Non traditional student roadblocks..need help

[believe230]

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I am a non-traditional student. I did a BS 15 yrs ago, then a MS, then a nursing degree and work FT as a nurse now. I however desire to be a dentist and thus have returned to undergrad studies to repeat all my basic science courses, as many schools require them to be less than 5 yrs old. I have TONS of roadblocks I constantly encounter and could list them all, but there is one I am having trouble figuring out the solution to. I am a fighter for what I believe I am capable of and desire to make dental school happen so any and all recomendations are appreciated!
-REFERENCES: 1. The science classes I am repeating-non of the professors will write a letter as they say they do not really know me and can not write a letter based on my academic performance in one class. They say even a few months of " talking to me" is not enough to write a letter that would benefit me. 2. The dentist I shadow-I have only been shadowing him over the last month and a half (as I was turned down over 6 months of other dentists who didn't want to take on a student so I started late), and he wont write a letter for the same reasons as the professors, but also says he rarely endorses anyone unless they have worked for him. Of course, if I did not have to WORK full time as well as go to school and shadow, I could just volunteer time to the professors and dentist so they could observe me, but being that I have no time left, this is not an option. I have been repeating my classes over the last 1.5 yrs and am ready to take the DAT and send in my application, but this is one thing that is standing in my way. How do I get recommendations???
Any advice is much welcomed!

 

[Msmouth]

Did you have labs with your prereqs? They can't go by how you performed in lab?, did you get A's? Ask them if you can do research with them soon or in the summer? Find a another dentist to shadow STAT....maybe volunteer at a dental clinic.

Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Sounds like everyone is giving you subliminal messages.

 

[acoburn73]

I am a non-traditional student. I did a BS 15 yrs ago, then a MS, then a nursing degree and work FT as a nurse now. I however desire to be a dentist and thus have returned to undergrad studies to repeat all my basic science courses, as many schools require them to be less than 5 yrs old. I have TONS of roadblocks I constantly encounter and could list them all, but there is one I am having trouble figuring out the solution to. I am a fighter for what I believe I am capable of and desire to make dental school happen so any and all recomendations are appreciated!
-REFERENCES: 1. The science classes I am repeating-non of the professors will write a letter as they say they do not really know me and can not write a letter based on my academic performance in one class. They say even a few months of " talking to me" is not enough to write a letter that would benefit me. 2. The dentist I shadow-I have only been shadowing him over the last month and a half (as I was turned down over 6 months of other dentists who didn't want to take on a student so I started late), and he wont write a letter for the same reasons as the professors, but also says he rarely endorses anyone unless they have worked for him. Of course, if I did not have to WORK full time as well as go to school and shadow, I could just volunteer time to the professors and dentist so they could observe me, but being that I have no time left, this is not an option. I have been repeating my classes over the last 1.5 yrs and am ready to take the DAT and send in my application, but this is one thing that is standing in my way. How do I get recommendations???
Any advice is much welcomed!

I'm also a non-trad applicant this year, but have not had any school tell me my 13-15-year-old science classes are "too old". In fact, I was given "advice" from one of the resident SDN'ers that said there was a statute of limitations on science classes, so I checked with the 5 schools to which I'm applying. All said there were no limitations.

Regarding your LORs, I've spoken with several schools' admissions counselors and have been told by at least one that if I can't provide professor LORs, I would need to supply at least 2 of the 3 from dentists I have or am shadowing, and 1 from my employer. However, I cannot submit these in the AADSAS electronic application until I have sent them DIRECTLY to the school's admissions committee for PRE-APPROVAL. Should they approve (she said they most likely will, given my current non-trad situation), I can then have them sent to AADSAS via the standard electronic submission method to be attached to the application.

Quick question - are you serious about being rejected for shadowing by multiple dentists over 6 months? I've never heard of such a thing. Was it your approach (attire, method of asking, etc.), or are they just genuinely not interested? Perhaps you tried mostly corporate clinics instead of private practices? Maybe see about shadowing a specialist like Ortho or Ped?

Good luck - stick with it and you can do anything.

 

[bluemoon27]

Hey I would recommend you find another dentist to shadow. like now...so tonight do research of finding offices near where u are, like home, work, school, etc.. believe me its a royal pain to call around and get no as the answer, been there done that, but just do it. this is march so u still have some time. look at the dental offices near where u work and ur home and call them (use google to search addresses near u)... call every single one of them until you get a positive response and they are willing to let you do it. my advice...call most of them by this friday, ur target is to get a spot by this friday. use google maps to find the dentists near ur work, school, and home and just get on it. i had to do this too and it was hard, but i was persistent and was not going to let go of my dream just cuz a freaking dentist doesnt want me to shadow them. screw the ones that say no and just keep ur head in the game, call other ones.

dont let anything or anyone get u down. when life brings u down, u get back up and u fight harder becuz this is your life, ur dreams, ur destiny, dont let anyone get in ur way to not fulfilling ur dream. if u do this quickly and find a new place and start shadowing, hopefully in april and may thats two months you can get enough hours in to get that letter....also at the new office, try to talk to all the assistant, hygienist, secretary, etc and the dentist. the more they like u, know abt ur perosnality and ambitions and welcome ur presence, the easier it will be to get that letter from them and they can write a strong one... so this will cover one letter for you.

second, for your classes profs, i would recommend making the extra effort (as painful as it is) to talk to the prof after class. ask questions and for clarifications to stuff u talked about in class that day as your packing up and getting ready to head out of the class...even if u have no question, ask them to briefly explain XYZ again, like did u say XYZ works this way or that way? also, show up to office hours every single day they have them from here on out. again ask questions and clarifications. ask abt test taking strategies, best way to prepare. anything to get the convo started use it... if they do research ask to do research with them or just strike a random convo abt their research, like what is the topic, how did they get started, how many students in their lab, etc and just show an interest in what they do. if you make an effort to get to know the prof then they may start liking you and give you a letter and solve your problem.

now if this doesnt work, then im sure u have already completed some classes before and maybe u havent asked all ur profs and lab instructors for a letter yet. purposefully walk by the older prof's office and just casually poke ur head in their office and be like "oh hi prof so so"...i remember being in your ...class last spring (whichever semester)...and then casually build that convo up..r u still teaching XYZ this semester....email them once in a while. maybe take them out to lunch (our college has a special event where u take ur prof to lunch, maybe ur school has that too)...ask them about advice for studying for ur particular subject that they taught. let them know u r getting ready to take DAT, any resource they would recommend. any book they would recommend for the subkect they r teaching which will help u to do better on the DAT. eventually u can keep them updated on ur progress of studying and dat, and eventually ask for letter. so that way they see ur persistentce and hard work...also u may be able to get help on random question on the topics they taught if u email them...so u get to know them by talking to them and emailing and get them to write the letter for u.

hopefully this works, but you may be able to get a committee letter where all ur profs pitch in and say something about you, which may help you out too. i honestly am not doing that route so i dont know too much details about it but i strongly recommend asking your pre-health counselor and see how you can get the committee letter if all else fails.

remember, this is ur life, ur future, figure out how u can get around this problem to where u need to be, i.e. in dental school. keep the end in sight and do WHATEVER it takes to get those letters so u can apply. dont ever quit or take no as the end of it all, cuz u have the will and motivation to do it and thats whats gonna carry u forward!! good luck!!

 

[jojohygienist]

What about a committee letter from the nursing school you attended? I too took my prereq's long ago and had no chance of getting science LOR's. I did get a committee letter from my dental hygiene program that I attended in 2007.

Also, check into community dental clinics, volunteering at mission of mercy if in your area, etc, getting involved in operation smile, attend a dental simulation course at one of the dental schools. contact your university's predental club and maybe become a member as they usually set up opportunities for shadowing and EC's.

hope this helps!

 

[mid]

Brown nose like never before to get lors.