Medical shadowing for AADSAS application?

[drdeesingh]

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I have a really serious quesiton. I am filling out my AADSAS application for Dental School. I first wanted to go to Medical school, and I shadowed a lot of Physicians. I have shadowed Dentists as well. I want to know if it is a good idea to include my shadowing down with a Physician on the dental application. If so, under what section should I include this: Dentistry/shadowing or just volunteer work.???

I would really appreciate any input. PLEASE !!!!!!!!!

 

[bluepills]

I have a really serious quesiton. I am filling out my AADSAS application for Dental School. I first wanted to go to Medical school, and I shadowed a lot of Physicians. I have shadowed Dentists as well. I want to know if it is a good idea to include my shadowing down with a Physician on the dental application. If so, under what section should I include this: Dentistry/shadowing or just volunteer work.???

I would really appreciate any input. PLEASE !!!!!!!!!

Are you putting dental shadowing on your medical school apps, too?

 

[doc toothache]

Shouldn't you decide whether you are interested in dentistry or medicine?

 

[drdeesingh]

Well. I am interested in Dentistry now, but when I started college I was Pre-Med, and I shadowed a lot of M.D's (Physicians). I don't know whether I should include that on my dental application. I have shadowed Dentists too. But I don't want to let all that shadowing Physicians go to waste.

What should I DO? I only want to apply to dental school, That extracurricular/volunteer/community service section is looking empty. Maybe I should put all the shadowing work with physicians there as Volunteer work.

Would that be good???
HELP!!!

 

[doc toothache]

Well. I am interested in Dentistry now, but when I started college I was Pre-Med, and I shadowed a lot of M.D's (Physicians). I don't know whether I should include that on my dental application. I have shadowed Dentists too. But I don't want to let all that shadowing Physicians go to waste.
What should I DO? I only want to apply to dental school, That extracurricular/volunteer/community service section is looking empty. Maybe I should put all the shadowing work with physicians there as Volunteer work.

Hey, what the heck! What's a little white lie among professionals?

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

I put down my hospital volunteer and cardiology shadowing.

 

[Bennyden]

I put down my hospital volunteer and cardiology shadowing.

Woahhh. What's your backup plan if they start questioning that?

EDIT: my mistake, my apologies

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Woahhh. What's your backup plan if they start questioning that?

You speak of it as if its a bad thing.

 

[NguyenDDS]

Put it down. I put it down 🙂

 

[seunglim87]

in my opinion, it is def a plus. It shows that you are certainly interested in health professions. And you can make an argument that after shadowing both fields, you feel that dentistry was for you. I dont think it will be the deciding factor for whether you will get interviews or not. If your numbers are good and once you get interviews, they will def ask about it. you are golden if you go in there prepared👍

 

[UltimateHombre]

Hey, what the heck! What's a little white lie among professionals?

I have missed your sarcasm as of late doc... thanks for all you bring to SDN, but seriously.

 

[Bennyden]

You speak of it as if its a bad thing.

Sorry, I misread "I put down my hospital volunteer and cardiology shadowing."
as "I put down my hospital volunteer as cardiology shadowing."

Boy I'm going to fail the reading comprehension...

 

[doc toothache]

I have missed your sarcasm as of late doc... thanks for all you bring to SDN, but seriously.

"But seriously", it is difficult to distinguish between volunteer and shadowing hours.

 

[drdeesingh]

"But seriously", it is difficult to distinguish between volunteer and shadowing hours.

Thats good and all. But where should I put the physician shadowing hours?? under what? Because theres a section called Dentistry/Shadowing, and when I clicked on "more info". It said that include your dental shadowing, but theres a place in that section where you can choose different types of dentists' {ex. Orthodontist, general dentist..etc.} But theres also an option of "OTHER" so.. Should I put down my physician shadowing hours under "other" in the Dentistry/Shadowing ??? or Put them down simply as Volunteer/community service????

Really Appreciate the HELP guys
THANKS !!!

 

[Lane138]

Shadowing isn't an extracurricular (and most definitely NOT volunteering)-- it's more like personal career enrichment. If you decided not to do that career, it doesn't make sense to list it in your application for another career. How many extracurriculars do you currently have? If you already have more than three (which you should), then you don't need to pad your application with shadowing hours. (I am saying all this as someone who had over 200 hours of medical shadowing and didn't list them)

 

[drdeesingh]

Shadowing isn't an extracurricular (and most definitely NOT volunteering)-- it's more like personal career enrichment. If you decided not to do that career, it doesn't make sense to list it in your application for another career. How many extracurriculars do you currently have? If you already have more than three (which you should), then you don't need to pad your application with shadowing hours. (I am saying all this as someone who had over 200 hours of medical shadowing and didn't list them)

Well I have 4 listed already, but 2 of them are like shadowing work i did with physicians. but it was a lot of work to shadow them, because they asked tough questions when seeing a patient. they treated me as a medical student. I really want to write that down on the application, but i could only figure out to put it under volunteer work, because i know it does not belong in the Dentistry/shadowing section. other than that i could probably include some voluntering done at the local rec center.

Any suggestions?

 

[doc toothache]

Knock, knock. Anybody home?

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Well I have 4 listed already, but 2 of them are like shadowing work i did with physicians. but it was a lot of work to shadow them, because they asked tough questions when seeing a patient. they treated me as a medical student. I really want to write that down on the application, but i could only figure out to put it under volunteer work, because i know it does not belong in the Dentistry/shadowing section. other than that i could probably include some voluntering done at the local rec center.

Any suggestions?

Why does this have to be so hard?

Put it down in the extracurricular section and list it as Shadowing.

Shadowing isn't an extracurricular (and most definitely NOT volunteering)-- it's more like personal career enrichment. If you decided not to do that career, it doesn't make sense to list it in your application for another career. How many extracurriculars do you currently have? If you already have more than three (which you should), then you don't need to pad your application with shadowing hours. (I am saying all this as someone who had over 200 hours of medical shadowing and didn't list them)

Extracurricular activities are activities performed by students that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school or university education.

 

[wired202808]

I have a really serious quesiton. I am filling out my AADSAS application for Dental School. I first wanted to go to Medical school, and I shadowed a lot of Physicians. I have shadowed Dentists as well. I want to know if it is a good idea to include my shadowing down with a Physician on the dental application. If so, under what section should I include this: Dentistry/shadowing or just volunteer work.???

I would really appreciate any input. PLEASE !!!!!!!!!

Medical and dental schools are like tires for different cars, if you try to mix and match you will get a broken car with non functional tires. leave out medical stuff if you dont plan to go to med school, I dont think dental school adcoms want to hear about something that you did not accomplish and something thats contrary to dental school. thats just my opnion.

remember honesty is only the best policy regarding criminal records.

 

[jackalo34]

Medical and dental schools are like tires for different cars, if you try to mix and match you will get a broken car with non functional tires. leave out medical stuff if you dont plan to go to med school, I dont think dental school adcoms want to hear about something that you did not accomplish and something thats contrary to dental school. thats just my opnion.

remember honesty is only the best policy regarding criminal records.

What exactly do you mean by "something that you did not accomplish?"

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Medical and dental schools are like tires for different cars, if you try to mix and match you will get a broken car with non functional tires. leave out medical stuff if you dont plan to go to med school, I dont think dental school adcoms want to hear about something that you did not accomplish and something thats contrary to dental school. thats just my opnion.

remember honesty is only the best policy regarding criminal records.

Similarly I should leave out my Art Internship because I don't plan to go into it!

 

[wired202808]

Similarly I should leave out my Art Internship because I don't plan to go into it!

art is functional to dentistry, in some way, depending on what kind of art. its not in direct competition with dentistry such as medical school. thats just silly to put down.

 

[wired202808]

What exactly do you mean by "something that you did not accomplish?"

a person who shadows at hospitals wants to go to med school, so by putting that down they seem like they really wanted to go to med school first and then did not make it or chose against it and now want to go to dental school. thats like you rejecting a girl and then trying to hit on her best friend. u cant do that. it does not work, you dont have to believe me. put down what you like, but dont cry later if you're rejected. Dental schools dont want people who didnt make it in med school or "changed their minds" because that shows that you are either not smart enough for med school or you're someone who changes their mind on VERY IMPORTANT life issues. I just wouldnt put it down.

Unless you can find some positive reason to put it? I think it if it does not add anything positive, there is no need to put it.

 

[jackalo34]

a person who shadows at hospitals wants to go to med school, so by putting that down they seem like they really wanted to go to med school first and then did not make it or chose against it and now want to go to dental school. thats like you rejecting a girl and then trying to hit on her best friend. u cant do that. it does not work, you dont have to believe me. put down what you like, but dont cry later if you're rejected. Dental schools dont want people who didnt make it in med school or "changed their minds" because that shows that you are either not smart enough for med school or you're someone who changes their mind on VERY IMPORTANT life issues. I just wouldnt put it down.

Unless you can find some positive reason to put it? I think it if it does not add anything positive, there is no need to put it.

That is a very rash assumption and really depends on the amount and depth of shadowing. In my honest opinion, it doesn't necessarily mean that they did not make it into medical school. Although it could mean that (same goes for dental school), it could also mean that the person conducted full research and comparisons of careers before deciding which to pursue. I value someone who has shadowed a physician AND a dentist more than someone who has not shadowed at all. I, for one, have looked into the lifestyle of various healthcare professions to decide if I'd like doing it for the rest of my life. Why? I was almost positive I'd be happy doing work in the majority of the fields.

Also, I don't think there is anything wrong with a person changing their mind...career changers get accepted all the time.

 

[wired202808]

That is a very rash assumption and really depends on the amount and depth of shadowing. In my honest opinion, it doesn't necessarily mean that they did not make it into medical school. Although it could mean that (same goes for dental school), it could also mean that the person conducted full research and comparisons of careers before deciding which to pursue. I value someone who has shadowed a physician AND a dentist more than someone who has not shadowed at all. I, for one, have looked into the lifestyle of various healthcare professions to decide if I'd like doing it for the rest of my life. Why? I was almost positive I'd be happy doing work in the majority of the fields.

Also, I don't think there is anything wrong with a person changing their mind...career changers get accepted all the time.

your opinion is based on rationalization, not reality. All i'm saying is the obvious, putting down 100+ hrs of shadowing MDs = nothing positive or a potential negative. During the interview, an adcom might ask what made you change your mind after shadowing VARIOUS medical professions. If you dont phrase your response correctly, you look foolish.

NOTHING is gained by mentioning this, it will NOT boost your chances and it has the chance to HURT your chances. So do as you like, its your acceptance to lose.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

art is functional to dentistry, in some way, depending on what kind of art. its not in direct competition with dentistry such as medical school. thats just silly to put down.

There is no direct competition... as others have mentioned, both fields are as different as night and day but yet at the very same time... they are similar in other aspects. We are both part of the great big umbrella called health care but there is no patient stealing!

But I digress.

wired202808's point is directed at the med-school failures who have turned tail to d-school. Its kind of silly in my opinion... why would anyone want to repetitively and routinely do something that they did not like for the rest of their life. And if for some reason they did do such a thing and is able to bear through each waking day of their life doing something that they did not like... then that is their problem.

My main point being that you have no need to hide anything for there shouldn't be any reason to hide it but if you do have a reason... you might want to take a long hard look at yourself and solidify your own reason for pursuing this field in the first place.

 

[wired202808]

There is no direct competition... as others have mentioned, both fields are as different as night and day but yet at the very same time... they are similar in other aspects. We are both part of the great big umbrella called health care but there is no patient stealing!

But I digress.

wired202808's point is directed at the med-school failures who have turned tail to d-school. Its kind of silly in my opinion... why would anyone want to repetitively and routinely do something that they did not like for the rest of their life. And if for some reason they did do such a thing and is able to bear through each waking day of their life doing something that they did not like... then that is their problem.

My main point being that you have no need to hide anything for there shouldn't be any reason to hide it but if you do have a reason... you might want to take a long hard look at yourself and solidify your own reason for pursuing this field in the first place.

all in all, the fields are different but mentioning one to the other does not yield any points. D-schools wont accept you any more because you shadowed MDs but they might reject you because they might resent the fact that d-school turned out to be a backup option since you did shadow MDs first. catching my drift? again be as honest as you want, you gain nothing but risk something. You should never lie but being foolhardily honest can hurt you as well.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

all in all, the fields are different but mentioning one to the other does not yield any points. D-schools wont accept you any more because you shadowed MDs but they might reject you because they might resent the fact that d-school turned out to be a backup option since you did shadow MDs first. catching my drift? again be as honest as you want, you gain nothing but risk something. You should never lie but being foolhardily honest can hurt you as well.

It shouldn't really hurt to include it in your app but I would definitely steer very clear of it in your PS...

Listing the ECs only give you about 2 sentences to describe it anyway.

 

[wired202808]

It shouldn't really hurt to include it in your app but I would definitely steer very clear of it in your PS...

Listing the ECs only give you about 2 sentences to describe it anyway.

it comes down to being a personal preference, but i only put down positive things that are more d-school friendly on my app. this way when adcoms ask me stuff about my application i am honest in my responses and say things that are music to their ears.

this is no different than trying to network in business, i used to do this all the time and 99.9% of the time, its talking about stuff that the other party is interested in, not necessarily what you're interested in.

 

[jackalo34]

your opinion is based on rationalization, not reality. All i'm saying is the obvious, putting down 100+ hrs of shadowing MDs = nothing positive or a potential negative. During the interview, an adcom might ask what made you change your mind after shadowing VARIOUS medical professions. If you dont phrase your response correctly, you look foolish.

NOTHING is gained by mentioning this, it will NOT boost your chances and it has the chance to HURT your chances. So do as you like, its your acceptance to lose.

I like how you failed to realize that in my response I mentioned that it depends on the depth and breadth of shadowing. I admit that I wouldn't put down that I shadowed a surgeon and a physician, because I did not do it for a long time, but I would mention that I'd done it in an interview, because I think it shows I've made a thorough decision. An adcom would also ask a career changer a similar question and answering well would be in your favor. You're assuming that everyone who has shadowed a physician is a failed med student and I'm just saying that that is not always the case.

 

[wired202808]

I like how you failed to realize that in my response I mentioned that it depends on the depth and breadth of shadowing. I admit that I wouldn't put down that I shadowed a surgeon and a physician, because I did not do it for a long time, but I would mention that I'd done it in an interview, because I think it shows I've made a thorough decision. An adcom would also ask a career changer a similar question and answering well would be in your favor. You're assuming that everyone who has shadowed a physician is a failed med student and I'm just saying that that is not always the case.

again man, if you think thats a wise choice go for it, its a personal preference, just remember that you cant date your ex girlfriends best friend. no matter how nice you are. 🙂

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

again man, if you think thats a wise choice go for it, its a personal preference, just remember that you cant date your ex girlfriends best friend. no matter how nice you are. 🙂

Ok... listing medical shadowing or not is chump change compared to THAT morale dilemma.

 

[wired202808]

Ok... listing medical shadowing or not is chump change compared to THAT morale dilemma.

once again man personal preference, its your acceptance to win or lose.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

once again man personal preference, its your acceptance to win or lose.

Time to bury this thread then.

To each their own and to whatever works for them.

Whatever you're most comfortable with!

 

[flyingforever]

I put my hospital volunteer in my experience section. I did volunteer dermatologist for couple months which was really bad.

 

[drdeesingh]

I put my hospital volunteer in my experience section. I did volunteer dermatologist for couple months which was really bad.

A person who has experiences both professions has made a conscious decision based on their personal experience, how is that a bad thing. Its simply a life experience that made you who you are today, I think the interviewer needs to know that. It also shows that a person has readed a matured decision from investigating different professions.

Am I right. !???

 

[sacapuntas]

A person who has experiences both professions has made a conscious decision based on their personal experience, how is that a bad thing. Its simply a life experience that made you who you are today, I think the interviewer needs to know that. It also shows that a person has readed a matured decision from investigating different professions.

Am I right. !???

You are 100% right.

Shadowing is to find out whether or not you can do a profession for a lifetime, not a commitment to that profession. Seeing doctor patient interaction in any form is beneficial to you, as professional interactions with patients will be critical the rest of your career.

Don't be shy about medical experiences.

 

[wired202808]

A person who has experiences both professions has made a conscious decision based on their personal experience, how is that a bad thing. Its simply a life experience that made you who you are today, I think the interviewer needs to know that. It also shows that a person has readed a matured decision from investigating different professions.

Am I right. !???

say that to your ex girlfriends best friend when you're trying to take her out. not everyone is rational or liberal in their thinking, that includes 60 yr old adcoms 🙂

 

[flyingforever]

A person who has experiences both professions has made a conscious decision based on their personal experience, how is that a bad thing. Its simply a life experience that made you who you are today, I think the interviewer needs to know that. It also shows that a person has readed a matured decision from investigating different professions.

Am I right. !???

You are correct, I did some MD shadowing which was super boring. I love the aesthetics/procedures of dentistry.

 

[dantemac]

I would not include it. You should have dental shadowing to include. However, if anyone in an interview were to ask you why you wanted to be a dentist, you can get into how you did not like the other MD professions you shadowed...as part of your answer.

 

[flyingforever]

I would not include it. You should have dental shadowing to include. However, if anyone in an interview were to ask you why you wanted to be a dentist, you can get into how you did not like the other MD professions you shadowed...as part of your answer.

You need to draw comparison between two if you get this in your interview.

 

[wired202808]

You need to draw comparison between two if you get this in your interview.

why draw attention to yourself for something thats not related to dentistry? do you plan to explain your love for Dungeons and Dragons during the interview too or you think that might be a bit distracting lol

 

[flyingforever]

why draw attention to yourself for something thats not related to dentistry? do you plan to explain your love for Dungeons and Dragons during the interview too or you think that might be a bit distracting lol

Not distracting at all because if they ask you Why not medical school? You can say that you have explored the field and something about the profession that you didn't enjoy.

 

[jackalo34]

Not distracting at all because if they ask you Why not medical school? You can say that you have explored the field and something the profession that you didn't enjoy.

I was thinking the same thing. It's similar to being passionately involved in a club or research that ISN'T related to dentistry and being told not to discuss it because it isn't related...

 

[flyingforever]

I was thinking the same thing. It's similar to being passionately involved in a club that ISN'T related to dentistry and being told not to discuss it because it isn't related...

A good friend of mine was involved in a breast cancer research for five years and got tons of publications. She told me every interviewer asked her about the research which isn't related to dentistry.

 

[doctor123456789]

I think volunteering and shadowing are two completely different things.You didnt volunteer your time when you followed a doctor as he helped out patients, you did that for your own benefit. Volunteering is if you helped clean up, or transport things, or help with patient care, or clean your local park, help out at your elementary/middle/high school, or go to your library and put some time there, go to a dog/animal pound, helping out a homeless shelter. What you did was not volunteering in my opinion. Then put your dental shadowing as volunteering too, might as well go all the way with your white lies right?

And putting you SHADOWED an md isnt a bad thing. imo it shows that you liked the health field, but were looking to see what you like, and you found where you are really interested in.