ok, so if i don't get in this cycle...

[Gail Cohen]

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so... if i dont get accepted this cycle,(and i dont do something rash) what should i be doing to increase my chances besides shadowing. how long does it take to become a dental assistant or xray tech. or how can i get experience using dentrix so i can work in a dental office, HELP!!!!!!!

 

[UCSF2012]

so... if i dont get accepted this cycle,(and i dont do something rash) what should i be doing to increase my chances besides shadowing. how long does it take to become a dental assistant or xray tech. or how can i get experience using dentrix so i can work in a dental office, HELP!!!!!!!

Everyone on SDN only does one of several things to improve one's application. Increase your numbers or get a masters. It's one of the most redundent - yet naive - advice you'll get. Ask how to improve your app, and you'll get 20 posts saying to retake the DAT or get a masters to boost your GPA.

You were able to get a Nov interview, so you theoretically should be good enough to get in. The rest is a matter of demonstrating to the school who you are, that you're a desirable person to have at their school. If you didn't get in, it's because you didn't demonstrate this to them.

You havn't been rejected yet. Send them an email telling them you're still interested in attending their school, and maybe you could edge someone out when they're considering a comparable candidate. In the meantime, think about what qualities make a person a good clinician...leadership, personality, etc. Work on yourself and who you are. Show the schools who you are and what you've learned in the process.

 

[GonnaDoIt]

Call local dental offices and see if they would be interested in hiring a hard worker to be trained on the job. There are some things you can do as an unregistered dental assistant, and there are some duties you can't perform. It's not glamorous, you won't make a lot of money, but you will get great experience if it works out. I was trained on the job and was a dental assistant for 3 years and got into dental school last year. Good luck.

 

[Marker008]

Work in a dental lab. A great way to kill the time and learn a lot about dentistry, and when others are struggling with waxing teeth, you will be thankful for your experience. Don't know your score, but may try to re-take DAT if applicable. After not getting in first time, I did both and was accepted at top choice school second time.