Low profile in school? Really?

[Iowalegacy]

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The most common piece of advice I see for new dental students on here and especially dental town is to keep your head down, don't attract any attention, pass and gtfo. I've heard if you can walk across the stage and take your diploma from a very confused dean because he doesn't recognize you, you've won.

Is this still current dental students and resident's opinion?
This seems like such a miserable way to view dental school instead of taking advantage of the opportunity.
And what about those of us who want to pursue a residency? Don't we want to stand out and be known to get good recommendation letters?

 

[BellaNella]

That is hilarious! There are a couple of people in my class that said that was their goal. but like you said I think if you want to pursue a residency and are very sure about which one it is (probably around your 2nd or 3rd year), it is not a bad idea to make it known to that program at your school or to your faculty. When I applied, all my pros faculty knew that I was applying and it definitely made it easier to get letters of recommendation.

 

[Likkriue]

Goodluck doing that at a school with 40 kids.

 

[Munks]

Dental and medical schools used to be known for having gruff faculty, poor mentorship, indifferent administrative staff, berating clinical instructors, etc. That's why you will hear even more about it on dentaltown, because DT is comprised of actual (usually older) dentists that went to these schools.

Nowadays there are many more schools that take a more welcoming approach towards their students. Maybe they learned that when they ask for donations from alumni, if you treat them like crap they won't give a crap (nor $$$), verses giving them a good clinical experience and treating them like future colleagues. In these schools, it would be in your best interest to try and learn as much as you can from your instructors, learn from their mistakes, their wisdom, practice experience, etc.

That being said, there are still many dental schools with faculty that are just plain not kind to their students, where it may be a better idea not to make too much fuss.

I would say it's less about keeping your head down, and more about learning which instructors are the goldmines to learn from and which to stay away from.

 

[super frank]

Why would you even want to do that, lol?

 

[Advance]

Why would you even want to do that, lol?

It's odd but some of my classmates are like that too. I never really understood it. Unless you just really don't like being around your classmates then I guess it makes sense.
I'm not like that at all though.

 

[Iowalegacy]

Dental and medical schools used to be known for having gruff faculty, poor mentorship, indifferent administrative staff, berating clinical instructors, etc. That's why you will hear even more about it on dentaltown, because DT is comprised of actual (usually older) dentists that went to these schools.

Nowadays there are many more schools that take a more welcoming approach towards their students. Maybe they learned that when they ask for donations from alumni, if you treat them like crap they won't give a crap (nor $$$), verses giving them a good clinical experience and treating them like future colleagues. In these schools, it would be in your best interest to try and learn as much as you can from your instructors, learn from their mistakes, their wisdom, practice experience, etc.

That being said, there are still many dental schools with faculty that are just plain not kind to their students, where it may be a better idea not to make too much fuss.

I would say it's less about keeping your head down, and more about learning which instructors are the goldmines to learn from and which to stay away from.

That makes sense. I was hoping it was more just holdovers from the way things used to be. But I imagine there will always be a few professors in every school that seem like they hate their job and their life and everyone around them.

I'm very glad this is much less common now! I've heard a few horror stories

 

[Greyangel6]

.

 

[Greyangel6]

I think it holds true for me. I keep a small circle of friends, try to keep friendly with the classmates and upperclassmen, avoid the drama, make the most of my learning experience, let the faculty in the specialty that I'm interested in, know that I'm interested (and a lot of them show up for the interest club meetings or they're the advisor to the club). I think I'd be too busy juggling all that and school and life outside of school to worry about anything else lol