Low number of shadowing hours

[Hawkeye2011]

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Hi all,
I'm new here, did some searching and couldn't really find anyone with the same situation I am in.

Here is my issue, I will be applying with very low dental shadowing hours, only about 15-20. Most of these hours were put in on a full day, or more than 2-3 hours so that I could get an insight into what an actual day was like, not just come in for something interesting. I just felt that I would be better off seeing it this way, to get the full story, and make sure that I really do want to pursue a career in dentistry. I do have about 100 hours of voluntary lab work under my belt though, with a professor who is said to be a pretty "big deal" and also wrote me a letter of evaluation/recommendation. I was just curious as to whether these lab hours will make up for my lack of shadowing hours. The main school I want to apply to is the University of Iowa Dental School and they don't have set requirements for the number of hours of shadowing. I know the number I have limits the school I can apply to, and if worst comes to worst I can get more hours in and apply again next year.

My stats:
GPA is 3.6 at the University of Iowa
Not many volunteer hours (I put a lot of hours into school work... 🙁 )
100+ lab hours (excluding course lab work) (unpaid, no academic credit)
DAT AA 18, TS 20, Ochem 21, Gen Chem 18, Bio 19, RC 21, PAT 15 🙁 , poor math score...

How bad off am I?

 

[doc toothache]

Here is my issue, I will be applying with very low dental shadowing hours, only about 15-20. Most of these hours were put in on a full day, or more than 2-3 hours so that I could get an insight into what an actual day was like, not just come in for something interesting. I just felt that I would be better off seeing it this way, to get the full story, and make sure that I really do want to pursue a career in dentistry. I do have about 100 hours of voluntary lab work under my belt though, with a professor who is said to be a pretty "big deal" and also wrote me a letter of evaluation/recommendation. I was just curious as to whether these lab hours will make up for my lack of shadowing hours. The main school I want to apply to is the University of Iowa Dental School and they don't have set requirements for the number of hours of shadowing. I know the number I have limits the school I can apply to, and if worst comes to worst I can get more hours in and apply again next year.

That would depend on whether you plan on doing dentistry or lab work after graduation.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523

 

[DrReo]

Hi all,
I'm new here, did some searching and couldn't really find anyone with the same situation I am in.

Here is my issue, I will be applying with very low dental shadowing hours, only about 15-20. Most of these hours were put in on a full day, or more than 2-3 hours so that I could get an insight into what an actual day was like, not just come in for something interesting. I just felt that I would be better off seeing it this way, to get the full story, and make sure that I really do want to pursue a career in dentistry. I do have about 100 hours of voluntary lab work under my belt though, with a professor who is said to be a pretty "big deal" and also wrote me a letter of evaluation/recommendation. I was just curious as to whether these lab hours will make up for my lack of shadowing hours. The main school I want to apply to is the University of Iowa Dental School and they don't have set requirements for the number of hours of shadowing. I know the number I have limits the school I can apply to, and if worst comes to worst I can get more hours in and apply again next year.

My stats:
GPA is 3.6 at the University of Iowa
Not many volunteer hours (I put a lot of hours into school work... 🙁 )
100+ lab hours (excluding course lab work) (unpaid, no academic credit)
DAT AA 18,Science Ave 18-19 (I'll have to check to make sure), Orgo 21, Gen Chem 17, Bio 18, RC 21, PAT 15 🙁 , poor math score...

How bad off am I?

Some schools will require a letter stating that you shadowed 30 hours from a single general dentist. If you don't have it, you will not be let it.

 

[Hawkeye2011]

Thanks for the link, I have looked at it before and the main school I want to go to don't have any requirements for the number of hours, so I'm set there. But being that I will be competing with other applicants who have way more hours I was curious to see if the lab hours will help at all, I plan on doing dentistry after graduating.

 

[doc toothache]

Thanks for the link, I have looked at it before and the main school I want to go to don't have any requirements for the number of hours, so I'm set there. But being that I will be competing with other applicants who have way more hours I was curious to see if the lab hours will help at all, I plan on doing dentistry after graduating.

Just so we are clear, NR stands for not reported not for no requirement.

 

[Hawkeye2011]

Just so we are clear, NR stands for not reported not for no requirement.

Right, but rec stands for reccomended, and req means required?
So, does that mean if it says rec next to it, even with NR then I should be ok to apply there since the hours are not required?

 

[doc toothache]

Right, but rec stands for reccomended, and req means required?
So, does that mean if it says rec next to it, even with NR then I should be ok to apply there since the hours are not required?

The schools that have rec rather than required may be testing an applicant's resolve about the career choice. Can you do the math or does it need to be calculated for you?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10163147#post10163147

 

[Hawkeye2011]

No, I get what you're saying, thanks for the input. It's always nice to hear from someone who has actually been through the process. I may be taking a year for some shadowing hours it looks like...
So, I take it the lab hours aren't really going to help me out then. If I go another year of school, would you suggest taking a half load each semester, as I don't really have that many more classes I can take a pre-rec's and doing a lot of shadowing and volunteering or does not taking a full load look poor on your transcripts?

 

[Hawkeye2011]

I was a little off on my DAT scores, I couldn't get to them last night so I just tried to remember, not a hug difference but maybe it would help. I have changed them above.

 

[doc toothache]

No, I get what you're saying, thanks for the input. It's always nice to hear from someone who has actually been through the process. I may be taking a year for some shadowing hours it looks like...
So, I take it the lab hours aren't really going to help me out then. If I go another year of school, would you suggest taking a half load each semester, as I don't really have that many more classes I can take a pre-rec's and doing a lot of shadowing and volunteering or does not taking a full load look poor on your transcripts?

You should have a good reason (like working or taking care of grandma) if you plan to be a part time student; shadowing/volunteering is not going to cut it.