Poll

[mepstein]

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What is the most important admissions factor outside of DAT and GPA??

 

[DMD_hopeful]

What is the most important admissions factor outside of DAT and GPA??

AADSAS essay, interview, extracurriculars, dental experience, drive & passion, maturity, level of difficulty of the classes you take...

I'm sure there are more.. anyone want to add to the list?

 

[Generallee]

AADSAS essay, interview, extracurriculars, dental experience, drive & passion, maturity, level of difficulty of the classes you take...

I'm sure there are more.. anyone want to add to the list?

Recommendation letters, volunteer activity, research, upward progression of grades...

 

[eddiescott]

What is the most important admissions factor outside of DAT and GPA??

I would think INTERVIEW SKILLS, then, DENTAL SHADOWING.


But first of course is grades or you dont get any further !

 

[jk5177]

Eddiescott has a good point. But, I personally think it is dental shadowing. That is, in my opinion basic, and even more essential than interview, because they may ask questions about your shadowing experiences or knowledge of dentistry during your interview.

So... I say... know the dental field. And one of the best ways to know the dental field is to check SDN all the time. I have SDN as my homepage. No kidding!!!

 

[eddiescott]

Eddiescott has a good point. But, I personally think it is dental shadowing. That is, in my opinion basic, and even more essential than interview, because they may ask questions about your shadowing experiences or knowledge of dentistry during your interview.

So... I say... know the dental field. And one of the best ways to know the dental field is to check SDN all the time. I have SDN as my homepage. No kidding!!!

Oh no. Having been a TAx MAnager and hiring people I will tell you that what you have done in your like is meaningless if you cannot carry on a solid conversation and communicate.

Thus, if you shadow a dentist for 3 years and he happens to be your father, you may still not get into a dental school if you go into your interview extremely nervous and cannot communicate your desires and show that you can effectively carry on a conversation.

I really disagree here !

For example, I have interviewed several people that just sat in front of me like logs. They didnt get hired eventhough they had great grades in college.
Maybe they were nervous, but what kind of value would they have brought my firm. A firm where constant client contact is a must!

I think they are sizing you up to see how you would communicate with patients, peers, professors, etc.

I would take a communication class before I would shadow a dentist and watch procedures for hours that I had no clue what was going on. I mean we have all shadowed dentists anyway right?

Ever have a cavity or get your teeth cleaned ?????????????

 

[jk5177]

eddiescott:
I was at a housewarming party last night. The host has a gorgeous sister, who in my opinion is really hot, and I get the sense that we were checking each other out a bit. When I finally got the chance to be alone and talk to her, it was like...

"so your the sister of Bob?"
"yeah"
"so he's pretty cool to you?"
"yeah he's alright."
"I'm not sure why I just asked that... but..."

In other words, it was a bit socially awkward between her and I. Hence, Eddiescott, you have a point about communication.

Still, I think shadowing and having clinical experience is critical to the entrance hoops which one has to jump.

 

[bouncy_ball]

"so your the sister of Bob?"
"yeah"
"so he's pretty cool to you?"
"yeah he's alright."
"I'm not sure why I just asked that... but..."

That's absolutely hilarious!

 

[Sprgrover]

I had the distinct feeling that the adcom had already made up their minds prior to me interviewing at a couple of schools (I was accepted to each). I don't know if was my grades or some other aspect about my application that won them over. One school (ahem, Maryland) seemed to have a problem with something about me - during the interview I couldn't tell - background, experience, etc. Then again it could have been the interview that won/turned them off. I am sure each school has worked through some sort of process to divine which student will be a good fit at their school and where each little aspect/part of a student's application fits into their little scheme probably varies from school to school.

 

[Qarmonist]

Oh no. Having been a TAx MAnager and hiring people I will tell you that what you have done in your like is meaningless if you cannot carry on a solid conversation and communicate.

Thus, if you shadow a dentist for 3 years and he happens to be your father, you may still not get into a dental school if you go into your interview extremely nervous and cannot communicate your desires and show that you can effectively carry on a conversation.

I really disagree here !

For example, I have interviewed several people that just sat in front of me like logs. They didnt get hired eventhough they had great grades in college.
Maybe they were nervous, but what kind of value would they have brought my firm. A firm where constant client contact is a must!

I think they are sizing you up to see how you would communicate with patients, peers, professors, etc.

I would take a communication class before I would shadow a dentist and watch procedures for hours that I had no clue what was going on. I mean we have all shadowed dentists anyway right?

Ever have a cavity or get your teeth cleaned ?????????????

In the Dentistry field I disagree about this strongly...

UOP for example you get interview your in, many others are the same. It's all about how well youve communicated through words with your application do you really have the passion, is it bs talk, how much did you actually take the time to see what a dentist does. I mean do dentists really don't carry conversations. Other than "how are you oh great now lets take a look at those teeth". Period. oh yea and "this might hurt a little bit you can grab my hand when it hurts". Dentists don't need good communication skills they need physical skills and the mind in order to carry them in. I mean an average dentist needs these skills. If your a real estate agent sure you definitely need to be able to express yourself or no bread for you.
All in all not everyone is fluent in english and, if not fluent some don't like to carry conversations thats why dentistry is one of those fields where you can make a living without words.

My dentist doesn't even say this is gonna hurt. All he says is hi great to see you lets see those teeth. "Your teeth are this your teeth are that", that's it. I mean it's not comfortable if he carries on a conversation while working on my teeth either, cause you can't talk to him so it gets annoying going blaweeyay yaeae. Think about. It doesn't hurt to have communication skills, but its not a must or a necessity in this field.

 

[TucsonDDS]

eddiescott:
I was at a housewarming party last night. The host has a gorgeous sister, who in my opinion is really hot, and I get the sense that we were checking each other out a bit. When I finally got the chance to be alone and talk to her, it was like...

"so your the sister of Bob?"
"yeah"
"so he's pretty cool to you?"
"yeah he's alright."
"I'm not sure why I just asked that... but..."

In other words, it was a bit socially awkward between her and I. Hence, Eddiescott, you have a point about communication.

Still, I think shadowing and having clinical experience is critical to the entrance hoops which one has to jump.

But sometimes that is a good thing. I have known girls that won't shut up until you stuff something in their mouth.