u shadowed a family member dentist! it makes it seem that u got that position only becuz ur family, not as a pre-dental student determined to learn. make it look as if u've worked harder than u have. =)

just to add an adcom said it was perfectly fine... but thats just 1 school

 

[butterfly411]

Ok thanks guys. Sometimes I worry too much.

I feel your pain....floating in the same boat! ...not sure if I should ask a specialist to write mine either! good luck to you!

...and thanks for your post on one of my threads

 

[jdoc04]

Ack... My dad is a dentist and i shadowed him, because well... he is my dad and I think he rocks (sometimes)... I shadowed him for about a million hours, and a specialist for a few.... so I wonder if that would look bad to have my dad say I shadowed him....

Check the school's website. Many will not accept a letter from a family member.