Pre-Dent Freshmen Q's

[ChadC]

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What are some things I can do in the freshmen/sophmore years to get a head start with dentistry? I am going to shadow a dentist for a week or two this summer.

For those accepted to Dent School, what did you do your early years in undergrad to help with dent admissions?


thanks
chad

 

[BallDontLie]

What are some things I can do in the freshmen/sophmore years to get a head start with dentistry? I am going to shadow a dentist for a week or two this summer.

For those accepted to Dent School, what did you do your early years in undergrad to help with dent admissions?


thanks
chad

I really didnt do much at all in terms of dentistry my first two years. I was still dabbling around in stuff tryin to figure out what I wanted to do. I'm sure a lot of people do that. So if you know you want to be a dentist, you're already ahead of the game.

You're already looking into shadowing...thats good. Id recommend planning out your prereqs so you can have most of them done well in advance of the DAT, with some time to spare to take some upper level bio like biochem, physio, genetics, cell bio, etc. You dont really need them for the DAT, but they really help hammer home the basic concepts that you'll need. As for extracirrics and volunteering...just do what you want to do. It's as simple as that.

Other than that, just relax and enjoy yourself. No need to stress out too much right now. Live it up as an undergrad while you can...

 

[EyeAmCommi]

BallDontLie's advice is really good. But I would like to add that maintaining your gpa is really important too (of course). Try to get As in all your pre-reqs. Join a pre-dental club on your campus and become involved. Research is also good. If you can get a position, it would be beneficial for your later when you go about asking for LORs.

 

[amartins02]

I second the research advice. It will help you later if you do research at dental school and are looking towards specializing.

 

[wigglytooth]

I second the research advice. It will help you later if you do research at dental school and are looking towards specializing.

Although research is good, if you really don't want to do it, you don't have to. At this point, it's not really an "unspoken requirement" for d-school, like it is for med school. I don't know how much that will change by the time you apply, but I would suggest doing what you *really* want to do with your extra time (hobby-ish/nonacademic sort of activities). IMO, it's better to stick out as a well rounded, socially adept person, than as someone who spent too much time in a lab 😉