New guy here - Few questions.

[StudentDentistsRock]

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First off, I would like to say that I am very pleased to be a member of these forums and even more happy that I came across this network.

Before I ask my general questions, I would like to say a little bit about me: I am an undergraduate pre-dental student at Temple University majoring in Chemistry (B.S). I just finished my first year with a cumulative gpa of 3.75 (really hope this is ok for freshman year).

1. My university's pre-professional health office emphasized the importance of doing volunteer work, shadowing, and other dental related stuff, but I haven't been able to get to any of this yet. Is this ok considering this is my freshman year only? In addition,I am about to start doing regular volunteering at a hospital. will that do me any good application wise?

2. What is the best way to get dental shadowing/volunteering opportunities? I first asked at my local dentist/orthodontist. They promised me volunteering/shadowing positions but they ran into employment issues and said they have no time to mentor me. What exactly do I do from here on out? Just call random dentists I have never been to before and ask? How much time is required?

3. This question is to me one of the most important: As a pre-dental student, what research can I get involved in and how exactly? What are some really interesting things I can do as a pre-dental student? I have friends in the med field who are freshmen already observing minor hospital surgeries. What excitement can pre-dents get?


I am trying to maximize my chances of getting into dental school as much as possible and I am definitely willing to work for it. Unfortunately, reaching out for shadowing and asking/acquiring volunteer opportunities is my weakest point. I would also love to get involved in research and other things that would highlight my application but I am not so well rounded with these things.

I really thank you for your time reading this and for being patient with me.

placebooooo

 

[jsptr986]

does your school have a pre-dental club or ASDA club? if so JOIN. they will be able to provide you with a ton of resources including how/where to volunteer

 

[super frank]

PDHS

 

[TEETH2424]

Welcome @placebooooo !

First off, I wouldn't worry about your GPA at all - it's great!👍

Volunteering at a hospital will provide great exposure to the health field in general - those hours will not count as dental experience/shadowing hours, of course, but general volunteer hours still matter on the dental school applications.

Calling other dentists besides your own is definitely a good way to start getting shadowing hours in - It would probably be best to find a general dentist that you can build a good rapport with (and can shadow with for awhile). For a change of pace, try to also shadow with other specialists for a few times - oral surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, etc...
It may seem awkward at first to reach out to and then shadow with a doctor that you're not used to - but every time you shadow somewhere new, you gain a different perspective about how dental practices run.

As for research - you can get involved with any type of research (doesn't have to be dental-related). But it would probably be killer if you could find a dental research opportunity!

 

[StudentDentistsRock]

Welcome @placebooooo !

First off, I wouldn't worry about your GPA at all - it's great!👍

Volunteering at a hospital will provide great exposure to the health field in general - those hours will not count as dental experience/shadowing hours, of course, but general volunteer hours still matter on the dental school applications.

Calling other dentists besides your own is definitely a good way to start getting shadowing hours in - It would probably be best to find a general dentist that you can build a good rapport with (and can shadow with for awhile). For a change of pace, try to also shadow with other specialists for a few times - oral surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, etc...
It may seem awkward at first to reach out to and then shadow with a doctor that you're not used to - but every time you shadow somewhere new, you gain a different perspective about how dental practices run.

As for research - you can get involved with any type of research (doesn't have to be dental-related). But it would probably be killer if you could find a dental research opportunity!

Thanks for assuring me on the gpa. I have to admit it has been a big concern for me.
I understand what you mean in terms of reaching out to other dentists in order to get shadowing hours in. Although it is awkward in a way to just call and ask, I have to try. I really like how you mentioned to try and shadow various specialists. I really have not thought about that before and will definitely work on it.

And about the research, yeah, I would love and kill for a dental research opportunity but I have no idea how people get connected to these things. I am having a hard time as it is finding a chemistry related research opportunity.

Thank you for your time and I really appreciate the help 🙂

 

[y3nd0]

Your GPA is fine. Keep it up.

1. Nothing to worry about if you didn't do any sort of EC or volunteer work during your freshman year. I didn't start until mid sophomore year. But be warned, the sooner the better. I was cramming in hours of volunteer work my junior and senior year to get something that would look decent on paper. (But remember to also find something you like and have fun! Don't do it just for the resume benefits. 🙂)

Hospital volunteering is an iffy one. It gives you exposure with dealing with patients, but I would actually say it's more of a "medical app EC" than a "dental app EC." It's fine to put under "volunteer work" in the application, but it cannot be considered "dental volunteer work". You'll need some of that. Since Temple has a dental school, try seeing if they have any openings for volunteers. I personally would seek more dental related volunteer work than volunteering in a hospital (but that's just me).

This sounds cray cray, but just do a Google search for volunteer opportunities in your area (dental or not). Find something you think you'll like and call and ask about it. When I was an undergrad, I found an opportunity to become a tutor at an ESL school through Google, and I had an absolute blast. Stayed there for 2 years, and I still keep in touch with the teacher I worked with to this day.

2. Calling dentists in the area isn't a bad idea. Just introduce yourself on the phone and ask the desk clerk if the doctor will allow you to come in and shadow. Try to get at least 40 hours from a general dentist (I say this because Tufts requires 40 hours from a general dentist, so it doesn't hurt to keep your options open from the start). The general accepted number for total shadowing hours is 100.

3. Do any research that interests you. Doesn't even have to be dental related (but if it was, that might be a small plus). I didn't have any research when I applied because research was just not for me.

Dentistry is obviously different from medicine, so you're not going to see anything too graphic like open heart surgery, etc. If you get to shadow at an oral surgeon's, you'll see some bloody stuff, if that is what you're into. Perio, maybe.
I personally thought a regular filling was super amazing the first time I saw it being placed. I was always in the chair and never got to see what the heck they were doing in front of the rubber dam, so it was a small surprise.

My key pieces of advice:
1. Learn to not procrastinate (i.e keep your grades up).
2. Do only things you think are fun and that are interesting to you (if you hate research, don't do it).
3. Get some dental related experience OUTSIDE of shadowing. I don't care what you're doing - assisting, prepping sterilization packets, folding gowns, turning over rooms, whatever. We all start from the bottom, and any exposure you get will be valuable.

Good luck.

 

[ajj70]

Ask family friends who they see for a dentist and then ask if you can use their name when you call saying that Mr. Jones said you should call and inquire about the possibly of shadowing. Most dentists seem very open to this, but not all. Research isn't as important for dental schools as it is for medical schools so if you can't find that, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Ask at the alumni office if there are any dentists near you that graduated from Temple that have volunteered to shadow. I'd try to get some hours in this summer as time goes fast. If you can get 40ish hours in each summer, you will be set by application time. Several schools require 60 hours from a general dentist so make sure you get at least that. I was able to shadow an oral surgeon the other day. He was fantastic. I observed 6 surgeries (wisdom teeth extractions) and one pretty involved implant/graft surgery. It was amazing!!! He said I could come back any time so I will do that as my schedule allows.