Need help with the famous question why dentistry?

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Angie21

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Hello everyone... I need your help, i have an interview next week and i am so nervous that i have not come with a good answer for why dentistry? i feel passion for it, i do not imagine myself doing anything else, but i know that it is not enough. Can someone help me to find the right answer. Thanks so much
 
The answer to "why dentistry?" is really a personal preference thing. When I went to my interviews...the main thing I've been told by the adcoms is to be honest and don't feed them lines like I want to be a dentist because I want to help people. That's apparently one of the most cliche lines and they don't want that.

Think of why dentistry is right for you and why you're a right fit for the field (and to study at their school for it). My generalized reasons: lifestyle, type of patient care, autonomy, being able to work with my hands. It doesn't have to be grand idealistic reasons....it just has to be YOUR reasons for choosing dentistry.
 
you are passionate for it then think of why.... YOU should answer this question.
 
thanks so much. I truly appreciate everybody's help. For me it is hard to come up with a good answer since english is not my first language, but i have to answer with my heart. Thanks
 
To properly answer this question, look to 'Hard Knock Life' Track 6.
 
thanks so much. I truly appreciate everybody's help. For me it is hard to come up with a good answer since english is not my first language, but i have to answer with my heart. Thanks

The 2nd language excuse does not appear to have had any effect on your academics and appears to be limited to questions you have a hard time answering. Try navigating through your heart to find the answer.
 
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You are compassionate, want to educate the community on oral health, feel you have great interpersonal skills, able to click well with people, etc. Where is your interview
 
The answer to "why dentistry?" is really a personal preference thing. When I went to my interviews...the main thing I've been told by the adcoms is to be honest and don't feed them lines like I want to be a dentist because I want to help people. That's apparently one of the most cliche lines and they don't want that.

Think of why dentistry is right for you and why you're a right fit for the field (and to study at their school for it). My generalized reasons: lifestyle, type of patient care, autonomy, being able to work with my hands. It doesn't have to be grand idealistic reasons....it just has to be YOUR reasons for choosing dentistry.

I definitely agree with LH. You say that you are passionate about it...and if you are, then you just need to tell them why. Your honesty and sincerity will come across to the adcom. Everyone talks about how they want to help people...and it's not to say that we're all lying...but it's the same ole same ole for the adcom...and dentistry isn't exactly the most altruistic profession out there. I'm sure you've thought long and hard about the decision to pursue dentistry...what factors did you consider and what ultimately made you choose dentistry over any other profession? LH mentioned some good reasons. I wish you luck!
 
I said I wanted to go into dentistry cuz I could land a bunch of chics and I love spit! But...that's just me.
 
u know... i had this problem too....thinking what my answer should be?

why dentistry? one of my friend asked me few months ago..i couldnt give him/her a straight good answer , then he/she told me that i was not ready for dental school ....harsh it was..i know!! .so then

i actually thought of it for few days,,,,with all the flashback, experiences while shadowing dentists...i finally found my own answer..... I know a lot of students chose Dentistry mainly because of the income$$$ and lifestyle (not the asnwer you wanna give during interview)....but u just have to really think about it and tell it in a different way.

Hello everyone... I need your help, i have an interview next week and i am so nervous that i have not come with a good answer for why dentistry? i feel passion for it, i do not imagine myself doing anything else, but i know that it is not enough. Can someone help me to find the right answer. Thanks so much
 
The best answer is the honest one. Even if it is because dentistry to you is financially rewarding. Everyone has their own reasons. I can tell you this, if it is for the money you will be miserable. There are many ways for someone as smart as you to make alot of money. Dentist have the highest suicide rate due to people getting into it for the money. For me I had childhood experiences that led me to dentistry and part of my answer was that I wanted to help people and I elaborated as to how dentistry was in my opinion the best way for me to do that. Your interviewers will read your pupils to your body language, BE HONEST and you will do fine. This is not "their first rodeo" and they are good at what they do. They appreciate honesty above anything else. Good luck and if you choose the honest route then luck will not be needed. Cya
 
If you're still having trouble answering, and none of the above helps you, or even it does, try asking people you know why they chose their respective professions (any profession). By hearing their answers I'm sure of it that you will be able to figure out at least the main reasons why people choose any profession at all.
Good luck!
 
I think a lot of predents have problems with finding their own answer to this question. I have known for a long time that I wanted to be a dentist -- but it was hard to put into words why. I talked to the dentists I work with; they did not give me my answer, but rather by talking to the professionals who I want to emulate, I realized why it is I want to pursue the field. It also doesn't hurt to read the mission statement of schools you are interested in to see if anything there resonates with why you want to be a dentist. I ended up being pretty proud of my answer to this question ... and then only actually got asked 'why dentistry' at 2 of my 5 interviews. lol
 
Girls, Money, Power, and Girls.
 
The answer to "why dentistry?" is really a personal preference thing. When I went to my interviews...the main thing I've been told by the adcoms is to be honest and don't feed them lines like I want to be a dentist because I want to help people. That's apparently one of the most cliche lines and they don't want that.

Think of why dentistry is right for you and why you're a right fit for the field (and to study at their school for it). My generalized reasons: lifestyle, type of patient care, autonomy, being able to work with my hands. It doesn't have to be grand idealistic reasons....it just has to be YOUR reasons for choosing dentistry.
Adcoms may hear it frequently, but that doesn't make the "I want to help people" reason invalid. My faith and personal beliefs led me to want to do something altruistic for my career, and I researched heavily both medicine and dentistry. I realized that dentistry was a better fit for me, especially the lifestyle and the opportunity to own my own practice/business. But why did I initially look into dentistry? Because I wanted to help people. And that is still my driving motivation.

I decided to just be honest in my interviews rather than make up some dramatic childhood story, as some people told me they did. I don't know if the adcoms "bought it"; I interviewed at 6 schools, got into 1 so far.

That said, it is only valid if it is the truth. But don't be too quick to discredit something just because it sounds good.
 
I said I wanted to go into dentistry cuz I could land a bunch of chics and I love spit! But...that's just me.
I love chicks and spit too! We should hang out.
 
Why you wanna be a dentist is your business. No one elses. If you wanna be a dentist for the money, power, status, girls so be it. Those are perfectly valid reasons to be a dentist in my opinion and I'm pretty sure that one of the main reasons if not THE main reason everyone here chose to be a dentist is because dentists make a lot of money. If dentists made $30,000 a year this forum would be empty.

Unfortunately the whole interview/application process is really just an attempt to impress the schools. With that in mind you must CONVINCE them that you are motivated be a dentist according to what they think should motivate people to pursue dentistry. So you want your answer to be a combination of the truth and what they wanna hear. I'm not saying come up with a lie but anybody here that doesn't include money, power, or lifestyle as part of their answer to the question "Why dentistry?" is lying too.

This is a hard question to answer because you have to stay away from answers that make you sound shallow (money, power, respect) but at the
same time you have to stay away from cliche answers like "I like helping people" or "I'm good with my hands" (Everybody says those). I had a hard time finding my answer as well but it eventually came to me. I'm sure you'll figure it out too. Good Luck.👍
 
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The best answer is the honest one. Even if it is because dentistry to you is financially rewarding. Everyone has their own reasons. I can tell you this, if it is for the money you will be miserable. There are many ways for someone as smart as you to make alot of money. Dentist have the highest suicide rate due to people getting into it for the money. For me I had childhood experiences that led me to dentistry and part of my answer was that I wanted to help people and I elaborated as to how dentistry was in my opinion the best way for me to do that. Your interviewers will read your pupils to your body language, BE HONEST and you will do fine. This is not "their first rodeo" and they are good at what they do. They appreciate honesty above anything else. Good luck and if you choose the honest route then luck will not be needed. Cya

That is not true, it's akin to folklore and wivestales. Medical doctors have similar suicide rates to dentists, and neither are the 'top profession'
 
this was the hardest question for me to answer too.

I've had several dentists tell me just not to answer it with "I want to help people"

if that is the truth, make sure you can back it up with sections from your application

Good luck at your interview
 
That is not true, it's akin to folklore and wivestales. Medical doctors have similar suicide rates to dentists, and neither are the 'top profession'
Thank you for saying that. That "stat" really pisses me off when laypeople quote it as gospel truth.

-"So what's your story?"
-"Trying to get into dental school."
-"Really? Don't they have the highest suicide rate?"

Dumbest response possible. At least when someone says "Oh, I couldn't stand looking in people's mouths all day," they're giving me a response that I can understand.
 
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