Personal Essay

[Teething Beauty]

Dear SDN members,
I have been reading the posts on this forum and they have been very helpful...thank goodness for SDN!!! <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> I am planning to take my DAT next summer and I will also be applying to schools next summer. I want to start thinking about my personal essay now so that next summer doesn't become the summer from hell! Anyways, I was hoping to get some advice regarding topics that can be useful in writting the essay. I have no idea on what I will write about.
Thanks a bunch in advance ,
Teething Beauty

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[racemic01]

Write about what makes you unique and how that relates to wanting to become a dentist. Pretty lame advice I know, but so was my essay. Maybe if you told us a bit more about why you want to be a dentist and what your goals are or anything unusual you have done in past years we could be more specific about types of topics to try. It may even help you gather your thoughts. I could suggest some topics like the dream of working in 3rd world countries or how you love to paint, but since it's not you (I'm guessing) it wouldn't help. The key is you have to find an angle, a thesis, to center your essay around. You're smart to start early. Like so many others, I was sweating it getting my statement done, letters in, studying for the DAT etc.

 

[Teething Beauty]

Racemic01,
Thanks for your advice, I was planning on writting about how I came to the realization that I wanted to become a dentist. While in high school I was undecided...I didn't know whether to become a dentist or a doctor. Luckily, a family friend got me a volunteer position at a dental office. I volunteered for about four months and then I was offered a party time job as a dental assistant. I worked as an assistant for 4 years. I really enjoyed all aspects of dentistry and this is how I made my decision to study dentistry. I think this will be a good topic!

 

[DesiDentist]

Teething Beauty,

Excellent!! You just summarized an exceptional personal essay in your previous post. Remember you aren't writing a thesis!! It's only 1000 words. But make sure you think of this essay as a piece of art work and every word has to flow smoothly like poetry. I would spend a week or two just jotting down ideas. make an outline and then just start writing. The essay is like a piece of wood. If you want to chisel something out of it you need to start somewhere, and trust me that it won't look pretty after the first couple of hour/weeks or months, but slowly chisel away the "be" verbs, the ambiguous stuff and I can promise you, that it will look great at the end. You have a lot to talk about. But don't rush, you still have a year left....tons of stuff could happen then as well. So leave some room for more ideas. Good luck.

DesiDentist

 

[Teething Beauty]

Thanks DesiDentist!!

 

[racemic01]

Sounds like a great idea. Especially since being a dental assistant has been such a big part of your life (4yrs). Off to a good start!